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1 Chronicles 18:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאַבְשַׁ֣י בֶּן־ צְרוּיָ֗ה הִכָּ֤ה אֶת־ אֱדוֹם֙ בְּגֵ֣יא הַמֶּ֔לַח שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָֽלֶף׃

BSAMoreover, AbishaiʼĂbîyshay [a leading hero] sonbên of ZeruiahTsᵉrûwyâh struck downnâkâh [slew, smote] eighteenshᵉmôneh thousandʼeleph [a large multitude of] EdomitesʼĔdôm [the descendants of Esau, in the region of Edom] in the Valleygayʼ [a deep, narrow gorge] of Saltmelach [a place of purification]

Word
Listen & take away1 Chronicles 18
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('A.lef) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Chronicles 18:12quick helps
In a sentenceAbishai, the son of Zeruiah, defeated a large number of Edomites in a specific valley.
Who is speakingThe narrator recounts the actions of Abishai, a notable warrior.
Where we areThis verse describes a military victory during King David's reign.
The hard wordהִכָּה, hi.Kah
Take awayAbishai's victory highlights the military strength of David's forces.
4 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Ellicott, AdamClarke, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbנָכָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 1 Chronicles 18:12

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — David's Military Victoriesgenerated

11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all these nations—from Edom and Moab, and from the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites.
12Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
14Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

1 Chronicles 18:12 recounts Abishai's significant military achievement against the Edomites, emphasizing his role as a leading hero in King David's army. This victory is part of a larger narrative that showcases David's conquests and the establishment of his reign over Israel. The context illustrates the ongoing conflicts with neighboring nations and the strength of David's leadership.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Chronicles 2:16Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
21 Chronicles 11:20Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three.
31 Samuel 26:6–8And David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered Abishai.
42 Samuel 3:30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
52 Samuel 10:10–14And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

The Key Word אַבְשַׁי, ve.'av.Shaigenerated

The name אַבְשַׁי (Abishai) means 'my father is a gift' and denotes a prominent figure in the time of King David. His lineage ties him to Jesse, highlighting his importance within the royal family and military.

As a noun proper masculine, Abishai is identified as a leading hero, particularly known for his bravery and combat skills. His actions, as recorded in this verse, contribute to the legacy of David's military campaigns.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses struck down to describe Abishai's action.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main action of the verse centers around the finite verb הִכָּה, he struck down, which governs the subject and the object. The structure follows a straightforward narrative style, typical of historical accounts.

The subject, אַבְשַׁי, is introduced first, followed by the action and the details of the object, creating a clear depiction of the event. This order emphasizes Abishai's role in the victory.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הִכָּה as ἐπάταχεν (he struck), which conveys a similar sense of violence and action. This choice maintains the narrative's focus on military conquest.

The LXX's wording reflects an interpretation that aligns with the Hebrew text, though its structure may differ, showcasing the translators' approach to conveying the story.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Chronicles 18:12 tells us that Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. This victory showcases his bravery and the strength of David's army during a time of conflict.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who was Abishai?

Abishai was a nephew of King David and a notable warrior in his army, known for his bravery and military accomplishments.

What does the Valley of Salt signify?

The Valley of Salt is a geographical location associated with purification and military encounters, highlighting the significance of the battle.

Why is the number eighteen thousand mentioned?

The number signifies a large multitude of Edomites defeated by Abishai, illustrating the scale of the victory.

What role did Zeruiah play in this context?

Zeruiah was Abishai's mother and the sister of David, connecting Abishai to the royal lineage and military leadership.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does Abishai's victory reflect the overall strength of David's leadership?
  2. What can we learn about the significance of military victories in ancient Israel?
  3. In what ways does the Valley of Salt contribute to the narrative of this battle?
  4. How does the relationship between Abishai and Zeruiah influence our understanding of his character?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Chronicles 18:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Chronicles 18 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12, 13) The reduction of Edom. The paragraph mark should be at 1 Chronicles 18:12, not 1 Chronicles 18:13.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Chronicles 18 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. Abishai - slew of the Edomites] This victory is attributed to David, 2 Samuel 8:13. He sent Abishai against them, and he defeated them: this is with great propriety attributed to David as commander-in-chief; qui facit per alterum, facit per se.

Read AdamClarke on 1 Chronicles 18 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. Abishai the son of Zeruiah] In 2 Samuel 8:13 David, and in Psalms 60 (title) Joab, receives the credit of this victory. Probably Abishai commanded in the battle, while Joab (cp. 1 Kings 11:16) completed the conquest of the country. of the Edomites] Lit. “of Edom,” so Psalms 60 (title), but in 2 Sam. “of the Syrians,” lit. “Aram.” The two words “Edom” and “Aram” when written in Heb. are very much alike and are easily confused. The reading “Edom” is right here. Cp. Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel 8:13. the valley of salt] Probably the marshy flat (Bädeker, p. 144) at the S. end of the Dead Sea. This valley is dominated by the Jebel Usdum, a hill consisting “almost entirely of pure crystallised…

Read Cambridge on 1 Chronicles 18 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Abishai son of Zeruiah killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah smote of Edom in the salt valley eighteene thousand,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Abishai son of Zeruiah hath smitten Edom in the valley of salt — eighteen thousand,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Abishai son of Zeruiah has struck Edom in the Valley of Salt—eighteen thousand,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Abshai the son of Zeruyah smote of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand [men].

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Abisai the son of Sarvia slew of the Edomites in the vale of the saltpits, eighteen thousand:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Abishai, son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And when he came back from putting to the sword eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt,

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclausenoun phrase · subjectאַבְשַׁ֣יAbishainoun phraseבֶּןthe.sonצְרוּיָ֗הof.Zeruiahverbהִכָּ֤הhe.struck.downnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseאֱדוֹם֙Edomnoun phrasenumeral phrasenumeral phraseשְׁמוֹנָ֥הeight-עָשָׂ֖רteenאָֽלֶףthousandprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּin

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text presents the verse as: וְאַבְשַׁ֣י בֶּן־ צְרוּיָ֗ה הִכָּ֤ה אֶת־ אֱדוֹם֙ בְּגֵ֣יא הַמֶּ֔לַח שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָֽלֶף׃. The Septuagint matches five of the eleven words directly, indicating some consistency in the core elements of the narrative.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְאַבְשַׁ֣י בֶּן־ צְרוּיָ֗ה הִכָּ֤ה אֶת־ אֱדוֹם֙ בְּגֵ֣יא הַמֶּ֔לַח שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָֽלֶף׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאַבְשַׁ֣יαβεσσαבֶּן־υἱὸςצְרוּיָ֗הσαρουιαהִכָּ֤הἐπάταχενהַמֶּ֔לַחἐν

5 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Chronicles 18:12אֲבִישַׁיand Abishaiand Abishaiאֲבִישַׁיבֵּן[the] son o[the] son ofבֵּןצְרוּיָהZeruiahZeruiahצְרוּיָהנָכָהhe struck dhe struck downנָכָהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתאֱדוֹםEdomEdomאֱדוֹםגַּיְאin [the] Vain [the] Valleyגַּיְאמֶ֫לַחSaltSaltמֶ֫לַחשְׁמֹנֶהeight-eight-שְׁמֹנֶהעָשָׂרteenteenעָשָׂראֶ֫לֶףthousandthousandאֶ֫לֶףאָבfatherfatherאָבבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתאָדֹםredredאָדֹםמָלַחto dissipato dissipateמָלַחשָׁמֵןrichrichשָׁמֵןצֳרִיbalsambalsamצֳרִיגֵּוָהprideprideגֵּוָהעֶשֶׂרtentenעֶשֶׂראֶ֫לֶףcattlecattleאֶ֫לֶףמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהצְרוּיָהZeruiahZeruiahצְרוּיָהעֲשָׂהאֵלAsahelAsahelעֲשָׂהאֵלעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןאֲבִישַׁיAbishaiAbishaiאֲבִישַׁייוֹאָבJoabJoabיוֹאָבמַכָּהwoundwoundמַכָּה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 1 Chronicles 18:12

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
וְאַבְשַׁ֣יve.'av.Shai and Abishai H52 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Abishai was an Israelite and nephew of King David, first mentioned in 1 Samuel 26:6, his name means my father is Jesse or my father is a gift. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel. Abishai played a significant role in the United Monarchy.
Amplified meaning
a leading hero
Tyndale gloss
Abishai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲבִישַׁי (Abiyshay) refers to a personal name meaning 'my father is a gift' or 'my father is Jesse.' It denotes Abishai, a figure from the time of the United Monarchy, who is the grandson of Jesse and brother of Joab. He is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 26:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲבִישַׁי n.pr.m. (my father is Jesse)—grandson of Jesse; son of Zeruiah & brother of Joab

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H52 אֲבִישַׁי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

52 'Abiyshay ab-ee-shah'ee

or (shorter) Abshay {ab-shah'ee}; from 1 and 7862; father of

a gift (i.e. probably generous); Abishai, an

Israelite:--Abishai.

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 07862

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲבִישַׁי (a.vi.shay) — Abishai.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.26.6 and Zeruiah (H6870);

brother of: Joab (H3097) and Asahel (H6214)

§ Abishai = "my father is Jesse" or "my father is a gift"

grandson of Jesse, nephew of David via his sister Zeruiah, brother of Joab

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ab'-i-shi, a-bi'-shi ('abhishai, in Ch 'abhshai; meaning is doubtful, probably "my father is Jesse," BDB): Son of Zeruiah, David's sister, and one of the three famous brothers, of whom Joab and Asahel were the other two (2Sa 2:18). He was chief of the second group of three among David's "mighty men" (2Sa 23:18).

He first appears with David, who was in the Wilderness of Ziph, to escape Saul. When David called for a volunteer to go down into Saul's camp by night, Abishai responded, and counseled the killing of Saul when they came upon the sleeping king (1Sa 26:6-9). In the skirmish between the men of Ishbosheth and the men of David at Gibeon, in which Asahel was killed by Abner, Abishai was present (

Abishai

Father of (i.e., “desirous of”) a gift, the eldest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel (2 Sam. 2:18; 1 Chr. 2:16). Abishai was the only one who accompanied David when he went to the camp of Saul and took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster (1 Sam. 26:5-12). He had the command of one of the three divisions of David’s army at the battle with Absalom (2 Sam. 18:2,5,12). He slew the Philistine giant Ishbi-benob, who threatened David’s life (2 Sam. 21:15-17). He was the chief of the second rank of the three “mighties” (

A son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, brother of Joab and Asahel, one of the bravest of David’s mighty men, 1Ch 2:16, and always faithful to his royal uncle. He went with him alone to the tent of Saul, 1Sa 26:7-11; and was a leader in the war with Ish-bosheth, 2Sa 2.18,24, in the war with the Edomites, 1Ch 18:12,13, and with the Syrians and Ammonites, 2Sa 10:10. In a battle with the Philistines, he rescued David, and slew Ishbi-benob the giant, 2Sa 21:16,17. He lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, 2Sa 23:18; and was with David in the affairs of…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

the present of my father

and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
בֶּן־ben- [the] son of H1121 Noun common · masculine singular construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
צְרוּיָ֗הtze.ru.Yah Zeruiah H6870 Noun proper feminine
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Zeruiah was an Israelite woman, sister of David, and mother of three leading heroes in his army. Her name means balsam and she is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 26:6. Zeruiah was the daughter of Jesse and Nahash.
Tyndale gloss
Zeruiah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צְרוּיָה (Tsruwyah) refers to Zeruiah, a woman from the time of the United Monarchy, known as the sister of David and mother of three of his notable warriors: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. The name is derived from a term meaning 'wounded' and is associated with the Hebrew word for balsam.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צְרוּיָה n.pr.f. mother of Abishai, Joab and Asahel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6870 צְרוּיָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6870 Tsruwyah tser-oo-yaw'

feminine passive participle from the same as 6875; wounded;

Tserujah, an Israelitess:--Zeruiah.

see HEBREW for 06875

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צְרוּיָה (tse.ru.yah) — Zeruiah.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.26.6;

daughter of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I);

sister of: David (H1732), Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684), Abigail (H0026H)(?) and Elihu (H0453J), Shimeah (H8093)

§ Zeruiah = "balsam"

sister of David and mother of the 3 leading heroes of David's army-Abishai, Joab, and Asahel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ze-roo-i'-a, ze-roo'-ya (tseruyah, tseruyah (2Sa 14:1; 16:10), meaning uncertain; Sarouia): In 2Sa 2:18; 17:25; 1Ch 2:16, and elsewhere where the names Joab, Abishai, occur. According to 1Ch 2:16 a sister of David and mother of Joab, Abishai and Asahel, the two former being always referred to as sons of Zeruiah. This latter fact is explained by some as pointing to a type of marriage by which the children belonged to their mother's clan (compare Abimelech, Jud 8:31; 9:1 ff); by others as being due to her husband's early death; and again as a proof of the mother in this case being the stronger personality. Either of the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Zeruiah

Stricken of the Lord, David’s sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel (1 Chr. 2:16), who were the three leading heroes of David’s army, and being his nephews, they were admitted to the closest companionship with him.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(balsam), the mother of the three leading heroes of David’s army --Abishai, Joah and Asahel-- known as the "sons of Zeruiah." Of Zeruiah’s husband there is no mention in the Bible. (B.C. before 1046.)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Sister of David, and mother of his famous generals, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, 1Ch 2:16. Her husband is unknown.

and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
הִכָּ֤הhi.Kah he struck down H5221 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.
Amplified meaning
slew, smote
Tyndale gloss
to smite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)

Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

Pu. both be smitten down by the hail

Hiph.

lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

smite repeatedly, beat a man

and they clapped hands (in applause)

give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

smite, of sun

Smite fatally

Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

Of God

smite with a plague, disease, etc.

smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

of God’s destroying palaces

Hoph. be smitten

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

. both be smitten down by the hail

. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

. smite repeatedly, beat a man

. and they clapped hands (in applause)

. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

. smite, of sun

. Smite fatally

. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.

. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

. of God’s destroying palaces

. be smitten

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5221 nakah naw-kaw'

a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally

or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X

go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,

punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,

be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.

1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill

1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten

1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust

1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)

1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage

1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy

1d) (Hophal) to be smitten

1d1) to receive a blow

1d2) to be wounded

1d3) to be beaten

1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain

1d5) to be attacked and captured

1d6) to be smitten (with disease)

1d7) to be blighted (of plants)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
HVhp3ms
and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
אֱדוֹם֙'e.dOm Edom H123 Noun proper masculine
100× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Edom was the twin brother of Jacob and the region where he lived. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and his story is told in Genesis 25. Edom is also another name for Esau.
Amplified meaning
the descendants of Esau, in the region of Edom
Tyndale gloss
Edom
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱדוֹם (Edom) refers to both a person and a region. It is derived from the Hebrew word for 'red' and is associated with Esau, Jacob's brother. The term encompasses the Edomites, descendants of Esau, and the land of Edom, located southeast of Palestine. It is first mentioned in Genesis 25:25.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱדוֹם († אֱדֹם Ez 25:11) n.pr.m.

Edom

coll. Edomites, Idumeans as descend. of Esau

land of Edom, Idumaea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H123 אֱדוֹם . Edom

. coll. Edomites, Idumeans as descend. of Esau

. land of Edom, Idumaea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

123 'Edom ed-ome'

or (fully) oEdowm {ed-ome'}; from 122; red (see Gen. 25:25);

Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region

(Idumaea) occupied by him:--Edom, Edomites, Idumea.

see HEBREW for 0122

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱדוֹם (e.dom) — Edom.

Edom = "red"

land of Edom, Idumea-land south and south east of Palestine

אֱדוֹם (e.dom) — Edom.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.25;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Israel (H3478); married to Oholibamah (H0173), Judith (H3067), Adah (H5711H) and Mahalath (H4258);

father of: Eliphaz (H0464), Reuel (H7467), Jeush (H3266), Jalam (H3281) and Korah (H7141); also called Edom at Gen.25.30; 36.1,8,19,21; 1x,54;

Another name of e.sav (עֵשָׂו "Esau" H6215G)

§ Edom = "red"

1) Edom

2) Edomite, Idumean-descendants of Esau

3) land of Edom, Idumea-land south and south east of Palestine

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Edom

(1.) The name of Esau (q.v.), Gen. 25:30, “Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage [Heb. haadom, haadom, i.e., ‘the red pottage, the red pottage’] ...Therefore was his name called Edom”, i.e., Red.

(2.) Idumea (Isa. 34:5, 6; Ezek. 35:15). “The field of Edom” (Gen. 32:3), “the land of Edom” (Gen. 36:16), was mountainous (Obad. 1:8, 9, 19, 21). It was called the land, or “the mountain of Seir,” the rough hills on the east side of the Arabah. It extended from the head of the Gulf of Akabah, the Elanitic gulf, to the foot of the Dead Sea (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Red, a name of Esau, Isaac’s eldest son, appropriate on account of his natural complexion, but given, it would seem, from the current name of food for which he sold his birthright-"that same red," Ge 25:25,30. See ESAU and IDUMEA.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

red, earthy; of blood

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Signifies red)

1. A name of Esau, possibly on account of his being covered with red hair Ge 25:25,30; 36:1,8,19

2. A name of the land occupied by the descendants of Esau

It extended from the Elanitic Gulf to the Red Sea, and was also called IDUMEA Ge 32:3; 36:16,17,21; Jer 40:11

Noted for its wise men Ob 1:8

Sins of Ob 1:10-14

Prophecies concerning Jer 25:21-23; 27:1-11; Da 11:41

See EDOMITES

FIGURATIVE of the foes of Zion Isa 63:1

and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
בְּגֵ֣יאbe.Gei' in [the] Valley of H1516 Preposition · noun proper
60× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a deep, narrow valley or gorge. It is also another name for Topheth, a place of child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom. The word describes a steep and dramatic landscape.
Amplified meaning
a deep, narrow gorge
Tyndale gloss
Valley
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּיְא (gay) means 'valley' and specifically refers to a steep, narrow gorge. It is likely derived from a root meaning related to height. The term appears in various combinations with names of locations, indicating specific valleys, such as Topheth and Zeboim. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּיְא n.m. valley

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1516 גַּיְא valley

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1516 gay' gah'-ee

or (shortened) gay {gah'-ee}; probably (by transmutation)

from the same root as 1466 (abbreviated); a gorge (from its

lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or

winter-torrent):--valley.

see HEBREW for 01466

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּיְא (gay) — Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Another name of to.phet (תֹּ֫פֶת "Topheth" H8612)

גַּיְא (gay) — (Iphtahel) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with yiph.tach-el (יִפְתַּח־אֵל " of Iphtahel" H3317)

גַּיְא (gay) — (Zeboim) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with tse.vo.im (צְבֹעִים " of Zeboim" H6650H)

גַּיְא (gay) — (Salt) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with me.lach (מֶ֫לַח " of Salt" H4417H)

גַּיְא (gay) — Ge.

§ valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

גַּיְא (gay) — (Zephathah) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with tse.pha.tah (צְפַ֫תָה "Zephathah" H6859)

גַּיְא (gay) — Valley (Gate).

§ valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

גַּיְא (gay) — (Hamon-gog) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
הַמֶּ֔לַחha.Me.lach Salt H4417 Particle · noun proper
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers specifically to salt that is easily pulverized and dissolved, often used to season food. It is also associated with salt pits, where salt was harvested. The word highlights the importance of salt in ancient Israelite life.
Amplified meaning
a place of purification
Tyndale gloss
salt
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֶ֫לַח (melach) means 'salt' and is derived from a root meaning 'powder.' It specifically refers to salt in various contexts, including geographical references like the 'Valley of Salt.' The entries consistently define it as salt without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לַח n.m. salt

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4417 מֶ֫לַח salt

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4417 melach meh'-lakh

from 4414; properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as

easily pulverized and dissolved:--salt((-pit)).

see HEBREW for 04414

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לַח (me.lach) — Salt (Sea).

salt

Also named: a.ra.vah (עֲרָבָה "(Sea of the )Arabah" H6160K)

מֶ֫לַח (me.lach) — (Valley of) Salt.

Combined with gay (גַּיְא " Valley" H1516J)

§ salt

מֶ֫לַח (me.lach) — salt.

salt

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Particle · noun proper
HTd/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

solt (melach; halas, hals): Common salt is considered by most authorities as an essential ingredient of our food. Most people intentionally season their cooking with more or less salt for the sake of palatability. Others depend upon the small quantities which naturally exist in water and many foods to furnish the necessary amount of salt for the body. Either too much salt or the lack of it creates undesirable disturbance in the animal system. Men and animals alike instinctively seek for this substance to supplement or improve their regular diet. The ancients appreciated the value of salt for seasoning food (Job 6:6). So necessary was it that they dignified it by making it a requisite part of sacrifices (Le 2:13; Ezr 6:9; 7:22;

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Salt

Used to season food (Job 6:6), and mixed with the fodder of cattle (Isa. 30:24, “clean;” in marg. of R.V. “salted”). All meat-offerings were seasoned with salt (Lev. 2:13). To eat salt with one is to partake of his hospitality, to derive subsistence from him; and hence he who did so was bound to look after his host’s interests (Ezra 4:14, “We have maintenance from the king’s palace;” A.V. marg., “We are salted with the salt of the palace;” R.V., “We eat the salt of the palace”).

A “covenant of salt” (Num. 18:19; 2 Chr. 13:5) was a covenant…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Indispensable as salt is to ourselves, it was even more so to the Hebrews, being to them not only an appetizing condiment in the food both of man, (Job 11:6) and beset, (Isaiah 30:24) see margin, and a valuable antidote to the effects of the heat of the climate on animal food, but also entering largely into the religious services of the Jews as an accompaniment to the various offerings presented on the altar. (Leviticus 2:13) They possessed an inexhaustible and ready supply of it on the southern shores of the Dead Sea. [SEA, THE SALT, THE SALT] There is one mountain here called Jebel Usdum, seven miles long and several hundred feet high, which is composed almost entirely of salt. The Jews appear to have distinguished between rock-salt and that which was gained by evaporation as…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Was procured by the Jews from the Dead Sea, wither from the immense hill or ridge of pure rock salt at its southwest extremity, or from that deposited on the shore by the natural evaporation. The Arabs obtain it in large cakes, two or three inches thick, and sell it in considerable quantities throughout Syria. It well-known preservative qualities, and its importance as a seasoning for food, Job 6:6, are implied in most of the passages where it is mentioned in Scripture: as in the miraculous healing of a fountain, 2Ki 2:21; in the sprinkling of salt over the sacrifices consumed on God’s altar, Le 2:13 Eze 43:24 Mr 9:49

and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
שְׁמוֹנָ֥הshe.mo.Nah eight- H8083 Noun common · both singular absolute
109× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number eight, which was considered a special number in biblical times. It is used to describe quantities, such as eight days or eight years, and also appears in ordinal forms, like eighth or eighth day.
Tyndale gloss
eight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמֹנֶה (shmoneh) means 'eight' and can also denote 'eighth' as an ordinal number. It is derived from the idea of plumpness, suggesting a surplus beyond seven, which is considered a perfect number. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations with other numbers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה 109 n.m. et f. eight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8083 שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה eight

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8083 shmoneh shem-o-neh'

or shmowneh {shem-o-neh'}; feminine shmonah {shem-o-naw'}; or

shmownah {shem-o-naw'}; apparently from 8082 through the idea

of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above

the "perfect" seven); also (as ordinal)

eighth:--eight((-een, -eenth)), eighth.

see HEBREW for 08082

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמֹנֶה (she.mo.neh) — eight.

1) eight, eighth

1a) eight (as cardinal number)

1b) eighth (as ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
עָשָׂ֖ר'a.Sar teen H6240 Noun common · both singular absolute
339× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word means ten, and is used to form numbers like eleven or thirteen, as seen in Genesis 31:41. It is always used in combination with other numbers.
Tyndale gloss
ten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂר (asar) means 'ten' and is used exclusively in combination with other numbers to form the teen numbers (11-19), both as cardinal and ordinal forms. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew root, but do not elaborate on its etymology.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6240 עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6240 `asar aw-sawr'

for 6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also

(ordinal) -teenth:--(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-,

six-, thir-)teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, +

twelve(-th).

see HEBREW for 06235

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂר (a.sar) — ten.

1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers)

1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
and Abishai [the] son of Zeruiah he struck down the object marker Edom in [the] Valley of Salt eight- teen thousand
אָֽלֶף׃'A.lef thousand H505 Noun common · both singular absolute
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Amplified meaning
a large multitude of
Tyndale gloss
thousand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫לֶף (eleph) means 'thousand' in Hebrew. It can refer to the numeral itself or denote a company or clan, particularly a group of men under one leader. The word is built from the concept of a thousand, and it is associated with the ox's head, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

505 'eleph eh'-lef

prop, the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first

letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral)

a thousand:--thousand.

see HEBREW for 0504

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand.

: thousand

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand: clan.

: clan

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).

See NUMBER.

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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