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1 Samuel 14:16 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּרְא֤וּ הַצֹּפִים֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל בְּגִבְעַ֖ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֧ה הֶהָמ֛וֹן נָמ֖וֹג וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַהֲלֹֽם׃ פ

BSANow when Saul’sShâʼûwl [the desired one, Shaul] watchmentsâphâh [those who observe] at GibeahGibʻâh [a hill, a city in Benjamin] in BenjaminBinyâmîyn [son of the right hand] lookedrâʼâh [to see, to watch, vayar] and sawhinnêh [behold] the troopshâmôwn [the multitude] melting awaymûwg [dissolving, namog]

Word
Listen & take away1 Samuel 14
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 16 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 (va.ha.Lom) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Samuel 14:16quick helps
In a sentenceSaul's watchmen see the troops scattering in fear.
Who is speakingSaul's watchmen, observing the battlefield.
Where we areAt Gibeah, a city in the territory of Benjamin.
The hard wordנָמ֖וֹג
Take awayThe troops are in disarray, fleeing in all directions.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbרָאָה 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 Samuel 14:16

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 Panic of the Philistinesgenerated

15Then terror struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked and panic spread from God.
16Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,
17Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has left us.” And when they had called the roll, they saw that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.
18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)

1 Samuel 14:16 describes a moment of chaos as Saul’s watchmen observe the enemy troops in disarray. This scene follows a divine panic that struck the Philistines, leading to their retreat. The context highlights the tension and fear on the battlefield, showcasing the turning point in the conflict between Israel and the Philistines.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 58:7May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
2Psalm 68:2As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.
31 Samuel 14:20Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor.
4Judges 7:22And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
52 Chronicles 20:22–25The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word נָמ֖וֹג, na.Moggenerated

The verb מוּג (muwg) means 'to melt' and can describe both a physical melting and a figurative sense of fear or weakness. In this verse, it indicates the troops dissolving in fear, emphasizing their panic and loss of morale.

This verb is in the Niphal form, which often conveys a passive or reflexive action. Here, it suggests that the troops are not just melting away but are being caused to do so by the overwhelming circumstances around them.


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.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is וַיִּרְא֤וּ, and they saw, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes a subject (the watchmen), a series of prepositional phrases indicating location, and a subordinate clause describing what they saw.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of the watchmen, highlighting their role as observers of the chaotic scene unfolding before them.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew וַיִּרְא֤וּ is rendered as εἶδον (eidon), which also means 'to see.' This choice reflects a direct translation of the action of observing, maintaining the same emphasis on sight.

The Greek term captures the same sense of perception as the Hebrew, indicating the watchmen's awareness of the situation.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Samuel 14:16 tells us that Saul's watchmen were on guard at Gibeah in Benjamin. They looked out and saw the enemy troops melting away in fear and scattering in every direction. This moment illustrates the panic that struck the Philistines, leading to their retreat.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the troops melted away?

It means the troops were filled with fear and panic, causing them to scatter and flee from the battlefield.

Who are the watchmen?

The watchmen are Saul's observers stationed at Gibeah, tasked with watching for enemy movements.

What significance does Gibeah hold?

Gibeah is a city in Benjamin and the birthplace of King Saul, making it a significant location in the narrative.

How does this verse reflect the state of the battle?

This verse highlights a critical moment of panic among the Philistines, indicating a shift in the battle's momentum in favor of Israel.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some situations in my life where I've felt overwhelmed, like the troops in this verse?
  2. How can I be more observant in my own life, like Saul's watchmen?
  3. What does this passage teach me about fear and how it can affect a group or community?
  4. In what ways can I support others who are feeling fearful or panicked?

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

Early commentators like Gregory the Dialogist and Bede reflect on the significance of this passage, interpreting the actions of Saul's watchmen and their implications for understanding the narrative.

Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 4 c. 540–604
But because we said above that Saul signifies the chief priests, and Jonathan his son represents the subordinate persons of preachers, if we attend to what follows,
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 14 →
BedeCommentary on Samuel c. 673–735
And the watchmen of Saul look forth, etc. Those who have ascended the watchtower of holy Scripture look forth beyond others, and they are on the hill of the sons of the right hand, that is,
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 14 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 14:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked,.... The city of Gibeah was built on an hill, from where it had its name; and these watchmen or sentinels of Saul were set by him no doubt in the

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

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. The watchmen of Saul ... looked.

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

In Gibeah, or, in the hill, as the very same word is rendered, , and that was the fittest place for watchmen. The multitude, to wit, of that numerous host of the Philistines. Melted away, i.e. were strangely and suddenly dispersed, and put to flight. Beating down one another; either, 1. Accidentally, through hasty flight; or, 2. With design to destroy one another, as the authors or abettors of the present calamity. Possibly God blinded their eyes or their minds, that they could not distinguish friends from foes. Compare , &c.; .

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

1 Samuel 14:16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down [one another].Ver. 16. And they went on beating down one another.] As any one was in their way, they knocked him down: being smitten with such a scotama or acridis, a giddiness of brain, or blindness of judgment, that they knew not their friends from their foes in that distemper and hurrycomb. Josephus saith, that when Jonathan first showed himself, a cloud suddenly arose, which so darkened the air, that they knew neither him, nor one another. But God, where he pleaseth, can easily trouble the fantasy, and make men to mistake; as we see daily in…

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

(16) And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked . . .—The distance between the outposts of the little Israelite army and the vast Philistine host was only about two miles, but a deep ravine or chasm lay between them. The watchmen of Saul were well able to see the scene of dire confusion in the outposts, a confusion which they could discern was rapidly spreading through the more distant camp of the main body. The Hebrew words, vayçleh vahãlom, in the last clause of the verse, have been variously rendered; the Rabbinical interpretation is the best: “magis magisque pangebatur”—“were more and more broken up.” This takes hãlom as an infinitive absolute. The LXX. considers this word an…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Samuel 14 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 16. The watchmen of Saul] Those who were sent out as scouts to observe the motions of the army. Melted away] There was no order in the Philistine camp, and the people were dispersing in all directions. The Vulgate has, Et ecce multitudo prostrata, "And behold the multitude were prostrate;" many lay dead upon the field, partly by the sword of Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and partly by the swords of each other, 1 Samuel 14:20.

Read AdamClarke on 1 Samuel 14 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16–23. The rout of the Philistines 16. in Gibeah of Benjamin] If Tuleil-el-Fûl is the true site of the town of Gibeah, we must either suppose that Gibeah is here used of the surrounding district, or read Geba for Gibeah, since according to Lieut. Conder, Michmash is not visible from Tuleil-el-Fûl. See note on 1 Samuel 10:5. they went on beating down one another] It is doubtful if this or any other meaning can be extracted from the present Heb. text The Sept. gives a good sense: “And behold, the camp was in confusion on every side.”

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

Multitude - The word is in 1 Samuel 14:19 (margin) rendered tumult. It must have the same meaning here. The sentence is obscure and probably corrupt; perhaps it means, “and behold the tumult!

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Samuel 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

Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away and scattered.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,

NETBNew English Translation2006

Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin looked on as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went hither and thither.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another .

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Beniamin sawe: and beholde, the multitude was discomfited, and smitten as they went.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on slaying one another.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin see, and lo, the multitude hath melted away, and it goeth on, and is beaten down.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin see, and behold, the multitude has melted away, and it goes on, and is beaten down.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the watchers of Saul in Gib'ah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude became scattered, and ran hither and thither.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; the crowd of Philistine soldiers was dispersing, and they were going here and there.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the watchmen of Saul, who were in Gabaa of Benjamin looked, and behold a multitude overthrown, and fleeing this way and that.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the Philistine army melting away, scattering in all directions.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the watchmen of Saul, looking out from Geba in the land of Benjamin, saw all the army flowing away and running here and there.

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּרְא֤וּthey.sawnoun phrase · subjectהַthenoun phrasenoun phraseצֹּפִים֙watchmenprepositional phraseלְofשָׁא֔וּלSaulprepositional phraseבְּatnoun phraseגִבְעַ֖תGibeahבִּנְיָמִ֑ןof.Benjaminוְandclauseclauseהִנֵּ֧הthere!clauseclausenoun phrase · subjectהֶtheהָמ֛וֹןmultitudeverbנָמ֖וֹגit.melted.awayוַandclauseclauseverbיֵּ֥לֶךְit.wentוַandclauseadverbialהֲלֹֽםhere

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 closely, with all ten words matched in the Hebrew and Greek. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the events described, though the Septuagint's word order differs.

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

וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַצֹּפִים֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל בְּגִבְעַ֖ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְהִנֵּ֧ה הֶהָמ֛וֹן נָמ֖וֹג וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַהֲלֹֽם׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּרְא֤וּεἶδονהַצֹּפִים֙σκοποὶלְשָׁא֔וּלσαουλבְּגִבְעַ֖תγαβεεבִּנְיָמִ֑ןβενιαμινוְהִנֵּ֧הἰδοὺהֶהָמ֛וֹןπαρεμβολὴנָמ֖וֹגτεταραγμένηוַיֵּ֥לֶךְκαὶוַהֲלֹֽם׃ פἔνθεν

10 of the 10 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 Samuel 14:16רָאָהand they saand they sawרָאָהצָפָהthe watchmethe watchmenצָפָהשָׁאוּלof Saulof Saulשָׁאוּלגִּבְעָהat Gibeah oat Gibeah ofגִּבְעָהבִּנְיָמִיןBenjaminBenjaminבִּנְיָמִיןהִנֵּהand there!and there!הִנֵּההָמוֹןthe multituthe multitudeהָמוֹןמוּגit melted ait melted awayמוּגהָלַךְand it wentand it wentהָלַךְהֲלֹםand hereand hereהֲלֹםגִּבְעָהGibeatGibeatגִּבְעָהבֵּןson: childson: childבֵּןהָמָהto roarto roarהָמָהשָׁאַלto askto askשָׁאַלהֵןlook!look!הֵןהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְהָֽ֫לְאָהfurtherfurtherהָֽ֫לְאָהעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטמִגְדָּלtowertowerמִגְדָּלנָגַדto tellto tellנָגַדאִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁתIsh-boshetIsh-boshethאִישׁ־בֹ֫שֶׁתיְהוֹנָתָןJonathanJonathanיְהוֹנָתָןרָמָהRamahRamahרָמָהבִּנְיָמִין(Gate of) (Gate of) BenjaבִּנְיָמִיןגִּבְעָהGibeahGibeahגִּבְעָהמַטֶּהtribetribeמַטֶּהנֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַע
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 Samuel 14:16

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 saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
וַיִּרְא֤וּvai.yir.'U and they saw H7200 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
to see, to watch, vayar
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

so.

See TOOLS.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Egyptian saws, so far as has yet been discovered, are single-handed. As is the case in modern Oriental saws, the teeth usually incline toward the handle, instead of away from it like ours. They have, in most cases, bronze blades, apparently attached to the handles by leathern thongs. No evidence exists of the use of the saw applied to stone in Egypt, but we read of sawn stones used in the temple. (1 Kings 7:9) The saws "under" or "in" which David is said to have placed his captives were of iron. The expression in (2 Samuel 12:31) does not necessarily imply torture, but the word "cut" in (1 Chronicles 20:3) can hardly be understood otherwise.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used as an instrument of torture 2Sa 12:31; Heb 11:37

→ Used for cutting stone 1Ki 7:9

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 10:15

and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
הַצֹּפִים֙ha.tzo.Fim the watchmen H6822 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tsaphah means to watch or observe, often by leaning forward to see into the distance. It can also mean to wait or keep watch, like a guard.
Amplified meaning
those who observe
Tyndale gloss
to watch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָפָה (tsaphah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to look out, spy, or keep watch. It is built from a primitive root implying leaning forward to observe or await. The word covers a range of meanings including to behold, espy, and watch closely. In the Old Testament, it can also refer to a watchman.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צָפָה] 37 vb. look out or about, spy, keep watch

Qal 28 keep watch; elsewh. as subst. watchman

Pi. watch (closely); pt. as n. = watchman

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6822 צָפָה look out or about, spy, keep watch

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6822 tsaphah tsaw-faw'

a primitive root; properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer

into the distance; by implication, to observe, await:--

behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the)

watch(-man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָפָה (tsa.phah) — to watch.

1) to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch

1a)(Qal) to keep watch, spy

1b) (Piel) to watch, watch closely

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
HTd/Vqrmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Are of as early a date as cities, robbers, and wars, Ex 14:24 Jud 7:19. Jerusalem and other cities had regular guards night and day, So 3:1-3 5:7, to whose hourly cries Isaiah refers in illustration of the vigilance required by God in his ministers, Isa 21:8,11,12 62:6.

At this day the watchmen of Jerusalem "keep not silence," nor do they "hold their peace day nor night;" especially at night and when danger is apprehended, they are required to call to each other every few minutes, and the cry passes from one to another entirely around the city walls. Those of Sidon also do the same. Watchmen always had a station at the gate of a city and in the adjacent tower,

- Soldiers generally acted as

Mt 27:65,66

- Citizens sometimes acted as

Ne 7:3

- WERE STATIONED

. On watch towers

2Ki 9:17; Isa 21:5

. On the walls of cities

Isa 62:6

. In the streets of cities

Ps 127:1

. Around the temple in Jerusalem on special occasions

2Ki 11:6

- Paraded the streets at night to preserve order

So 3:3; 5:7

- IN TIME OF DANGER

. Increase in number

Jer 51:12

. Vigilant night and day

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) Of a City

2Sa 18:25; 2Ki 9:18; Ps 127:1; Jer 31:6

(2) Spiritual. See LEADERS

and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
לְשָׁא֔וּלle.sha.'Ul of Saul H7586 Preposition · noun proper masculine
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shaul is a personal name meaning desired, given to several individuals in the Bible, including a Benjamite who became the first king of Israel and a Levite living during the time of the Divided Monarchy. He is mentioned in 1 Chronicles and 1 Samuel.
Amplified meaning
the desired one, Shaul
Tyndale gloss
Shaul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאוּל (Sha'uwl) means 'asked' and is associated with several figures in the Old Testament, most notably Saul, the first king of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin. The entries indicate that the name can refer to multiple individuals, including an early king of Edom and a Levite. The name is derived from a passive participle form, suggesting a connection to the act of asking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאוּל n.pr.m. (= asked)

397 1st king of Isr.

a king of Edom

a son of Simeon

a Levite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7586 שָׁאוּל (= asked)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7586 Sha'uwl shaw-ool'

passive participle of 7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an

Edomite and two Israelites:--Saul, Shaul.

see HEBREW for 07592

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Saul.

A king of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2;

son of: Kish (H7027); married to Ahinoam (H0293) and Rizpah (H7532);

father of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764), Michal (H4324), Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764), Mephibosheth (H4648H)

§ Saul or Shaul = "desired"

1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel

2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah

3) a son of Simeon

4) a Levite, son of Uzziah

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Shaul.

A man of the tribe of Simeon living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.10;

son of: Simeon (H8095) and Canaanite_woman (H3669);

brother of: Jemuel (H3223), Jamin (H3226), Ohad (H0161), Jachin (H3199) and Zerah (H2226L);

father of: Shallum (H7967K)

Also named: sha.u.li (שָׁאוּלִי "Shaulite" H7587)

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

sol (sha'ul; Saoul):

(1) The first king of Israel.

I. EARLY HISTORY

1. Name and Meaning

2. Genealogy

3. Home and Station

4. Sources for Life

5. Election as King

6. Reasons for It

II. REIGN AND FALL

1. His First Action

2. Army Reorganized

3. Battle of Michmash

4. Defeats the Amalekites

5. Deposition Pronounced

6. David Introduced to Saul

7. Two Accounts

8. Saul's Envy of David

9. Attempts to Get Rid of David

10. David Spares Saul

11. Saul's Divided Energies

12. Consults a Necromancer

13. Battle of Gilboa

14. Double Accounts

15. Saul's Posterity

III. CHARACTER

1. Book of Chronicles

2. Saul's Failings

3. His Virtue

4. David's Elegy

I. Early History.

1. Name and Meaning:

The name Saul is usually regarded as simply the passive participle of the verb "to ask," and so meaning "asked" (compare 1Sa 8:4 ff), but the gentilic adjective sha'uli (

Saul

Asked for. (1.) A king of Edom (Gen. 36:37, 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48.

(2.) The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, “asked for”), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in 1 Sam. 8-10. His father’s she-asses had strayed, and Saul was sent with a servant to seek for them. Leaving his home at Gibeah (10:5, “the hill of God,” A.V.; lit., as in R.V. marg., “Gibeah of God”), Saul and his servant went toward the north-west over Mount Ephraim, and then turning north-east they came to “the land of Shalisha,” and thence eastward to the land of Shalim, and at length came to the district of Zuph, near Samuel’s home at Ramah (9:5-10). At this point…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(desired), more accurately Shaul. One of the early kings of Edom, and successor of Samlah. (Genesis 36:37,38; 1 Chronicles 1:48) (B.C. after 1450.) The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. (B.C, 1095-1055.) His character is in part illustrated by the fierce, wayward, fitful nature of the tribe and in part accounted for by the struggle between the old and new systems in which he found himself involved. To this we must add a taint of madness. which broke out in violent frenzy at times leaving him with long lucid intervals. He was remarkable for his strength and activity, (2 Samuel 1:25) and, like the Homeric heroes, of gigantic stature, taller by head and shoulders than the rest of the people, and…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Israelites, anointed by Samuel, B. C. 1091, and after a reign of forty years filled with various events, slain with his sons on Mount Gilboa. He was succeeded by David, who was his son-in-law, and whom he had endeavored to put to death. His history is contained in 1Sa 10:1-31:13. It is a sad and admonitory narrative. The morning of his reign was bright with special divine favors, both providential, and spiritual, 1Sa 9:20 10:1-11,24,25. But he soon began to disobey God, and was rejected as unworthy to found a line of kings; his sins and misfortunes multiplied, and his sun went down in gloom. In his first war with the Ammonites, God was with him; but then follow his presumptuous sacrifice, in the absence of Samuel…

and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
בְּגִבְעַ֖תbe.giv.'At at Gibeah of H1390 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gibeah was a city in Palestine, specifically in the region of Benjamin, and was the birthplace of King Saul. The name means hill, and it is mentioned in various KJV translations as Gibeah or the hill.
Amplified meaning
a hill, a city in Benjamin
Tyndale gloss
Gibeah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּבְעָה (Gib'ah) means 'hill' and refers to several locations in ancient Palestine, notably a city in the mountainous region of Judah and another in Benjamin, which is recognized as the birthplace of King Saul. The entries indicate that it is derived from a similar word, גִּבְעָה (H1389), emphasizing its geographical significance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גִּבְעָה n.pr.loc. (hill)

a city of Judah

city of Benj.

a city of Ephraim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1390 גִּבְעָה (hill)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1390 Gib`ah ghib-aw'

the same as 1389; Gibah; the name of three places in

Palestine:--Gibeah, the hill.

see HEBREW for 01389

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeah.

§ Gibeah = "hill"

a city in the mountain district of Judah

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeah.

§ Gibeah = "hill"

a city of Benjamin, birthplace of king Saul

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
HR/Ncfsc
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 they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
בִּנְיָמִ֑ןbin.ya.Min Benjamin H1144 Noun proper masculine
166× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Benjamin means son of the right hand, referring to the youngest son of Jacob and the tribe that descended from him. The term is first used in Genesis 35:18. Benjamin was a brother of Joseph and a half-brother of Reuben and others.
Amplified meaning
son of the right hand
Tyndale gloss
(Gate of) Benjamin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בִּנְיָמִין (i.e., *Binyamiyn*) means 'son of the right hand.' It refers primarily to Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, as well as to the tribe descended from him. The entries also mention a son of Bilhan and several individuals from the time of Ezra. Notably, the name is associated with various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּנְיָמִין n.pr.m. 166 (son of (the) right hand)—

youngest son of Jacob, so called by him, but Rachel, the mother, who died at Benjamin's birth, called בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י (q.v.)

son of Bilhan and great-grandson of Benjamin

a Jew of Ezra's time

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1144 בִּנְיָמִין . youngest son of Jacob, so called by him, but Rachel, the mother, who died at Benjamin's birth, called בֶּן־אוֹנִ֑י (q.v.)

. son of Bilhan and great-grandson of Benjamin

. a Jew of Ezra's time

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1144 Binyamiyn bin-yaw-mene'

from 1121 and 3225; son of (the) right hand; Binjamin,

youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and

its territory:--Benjamin.

see HEBREW for 01121

see HEBREW for 03225

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּנְיָמִין (bin.ya.min) — Benjamin.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.35.18;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Rachel (H7354);

brother of: Joseph (H3130);

half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

father of: Bela (H1106A), Becher (H1071), Ashbel (H0788), Gera (H1617), Naaman (H5283), Ehi (H0278), Rosh (H7220), Muppim (H4649), Huppim (H2650H), Ard (H0714), Ahiram (H0297) and Jediael (H3043); also called Jamin at 1Sa.9.1,4; 22.7; 1x

§ Benjamin = "son of the right hand"

1) Jacob's and Rachel's youngest son, Joseph's full brother

2) son of Bilhan, great-grandson of Benjamin

3) a Benjamite, one of the sons of Harim, in the time of Ezra who had taken a strange wife

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

ben'-ja-min (binyamin, or binyamin; Beniaein, Beniamin):

1. The Patriarch:

The youngest of Jacob's sons. His mother Rachel died in giving him birth. As she felt death approaching she called him Benoni, "son of my sorrow." Fearing, probably, that this might bode evil for the child--for names have always preserved a peculiar significance in the East--Jacob called him Benjamin, "son of the fight hand" (Ge 35:17 ff). He alone of Jacob's sons was born in Palestine, between Bethel and Ephrath. Later in the chapter, in the general enumeration of the children born in Paddan-ar am, the writer fails to except Benjamin (Ge 35:24). Joseph was his full brother. In the history where Benjamin appears as an object of solicitude to his father and brothers, we must not forget that he was already a…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Benjamin

Son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 35:18). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place. His mother died in giving him birth, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, son of my pain, a name which was changed by his father into Benjamin. His posterity are called Benjamites (Gen. 49:27; Deut. 33:12; Josh. 18:21).

The tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus was the smallest but one (Num. 1:36, 37; Ps. 68:27). During the march its place was along with Manasseh…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(son of the right hand, fortunate). The youngest of the children of Jacob. His birth took place on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, near the latter, B.C. 1729. His mother, Rachel, died in the act of giving him birth, naming him with her last breath Ben-oni (son of my sorrow). This was by Jacob changed into Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16,18) Until the journeys of Jacob’s sons and Jacob himself into Egypt we hear nothing of Benjamin. Nothing personal is known of him. Henceforward the history of Benjamin is the history of the tribe. A man of the tribe of Benjamin, son of bilhan, and the head of a family of warriors. (1 Chronicles 7:10) One of the "sons of Harim," an Israelite in the time of Ezra who had married a foreign wife. (Ezra…

The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, Ge 35:16-18. Rachel died immediately after he was born, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, the son of my sorrow; but Jacob called him Benjamin, son of my right hand. He was a great comfort to his father, who saw in him the beloved wife he had buried, and Joseph whose loss he mourned. He could hardly be persuaded to let him go with his brethren to Egypt, Ge 42:38. The tribe of Benjamin was small at first and was almost exterminated in the days of the Judges, Jud 20:1-48, but afterwards greatly increased, 2Ch 14:8 17:17. It was valiant, Ge 49:27, and "beloved of the Lord,"…

and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
וְהִנֵּ֧הve.hi.Neh and there! H2009 Conjunction · particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
behold
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tj
and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
הֶהָמ֛וֹןhe.ha.Mon the multitude H1995 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
83× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Being in a state of turmoil or having a lot of noise is what this Hebrew word means. It can also refer to a large crowd or abundance of something, like in the book of Proverbs where it describes a multitude of people.
Amplified meaning
the multitude
Tyndale gloss
crowd
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָמוֹן (hamown) refers to a sound or noise, encompassing meanings like murmur, roar, tumult, and crowd. It also conveys concepts of abundance and wealth. The verb form הָמַן (haman) means to rage or be turbulent. The entries highlight a range of uses, from describing a multitude to expressing confusion or disquiet.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָמוֹן n.m. sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance

sound, murmur, rush, roar

tumult, confusion (as occasioning a roar)

crowd, multitude

great number, abundance (late)

abundance, wealth

base

[הָמַן] vb. rage, be turbulent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1995a הָמוֹן sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance H1995b הָמַן rage, be turbulent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1995 hamown haw-mone'

or hamon (Ezek. 5:7) {haw-mone'}; from 1993; a noise, tumult,

crowd; also disquietude, wealth:--abundance, company, many,

multitude, multiply, noise, riches, rumbling, sounding, store,

tumult.

see HEBREW for 01993

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָמוֹן (ha.mon) — crowd.

1) murmur, roar, crowd, abundance, tumult, sound

1a) sound, murmur, rush, roar

1b) tumult, confusion

1c) crowd, multitude

1d) great number, abundance

1e) abundance, wealth

הָמַן (ha.man) — be turbulent.

to rage, be turbulent

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
נָמ֖וֹגna.Mog it melted away H4127 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To melt means to soften or dissolve, and can also describe feeling faint or fearful. In the Bible, it is used to describe times when people are overwhelmed or weakened, such as in the book of Psalms.
Amplified meaning
dissolving, namog
Tyndale gloss
to melt
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוּג (muwg) is a Hebrew verb meaning to melt. It can refer to the literal act of melting or softening, as well as figuratively to describe feelings of fear or helplessness. The entries indicate various forms, including causing something to melt and melting away. There is a slight variation in the nuances of its figurative meanings across the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוּג vb. melt

Qal

melt

trans. cause to melt

Niph. melt away, fig. for be helpless, disorganized

Po‛l. soften, dissolve

Po‛. Hithpo‛l. mely; hyperb. for flow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4127 מוּג melt .. melt

. trans. cause to melt

. melt away, fig. for be helpless, disorganized

. soften, dissolve

. mely; hyperb. for flow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4127 muwg moog

a primitive root; to melt, i.e. literally (to soften, flow

down, disappear), or figuratively (to fear, faint):--consume,

dissolve, (be) faint(-hearted), melt (away), make soft.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוּג (mug) — to melt.

1) to melt, cause to melt

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to melt, faint

1a2) to cause to melt

1b) (Niphal) to melt away

1c) (Polel) to soften, dissolve, dissipate

1d) (Hithpolel) to melt, flow

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVNp3ms
and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְvai.Ye.lekh and it went H1980 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and they saw the watchmen of Saul at Gibeah of Benjamin and there! the multitude it melted away and it went and here
וַהֲלֹֽם׃ פva.ha.Lom and here H1988 Conjunction · adverb
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'here' or 'hither', indicating a location or direction, as seen in various KJV translations.
Tyndale gloss
here
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֲלֹם (halom) is an adverb of place meaning 'here' or 'hither.' It is derived from a related term and is used to indicate a specific location. The entries consistently point to its usage in contexts of direction or location.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֲלֹם adv. of place, hither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1988 הֲלֹם of place, hither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1988 halom hal-ome'

from the article (see 1973); hither:--here, hither(-(to)),

thither.

see HEBREW for 01973

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֲלֹם (ha.lom) — here.

here, hither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/D — Conjunction · adverb
HC/D
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

her, in composition:

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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