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2 Chronicles 27:4 — Word Study

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WLCוְעָרִ֥ים בָּנָ֖ה בְּהַר־ יְהוּדָ֑ה וּבֶחֳרָשִׁ֣ים בָּנָ֔ה בִּֽירָנִיּ֖וֹת וּמִגְדָּלִֽים׃

BSAHe also builtbânâh [established, constructed] citiesʻîyr [towns, settlements] in the hill countryhar [mountains, highlands] of JudahYᵉhûwdâh [the tribe, the region] and fortressesbîyrânîyth [strong buildings, castles] and towersmigdâl [elevated stages, watchtowers] in the forestschôresh [wooded areas, trees]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 27
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (u.mig.da.Lim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Chronicles 27:4quick helps
In a sentenceJotham built cities and fortifications in Judah's hill country and forests.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes the actions of Jotham, king of Judah.
Where we areThis verse is part of a narrative detailing Jotham's achievements as king.
The hard wordבִּירָנִיּ֖וֹת
Take awayJotham's construction efforts demonstrate his strength and leadership.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbבָּנָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Chronicles 27:4

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 Reign of Jothamgenerated

3Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
4He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
5Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them, and that year they gave him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat, and ten thousand cors of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years.
6So Jotham grew powerful because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 27:4 describes Jotham's accomplishments as king of Judah, highlighting his efforts to strengthen the region through construction. This verse illustrates the importance of fortifications and settlements for both defense and community development. Jotham's actions set the stage for stability in Judah, as seen in the subsequent verses detailing his military successes and governance.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Chronicles 11:5–10Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.
22 Chronicles 14:7So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
32 Chronicles 26:9–10Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle in the wall, and he fortified them.
4Joshua 14:12–13Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.”
5Luke 1:39In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עִיר, ve.'a.Rimgenerated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) refers to a city or town, often implying a fortified location. It can denote excitement or a place that is guarded or inhabited, suggesting a sense of community and protection. The parsing as a noun in the plural form indicates multiple cities, emphasizing Jotham's extensive building efforts.

In this context, the word highlights the strategic importance of urban centers in Judah, which would serve as hubs for trade, governance, and security. The use of עִיר in the plural suggests a significant expansion of Jotham's influence and the establishment of a network of fortified locations.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of עִיר, rendered as cities in the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb בָּנָ֖ה, he built, governs the main clause, indicating Jotham's actions. Two prepositional phrases follow, specifying where he built: בְּהַר־יְהוּדָה and בֶּחֳרָשִׁים, which elaborate on the geographical context of his constructions.

This structure emphasizes the dual focus on both urban and fortified developments in separate locations, showcasing Jotham's comprehensive approach to strengthening Judah.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עִיר as πόλεις, meaning cities. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning while also suggesting a focus on urban centers.

The translation of בָּנָה as ᾠκοδόμησεν indicates a construction effort, reinforcing the idea of establishing strongholds in the region.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 27:4 tells us that Jotham built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests. This shows his efforts to strengthen the region and provide security for its inhabitants.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Jotham built cities?

Building cities indicates Jotham's focus on developing urban centers that provide safety and community for the people of Judah.

Why are fortresses important?

Fortresses serve as defensive structures, protecting the inhabitants from potential threats and enemies.

What role did the hill country play in Jotham's constructions?

The hill country provided strategic advantages for defense and visibility, making it an ideal location for building cities and fortifications.

How do Jotham's actions reflect his leadership?

Jotham's construction efforts demonstrate his commitment to the safety and prosperity of Judah, showcasing effective leadership in times of potential conflict.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn from Jotham's approach to building cities and fortifications?
  2. How might we apply the principles of community building in our own lives?
  3. In what ways can we strengthen our own communities today?
  4. What are some modern equivalents of fortresses that protect our communities?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 27:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Moreover, he built cities in the mountains of Judah,.... In the mountainous part of it, the hill country of Judea, Lu 1:65, and in the forests he built castles and towers; for the safety of

Read John Gill on 2 Chronicles 27 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 27 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 27:4 Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.Ver. 4. He built castles and towers.] For defence against the invasion of enemies.

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 27 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Moreover.—Literally, and cities built he in the hill region of Judah. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 26:10.) Castles.—Bîrânîyôth; a term explained at 2 Chronicles 17:12. The contemporary prophets denounced the popular confidence in “fenced cities” as a kind of treason against Jehovah, who was Himself the shield and fortress of His people (Psalms 18:1; Isaiah 12:2). “Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof” (Hosea 8:14. Comp. Isaiah 2:15; Isaiah 17:3-4).

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 27 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Castles and towers.] These he built for the protection of the country people against marauders.

Read AdamClarke on 2 Chronicles 27 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. in the mountains] R.V. in the hill country; cp. Luke 1:39 (ἡὀ ?ñéíÞ). castles] Cp. 2 Chronicles 17:12 (note).

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 27 →

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

He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Moreover, he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Moreouer hee buylt cities in the mountaines of Iudah, and in the forests he buylt palaces and towres.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and cities he hath built in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he hath built palaces and towers.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and he has built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and he has built palaces and towers in the forests.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Moreover he built cities in the mountain of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Juda, and castles and towers in the forests.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He built towns in the hill country of Judah, and fortresses and towers in the mountains and forests.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

In addition, he made towns in the hill-country of Judah, and strong buildings and towers in the woodlands.

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.

וְandclauseobjectעָרִ֥יםcitiesverbבָּנָ֖הhe.builtprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseהַרthe.hill.countryיְהוּדָ֑הof.Judahוּandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֶinnoun phrasethe.woodedחֳרָשִׁ֣יםheightsverbבָּנָ֔הhe.builtnoun phrase · objectבִּֽירָנִיּ֖וֹתfortressesוּandמִגְדָּלִֽיםtowers

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


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

The Masoretic Text states that he built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests. The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching six of the eight words, though it presents them in a different order and structure, reflecting its own grammatical style. There are no significant differences in meaning between the two texts, indicating a strong agreement in this verse.

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

וְעָרִ֥ים בָּנָ֖ה בְּהַר־ יְהוּדָ֑ה וּבֶחֳרָשִׁ֣ים בָּנָ֔ה בִּֽירָנִיּ֖וֹת וּמִגְדָּלִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְעָרִ֥יםπόλειςבָּנָ֖הᾠκοδόμησενבְּהַר־ὄρειיְהוּדָ֑הιουδαוּבֶחֳרָשִׁ֣יםἐνוּמִגְדָּלִֽים׃πύργους

6 of the 8 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.

2 Chronicles 27:4עִירand citiesand citiesעִירבָּנָהhe builthe builtבָּנָההַרin [the] hiin [the] hill cהַריְהוּדָהJudahJudahיְהוּדָהחֹ֫רֶשׁand in the and in the woodחֹ֫רֶשׁבָּנָהhe builthe builtבָּנָהבִּירָנִיתfortressesfortressesבִּירָנִיתמִגְדָּלand towersand towersמִגְדָּלעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּריָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהחָרַשׁto plow/plto plow/plotחָרַשׁבִּירָהpalacepalaceבִּירָהגָּדַלto magnifyto magnifyגָּדַלהַרmountainmountainהַרחוֹמָהwallwallחוֹמָהמִזְבֵּחַaltaraltarמִזְבֵּחַמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדגִּבְעָהGibeatGibeatגִּבְעָהאֶפְרַ֫יִםEphraimEphraimאֶפְרַ֫יִםצִדְקִיָּ֫הוּZedekiahZedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֫הוּבֵּיתBethlehemBethlehemבֵּיתעָזַבForsakenForsakenעָזַבבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהמֵאָה(Tower of)(Tower of) the מֵאָהחֲנַנְאֵל(Tower of)(Tower of) Hanaחֲנַנְאֵל
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 2 Chronicles 27:4

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 cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
וְעָרִ֥יםve.'a.Rim and cities H5892 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
towns, settlements
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

The earliest notice in Scripture of city-building is of Enoch by Cain, in the land of his exile. (Genesis 4:17) After the confusion of tongues the descendants of Nimrod founded Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, and Asshur, a branch from the same stock, built Nineveh, Rehoboth-by-the-river, Calah and Resen, the last being "a great city." The earliest description of a city, properly so called, is that of Sodom, (Genesis 19:1-22) Even before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt, (Genesis 12:14,15; Numbers 13:22) and the Israelites, during their sojourn there, were employed in building or fortifying the "treasure cities" of Pithom and Raamses.…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Ancient Ge 4:17; 10:10-12

→ Fortified Nu 32:36; De 9:1; Jos 10:20; 14:12; 2Ch 8:5; 11:10-12; 17:2,19; 21:3; Isa 23:11

→ Gates of

See GATES

→ Designated as

Royal Jos 10:2; 1Sa 27:5; 2Sa 12:26; 1Ch 11:7

Treasure Ge 41:48; Ex 1:11;

- First mention of

Ge 4:17

- Designed for habitations

Ps 107:7,36

- Often built to perpetuate a name

Ge 11:4

- Often founded and enlarged by blood and rapine

Mic 3:10; Hab 2:12

- BUILT

. Of brick and slime

Ge 11:3

. Of stone and wood

Ps 102:14; Eze 26:12

. Of brick and mortar

Ex 1:11,14

. On solid foundations

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) General References to

Ge 11:4; 18:24; 41:48; Nu 13:28; De 6:10; 2Ki 13:25

Ps 55:9; Mic 5:14

(2) Fenced

Nu 32:17; De 3:5; Jos 10:20; 2Ki 18:13; 2Ch 14:6; 17:2

2Ch 19:5; 21:3; 33:14; Jer 5:17

and cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
בָּנָ֖הba.Nah he built H1129 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
376× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
established, constructed
Tyndale gloss
to build
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּנָה 373 vb. build

Qal build

Niph.

be built

be rebuilt

(fig.) of restored exiles, = established

established, made permanent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1129 בָּנָה build .build

.. . be built

. be rebuilt

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

. established, made permanent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1129 banah baw-naw'

a primitive root; to build (literally and

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

repair, set (up), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to build, rebuild

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

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be built

1b2) to be rebuilt

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

1b4) established (made permanent)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
and cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
בְּהַר־be.har- in [the] hill country of H2022 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
546× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Amplified meaning
mountains, highlands
Tyndale gloss
mountain: mount
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הַר (har) means 'mountain' or 'hill,' and can refer to a range of hills or hill-country. It is derived from a root that suggests elevation and can be used figuratively. The entries consistently highlight its geographical connotations without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country

mountain, hill

hill-country, mountain-region

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2022 har har

a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills

(sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X

promotion.

see HEBREW for 02042

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הַר (har) — mountain: mount.

: mount/hill

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.

: hill_country

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

A sub-meaning of har (הַר ": mount" H2022)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
יְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.Dah Judah H3063 Noun proper
820× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Judah is the name of the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob. It is also the name of the region where the tribe lived. The name means 'praised' and is first mentioned in Genesis.
Amplified meaning
the tribe, the region
Tyndale gloss
(Baalah of)Judah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהוּדָה (yehudah) means 'Judah' and is derived from a root meaning 'praised.' It refers to the son of Jacob and Leah, the tribe descended from him, and the territory they occupied. The term also encompasses the southern kingdom of Judah, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Additionally, it identifies various individuals, including Levites and overseers during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְהוּדָה 820 n.pr.m. et terr. Judah

n.pr.m.

son of Jacob and Leah

tribe descended from Judah

nation, of southern kingdom under dynasty of David, as distinguished from northern kingdom of Ephraim or Israel

Levite, Ezra’s time

an overseer of Jerus.

Levite musician

priest

n.pr.terr. land of Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3063 יְהוּדָה Judah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3063 Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw'

from 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five

Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of

its territory:--Judah.

see HEBREW for 03034

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהוּדָה (ye.hu.dah) — Judah.

A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);

brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559);

father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I)

§ Judah = "praised"

1) the son of Jacob by Leah

2) the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob

3) the territory occupied by the tribe of Judah

4) the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon

5) a Levite in Ezra's time

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

Judah

Praise, the fourth son of Jacob by Leah. The name originated in Leah’s words of praise to the Lord on account of his birth: “Now will I praise [Heb. odeh] Jehovah, and she called his name Yehudah” (Gen. 29:35).

It was Judah that interposed in behalf of Joseph, so that his life was spared (Gen. 37:26, 27). He took a lead in the affairs of the family, and “prevailed above his brethren” (Gen. 43:3-10; 44:14, 16-34; 46:28; 1 Chr. 5:2).

Soon after the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah went to reside at Adullam, where he married a woman of Canaan. (See ONAN; TAMAR.) After the death of his wife Shuah, he returned to his father’s house, and there exercised much…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(praised, celebrated), the fourth son of Jacob and the fourth of Leah. (B.C. after 1753.) Of Judah’s personal character more traits are preserved than of any other of the patriarchs, with the exception of Joseph, whose life he in conjunction with Reuben saved. (Genesis 37:26-28) During the second visit to Egypt for corn it was Judah who understood to be responsible for the safety of Benjamin, ch. (Genesis 43:3-10) and when, through Joseph’s artifice, the brothers were brought back to the palace, he is again the leader and spokesman of the band. So too it is Judah who is sent before Jacob to smooth the way for him in the land of Goshen. ch. (Genesis 46:28) This ascendancy over his brethren is reflected in the last words…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, born in Mesopotamia, B. C. 1755, Ge 29:35. His name appears honorably in the history of Joseph, Ge 37:26,27 44:16-34; but disgracefully in that of Tamar his daughter-in-law, Ge 38:1-30. The dying benediction of Jacob foretells the superior power and prosperity of the family of Judah, and their continuance as chief of the Jewish race until the time of Christ, Ge 49:8-12. Though not the firstborn, Judah soon came to be considered as the chief of Jacob’s children, and his tribe was the most powerful and numerous. The southeastern part of Palestine fell to their lot. See JUDEA. On the border of their territory was Jerusalem, the seat of the…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

the praise of the Lord; confession

and cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
וּבֶחֳרָשִׁ֣יםu.ve.cho.ra.Shim and in the wooded areas H2793 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a forest or wooded area, possibly providing materials for crafting. It appears in the Bible as a bough, forest, or shroud.
Amplified meaning
wooded areas, trees
Tyndale gloss
wood
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֹ֫רֶשׁ (choresh) refers to wood or a wooded area, suggesting a connection to forests. It is derived from a root that implies material for fabric, and its meanings include forest, bough, and shroud. The entries consistently describe it as relating to wooded heights or areas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֹ֫רֶשׁ n.m. wood, wooded height

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2793 חֹ֫רֶשׁ wood, wooded height

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2793 choresh kho'-resh

from 2790; a forest (perhaps as furnishing the material for

fabric):--bough, forest, shroud, wood.

see HEBREW for 02790

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֹ֫רֶשׁ (cho.resh) — Horesh.

This name means wood, forest

חֹ֫רֶשׁ (cho.resh) — wood.

1) wood, wooded height, forest, wooded area.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-mp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Rd/Ncmpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
בָּנָ֔הba.Nah he built H1129 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
376× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
to build
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּנָה 373 vb. build

Qal build

Niph.

be built

be rebuilt

(fig.) of restored exiles, = established

established, made permanent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1129 בָּנָה build .build

.. . be built

. be rebuilt

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

. established, made permanent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1129 banah baw-naw'

a primitive root; to build (literally and

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

repair, set (up), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to build, rebuild

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

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be built

1b2) to be rebuilt

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

1b4) established (made permanent)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
and cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
בִּֽירָנִיּ֖וֹתbi.ra.ni.Yot fortresses H1003 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A fortress is a strong, secure place, like the one in 2 Samuel 5:7, where David captures the stronghold of Zion. It provides protection from enemies.
Amplified meaning
strong buildings, castles
Tyndale gloss
fortress
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּירָנִית (biyraniyth) refers to a fortress or fortified place. It is derived from the root word for 'fortress' and is noted as a late term in the Hebrew language. The entries consistently define it as a stronghold or castle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בִּירָנִית] n.f. fortress, fortified place (late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1003 בִּירָנִית

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1003 biyraniyth bee-raw-neeth'

from 1002; a fortress:--castle.

see HEBREW for 01002

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּירָנִית (bi.ra.nit) — fortress.

fortress, fortified place

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Places strong by nature

Nu 24:21

- Places fortified by art

Jer 51:53

- The security of a nation

Isa 33:16; Da 11:10

- PLACES USED AS

. Cities

Jud 9:31; Ne 4:2

. Strong-holds

Jud 6:2; 2Ch 11:11

. Forts

2Sa 5:9; Isa 25:12

. Strong towers

2Ch 26:9

- Afforded protection in danger

Thompson Chain Reference topics
and cities he built in [the] hill country of Judah and in the wooded areas he built fortresses and towers
וּמִגְדָּלִֽים׃u.mig.da.Lim and towers H4026 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
48× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Migdal means tower, referring to a tall structure or elevated stage. It can also symbolize a bed of flowers in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
elevated stages, watchtowers
Tyndale gloss
tower
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִגְדָּל (migdal) primarily means 'tower,' indicating a structure that is tall or elevated. It can also refer to an elevated stage or pulpit and, in a figurative sense, to a raised bed of flowers. The word is derived from a root meaning height, and its usage spans various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִגְדָּל n.m. tower

tower

elevated stage, pulpit of wood

raised bed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4026 מִגְדָּל tower . tower

. elevated stage, pulpit of wood

. raised bed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4026 migdal mig-dawl'

also (in plural) feminine migdalah {mig-daw- law'}; from

1431; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a

rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers:--castle,

flower, tower. Compare the names following.

see HEBREW for 01431

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — (Hananel) Tower.

Combined with cha.nan.el (חֲנַנְאֵל " of Hananel" H2606)

This name means tower

מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — Tower (of the Hundred).

Combined with me.ah (מֵאָה "hundred" H3968)

This name means tower

מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — Tower (Of the Ovens).

This name means tower, elevated stage

מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — tower.

1) tower

1a) tower

1b) elevated stage, pulpit

1c) raised bed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-cp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Towers

Of Babel (Gen. 11:4), Edar (Gen. 35:21), Penuel (Judg. 8:9, 17), Shechem (9:46), David (Cant. 4:4), Lebanon (7:4), Syene (Ezek. 29:10), Hananeel (Zech. 14:10), Siloam (Luke 13:4). There were several towers in Jerusalem (2 Chr. 26:9; Ps. 48:12). They were erected for various purposes, as watch-towers in vineyard (Isa. 5:2;

Were erected not only in the outer walls and on the heights within cities, Jud 9:47-49 Ps 48:12 Lu 13:4, but along the frontiers of a country, at points where the approach of an enemy could be descried at a distance, Jud 9:17 Isa 21:6-9 Eze 33:2-6. A tower afforded a refuge to the surrounding inhabitants, in case of invasion; and often, when most of a city was subdued, the tower or citadel remained impregnable.

So God is a strong and safe protector of his people, Ps 18:2 61:8

- Origin and antiquity of

Ge 11:4

- WERE BUILT

. In cities

Jud 9:51

. On the walls of cities

2Ch 14:7; 26:9

. In the forests

2Ch 27:4

. In the deserts

2Ch 26:10

. In vineyards

Isa 5:2; Mt 21:33

- Frequently very high

Isa 2:15

- Frequently strong and well fortified

Jud 9:51; 2Ch 26:9

- Were used as armouries

So 4:4

Thompson Chain Reference topics
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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