1 Samuel 19:16 — Word Study
WLCוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֶל־ הַמִּטָּ֑ה וּכְבִ֥יר הָעִזִּ֖ים מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃
BSAAnd when the messengersmălʼâk [representatives] enteredbôwʼ▸ there washinnêh the idoltᵉrâphîym [teraphim, household image] inʼêl the bedmiṭṭâh [couch, resting place] with the goat [hair]ʻêz [from female goats] on its headmᵉraʼăshâh
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ | and they came | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים | the messengers | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| וְהִנֵּ֥ה | and there! | Conjunction, particle |
| הַתְּרָפִ֖ים | the teraphim | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| אֶל־ | [was] to | Preposition |
| הַמִּטָּ֑ה | the bed | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וּכְבִ֥יר | and [the] quilt of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הָעִזִּ֖ים | goat hair | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ | [the] place of head its | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head. |
| KJV | And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. |
| ASV | And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at the head thereof. |
| YLT | And the messengers come in, and lo, the teraphim [are] on the bed, and the mattress of goats' [hair], [for] his pillows. |
| WEB | When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head. |
| BBE | And when the men came in, there was the image in the bed, with the cushion of goat's hair at its head |
Where they part company is תְּרָפִים — see How Translations Differ.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by a description of what the messengers found, emphasizing the surprising discovery.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbבּוֹא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 19:16
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 — Saul's Pursuit of Davidgenerated
1 Samuel 19:16 describes a moment when Saul's messengers entered David's home, expecting to find him in bed, but instead encountered a hidden idol. This incident highlights the lengths to which David's wife, Michal, went to protect him from Saul's wrath. The narrative unfolds in a tense context where David is fleeing for his life, and the use of deception plays a critical role in the story.
Cross References
The Key Word — תְּרָפִים, ha.te.ra.Fimgenerated
The term תְּרָפִים (teraphim) refers to household idols or images associated with worship and divination. These objects were often used in private shrines and were part of family worship practices.
In this verse, the presence of the teraphim serves as a clever ruse to mislead Saul's messengers. The use of teraphim indicates the cultural practices of the time, where such idols were believed to hold power or significance in household worship.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses idol for תְּרָפִים.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (and they came), which governs the entire sentence. The structure is straightforward, with a subject followed by a series of clauses that describe what the messengers found.
The sentence's order emphasizes the arrival of the messengers and their shocking discovery, with the idol being the focal point of the narrative.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תְּרָפִים as κενοτάφια, which suggests a broader interpretation of the term as it relates to empty or hollow images. This choice may reflect a different understanding of the function or significance of these idols in ancient worship practices.
This translation choice indicates a potential shift in the emphasis on the nature of the teraphim, possibly highlighting their futility as idols.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Samuel 19:16 describes how Saul's messengers entered David's house, expecting to find him in bed. Instead, they found an idol covered with a goat hair quilt. This clever deception by Michal protected David from Saul's orders to capture him.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Teraphim are household idols or images used in worship, often associated with family shrines and idolatry.
Michal used the idol to create the illusion that David was in bed, thereby buying him time to escape from Saul's pursuit.
This verse highlights the intense conflict between Saul and David, showcasing Saul's determination to kill David and the lengths to which David's family would go to protect him.
This incident is part of a series of events where David is fleeing from Saul, illustrating the ongoing tension and danger in David's life during this period.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this story teach us about the importance of loyalty and protection in relationships?
- In what ways can we creatively respond to challenges or threats in our lives?
- How do the actions of Michal reflect her commitment to David?
- What can we learn from the use of deception in this narrative?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 19:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd when the messengers were come in,.... To David's house, and into the room where he was supposed to lie: behold, [there was] an image in the bed to their great surprise; they expected to see
Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 19 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 19 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Samuel 19:16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was] an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ [hair] for his bolster.Ver. 16. Behold, there was an image.] See 1 Samuel 19:13. So have persecutors been frequently frustrated, as those that sought after Jeremiah and Baruch, Athanasius, Luther, and others whom the Lord hid till the storm was over.
Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 19 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. There was an image, &c.] The teraphim was in the bed, and the quilt of goat’s hair at its head.17 He said unto me, &c.] Michal adds another lie to screen herself from Saul’s anger. In this she was but following her father’s example (1 Samuel 19:6), and with more excuse. Compare the deceit practised by Rahab (Joshua 2:4 ff.); by the woman at Bahurim (2 Samuel 17:20); and in modern times, by Grotius’ wife, who to save her husband represented the box in which he was concealed as a box of theological books. Scripture affirms the universal duty of Truth without any exception (Leviticus 19:11), nor can it he understood to sanction breaches of this general law by recording them without…
Read Cambridge on 1 Samuel 19 →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
And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head.
When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head.
And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the goat hair on its head.
When the messengers came, they found only the idol on the bed and the quilt made of goat’s hair at its head.
Tyndale line
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.
And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at the head thereof.
And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at the head thereof.
And when the messengers had come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster.
And when the messengers were come in, behold, an image was in the bed, with a pillow of goates heare vnder the head of it.
Strictly literal
And the messengers came in, and behold, the image was in the bed, and the net of goats' [hair] at its head.
And the messengers come in, and lo, the teraphim [are] on the bed, and the mattress of goats' [hair], [for] his pillows.
And the messengers come in, and behold, the teraphim [are] on the bed, and the mattress of goats’ [hair for] his pillows.
And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for its head to rest on.
When the messengers came in, behold, the household idol was in the bed along with the pillow of goats' hair at its head.
From the Latin
And when the messengers were come in, they found an image upon the bed, and a goat’s skin at its head.
Simplified
But when the messengers went into the bedroom, there was the idol in the bed with the goat hair wig on its head.
And when the men came in, there was the image in the bed, with the cushion of goat's hair at its head
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the content of the verse, with a word-for-word correspondence. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration in the text but align closely with the Masoretic Text, indicating consistency in this passage.
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֶל־ הַמִּטָּ֑ה וּכְבִ֥יר הָעִזִּ֖ים מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃
9 of the 9 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.
[ויבאו] [המלאכים] [והנה] [התרפים] [על] [המטה] [וכביר] [העזים] מראשתי׳ו
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 8 supplied entire by an editor.
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.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Samuel 19:16
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.
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
מַלְאָךְ (mal'ak) means 'messenger' and can refer to an angel, particularly as a messenger of God. It is derived from a root meaning to dispatch as a deputy and encompasses roles such as ambassador, prophet, and teacher. The term is used in contexts that include divine communication.
מַלְאָךְ 214 n.m. messenger
messenger
angel, as messenger of God
the theophanic angel
base
H4397 מַלְאָךְ messenger . messenger
. angel, as messenger of God
. the theophanic angel
4397 mal'ak mal-awk'
from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a
messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a
prophet, priest or teacher):--ambassador, angel, king,
messenger.
מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger.
: messenger
1) messenger, representative
1a) messenger
1b) angel
1c) the theophanic angel
מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger: angel.
: angel
1) messenger, representative
1a) messenger
1b) angel
1c) the theophanic angel
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
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.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tj
תְּרָפִים (teraphim) refers to a type of idol or family idol associated with idolatry and divination. It is a plural form derived from a root meaning 'healer.' The entries highlight its use in household worship, indicating that teraphim were objects of reverence.
תְּרָפִים n.m. pl. a kind of idol, obj. of reverence, and means of divination (√ and etymol.-mng. dub.)
base
H8655 תְּרָפִים a kind of idol, obj. of reverence, and means of divination (√ and etymol.-mng. dub.)
8655 traphiym ter-aw-feme'
plural from 7495; a healer; Teraphim (singular or plural) a
family idol:--idols(-atry), images, teraphim.
see HEBREW for 07495
תְּרָפִים (te.ra.phim) — teraphim.
§ 1) idolatry, idols, image(s), teraphim, family idol
1a) a kind of idol used in household shrine or worship
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
ter'-a-fim.
See ASTROLOGY; DIVINATION; IMAGES.
Teraphim
Givers of prosperity, idols in human shape, large or small, analogous to the images of ancestors which were revered by the Romans. In order to deceive the guards sent by Saul to seize David, Michal his wife prepared one of the household teraphim, putting on it the goat’s-hair cap worn by sleepers and invalids, and laid it in a bed, covering it with a mantle. She pointed it out to the soldiers, and alleged that David was confined to his bed by a sudden illness (1 Sam. 19:13-16). Thus she gained time for David’s escape. It seems strange to read of teraphim, images of ancestors, preserved for superstitious purposes, being in the house of David. Probably they had been stealthily brought by Michal from her father’s house. “Perhaps,” says Bishop Wordsworth, “Saul, forsaken by God and possessed by the evil spirit, had resorted to…
This word occurs only in the plural, and denotes images connected with magical rites. The derivation of the name is obscure. In one case -- (1 Samuel 19:13,16) --a single statue seems to be intended by the plural. The teraphim, translated "images" in the Authorized Version, carried away from Laban by Rachel were regarded by Laban as gods, and it would therefore appear that they were used by those who added corrupt practices to the patriarchal religion. Teraphim again are included among Micah’s images. (Judges 17:3-5; 18:17,18,20) Teraphim were consulted for oracular answers by the Israelites, (Zechariah 10:2) comp. Judg 18:5,6;
Small idols or superstitious figures, from the possession, adoration, and consultation of which extraordinary benefits were expected. See margin 2Ki 23.24; Ezekiel 21.21. The Eastern people are still much addicted to this superstition of talismans. The ancient teraphim appear to have been household gods, and their worship was sometimes blended with that of Jehovah, Jud 17:1-13.
They seem in one case to have resembled the human form in shape and size, 1Sa 19:13,16. The images of Rachel, Ge 31:19,30, were teraphim. So Jud 17:5 18:14, 20 Ho 3:4.
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep — PrepositionHR
מִטָּה (mittah) refers to a bed or couch, primarily a place for reclining, sleeping, or eating. It can also denote a bier or litter. The word is derived from a root meaning to extend, indicating its function as a surface for rest.
מִטָּה n.f. couch, bed (place of reclining)
base
H4296 מִטָּה couch, bed (place of reclining)
4296 mittah mit-taw'
from 5186; a bed (as extended) for sleeping or eating; by
analogy, a sofa, litter or bier:--bed((-chamber)), bier.
see HEBREW for 05186
מִטָּה (mit.tah) — bed.
couch, bed, bier
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
Bed
(Heb. mittah), for rest at night (Ex. 8:3; 1 Sam. 19:13, 15, 16, etc.); during sickness (Gen. 47:31; 48:2; 49:33, etc.); as a sofa for rest (1 Sam. 28:23; Amos 3:12). Another Hebrew word (er’es) so rendered denotes a canopied bed, or a bed with curtains (Deut. 3:11; Ps. 132:3), for sickness (Ps. 6:6; 41:3).
In the New Testament it denotes sometimes a litter with a coverlet (Matt. 9:2, 6;
The Jewish bed consisted of the mattress, a mere mat, or one or more quilts; the covering, a finer quilt, or sometimes the outer garment worn by day, (1 Samuel 19:13) which the law provided should not be kept in pledge after sunset, that the poor man might not lack his needful covering, (24:13) the pillow, (1 Samuel 19:13) probably formed of sheep’s fleece or goat’s skin with a stuffing of cotton, etc.; the bedstead, a divan or bench along the side or end of the room, sufficing at a support for the bedding. Besides we have bedsteads made of ivory, wood, etc. referred to in (3:11; Amos 6:4) The ornamental portions were pillars and a canopy, Judith 13:9, ivory carvings, gold and silver, and probably mosaic work, purple and fine…
In the East, is, and was anciently, a divan, or broad low step around the sides of a room, like a sofa, which answered to purpose of a sofa by day for reclining, and of a bed by night for sleeping, Ex 8:3 2Sa 4:5-7. Sometimes it was raised several steps above the floor, 2Ki 1:4 Ps 132:4. It was covered very differently, and with more or less ornament, according to the rank of owner of the house. The poor had but a simple mattress or sheepskin; or a cloak or blanked, which also answered to wrap themselves in by day, Ex 22:2 De 24:13. Hence it was easy for the persons…
כָּבִיר (*kbiyr*) likely refers to something netted, such as a quilt or a fly-net used during sleep. The term is derived from a root meaning to plait, indicating a woven quality. The entries suggest it encompasses both bedding and protective coverings.
[כָּבִיר] n.[m.] prob. something netted, i.e. either a quilt or a fly-net spread over the face while a person was asleep
base
H3523 כָּבִיר, כְּבִיר
3523 kbiyr keb-eer
from 3527 in the original sense of plaiting; a matrass (of
intertwined materials):--pillow.
see HEBREW for 03527
כָּבִיר (ke.vir) — quilt.
(something) netted, a quilt, fly net, pillow
HC/Ncmsc — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
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.
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…
עֵז (ez) refers to a she-goat or female goat, and can also denote a kid. It is derived from a root meaning strength, and in the plural form, it can refer to goats in general or goat's hair. The word appears in various contexts in the Old Testament.
עֵז 74 n.f. she-goat
base
H5795 עֵז she-goat
5795 `ez aze
from 5810; a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural
(which also is used ellipt. for goat's hair):--(she) goat,
kid.
see HEBREW for 05810
עֵז (ez) — goat.
female goat, she-goat, goat, kid
Aramaic equivalent: ez (עֵז "goat" H5796)
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
har (se`ar, sa`ar, Aramaic se`ar, and their derivatives; thrix, gen. case trichos, kome):
1. Hair Fashions:
Hair was worn in different fashions by the Orientals of Biblical times, and not always in the same way among the same people in different epochs. We know this clearly from Egyptian literature and monuments, as well as from the writings of Greek authors (especially Herodotus), that the dwellers on the Nile had their heads shaved in early youth, leaving but a side lock until maturity was attained, when this mark of childhood was taken away. Priests and warriors kept their heads closely shaved; nothing but the exigencies of arduous warfare were allowed to interfere with this custom. On the other hand, the Hebrew people, like their Babylonian neighbors (Herod. i.195), affected long and well-cared-for, bushy curls of hair as emblems of manly beauty. Proofs thereof are not infrequent in…
Hair
(1.) The Egyptians let the hair of their head and beard grow only when they were in mourning, shaving it off at other times. “So particular were they on this point that to have neglected it was a subject of reproach and ridicule; and whenever they intended to convey the idea of a man of low condition, or a slovenly person, the artists represented him with a beard.” Joseph shaved himself before going in to Pharoah (Gen. 41:14). The women of Egypt wore their hair long and plaited. Wigs were worn by priests and laymen to cover the shaven skull, and false beards were common. The great masses of hair seen in the portraits and statues of kings and priests are thus altogether artificial.
(2.) A precisely opposite practice, as regards men, prevailed among the Assyrians. In Assyrian sculptures the hair always appears long, and combed…
The Hebrews were fully alive to the importance of the hair as an element of personal beauty. Long hair was admired in the case of young men. (2 Samuel 14:26) In times of affliction the hair was altogether cut off. (Isaiah 3:17,24; 15:2; Jeremiah 7:29) Tearing the hair (Ezra 9:3) and letting it go dishevelled were similar tokens of grief. The usual and favorite color of the hair was black, (Solomon 5:11) as is indicated in the comparisons in (Solomon 1:5; 4:1) a similar hue is probably intended by the purple of (Solomon 7:6) Pure white hair was deemed characteristic of the divine Majesty. (Daniel 7:9; Revelation 1:14) The…
The Jewish men, except Nazarites, Nu 6:5,9, and cases like that of Absalom, 2Sa 14:26, cut their hair moderately short, 1Co 11:14, and applied fragrant ointments to it, Ex 30:30-33 Ps 23:5 Ec 9:8. In mourning they wholly neglected it, or shaved it close, or plucked it out by handfuls, Jer 7:29. Women prized a fine head of hair, and plaited, perfumed, and decked it in many ways, Isa 3:18,24 1Co 11:15, so much…
מְרַאֲשָׁוֹת (mra'ashah) refers to a place at the head or a headpiece, often associated with a pillow or bolster. It is a plural form that indicates a position of dominion or prominence. The entries suggest a focus on its use as a head-rest or head place, but do not provide specific Old Testament references.
[מְרַאֲשָׁוֹת] n.[f.]pl. denom. place at the head, head-place
base
H4763 [מְרַאֲשָׁוֹת] place at the head, head-place
4763 mra'ashah mer-ah-ash-aw'
formed like 4761; properly, a headpiece, i.e. (plural for
adverbial) at (or as) the head-rest (or pillow):--bolster,
head, pillow. Compare 4772.
see HEBREW for 04761
see HEBREW for 04772
מְרַאֲשָׁוֹת (me.ra.a.shah) — head.
1) place at the head, dominion, head place
adv
2) at head place
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3ms