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1 Samuel 29:1 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אֶת־ כָּל־ מַחֲנֵיהֶ֖ם אֲפֵ֑קָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל חֹנִ֔ים בַּעַ֖יִן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃

BSANow the PhilistinesPᵉlishtîy [a non-Semitic people, immigrants from other places] brought allkôl [every single one, the entire] their forcesmachăneh [armies, military might] togetherqâbats at AphekʼĂphêq [a city, an enclosure] while IsraelYisrâʼêl [God's chosen people, descendants of Jacob] campedchânâh [pitched their tents, encamped] by the springʻayin [a fountain, a source of water] in JezreelYizrᵉʻêʼl [a city, a place of God's nurture]

Word
Listen & take away1 Samuel 29
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (be.yiz.re.'El) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Samuel 29:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe Philistines gathered their armies at Aphek while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes the actions of the Philistines and the Israelites.
Where we areThis verse sets the scene for the conflict between the Philistines and Israel.
The hard wordוַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ
Take awayBoth sides are preparing for battle, highlighting the tension in the narrative.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectפְּלִשְׁתִּי verbקָבַץ 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 29:1

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

Context — The Gathering of Forcesgenerated

1Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
2As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.
3Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”
4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

1 Samuel 29:1 describes a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between the Philistines and Israel. The Philistines, a group known for their military strength, are assembling their forces at Aphek, while Israel, God's chosen people, are encamped by the spring in Jezreel. This setting foreshadows the impending confrontation, illustrating the tension between these two nations.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Samuel 28:1–2Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
21 Samuel 4:1Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.
3Joshua 19:30Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages.
41 Kings 20:30The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.
51 Samuel 28:4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

the Philistines1 Samuel 28:1–2

The Key Word וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ, vai.yik.be.Tzugenerated

The verb קָבַץ (qabats) means to gather or collect. It conveys the action of bringing people or things together in one place, as seen when the Philistines gather their armies.

In this verse, the parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine plural indicates that the Philistines are actively engaged in the act of gathering, emphasizing their preparation for battle.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek,' which is consistent across the KJV, ASV, and YLT.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ governs the main clause, indicating the action of gathering. The structure includes a noun phrase for the subject (the Philistines), the object (their armies), and a prepositional phrase indicating location (at Aphek).

The sentence follows a typical Hebrew structure, with the subject preceding the verb, which emphasizes the Philistines' actions as they prepare for conflict.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ as συναθροίζουσιν, meaning 'they gather together.' This choice reflects a similar action of assembling forces, maintaining the original intent of the Hebrew.

The Greek term indicates a collective gathering, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning while also suggesting a formal assembly.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Samuel 29:1 tells us that the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. This verse highlights the preparation for battle and sets the stage for the conflict between these two groups.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the Philistines gathered their forces?

It signifies their preparation for battle against Israel, indicating their military readiness.

Why is Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel?

The location by the spring suggests a strategic position for sustenance and defense.

What is the significance of Aphek?

Aphek is a notable location in biblical history, often associated with military encounters.

How does this verse connect to the overall narrative?

It sets the stage for the confrontation between the Philistines and Israel, emphasizing the tension and impending conflict.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn about the importance of preparation in our own lives from the Philistines gathering their forces?
  2. How does the setting of Jezreel impact our understanding of Israel's situation?
  3. In what ways can we see the significance of location in biblical narratives?
  4. What does this verse teach us about the nature of conflict and readiness?

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

The commentary from Bede reflects on the spiritual significance of the spring in Jezreel, linking it to baptism and regeneration.

BedeCommentary on Samuel c. 673–735
But also Israel encamped by the fountain, etc. The fountain which was in Jezreel, that is, in the seed of God, indicates the baptismal washing, by which the children of the Church are regenerated through the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 29 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 29:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek,.... Not the city in the tribe of Judah of that name, Joshua 15:53; where the Philistines had a camp in the time of Samuel, 1 Samuel

Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 29 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel. Aphek (Joshua 12:8) - in the tribe of Issachar, and in the plain of Esdraelon.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 29 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 29 David marching with the Philistines, is disallowed by their princes: Achish pleadeth for him and against his will dismisseth him, . He expostulateth with Achish, , his answer, ,10. David departeth, . Aphek; either, that in the tribe of Asher, , or rather another town of that name in Issachar, though not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture; this being the case of many places, to be but once named.

Read Matthew Poole on 1 Samuel 29 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Samuel 29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which [is] in Jezreel.Ver. 1. To Aphek.] Which was contiguous to Shunem. Which is in Jezreel.] This also was near to mount Gilboa. Chronology and topography are the two eyes of history.

Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 29 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Aphek.—The name Aphek was a common one, and was given to several “places of arms” in Canaan. It signifies a fort or a strong place. This Aphek was most likely situated in the Plain of Jezreel. Eusebius places it in the neighbourhood of En-dor. By a fountain which is in Jezreel.—“By a fountain.” The LXX. wrongly adds “dor,” supposing the spring or fountain to be the well-known En-dor—spring of Dor—but En-dor, we know, lay many miles away from the camp of Saul. This “fountain” has been identified by modern travellers as Ain-Jalûd, the Fountain of Goliath, because it was traditionally regarded as the scene of the old combat with the giant. It is a large spring which flows from under the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Samuel 29 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

CHAPTER XXIX The Philistines gather their armies together against Israel, and encamp at Aphek; while the Israelites encamp at Jezreel, 1. The lords of the Philistines refuse to let David go to battle with them, lest he should betray them, 2-5. Achish expresses his confidence in David; but begs him to return, 6-10. David and his men return, 11. NOTES ON CHAP. XXIX Verse 1. To Aphek] This was a place in the valley of Jezreel, between Mounts Tabor and Gilboa. Pitched by a fountain] To be near a fountain, or copious spring of water, was a point of great importance to an army in countries such as these, where water was so very scarce. It is supposed, as William of Tyre says, that it was at this…

Read AdamClarke on 1 Samuel 29 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ch. 1 Samuel 29:1-5. The Philistine lords’ distrust of David 1. Now the Philistines, &c. The narrative of 1 Samuel 28:1-2 is resumed, with a further description of the positions of the armies before the battle. Aphek] This cannot be the Aphek of 1 Samuel 4:1, in the neighbourhood of Bethhoron, for in that case there would be no reason to account for Saul’s army being already encamped at Jezreel. Possibly it is to be identified with Fϋleh, about two miles to the W. of Shunem: or, as Lieut. Conder thinks, with Fukϋa, 6 miles S.E. of Jezreel. In the latter case, the Philistines had shifted their camp from Shunem, and turned the strong position of Jezreel on the side where it is most…

Read Cambridge on 1 Samuel 29 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A fountain - Probably, the fine spring Ain-Jalud. It is impossible to say what the special circumstances were which led to the struggle between Israel and the Philistines taking place so far north as the plain of Jezreel.

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Samuel 29 →

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 the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by the fountain which is in Jezreel.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Now the Philistines collected all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So the Philistims were gathered together with all their armies in Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by the fountaine, which is in Izreel.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and Israel encamped by the spring that is in Jizreel.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the Philistines gather all their camps to Aphek, and the Israelites are encamping at a fountain which [is] in Jezreel,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the Philistines gather all their camps to Aphek, and Israel is encamping at a fountain which [is] in Jezreel,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Now the Philistines assembled together all their camps at Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is by Yizre'el.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Now the Philistines gathered together all their army at Aphek; the Israelites camped by the spring that is in Jezreel.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Now all the troops of the Philistines were gathered together to Aphec: and Israel also camped by the fountain which is in Jezrahel.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Philistines gathered all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites set up camp by the spring in Jezreel.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Now the Philistines got all their army together at Aphek: and the Israelites put their forces in position by the fountain in Jezreel.

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּקְבְּצ֧וּthey.gatheredsubjectפְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים[the].Philistinesnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseכָּלallnoun phraseמַחֲנֵיarmiesהֶ֖םtheirnoun phrase · prepositionalאֲפֵ֑קָtoהAphekוְandclausesubjectיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לIsraelverbחֹנִ֔ים[were].encampingprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּatnoun phrasethenoun phraseעַ֖יִןspringrelpאֲשֶׁ֥רwhichclauseprepositional phrase · predicateבְּ[is].inיִזְרְעֶֽאלJezreel

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 the Septuagint providing a close translation of the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the core message remains consistent across these witnesses.

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

וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אֶת־ כָּל־ מַחֲנֵיהֶ֖ם אֲפֵ֑קָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל חֹנִ֔ים בַּעַ֖יִן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּσυναθροίζουσινפְלִשְׁתִּ֛יםἀλλόφυλοιכָּל־πάσαςמַחֲנֵיהֶ֖םπαρεμβολὰςאֲפֵ֑קָהαφεκוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לισραηλחֹנִ֔יםπαρενέβαλενבַּעַ֖יִןαενδωρאֲשֶׁ֥רτῇבְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ιεζραελ

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

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q51a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ויקבצו] פלשתיים [את] [כל] [מחני׳הם] [אפק׳ה] [וישראל] [חנים] [בעין] [אשר] [ביזרעאל]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 10 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.

1 Samuel 29:1קָבַץand they gaand they gatherקָבַץפְּלִשְׁתִּי[the] Phili[the] Philistinפְּלִשְׁתִּיאֵתthe object the object markאֵתכֹּלallallכֹּלמַחֲנֶהarmies theiarmies theirמַחֲנֶהאֲפֵקAphek towarAphek towardsאֲפֵקיִשְׂרָאֵלand Israeland Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלחָנָה[were] enca[were] encampedחָנָהעַ֫יִןat the spriat the springעַ֫יִןאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁריִזְרְעֶאל[is] in Jez[is] in Jezreelיִזְרְעֶאלחָנָהto campto campחָנָהפְּלֶ֫שֶׁתPhilistiaPhilistiaפְּלֶ֫שֶׁתאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלאָפַקto refrainto refrainאָפַקשָׂרָהto striveto striveשָׂרָהזָרַעto sowto sowזָרַעחָנַןbe gracioube graciousחָנַןנָדַחto banishto banishנָדַחשְׁאֵרִיתremnantremnantשְׁאֵרִיתסֶ֫רֶןlordlordסֶ֫רֶןנָכָהto smiteto smiteנָכָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהדֶּ֫גֶלstandardstandardדֶּ֫גֶלחוּץoutsideoutsideחוּץרְחוֹבRehobRehobרְחוֹב
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 29:1

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

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

and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
וַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּvai.yik.be.Tzu and they gathered H6908 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To gather or collect people or things, like when the Israelites assembled in the book of Numbers. It's about bringing things or people together in one place.
Tyndale gloss
to gather
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָבַץ (qabats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or collect. It encompasses various forms, including assembling, being gathered, and taking away. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, and Hithpael, which reflect nuances in meaning and action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָבַץ 127 vb. gather, collect

Qal gather, collect

Niph.

intrans. assemble, gather

pass. be gathered

Pi. 51 gather together

Pu. of land

Hithp. gather together (intrans.), be gathered together

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6908 קָבַץ gather, collect

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6908 qabats kaw-bats'

a primitive root; to grasp, i.e. collect:--assemble

(selves), gather (bring) (together, selves together, up),

heap, resort, X surely, take up.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָבַץ (qa.vats) — to gather.

1) to gather, assemble

1a) (Qal) to gather, collect, assemble

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to assemble, gather

1b2) to be gathered

1c) (Piel) to gather, gather together, take away

1d) (Pual) to be gathered together

1e) (Hithpael) to gather together, be gathered together

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
פְלִשְׁתִּ֛יםfe.lish.Tim [the] Philistines H6430 Noun gentilic · masculine plural absolute
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Philistine is a person from the region of Philistia, which was inhabited by immigrants from other places. The Philistines were known for their conflicts with the Israelites, as recorded in the Bible. They were a distinct ethnic group.
Amplified meaning
a non-Semitic people, immigrants from other places
Tyndale gloss
(Sea of the) Philistines
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פְּלִשְׁתִּי (*pelishtiy*) means 'Philistine' and refers to an inhabitant of Philistia, with roots indicating they are descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor. It is derived from the lemma for Philistia, פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת (*peleshet*), and is first mentioned in Genesis 10:14.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פְּלִשְׁתִּי 288 adj.gent. Philistine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6430 פְּלִשְׁתִּי Philistine

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6430 Plishtiy pel-ish-tee'

patrial from 6429; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of

Pelesheth:--Philistine.

see HEBREW for 06429

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — Philistine.

Philistine = "immigrants"

an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan

Another spelling of pe.le.shet (פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת "Philistia" H6429)

פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — Philistine.

A Philistine living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.14;

son of: Casluhim (H3695)

§ Philistine = "immigrants"

an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan

פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — (Sea of the) Philistines.

Philistine = "immigrants"

an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan

Another name of ga.dol (גָּדוֹל "Great( Sea)" H1419J)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Ngmpa — Noun gentilic · masculine plural absolute
HNgmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi):

I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES

1. Race and Origin

2. Religion

3. Individual Philistines Mentioned

4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision

5. History in the Old Testament to Death of Saul

6. History Continued to Time of Ahaz

7. Later Notices

II. MONUMENTAL NOTICES

1. Palestinian Excavations

2. Egyptian Monuments

3. Assyrian Texts

III. THE CRETAN THEORY

1. Cherethim and Kretes

2. Caphtor and Keft

IV. DAVID'S GUARDS

1. The "Cherethi" and the "Pelethi" Not Mercenaries

2. Meaning of These Terms

3. Native Hebrews

4. Review

LITERATURE

I. Old Testament Notices.

1. Race and Origin:

The Philistines were an uncircumcised people inhabiting the shore plain between Gezer and Gaza in Southwestern Palestine (see PHILISTIA). The name Palestine itself (Hebrew pelesheth) refers to their country. The word means "migrants," and they came from another country. They…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Philistines

(Gen. 10:14, R.V.; but in A.V., “Philistim”), a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other Mediterranean islands. Some suppose them to have been a branch of the Rephaim (2 Sam. 21:16-22). In the time of Abraham they inhabited the south-west of Judea, Abimelech of Gerar being their king (Gen. 21:32, 34; 26:1). They are, however, not noticed among the Canaanitish tribes mentioned in the Pentateuch. They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, i.e., probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. In the whole record from Exodus to Samuel they are…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(immigrants), The origin of the Philistines is nowhere expressly stated in the Bible; but as the prophets describe them as "the Philistines-from Caphtor," (Amos 9:7) and "the remnant of the maritime district of Caphtor" (Jeremiah 47:4) it is prima facie probable that they were the Caphtorim which came out of Caphtor" who expelled the Avim from their territory and occupied it; in their place, (2:23) and that these again were the Caphtorim mentioned in the Mosaic genealogical table among the descendants of Mizraim. (Genesis 10:14) It has been generally assumed that Caphtor represents Crete, and that the Philistines migrated from that island, either directly or through Egypt, into Palestine. But the name Caphtor is more probably…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A celebrated people, who inhabited the southern seacoast of Canaan, which from them took the name of Philistia, Ps 60:8 108:9, or Palestine. They seem originally to have migrated form Egypt to Caphtor, by which some understand Crete, and others with the ancients Cappadocia, Ge 10:14, and thence to have passed over to Palestine under the name of Caphtorim, where they drove out the Avim, who dwelt from Hazerim to Azzah, that is, Gaza, and swelt in their stead, De 2:23. The country they inhabited lay between the higher land of Judea and the Mediterranean, and was in the main a level and fertile territory. It resembles our own western prairies; and bears splendid crops year after year, though miserably cultivated and never manured.

and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
כָּל־kol- all 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.
Amplified meaning
every single one, the entire
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
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
מַחֲנֵיהֶ֖םma.cha.nei.Hem armies their H4264 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
215× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a camp or army, like the Israelites' encampments in the wilderness. It can also mean a group of people or animals. The KJV translates it as 'army, band, or camp'.
Amplified meaning
armies, military might
Tyndale gloss
camp
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַחֲנֶה (machaneh) refers to an encampment or camp, encompassing both literal and figurative meanings. It can denote a place where people or troops gather, an army, or a body of individuals. The term is used in various contexts, including military, social, and even celestial gatherings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַחֲנֶה 214 n.m. and f. encampment, camp

camp, place of encampment

camp of armed host

those who encamp

company, body of people

army, host

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4264 מַחֲנֶה encampment, camp . camp, place of encampment

. camp of armed host

. . those who encamp

. company, body of people

. army, host

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4264 machaneh makh-an-eh'

from 2583; an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an

army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers,

angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts):--

army, band, battle, camp, company, drove, host, tents.

see HEBREW for 02583

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַחֲנֶה (ma.cha.neh) — camp.

1) encampment, camp

1a) camp, place of encampment

1b) camp of armed host, army camp

1c) those who encamp, company, body of people

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3mp
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
אֲפֵ֑קָה'a.Fe.kah Aphek towards H663 Noun proper · suffix
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Aphek is the name of three different places in ancient Palestine, and its name means enclosure. These cities were important locations in biblical history and are mentioned in various accounts.
Amplified meaning
a city, an enclosure
Tyndale gloss
Aphek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲפֵק (Apheq) refers to a location, specifically Aphek or Aphik, which means 'enclosure.' It denotes several cities in ancient Palestine, including one near Jezreel and another in the territory of Asher. The term is derived from a root meaning strength, suggesting a fortified place.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲפֵק, אֲפִיק n.pr.loc. Aphek (perh. enclosure, or fortress).

city near Jezreel

city in tribe of Asher

city NE. of Beirût, mod. Afqa

place near Mizpah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H663 אֲפֵק, אֲפִיק

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

663 'Apheq af-ake'

or rAphiyq {af-eek'}; from 662 (in the sense of strength);

fortress; Aphek (or Aphik), the name of three places in

Palestine:--Aphek, Aphik.

see HEBREW for 0662

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲפֵק (a.pheq) — Aphek.

Aphek or Aphik = "enclosure"

a Canaanite city near Jezreel

Also named: a.phe.qah (אֲפֵקָה "Aphekah" H0664)

אֲפֵק (a.pheq) — Aphek.

§ Aphek or Aphik = "enclosure"

a city northeast of Beirut in Transjordan

אֲפֵק (a.pheq) — Aphek.

§ Aphek or Aphik = "enclosure"

a city in territory of Asher

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper | Suff — Noun proper · suffix
HNpl/Sd
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לve.Yis.ra.'El and Israel H3478 Conjunction · noun proper
2,508× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Amplified meaning
God's chosen people, descendants of Jacob
Tyndale gloss
Israel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)

n.pr.m. second name of Jacob

n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob

. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'

from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical

name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:

--Israel.

see HEBREW for 08280

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;

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

brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);

father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently

§ Israel = "God prevails"

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel

2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob

2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split

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

iz'-ra-el.

See JACOB.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Israel

The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).

This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
חֹנִ֔יםcho.Nim [were] encamped H2583 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
143× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to set up camp or pitch a tent, like when the Israelites encamped in the wilderness. It can also mean to lay siege against a city.
Amplified meaning
pitched their tents, encamped
Tyndale gloss
to camp
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָנָה (chanah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to decline, bend down, or encamp. It conveys the idea of inclining or settling, particularly in the context of pitching a tent or establishing a temporary dwelling. The word appears in various forms, including the act of encamping or laying siege. It is associated with the imagery of the evening's slanting rays and the conclusion of a day's journey.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָנָה 143 vb. decline, bend down, encamp

Qal

decline, of day drawing to its close

encamp (prop. verge toward, incline to, settle at, of goal of day’s march)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2583 חָנָה decline, bend down, encamp

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2583 chanah khaw-naw'

a primitive root (compare 2603); properly, to incline; by

implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);

specifically, to pitch a tent; gen. to encamp (for abode or

siege):--abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an

end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.

see HEBREW for 02603

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָנָה (cha.nah) — to camp.

1) to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to decline

1a2) to encamp

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVqrmpa
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
בַּעַ֖יִןba.'A.yin at the spring H5869 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a fountain, a source of water
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HRd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See FOUNTAIN; WELL.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Spring

(Heb. ‘ain, “the bright open source, the eye of the landscape”). To be carefully distinguished from “well” (q.v.). “Springs” mentioned in Josh. 10:40 (Heb. ‘ashdoth) should rather be “declivities” or “slopes” (R.V.), i.e., the undulating ground lying between the lowlands (the shephelah) and the central range of hills.

Nave's Topical Bible

1. Season of, promised annual return of Ge 8:22

Described Pr 27:25; So 2:11-13

2. Of water

Hot Ge 36:24

→ FIGURATIVE

Corrupt Pr 25:26; Jas 3:11

See WELLS

Thompson Chain Reference topics
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sher which H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTr — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they gathered [the] Philistines the object marker all armies their Aphek towards and Israel [were] encamped at the spring which [is] in Jezreel
בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃be.yiz.re.'El [is] in Jezreel H3157 Preposition · noun proper
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jezreel means God sows, the name of a city in Issachar and a place in Palestine where God sows or nurtures growth.
Amplified meaning
a city, a place of God's nurture
Tyndale gloss
(Valley of) Jezreel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִזְרְעֶאל (yizre'el) means "God sows" and refers to both a city in the Negev of Judah and another in Issachar, located on the northwest spur of Mount Gilboa. It is also the name of a man, specifically the first son of the prophet Hosea. The entries indicate its geographical and personal significance, but do not present any notable disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִזְרְעֶאל

n.pr.loc. (God soweth)

city in the Negeb of Judah

city in Issachar

n.pr.m.

Hosea’s son

Judahite name

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3157 יִזְרְעֶאל, יִזְרְעֵאל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3157 Yizr`e'l yiz-reh-ale'

from 2232 and 410; God will sow; Jizreel, the name of two

places in Palestine and of two Israelites:--Jezreel.

see HEBREW for 02232

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִזְרְעֶאל (yiz.re.el) — Jezreel.

Jezreel = "God sows"

a city in the Nekeb of Judah

Also named: yiz.re.e.li (יִזְרְעֵאלִי "Jezreel" H3158)

יִזְרְעֶאל (yiz.re.el) — Jezreel.

Jezreel = "God sows"

a city in Issachar on the northwest spur of Mount Gilboa

Also named: yiz.re.e.li (יִזְרְעֵאלִי "Jezreelite" H3158H)

יִזְרְעֶאל (yiz.re.el) — Jezreel.

§ Jezreel = "God sows"

a city in Issachar on the northwest spur of Mount Gilboa

יִזְרְעֶאל (yiz.re.el) — Jezreel.

A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.3;

son of: Hur (H2354);

brother of: Uri (H0221), Shobal (H7732H), Salma (H8007H), Hareph (H2780), Ishma (H3457), Idbash (H3031), Hazzelelponi (H6753), Penuel (H6439H) and Ezer (H5829)

§ Jezreel = "God sows"

1) a descendant of the father or founder of Etam of Judah

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

jez'-re-el, jez'-rel (yizre`e'l, "God soweth"):

(1) A city on the border of the territory of Issachar (Jos 19:18).

1. Territory:

It is named with Chesulloth and Shunem (modern Iksal and Solam). It remained loyal to the house of Saul, and is mentioned as part of the kingdom over which Abner set Ishbosheth (2Sa 2:9). From Jezreel came the tidings of Saul and Jonathan's death on Gilboa, which brought disaster to Mephibosheth (2Sa 4:4). The city plays no important part in the history till the time of Ahab. Attracted, doubtless, by the fine position and natural charms of the place, he made it one of his royal residences, building here a palace (1Ki 21:1). This was evidently on the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jezreel

God scatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Josh. 19:18), where the kings of Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30). Here Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his dreadful commission against the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:14-37; 10:1-11). It has been identified with the modern Zerin, on the most western point of the range of Gilboa, reaching down into the great and fertile valley of Jezreel, to which it gave its name.

(2.) A town in Judah (Josh. 15:56), to the south-east of Hebron. Ahinoam, one of David’s wives, probably belonged to this place (

A city situated in the plain of the same name between Gilboa and Little Hermon, now generally called Esdraelon. [ESDRAELON] It appears in (Joshua 19:18) but its historical importance dates from the reign of Ahab, B.C. 918-897, who chose it for his chief residence. The situation of the modern village of Zerin still remains to show the fitness of his choice. Int he neighborhood, or within the town probably, were a temple and grove of Eastward, with an establishment of 400 priests supported by Jezebel. (1 Kings 16:33; 2 Kings 10:11) The palace of Ahab, (1 Kings 21:1; 18:46) probably containing his "ivory house," (1 Kings…

1. A celebrated city of Issachar, Jos 19:18, lying westward of Bethshean, 2Sa 4:4. Ahab had here a palace; and this city became famous on account of his seizure of Naboth’s vineyard, 1Ki 21:1-29; and the vengeance executed on Ahab, 2Ki 9:10,14-37 10:1-11. Jezreel was called Esdraela in the time of the Maccabees, and is now replaced by a small and ruinous Arab village, called Zerin, at the northwest point of mount Gilboa. Its elevated site gives one a fine view of the great plain of Esdraelon on the west, and the hills that border it; and towards the east it overhangs the wide and fertile "valley of Jezreel," Jos 17:16

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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