Menu

1 Kings 14:23 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיִּבְנ֨וּ גַם־ הֵ֧מָּה לָהֶ֛ם בָּמ֥וֹת וּמַצֵּב֖וֹת וַאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים עַ֚ל כָּל־ גִּבְעָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־ עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃

BSATheyhêm alsogam [even, too] builtbânâh high placesbâmâh [cultic platforms, mountain shrines] sacred pillarsmatstsêbâh [memorials, monuments] and Asherah polesʼăshêrâh [a wooden pole or grove of the goddess Asherah] onʻal everykôl highgâbôahh hillgibʻâh [elevated area] and undertachath everykôl greenraʻănân [fresh, luxuriant] treeʻêts

Word
Listen & take away1 Kings 14
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (ra.'a.Nan) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Kings 14:23quick helps
In a sentenceThe people built high places and sacred pillars, engaging in worship practices that were not aligned with the LORD.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes the actions of the people of Judah.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger account detailing the sins of Judah during the reign of King Rehoboam.
The hard wordבָּמָה, bamah
Take awayThe construction of high places reflects a departure from proper worship.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבָּנָה 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 14:23

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 Sins of Judahgenerated

22And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and by the sins they committed they provoked Him to jealous anger more than all their fathers had done.
23They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
24There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. They imitated all the abominations of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
25In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem.

1 Kings 14:23 describes the actions of the people of Judah, who built high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles, demonstrating their unfaithfulness to the LORD. This behavior is part of a broader narrative that highlights the moral decline of Judah during this period, as seen in the preceding and following verses, which detail their sins and the consequences that followed.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 3:2The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built.
2Deuteronomy 12:2Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
3Isaiah 57:5who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
4Ezekiel 16:24–25you built yourself a mound and made yourself a lofty shrine in every public square.
5Ezekiel 20:28–29When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.

The Key Word בָּמָה, ba.Motgenerated

The Hebrew word בָּמָה (bamah) means 'high place' and often refers to elevated sites used for worship, particularly in a cultic context. It signifies not just physical height but also the spiritual significance of these locations, where rituals and sacrifices were performed.

In this verse, the use of בָּמָה indicates the establishment of unauthorized worship practices, contrasting with the prescribed worship of Yahweh. The plural form suggests that these sites were numerous and widespread, emphasizing the extent of the people's deviation from proper worship.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB uses high places, which is consistent with the KJV and ASV, both of which also use this term.

Where translations differ is in the rendering of גַם־also (ASV, BSB, KJV) versus even (NETB). This reflects a subtle difference in emphasis but does not alter the overall meaning.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וַיִּבְנ֨וּ, and they built, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a subject (they), a prepositional phrase indicating purpose (for themselves), and multiple noun phrases detailing what was built (high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles).

The sentence's flow emphasizes the actions of the people first, followed by what they constructed, indicating the priority of their actions in the narrative.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיִּבְנ֨וּ as ᾠκοδόμησαν (oikodomēsan), meaning 'they built.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the act of construction.

The use of ὑψηλὰ for בָּמָה suggests a focus on the elevated nature of these sites, which were significant in the worship practices of the time.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Kings 14:23 tells us that the people of Judah built high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles. This action shows their disobedience to God, as they engaged in worship practices that were not approved by Him.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What were high places?

High places were elevated sites used for worship, often associated with pagan practices that were contrary to the worship of Yahweh.

Why did the people build sacred pillars?

Sacred pillars were built as memorials or monuments, often to commemorate worship or significant events, but in this context, they reflect idolatrous practices.

What does the mention of Asherah poles indicate?

Asherah poles were associated with the worship of the Canaanite goddess Asherah, indicating that the people were engaging in idol worship rather than following the commands of God.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of 1 Kings?

This verse illustrates the recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness to God, highlighting the consequences of turning away from His commandments.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn about the dangers of idolatry from this verse?
  2. How does the construction of high places reflect the people's relationship with God?
  3. In what ways can we ensure that our worship practices align with God's commands?
  4. What steps can we take to avoid the pitfalls of cultural influences on our faith?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 14:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For they also built them high places,.... Which, though allowed of, or at least connived at, before the temple was built, and when the tabernacle was unfixed, yet afterwards unlawful; and the tribe

Read John Gill on 1 Kings 14 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 14 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They also built them high places; they followed the example of the Israelites, although they were better instructed, and had the temple in their kingdom, and liberty of access to it, which was denied to the Israelites; and the privilege of worshipping God in his own way, and the counsels, and sermons, and examples of the priests and Levites to and stablish them, and the dreadful example of Israel’ s horrid apostacy to caution and terrify them. The building of high places was unlawful, and now especially when the temple was built, and ready to receive them; unnecessary, and therefore expressed a greater contempt of God and his express command to the contrary. Images and groves; not only…

Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 14 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 14:23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.Ver. 23. For they also built them high places.] They fell to foul idolatry and sodomy, which are called evil by a specialty, like as war is called evil, that is, misery, antonomastice

Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 14 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) High places, and images, and groves.—On the “high places,” see 1 Kings 3:2, and Note there. The “images” of this passage seem undoubtedly to have been stone pillars, as the “groves” (i.e., the asherahs) were wooden stumps of trees (possibly in both cases surmounted by some rude representation of the deity worshipped). The first mention of such a pillar is in Genesis 28:18; Genesis 31:13; Genesis 35:14, there applied to the stone which Jacob raises and anoints, in order to mark the scene of the vision at Bethel; next, we find repeated commands to destroy them (with the asherahs also) as erected by the Canaanites (Exodus 23:24; Exodus 34:13; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 14 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. high places] We read constantly of ‘houses’ of the high places, and it is to these erections on some lofty hills that the ‘building’ here spoken of applies. See above, 1 Kings 12:31. images] The R.V. renders by pillars, with ‘obelisks’ in the margin. And this appears more correct than A. V. There is nothing in the word itself to denote an image. The root signifies ‘to set up,’ and this noun is applied to the stones which Jacob set up (Genesis 28:18; Genesis 31:45; Genesis 35:14), and which Joshua set up (Joshua 4:9) when the people had passed over Jordan. Probably therefore the erections made in Judah were only large stones. The name is given also to the ‘obelisks’ which stood at the…

Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 14 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The words “they also” are emphatic. Not only did the Israelites make themselves high places 1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 13:32, but the people of Judah also.

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 14 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

23. High places — Altars on hilltops. See note on 1 Kings 3:2. Images — Monumental pillars or statues erected to the honor of false gods. Groves — Rather, wooden idols, erected to the honour of Ashtoreth.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 14 →

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

They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They even built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree;

RVARevised Version, American1894

For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For they also built for themselves high places, and images and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For they also made them hie places, and images, and groues on euery hie hill, and vnder euery greene tree.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they also built for themselves high places, and columns, and Asherahs on every high hill and under every green tree;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And they build — also they — for themselves high places, and standing-pillars, and shrines, on every high height, and under every green tree;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they build—they also—for themselves high places, and standing-pillars, and Asherim, on every high height, and under every green tree;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And they also built themselves high-places, and standing images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For they also built for themselves high places, stone pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For they also built them altars, and statues, and groves upon every high hill and under every green tree:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They also set up for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For they made high places and upright stones and wood pillars on every high hill and under every green tree;

Word by word, the decisions they made

גַם־gam- also H1571 2 different renderings
alsoASV BSB DBY DRA FBV GNV ILT KJV LSV MSB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
evenNETB

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּבְנ֨וּthey.builtnoun phrase · subjectגַםalsoהֵ֧מָּהtheyprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָforהֶ֛םthemselvesnoun phrase · objectבָּמ֥וֹתhigh.placesוּandמַצֵּב֖וֹתsacred.pillarsוַandאֲשֵׁרִ֑יםAsherah.polesprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseעַ֚לonnoun phraseכָּלeverynoun phraseגִּבְעָ֣הhillגְבֹהָ֔הhighוְandprepositional phraseתַ֖חַתundernoun phraseכָּלeverynoun phraseעֵ֥ץtreeרַעֲנָֽןluxuriant

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 largely agree in their wording, with 13 out of 15 words matched. This indicates that the core message of the verse has been preserved across these ancient texts.

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

וַיִּבְנ֨וּ גַם־ הֵ֧מָּה לָהֶ֛ם בָּמ֥וֹת וּמַצֵּב֖וֹת וַאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים עַ֚ל כָּל־ גִּבְעָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־ עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּבְנ֨וּᾠκοδόμησανלָהֶ֛םἑαυτοῖςבָּמ֥וֹתὑψηλὰוּמַצֵּב֖וֹתστήλαςוַאֲשֵׁרִ֑יםἄλσηעַ֚לἐπὶכָּל־πάνταגִּבְעָ֣הβουνὸνגְבֹהָ֔הὑψηλὸνוְתַ֖חַתὑποκάτωכָּל־παντὸςעֵ֥ץχύλουרַעֲנָֽן׃συσκίου

13 of the 15 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 14:23בָּנָהand they buand they builtבָּנָהגַּםalsoalsoגַּםהֵ֫מָּהtheytheyהֵ֫מָּההֶםfor themselfor themselvesהֶםבָּמָהhigh placeshigh placesבָּמָהמַצֵּבָהand sacred and sacred pillמַצֵּבָהאֲשֵׁרָהand Asherahand Asherah polאֲשֵׁרָהעַלononעַלכֹּלeveryeveryכֹּלגִּבְעָהhillhillגִּבְעָהגָּבֹהַּhighhighגָּבֹהַּתַּחַתand underand underתַּחַתכֹּלeveryeveryכֹּלעֵץtreetreeעֵץרָעַןluxuriantluxuriantרָעַןכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלהֲלַךְto goto goהֲלַךְאָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרגָּבַהּto exultto exultגָּבַהּעָצָהto shutto shutעָצָהנָצַבto standto standנָצַבעַלheightheightעַלגֶּ֫בַעGebaGebaגֶּ֫בַעתּוֹחַתּוֹחַעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהחוֹמָהwallwallחוֹמָהמִזְבֵּחַaltaraltarמִזְבֵּחַתְּמוֹלyesterdayyesterdayתְּמוֹלשִׁלְשֹׁםthree daysthree days agoשִׁלְשֹׁםמְרִיrebellionrebellionמְרִיסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרקָטַרto offer: to offer: burnקָטַר
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 14:23

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 they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
וַיִּבְנ֨וּvai.yiv.Nu and they built H1129 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
376× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
to build
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּנָה 373 vb. build

Qal build

Niph.

be built

be rebuilt

(fig.) of restored exiles, = established

established, made permanent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1129 בָּנָה build .build

.. . be built

. be rebuilt

. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established

. established, made permanent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1129 banah baw-naw'

a primitive root; to build (literally and

figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,

repair, set (up), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.

1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to build, rebuild

1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be built

1b2) to be rebuilt

1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)

1b4) established (made permanent)

1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)

Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
גַם־gam- also H1571 Adverb
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Also means 'even' or 'too', used for emphasis or to connect ideas, like 'both...and' or 'neither...nor'. It can introduce a climax or show contrast.
Amplified meaning
even, too
Tyndale gloss
also
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּם (gam) is an adverb meaning 'also' or 'moreover,' indicating addition or emphasis. It can express various nuances, such as 'even,' 'indeed,' or 'but.' The term is often used in a correlational manner, as in 'both...and.' It appears in contexts that require clarification or reinforcement of a statement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1571 גַּם denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1571 gam gam

by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea,

though; often repeated as correl. both...and:--again, alike,

also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and , but, either...or,

even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover,

nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּם (gam) — also.

1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea

1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis)

1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative)

1c) even (for stress)

1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax)

1e) also (of correspondence or retribution)

1f) but, yet, though (adversative)

1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case)

2) (TWOT) again, alike

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol'-so: In the Greek kai, when it is equivalent to "also" or "even," is always placed before the word or phrase which it is intended to emphasize (e.g. Ac 12:3; 1 Joh 4:21). Mt 6:14 should therefore read, "Your heavenly Father will forgive you also"; Lu 6:13, "Whom also he named apostles"; Heb 8:6, "The mediator of a better covenant also"; and 1Th 4:14, `If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also (we believe that) those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him.'

and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
הֵ֧מָּהHe.mah they H1992 Pronoun
553× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
they(masc.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1992 hem haym

or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from

1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)

many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,

their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.

see HEBREW for 01981

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).

they, these, the same, who

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3mp
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
לָהֶ֛םla.Hem for themselves H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3mp
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
בָּמ֥וֹתba.Mot high places H1116 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A high place or elevation, often referring to a cultic platform or mountain. In the Bible, it can also refer to battlefields or funeral mounds, as seen in various passages.
Amplified meaning
cultic platforms, mountain shrines
Tyndale gloss
high place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּמָה (bamah) refers to a 'high place' or elevation, often associated with cultic worship sites. It can denote various heights, including mountains and battlefields, and may also imply a funeral mound. The term is derived from an unused root meaning 'to be high,' indicating its connection to elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּמָה 104 n.f. high place

high place, mountain

high places, battle-fields

high places, as places of worship

funereal mound (?)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1116 בָּמָה high place

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1116 bamah bam-maw'

from an unused root (meaning to be high); an

elevation:--height, high place, wave.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּמָה (ba.mah) — high place.

1) high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform)

1a) high place, mountain

1b) high places, battlefields

1c) high places (as places of worship)

1d) funeral mound?

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The ancient Canaanites, and other nations, worshipped the heavenly bodies and their idols upon hills, mountains, and artificial elevations. The Israelites were commanded to destroy these places of idol worship, De 12:2, but instead of this, they imitated the heathen, and at first worshipped Jehovah in high places, 1Sa 9:12 1Ki 3:4, and afterwards idols, 1Ki 11:7 2Ki 17:10,11. Here also they built chapels or temples, "houses of the high places," 1Ki 13:32 2Ki 17:29, and had regular priests,

→ A term used to describe places of worship Ge 12:8; 22:2,14; 31:54; 1Sa 9:12; 2Sa 24:25; 1Ki 3:2,4; 18:30,38; 1Ch 16:39; 2Ch 1:3; 33:17

→ Signify a place of idolatrous worship Nu 22:41; 1Ki 11:7; 12:31; 14:23; 15:14; 22:43; 2Ki 17:9,29; Jer 7:31

→ Licentious practices at Eze 16:24-43

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Used for idolatrous worship

1Ki 11:7,8

- God sometimes worshipped on

1Sa 9:12; 1Ki 3:2,4; 2Ch 33:17

- MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

. Gibeon

1Ki 3:4

. Arnon

Nu 21:28

. Baal

Nu 22:41

. Tophet

Jer 7:31

. Bamah

Eze 20:29

. Aven

Ho 10:8

- Adorned with tapestry

Eze 16:16

- Surrounded with groves

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) General References to Idolatrous. See FALSE WORSHIP

(2) Condemned

Le 26:30; Nu 33:52; 1Ki 13:32; 2Ch 14:3; Jer 7:31

(3) Sometimes used for True Worship

Ge 22:2; 31:54; Jud 6:26; 1Sa 9:12; 10:5; 1Ki 3:4; 18:19

and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
וּמַצֵּב֖וֹתu.ma.tze.Vot and sacred pillars H4676 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural absolute
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A pillar or monument, sometimes used as a memorial or with an altar, like those found in Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
memorials, monuments
Tyndale gloss
pillar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַצֵּבָה (maṣṣēbā) refers to a pillar or a memorial stone, often associated with altars. It can also denote a stump or a standing image, potentially an idol. The word is derived from a participle form indicating something that is stationed or set up.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת n.f. pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4676 מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4676 matstsebah mats-tsay-baw'

feminine (causatively) participle of 5324; something

stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an

idol:--garrison, (standing) image, pillar.

see HEBREW for 05324

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַצֵּבָה (mats.tse.vah) — pillar.

1) pillar, mastaba, stump

1a) pillar

1a1) as monument, personal memorial

1a2) with an altar

1b)(Hoph) stock, stump (of tree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural absolute
HC/Ncfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- The supports of a building

Jud 16:29

- Things raised up as memorials

Ge 31:51

- MADE OF

. Marble

Es 1:6

. Wood

1Ki 10:12

. Iron

Jer 1:18

. Brass

1Ki 7:15

. Silver

So 3:10

- The vail and hangings of the tabernacle supported by

Ex 26:32,37; 36:36,38

- Two, placed in the temple porch

1Ki 7:15-21

- OF MEMORIAL

. Sometimes of a single stone

Ge 28:18

and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
וַאֲשֵׁרִ֑יםva.'a.she.Rim and Asherah poles H842 Conjunction · noun
40× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Asherah was a goddess worshipped by the Canaanites and Phoenicians, often represented by a tree or pole near an altar. The Bible warns against worshipping her, as in Deuteronomy and Judges. She was considered a consort of Baal.
Amplified meaning
a wooden pole or grove of the goddess Asherah
Tyndale gloss
Asherah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲשֵׁרָה (asherah) refers to a Phoenician goddess associated with happiness and fortune, as well as to the images or groves used for idol worship. It is linked to the goddess Astarte and is often represented by sacred trees or poles near altars. The term appears in contexts related to idol worship in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֵׁרָה, אֲשֵׁירָה n.pr.f. Ashera

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H842 אֲשֵׁרָה, אֲשֵׁירָה Ashera

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

842 'asherah ash-ay-raw'

or masheyrah {ash-ay-raw'}; from 833; happy; Asherah (or

Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same:--

grove. Compare 6253.

see HEBREW for 0833

see HEBREW for 06253

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֵׁרָה (a.she.rah) — Asherah.

§ Ashera(h) = "groves (for idol worship)"

a Babylonian (Astarte)-Canaanite goddess (of fortune and happiness), the supposed consort of Baal, her images

her images

sacred trees or poles set up near an altar

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun
HC/Ntmpa
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
עַ֚ל'al on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
כָּל־kol- every H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
גִּבְעָ֣הgiv.'Ah hill H1389 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
68× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gibeat refers to a small hill, with the name meaning hill, and is another spelling of Gibeah. It appears in various KJV translations as hill or little hill.
Amplified meaning
elevated area
Tyndale gloss
Gibeat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּבְעָה (gib'ah) means 'hill' and refers to a small elevation of land. It can denote a place of worship or be used in place names, often associated with illicit worship. The word is feminine and is derived from a related term for a hillock. It appears in various contexts, including poetic uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גִּבְעָה n.f. hill

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1389 גִּבְעָה hill

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1389 gib`ah ghib-aw'

feminine from the same as 1387; a hillock:--hill, little

hill.

see HEBREW for 01387

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeath-(elohim).

Gibeath - a place or worship

This name means hill

1a) hill

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeath-(haaraloth).

This name means hill

Another name of gil.gal (גִּלְגָּל "Gilgal" H1537G)

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — hill.

1) hill

1a) hill (lower than a mountain)

1b) as a place of illicit worship

1c) poetic for mountain

1d) used in place names

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeat.

This name means hill

Another spelling of giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeah" H1390H)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hill

(1.) Heb. gib’eah, a curved or rounded hill, such as are common to Palestine (Ps. 65:12; 72:3; 114:4, 6).

(2.) Heb. har, properly a mountain range rather than an individual eminence (Ex. 24:4, 12, 13, 18; Num. 14:40, 44, 45). In Deut. 1:7, Josh. 9:1; 10:40; 11:16, it denotes the elevated district of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, which forms the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.

(3.) Heb. ma’aleh in 1 Sam. 9:11. Authorized Version “hill” is correctly rendered in the Revised Version “ascent.”

and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
גְבֹהָ֔הge.vo.Hah high H1364 Adj
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
High means elevated or powerful, like a tall mountain or a proud person, as described in Proverbs where pride comes before a fall.
Tyndale gloss
high
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word גָּבֹהַּ (*gaboah*) means high or exalted, covering meanings such as tall, lofty, and haughty. It can also refer to loftiness as a noun. The word is derived from a root meaning to elevate or be elevated, and it appears in contexts that emphasize height or pride.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּבֹהַּ adj. high, exalted

high, lofty, tall

exalted in station

haughty

n.[m.] loftiness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1364 גָּבֹהַּ high, exalted . high, lofty, tall

. exalted in station

. haughty

. n. [m.] loftiness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1364 gaboahh gaw-bo'-ah

or (fully) gabowahh {gaw-bo'-ah}; from 1361; elevated (or

elated), powerful, arrogant:--haughty, height, high(-er),

lofty, proud, X exceeding proudly.

see HEBREW for 01361

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּבֹהַּ (ga.vo.ah) — high.

adj

1) high, exalted

1a) high, tall

1b) high (in position)

1c) proud, haughty

n m

2) loftiness

Also means: ga.vah (גָּבֹהַּ "high" H1362)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafsa
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
וְתַ֖חַתve.Ta.chat and under H8478 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
505× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.
Tyndale gloss
underneath: under
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8478 tachath takh'-ath

from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only

adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix

underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,

in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead

of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,

with.

see HEBREW for 08430

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.

: under/below

1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m

1a) the under part adv accus

1b) beneath prep

1c) under, beneath

1c1) at the foot of (idiom)

1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)

1c3) of subjection or conquest

1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands

1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)

1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)

1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)

conj

1e) instead of, instead of that

1f) in return for that, because that in compounds

1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)

1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath

תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.

: instead/in_place/exchange

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
כָּל־kol- every H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
עֵ֥ץ'etz tree H6086 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
330× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word for tree or wood refers to a strong and firm object, like a tree or a wooden plank, as seen in the carpentry work of Jesus' earthly father Joseph in Matthew 13:55.
Tyndale gloss
tree: wood
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵץ (ets) refers to a tree or wood, encompassing various forms such as timber, sticks, and planks. It can denote both singular and plural trees, as well as specific uses like gallows and firewood. The word is derived from a root meaning firmness, indicating its solid nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood

(c. 150 t.)

a standing tree

coll. trees

(c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6086 עֵץ tree, trees, wood . (c. 150 t.) . a standing tree

. coll. trees

. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6086 `ets ates

from 6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural

sticks):--+ carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff,

stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.

see HEBREW for 06095

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵץ (ets) — tree: wood.

: wood

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree.

: tree

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: stick.

: stick/log

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: stake.

: stake/shaft

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: carpenter.

: carpenter/wood(worker)

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

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

tre.

See BOTANY.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of life Ge 2:9; 3:22,24; Re 22:14

→ Of knowledge Ge 2:9,17; 3:3-6,11,12,17

→ FIGURATIVE Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8

→ SYMBOLICAL Da 4:10-12

and they built also they for themselves high places and sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every hill high and under every tree luxuriant
רַעֲנָֽן׃ra.'a.Nan luxuriant H7488 Adj
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes something as luxuriant or fresh, like a new and growing plant. It is used to describe a prosperous or thriving condition.
Amplified meaning
fresh, luxuriant
Tyndale gloss
be fresh
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word רָעַן (*ra`an*) is a verb meaning to be or grow luxuriant, fresh, or green, while רַעֲנָן (*ra`anan*) is an adjective describing something as luxuriant or fresh. It is derived from an unused root meaning to be green and can also imply prosperity. The verb appears in Job 15:32.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָעַן] vb. only Pa‛lel be or grow luxuriant, fresh, green;—Jb 15:32

ref

רַעֲנָן adj. luxuriant, fresh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7488a רָעַן only Pa‛lal be or grow luxuriant, fresh, green H7488b רַעֲנָן luxuriant, fresh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7488 ra`anan rah-an-awn'

from an unused root meaning to be green; verdant; by analogy,

new; figuratively, prosperous:--green, flourishing.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָעַן (ra.an) — be fresh.

v

(Palel) to be or grow luxuriant or fresh or green

רַעֲנָן (ra.a.nan) — luxuriant.

adj

luxuriant, fresh

Aramaic equivalent: ra.a.nan (רַעֲנַן "luxuriant" H7487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate