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1 Kings 10:1 — Word Study

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WLCוּמַֽלְכַּת־ שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־ שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃

BSANow when the queenmalkâh [ruler, monarch] of ShebaShᵉbâʼ [a region in southern Arabia] heardshâmaʻ about the fameshêmaʻ [report, reputation] of SolomonShᵉlômôh [a king of Israel] concerning the nameshêm [identity, character] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, God's personal name] she camebôwʼ [approached, visited] to test himnâçâh [prove, try] with difficult questionschîydâh [hard, perplexing, riddles, enigmas]

Word
Listen & take away1 Kings 10
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the 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 (be.chi.Dot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Kings 10:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame and came to test his wisdom with hard questions.
Who is speakingThe narrator recounts the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon.
Where we areThis passage describes the Queen's visit to Solomon, highlighting her curiosity and the challenges she posed.
The hard wordחִידָה
Take awayThe Queen sought to understand Solomon's wisdom through difficult questions.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁמַע 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 Kings 10:1

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 — The Visit of the Queen of Shebagenerated

1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
2She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.
3And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.
4When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,

1 Kings 10:1 describes the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon, motivated by her desire to test his renowned wisdom. This encounter emphasizes the significance of Solomon's reputation, which had spread far beyond Israel, attracting visitors from distant lands. The Queen's journey symbolizes the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, as she sought answers to her challenging questions, reflecting the broader theme of wisdom in the narrative.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Chronicles 9:1–12Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind.
2Matthew 12:42The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
3Luke 11:31The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
4Genesis 10:7–28The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
5Genesis 25:3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.

The Key Word חִידָה, be.chi.Dotgenerated

The Hebrew word חִידָה (chiydah) means 'riddle' or 'perplexing question.' It refers to enigmatic sayings or difficult inquiries that challenge one's understanding. The word is often used in contexts where wisdom is tested, as in the case of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon. Its root implies a sense of puzzlement or trickery, highlighting the complexity of the questions posed.

In this verse, the use of חִידָה underscores the Queen's intent to probe Solomon's wisdom deeply. The challenging nature of her questions reflects her high expectations and the significance of Solomon's reputation as a wise ruler.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions recognizing the Queen's intent to test Solomon with difficult questions.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is שֹׁמַ֛עַת, [was] hearing, which governs the subject and object phrases. The structure includes a noun phrase for the subject (וּמַֽלְכַּת־ שְׁבָ֗א, the queen of Sheba), and a prepositional phrase indicating the purpose of her coming (לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ, to test him).

The sentence flows from the Queen's hearing of Solomon's fame to her action of coming to test him, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship between her awareness and her visit.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חִידָה as αἰνίγμασιν, which means 'enigmas' or 'riddles.' This choice reflects a similar understanding of the challenging nature of the questions posed to Solomon, indicating that the translators recognized the depth of inquiry involved in the Queen's visit.

This rendering suggests a narrowing of the Hebrew meaning, focusing on the enigmatic aspect of her questions rather than merely categorizing them as difficult.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Kings 10:1 tells us that the Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's fame and came to test him with difficult questions. This visit highlights her curiosity and the reputation Solomon had gained for his wisdom.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What motivated the Queen of Sheba to visit Solomon?

The Queen was intrigued by Solomon's fame and wanted to test his wisdom with challenging questions, reflecting her desire for knowledge.

What does the word 'riddle' signify in this context?

The term 'riddle' refers to the difficult and perplexing questions the Queen posed to Solomon, aiming to challenge his wisdom.

How does this passage illustrate the theme of wisdom?

This passage showcases the pursuit of wisdom, as the Queen seeks to understand Solomon's renowned intellect and discernment through her inquiries.

What is the significance of the Queen's visit?

The Queen's visit symbolizes the acknowledgment of Solomon's wisdom and the broader theme of seeking understanding, as she traveled from afar to engage with him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this passage teach us about the value of seeking wisdom and understanding?
  2. How can we approach our own questions and challenges with curiosity like the Queen of Sheba?
  3. In what ways can we test and deepen our understanding of knowledge in our lives?
  4. What does this encounter reveal about the importance of reputation and knowledge in leadership?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Ephrem the Syrian comments on the Queen of Sheba's visit, illustrating the contrast between her seeking truth and the darkness of those around her.

Ephrem the SyrianTHE PEARL, HYMN 3.3 c. 306–373
The queen of Sheba was a sheep that had come into the place of wolves. The lamp of truth did Solomon give her who also married her when he fell away. She was enlightened and went away, but they were dark as their manner was.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Kings 10 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 10:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon,.... Josephus (u) calls her a queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; but Sheba was in the southern part of Arabia Felix; her name with the Ethiopians is

Read John Gill on 1 Kings 10 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. The queen of Sheba.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 10 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

1 KINGS CHAPTER 10 The queen of Sheba cometh to Jerusalem; admireth Solomon’ s wisdom and glory; giveth God thanks, and Solomon presents, . His riches, ; targets, ivory throne, vessels, ; presents, chariots and horses, tribute, . The queen of Sheba; either, first, Of Ethiopia, as that people by constant tradition from their ancestors affirm, which also was truly in the ends of the earth, whence she came, . Or rather, secondly, Of that part of Arabia called Sabaea, which was at a great distance from Jerusalem, and really in the ends of the earth, and bordering upon the southern sea; for there, much more than in Ethiopia, were the commodities which she brought, ,10. Howsoever, this is there…

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John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 10:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.Ver. 1. And when the queen of Sheba.] Nicaula, Josephus calleth her; the Rabbis, Nicolas; others, Maqueda. Her country some make to be Arabia Felix, others Ethiopia Southward it lay, and far from Jerusalem. A sibyl some make her to be. Concerning the name of the Lord.] What great things God had done for Solomon, and what he had done by way of thankful retribution to God, in building him a house, and setting up his sincere service there. The Rabbis think that by this expression is imported, that she took Solomon for the promised Messiah. She came to…

Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 10 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) The queen of Sheba.—The name “Sheba” must be distinguished from Seba, or Saba (which begins with a different Hebrew letter), (a) The name Seba denotes a Cushite race (Genesis 10:7), connected, in Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 45:14, with Egypt and Cush, and named with Sheba (“the kings of Sheba and Seba”)in the Psalm of Solomon (Psalms 72:10). Seba is, indeed, with great probability identified (see Jos. Ant. ii. 10, 2) with the Ethiopian city and island of Meroë. It is probably from confusion between Sheba and Saba that Josephus (Ant. viii. 6, 5) represents the queen of Sheba as a “queen of Egypt and Ethiopia.” (b) The name “Sheba” is found in the ethnological lists of Gen 10:7, among the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 10 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

CHAPTER X The queen of Sheba visits Solomon, and brings rich presents; and tries him by hard questions, which he readily solves, 1-3. She expresses great surprise at his wisdom, his buildings, his court, c. and praises God for placing him on the Jewish throne, 4-9. She gives him rich presents, 10. What the navy of Hiram brought from Ophir, 11, 12. The queen of Sheba returns, 13. Solomon's annual revenue, 14, 15. He makes two hundred targets and three hundred shields of gold, 16, 17. His magnificent ivory throne, 18-20. His drinking vessels all of gold, 21. What the navy of Tharshish brought every three years to Solomon, 22. His great riches, numerous chariots, and horsemen, 23-27. He brings…

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CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ch. 1 Kings 10:1-13. The Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon (2 Chronicles 9:1-12) 1. Now when the queen of Sheba heard] The ‘Sheba’, of which the queen is here mentioned, was that part of Arabia spoken of in the note on the last verse of the preceding chapter. It embraced the greater part of Arabia Felix. Josephus and many Jewish writers represent her as the queen of Egypt and Ethiopia, making ωׁ ?αΰ (Sheba) the same as ραΰ (Seba), and this tradition is firmly rooted among the Abyssinians (i.e. Ethiopians), but there is no ground at all for identifying Sheba with the Ethiopian kingdom of Seba. Moreover the presents which the queen brought with her bespeak the land from which she came.…

Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 10 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Doubt has arisen whether the “queen of Sheba” was an Ethiopian or an Arabian princess.

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 10 →

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

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

NETBNew English Translation2006

When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, she came to prove him with hard questions.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the Queene of Sheba hearing ye fame of Salomon (concerning the Name of the Lord) came to proue him with hard questions.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon in connection with the name of Jehovah, and came to prove him with enigmas.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the queen of Sheba is hearing of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, and cometh to try him with enigmas,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the queen of Sheba is hearing of the fame of Solomon concerning the Name of YHWH, and comes to try him with enigmas,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon in connection with the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with riddles.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to test him with hard questions.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the queen of Saba, having; heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she came to Jerusalem to test him with tough questions.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Now the queen of Sheba, hearing great things of Solomon, came to put his wisdom to the test with hard questions.

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.

וּandclausenoun phrase · subjectמַֽלְכַּתthe.queenשְׁבָ֗אof.Shebaverbשֹׁמַ֛עַת[was].hearingnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseשֵׁ֥מַעthe.reportשְׁלֹמֹ֖הof.Solomonprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseשֵׁ֣םthe.nameיְהוָ֑הof.Yahwehוַandclauseverbתָּבֹ֥אshe.cameprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbנַסֹּת֖putobjectוֹhim.to.the.testprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּbyחִידֽוֹתdifficult.matters

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the main elements of the verse, with the Septuagint providing a close correspondence to the Hebrew text. Both texts convey the Queen's action of coming to test Solomon, though the Septuagint's word order and specific phrasing differ slightly.

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

וּמַֽלְכַּת־ שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־ שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּמַֽלְכַּת־βασίλισσαשְׁבָ֗אσαβαשֹׁמַ֛עַתἤκουσενשְׁלֹמֹ֖הσαλωμωνלְשֵׁ֣םὄνομαיְהוָ֑הκυρίουוַתָּבֹ֥אἦλθενלְנַסֹּת֖וֹπειράσαιבְּחִידֽוֹת׃αἰνίγμασιν

9 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 Kings 10:1מַלְכָּהand [the] qand [the] queenמַלְכָּהשְׁבָאShebaShebaשְׁבָאשָׁמַע[was] heari[was] hearingשָׁמַעאֵתthe object the object markאֵתשֶׁ֫מַע[the] repor[the] report ofשֶׁ֫מַעשְׁלֹמֹהSolomonSolomonשְׁלֹמֹהשֵׁםto [the] nato [the] name oשֵׁםיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהבּוֹאand she camand she cameבּוֹאנָסָהto put to [to put to [the]נָסָהחִידָהby difficulby difficult maחִידָהחוּדto riddleto riddleחוּדאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתשָׁמַעto hear: hto hear: hearשָׁמַעשָׁלוֹםPeacePeaceשָׁלוֹםשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםהָיָהto beto beהָיָהמֶ֫לֶךְKing'sKing'sמֶ֫לֶךְשְׁבָאShebaShebaשְׁבָאוַשְׁתִּיVashtiVashtiוַשְׁתִּירַעְמָהRaamahRaamahרַעְמָהדְּדָןDedanDedanדְּדָןקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁחִירָםHiramHiramחִירָםרְחַבְעָםRehoboamRehoboamרְחַבְעָםקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָה
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 Kings 10:1

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 [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
וּמַֽלְכַּת־u.mal.kat- and [the] queen of H4436 Conjunction · noun
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A queen is a female ruler of a kingdom, like the Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon. The word refers to a woman with royal authority and power. It is used in the Bible to describe female monarchs.
Amplified meaning
ruler, monarch
Tyndale gloss
queen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַלְכָּה (malkah) means 'queen' and is a feminine form of the word for king. It specifically refers to a queen, such as the Queen of Sheba mentioned in 1 Kings 10:1. The term is also noted to have an Aramaic equivalent.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְכָּה 35 n.f. queen

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4436 מַלְכָּה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4436 malkah mal-kaw'

feminine of 4428; a queen:--queen.

see HEBREW for 04428

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְכָּה (mal.kah) — Queen (of Sheba).

A queen of the country Sheba (H7614J) living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.10.1

Combined with she.va (שְׁבָא " of Sheba" H7614J)

§ queen

מַלְכָּה (mal.kah) — queen.

queen

Aramaic equivalent: mal.kah (מַלְכָּה "queen" H4433)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun
HC/Ntfsc
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 [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
שְׁבָ֗אshe.Va' Sheba H7614 Noun proper
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Sheba was a region in southern Arabia, also the name of a man who was an ancestor of a tribe. The Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, as told in 1 Kings 10. The region of Sheba was known for its wealth and trade.
Amplified meaning
a region in southern Arabia
Tyndale gloss
Sheba
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁבָא (Shᵉbâ) refers to Sheba, a name associated with several early figures and a region in southern Arabia. It is linked to multiple descendants of patriarchs, including sons of Joktan and Raamah, and is noted for its meaning of 'seven' or 'an oath.' The entries indicate that Sheba can refer to both individuals and a nation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁבָא n.pr.gent. et terr. Shᵉbâ, in SW. Arabia

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7614 שְׁבָא Shᵉbâ, in SW. Arabia

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7614 Shba' sheb-aw'

of foreign origin; Sheba, the name of three early progenitors

of tribes and of an Ethiopian district:--Sheba, Sabeans.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁבָא (she.va) — Sheba.

A man of the Cushites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.7;

son of: Raamah (H7484);

brother of: Dedan (H1719B); also called Sabean at Job.1.15; 3x

§ Sheba = "seven" or "an oath"

1) son of Joktan and a descendant of Seth

2) son of Raamah, grandson of Cush, and a descendant of Ham

3) son of Jokshan, the son of Abraham by Keturah

4) a nation in southern Arabia

שְׁבָא (she.va) — Sheba.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.28;

son of: Joktan (H3355);

brother of: Almodad (H0486), Sheleph (H8026), Hazarmaveth (H2700), Jerah (H3392), Hadoram (H1913A), Uzal (H0187), Diklah (H1853), Obal (H5745), Abimael (H0039), Ophir (H0211), Havilah (H2341I) and Jobab (H3103)

§ Sheba = "seven" or "an oath"

1) son of Joktan and a descendant of Seth

2) son of Raamah, grandson of Cush, and a descendant of Ham

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sheba

An oath, seven. (1.) Heb. shebha, the son of Raamah (Gen. 10:7), whose descendants settled with those of Dedan on the Persian Gulf.

(2.) Heb. id. A son of Joktan (Gen. 10:28), probably the founder of the Sabeans.

(3.) Heb. id. A son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:3).

(4.) Heb. id. A kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact, was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites, speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and precious stones (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Raamah, Ge 10:7. His posterity is supposed to have settled near the head of the Persian Gulf. See CUSH and RAAMAH.

2. Son of Joktan, of the race of Shem, Ge 10:28. See SABEANS 2.

3. Son of Jokshan, and grandson of Abraham by Keturah, Ge 25:3. He is supposed to have settled in Arabia Deserta.

4. A turbulent Benjamite, who after the death of Absalom made a fruitless effort to excite a rebellion in Israel against David. Being pursued, and besieged in Abel-beth-maachah, near the southern part of Lebanon, he was beheaded by the people of the city, 2Sa 20:1-26.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

captivity; old man; repose; oath

and [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
שֹׁמַ֛עַתsho.Ma.'at [was] hearing H8085 Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine singular
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine singular
HVqrfsa
and [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
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 [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
שֵׁ֥מַעShe.ma' [the] report of H8088 Noun common · masculine singular construct
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a report, rumor, or announcement, something that is heard or spoken. In the Bible, it is used to describe news, fame, or a loud noise, often in books like Genesis and Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
report, reputation
Tyndale gloss
sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מַע (shema`) refers to both 'sound' and 'hearing' or 'report.' It is derived from a root meaning to hear and encompasses concepts like announcement and rumor. The word appears in contexts related to auditory experiences, including Psalm 150:5. There is a variant form, שֹׁ֫מַע (sho.ma), which also means 'report.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שֶׁ֫מַע] n.[m.] sound;—ψ 150:5

ref

שֵׁ֫מַע n.[m.] hearing, report

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8088a שֶׁ֫מַע sound H8088b שֵׁ֫מַע hearing, report

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8088 shema` shay'-mah

from 8085; something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor,

announcement; abstractly, audience:--bruit, fame, hear(-ing),

loud, report, speech, tidings.

see HEBREW for 08085

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מַע (she.ma) — sound.

sound

שֵׁ֫מַע (she.ma) — report.

report, a hearing

Also means: sho.ma (שֹׁ֫מַע "report" H8089)

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 [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
שְׁלֹמֹ֖הshe.lo.Moh Solomon H8010 Noun proper masculine
293× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shelomoh, or Solomon, was a king of Judah and successor of his father David, first mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:14 and known for his wisdom.
Amplified meaning
a king of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Solomon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁלֹמֹה (Shlomoh) refers to Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, known as a king of Judah. The name means 'peaceful' and he is recognized as the third king of Israel, credited with authorship of Proverbs and Song of Songs. He is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:14.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁלֹמֹה 293 n.pr.m. Solomon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8010 שְׁלֹמֹה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8010 Shlomoh shel-o-mo'

from 7965; peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor:--Solomon.

see HEBREW for 07965

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁלֹמֹה (she.lo.moh) — Solomon.

A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.5.14;

son of: David (H1732) and Bathsheba (H1339);

brother of: Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727) and Nathan (H5416);

half-brother of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N); married to daughter_of_Pharaoh (H6547P) and Naamah (H5279A);

father of: Taphath (H2955), Basemath (H1315) and Rehoboam (H7346); also called Jedidiah at 2Sa.12.25;

§ Solomon = "peace"

son of David by Bathsheba and 3rd king of Israel; author of Proverbs and Song of Songs

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

sol'-o-mun (shelomoh; New Testament Solomon):

I. EARLY LIFE

1. Name and Meaning

2. Sources

3. Birth and Upbringing

4. His Accession

5. Closing Days of David

II. REIGN OF SOLOMON

1. His Vision

2. His Policy

3. Its Results

4. Alliance with Tyre

5. Alliance with Egypt

6. Domestic Troubles

III. HIS BUILDINGS

1. The Temple

2. The Palace

3. Other Buildings

4. The Corvee

IV. HIS CHARACTER

1. Personal Qualities

2. His Wisdom

3. His Learning

4. Trade and Commerce

5. Officers of State

6. Wives

7. Revenues

8. Literary Works

LITERATURE

I. Early Life.

Solomon was the son of David and Bath-sheba, and became the 3rd king of Israel.

1. Name and Meaning:

He was so named by his mother (2Sa 12:24, Qere; see TEXT AND MANUSCRIPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT; TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT), but by the prophet Nathan, or by his father (Vulgate), he was called Jedidiah--"loved of Yahweh." The name…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Solomon

Peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David’s second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2 Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early manhood, probably about sixteen or eighteen years of age. Nathan, to whom his education was intrusted, called him Jedidiah, i.e., “beloved of the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:24, 25). He was the first king of Israel “born in the purple.” His father chose him as his successor, passing over the claims of his elder sons: “Assuredly Solomon my son shall reign after me.” His history is recorded in 1 Kings 1-11 and 2 Chr. 1-9. His elevation to the throne took place before his father’s death, and was hastened on mainly by Nathan and Bathsheba, in consequence of the rebellion…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(peaceful). I. Early life and occasion to the throne . --Solomon was the child of David’s old age, the last born of all his sons. (1 Chronicles 3:5) The yearnings of the "man of war" led him to give to the new-horn infant the name of Solomon (Shelomoth, the peaceful one). Nathan, with a marked reference to the meaning of the king’s own name (David, the darling, the beloved one), calls the infant Jedidiah (Jedid’yah), that is, the darling of the Lord. (2 Samuel 11:24,25) He was placed under the care of Nathan from his earliest infancy. At first, apparently, there was no distinct purpose to make him the heir. Absalom was still the king’s favorite son, (2 Samuel 13:37; 18:33) and was looked on by the people as the destined…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Peaceful, the son and successor of David, born of Bathsheba, B. C. 1033. The prophet Nathan called him Jedidiah, "beloved of the Lord," 2Sa 12:25 and he was a child of promise, 1Ch 22:9,10. At the age of eighteen he received from David the throne which his brother Adonijah had endeavored to usurp. Scripture records his earnest and pious petition for wisdom from above, that he might govern that great people well; and the bestowal of the wisdom, with numerous other blessings in its train, Mt 6:33. His unequalled learning and sagacity soon became renowned throughout the East, and continue so even to this day. In every kind of temporal prosperity he was preeminently favored. His unquestioned dominion extended from the Euphrates to…

and [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
לְשֵׁ֣םle.Shem to [the] name of H8034 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
identity, character
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
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 [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
יְהוָ֑הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, God's personal name
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
וַתָּבֹ֥אva.ta.Vo' and she came H935 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Amplified meaning
approached, visited
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
לְנַסֹּת֖וֹle.na.so.To to put to [the] test him H5254 Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct common · suffix
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to test or try something, often to prove its worth or character. It is used in stories like Job, where God allows Satan to test Job's faith. The idea of testing is also seen in the wilderness, where the Israelites were tested by God.
Amplified meaning
prove, try
Tyndale gloss
to test
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָסָה (nasah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to test or try. It encompasses actions like attempting, proving, and tempting, though not in a modern context. The word is built from a primitive root and is primarily used in the Piel form. All entries agree on its core meanings without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָסָה] vb. Pi. test, try

test, try

attempt, assay, try to do a thing

test, try, prove, tempt [but not in the modern sense of the word]

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5254 נָסָה Pi. test, try . test, try

. attempt, assay, try to do a thing

. test, try, prove, tempt [but not in the modern sense of the word]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5254 nacah naw-saw'

a primitive root; to test; by implication, to

attempt:--adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָסָה (na.sah) — to test.

: test

1) to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to test, try

1a2) to attempt, assay, try

1a3) to test, try, prove, tempt

נָסָה (na.sah) — to test: try.

: try/attempt

1) to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to test, try

1a2) to attempt, assay, try

1a3) to test, try, prove, tempt

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct common · suffix
HR/Vpcc/Sp3ms
and [the] queen of Sheba [was] hearing the object marker [the] report of Solomon to [the] name of Yahweh and she came to put to [the] test him by difficult matters
בְּחִידֽוֹת׃be.chi.Dot by difficult matters H2420 Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A riddle or puzzle is what this Hebrew word represents, often used to describe difficult questions or perplexing sayings. It appears in the Bible as a way to convey complex ideas or challenge people's thinking, such as in the story of Samson and Delilah.
Amplified meaning
hard, perplexing, riddles, enigmas
Tyndale gloss
riddle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חִידָה (chiydah) means 'riddle' or 'perplexing question.' It can refer to enigmatic sayings, dark utterances, or difficult questions, often used in a context of testing someone's wisdom, as seen in the story of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to puzzle' and can also imply trickery or double-dealing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חִידָה n.f. riddle, enigmatic, perplexing saying or question

riddle = dark, obscure utterance

riddle, enigma, to be guessed

perplexing questions by which queen of Sheba put Sol. to the test

skilled in double-dealing

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2420 חִידָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2420 chiydah khee-daw'

from 2330; a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious

maxim:--dark saying (sentence, speech), hard question,

proverb, riddle.

see HEBREW for 02330

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חִידָה (chi.dah) — riddle.

1) riddle, difficult question, parable, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question

1a) riddle (dark obscure utterance)

1b) riddle, enigma (to be guessed)

1c) perplexing questions (difficult)

1d) double dealing (with 'havin')

Aramaic equivalent: a.chi.dah (אֲחִידָה "riddle" H0280)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HR/Ncfpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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