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2 Samuel 23:6 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוּבְלִיַּ֕עַל כְּק֥וֹץ מֻנָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֑הַם כִּֽי־ לֹ֥א בְיָ֖ד יִקָּֽחוּ׃

BSABut the worthlessbᵉlîyaʻal [sons of Belial, ungodly, evil] are allkôl like thornsqôwts [to be thrust away, as a thorn driven away] raked asidenâdad forkîy they can neverlôʼ be gatheredlâqach [taken, plucked up] by handyâd [with the hand, by human strength]

Word
Listen & take away2 Samuel 23
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 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 (yi.Ka.chu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Samuel 23:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse compares worthless people to thorns that are useless and cannot be gathered.
Who is speakingThe speaker reflects on the fate of the ungodly.
Where we areThis verse is part of David's final words, emphasizing the distinction between the righteous and the wicked.
The hard wordבְּלִיַּעַל
Take awayWorthless people are ultimately discarded, just like thorns.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָדַד 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 Samuel 23:6

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 — David's Last Wordsgenerated

5Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?
6But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.
7The man who touches them must be armed with iron or with the shaft of a spear. The fire burns them to ashes in the place where they lie.”
8These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time.

2 Samuel 23:6 is part of David's final declarations, where he reflects on his covenant with God and contrasts the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked. The surrounding verses highlight the strength and valor of David's mighty men, further emphasizing the importance of righteousness in contrast to worthlessness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Samuel 20:1Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
2Deuteronomy 13:13that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known),
31 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD
4Genesis 3:18Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
5Song of Solomon 2:2

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word בְּלִיַּעַל, u.ve.li.Ya.'algenerated

The term בְּלִיַּעַל (bliya`al) refers to someone who is worthless or wicked, often associated with destruction. It is derived from roots meaning 'without profit' and describes individuals who lead to ruin and moral depravity.

This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts that indicate moral corruption. The Septuagint translates it as παράνομος, which carries a connotation of lawlessness, further emphasizing its negative implications.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses worthless to translate בְּלִיַּעַל.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb מֻנָ֖ד, chased away, governs the entire verse, with several phrases providing additional information: a comparison to thorns, a description of the worthless, and a statement about their inability to be gathered.

The structure emphasizes the contrast between the worthless and the righteous, with the main action being the inability to gather the thorns, highlighting their ultimate fate.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the word ἄκανθα (akantha) for thorns, which indicates a direct translation that captures the imagery of the Hebrew term. This choice maintains the metaphorical significance of worthlessness.

The Greek term παράνομος reflects a broader interpretation of בְּלִיַּעַל, suggesting not just worthlessness but also a violation of law, aligning with the moral implications of the original Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Samuel 23:6 states that worthless people are like thorns that are pushed aside and cannot be gathered. This illustrates their uselessness and the consequences of their actions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be a 'worthless person' in this context?

A worthless person, or בְּלִיַּעַל, refers to someone who is morally corrupt and leads to destruction, lacking value or purpose.

Why are worthless people compared to thorns?

Thorns are sharp and painful, representing the harmful nature of worthless individuals who cannot be gathered or used for good.

What does it mean that they cannot be gathered by hand?

This phrase indicates that worthless people cannot be collected or redeemed; they are ultimately discarded, much like thorns that are not useful.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding context?

This verse contrasts the fate of the worthless with the righteous, emphasizing the value of living a life aligned with God's covenant, as seen in David's reflections.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see worthlessness manifesting in my life or community?
  2. How can I ensure that I am living a life of value and purpose?
  3. What actions can I take to distance myself from harmful influences, like thorns?
  4. How does understanding the fate of the worthless affect my interactions with others?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 23:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away,.... Not like the tender grass that springs up, and flourishes after rain, and the sunshine upon that; but like thorns, useless,

Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 23 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: But the sons of Belial , [ uwbªliya`al (H1100)] - worthlessness, wickedness = wicked men (cf. Deuteronomy 13:13).

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 23 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The sons of Belial, or, the men of Belial, as it is expressed , and elsewhere. Having in the foregoing verses described the nature, and felicity, and stability of that kingdom which God himself had by a sure and everlasting covenant settled upon him and his seed; and especially, upon the Messiah, who was to be one of his posterity; he now describes the quality, the mischievous nature, the hazardous and miserable condition, of all the enemies of this holy and blessed kingdom, whom he justly calleth sons of Belial, because they rebelled against God’ s appointment, and against that king whom God had set over them; for which reason others are so called, . As thorns thrust away which men do not…

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Samuel 23 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Samuel 23:6 But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:Ver. 6. But the sons of Belial.] Lawless, aweless, yokeless, masterless men, or monsters rather, such as contemn the word, and refuse to be reformed; untractable, incorrigible, such as were the Jews in Christ’ s time, and so continue to be. Shall be all of them as thorns.] That bear no good fruit, but only pricks, to hurt those that meddle with them. These shall be thrust away, that is, powerfully proceeded against; they shall be stubbed up by the roots, and burnt, viz., in hell fire. Those refractory Jews, for instance, on whom wrath came to the utmost, because "they…

Read John Trapp on 2 Samuel 23 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) The sons of Belial.—According to the Masoretic punctuation, Belial is not here in the common form, but in the stronger abstract form=worthlessness. The coming in of Divine righteousness leads not only to the assimilation of that which is holy, but also to the rejection of that which is evil, by a law as necessary and immutable as that of action and reaction in the material world. The figures used are to show that, although the wicked injure whatever touches them, means will yet be found by which they may safely be put out of the way.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 23 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns] There is no word in the text for sons; it is simply Belial, the good-for-nothing man, and may here refer - first to Saul, and secondly to the enemies of our Lord. As thorns thrust away] A metaphor taken from hedging; the workman thrusts the thorns aside either with his bill or hand, protected by his impenetrable mitten or glove, till, getting a fair blow at the roots, he cuts them all down. The man is fenced with iron, and the handle of his bill is like the staff of a spear. This is a good representation of the dubbing-bill, with which they slash the thorn hedge on each side before they level the tops by the pruning-shears. The…

Read AdamClarke on 2 Samuel 23 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. But the sons of Belial] But the wicked, &c. All ungodly men and evil things are described as worthlessness or wickedness. Their judgment and destruction is the necessary consequence of the perfect rule of the righteous king. Cp. Matthew 13:41.

Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 23 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

6. The worthless — Literally, worthlessness, an elliptical expression for worthless or wicked men, depicting the godless as personified worthlessness.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Samuel 23 →

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

But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

But all the ungodly will be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand.

NETBNew English Translation2006

But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with the hand;

RVARevised Version, American1894

But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, for they cannot be taken with the hand:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But the wicked shalbe euery one as thornes thrust away, because they can not be taken with handes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But [the sons] of Belial [are] all of them as thorns thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with hands;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

As to the worthless — As a thorn driven away [are] all of them, For — not by hand are they taken;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

As for the worthless—All of them [are] driven away as a thorn, || For they are not taken away by hand;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But the godless are all of them as waving thorns, which cannot be taken in the hand;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

But the worthless will all be like thorns to be thrown away, because they cannot be gathered by one's hands.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But evil people are like thorns to be thrown aside; they can't be held in the hand.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But the evil-doers, all of them, will be like thorns to be pushed away, because they may not be gripped in the hand:

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.

וּandclauseclauseבְלִיַּ֕עַלa.worthless.personclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּ[is].likeק֥וֹץthorn[s]verbמֻנָ֖ד[which.is].chased.awaynoun phrase · subjectכֻּלָּ֑of.themהַםallכִּֽי(dm)clauseadverbialלֹ֥אnotprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְinיָ֖דa.handverbיִקָּֽחוּpeople.will.take

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


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

The Masoretic Text (MT) of 2 Samuel 23:6 reads, "וּבְלִיַּ֕עַל כְּק֥וֹץ מֻנָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֑הַם כִּֽי־ לֹ֥א בְיָ֖ד יִקָּֽחוּ׃" which translates to, "But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, for they can never be gathered by hand." The Septuagint (LXX) agrees with the MT in all eight words, maintaining the same meaning though the word order differs. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q51) also align closely with the MT, though portions are partly restored and some words are supplied by an editor. Overall, the MT, LXX, and Dead Sea Scrolls present a consistent message regarding the fate of the worthless, emphasizing their inability to be gathered.

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

וּבְלִיַּ֕עַל כְּק֥וֹץ מֻנָ֖ד כֻּלָּ֑הַם כִּֽי־ לֹ֥א בְיָ֖ד יִקָּֽחוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּבְלִיַּ֕עַלπαράνομοςכְּק֥וֹץἄκανθαמֻנָ֖דἐχωσμένηכֻּלָּ֑הַםαὐτοίכִּֽי־ὅτιלֹ֥אοὐבְיָ֖דξειρὶיִקָּֽחוּ׃λημφθήσονται

8 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.

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

ובליעל [כקוץ] [מנד] [כל׳הם] [כי] [לוא] [ביד] [יקחו]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 7 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.

2 Samuel 23:6בְּלִיַּ֫עַלand a worthand a worthlessבְּלִיַּ֫עַלקוֹץ[is] like t[is] like thornקוֹץנָדַד[which is] [which is] chasנָדַדכֹּלall of themall of themכֹּלכִּיforforכִּילֹאnotnotלֹאיָדin a handin a handיָדלָקַחpeople willpeople will takלָקַחבְּלִיwithoutwithoutבְּלִיקַ֫יִץto summerto summerקַ֫יִץכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלכַּףpalmpalmכַּףעוּדto upholdto upholdעוּדנֶ֫גֶדbeforebeforeנֶ֫גֶדדַּרְדַּרthistlethistleדַּרְדַּרבַּרְקָנִיםbriarbriarבַּרְקָנִיםקֵןnestnestקֵןעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָצַלto rescueto rescueנָצַלמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָר
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 Samuel 23:6

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 a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
וּבְלִיַּ֕עַלu.ve.li.Ya.'al and a worthless person H1100 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Belial refers to something or someone worthless or wicked, often translated as evil or ungodly. It describes people or actions that are good for nothing and lead to destruction.
Amplified meaning
sons of Belial, ungodly, evil
Tyndale gloss
Belial: worthless
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּלִיַּ֫עַל (bliya`al) refers to worthlessness or wickedness, often associated with destruction. It is derived from roots meaning 'without profit' and can describe ungodly individuals. The term appears in contexts related to moral depravity and is linked to concepts of ruin. Some sources emphasize its use as a name, similar to 'Satan'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּלִיַּ֫עַל 27 n.[m.] worthlessness

abstr.

concr. elliptical

ruin, destruction

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1100 בְּלִיַּ֫עַל worthlessness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1100 bliya`al bel-e-yah'-al

from 1097 and 3276; without profit, worthlessness; by

extension, destruction, wickedness (often in connection with

376, 802, 1121, etc.):--Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men),

wicked.

see HEBREW for 01097

see HEBREW for 03276

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 0802

see HEBREW for 01121

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּלִיַּ֫עַל (be.liy.ya.al) — Belial.

A name like sa.tan (שָׂטָן "Satan" H7854)

This name means worthless, base, wicked

בְּלִיַּ֫עַל (be.liy.ya.al) — Belial: destruction.

: destruction

1) worthlessness

1a) worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, base fellow

1b) wicked

1c) ruin, destruction (construct)

בְּלִיַּ֫עַל (be.liy.ya.al) — Belial: worthless.

: worthless

1) worthlessness

1a) worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, base fellow

1b) wicked

1c) ruin, destruction (construct)

Also means: be.liy.ya.al (בְּלִיַּ֫עַל ": destruction" H1100H)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
and a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
כְּק֥וֹץke.Kotz [is] like thorn[s] H6975 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word simply means a thorn, like the thorns that grew in the ground after Adam and Eve sinned in Genesis 3:18. It can also refer to a thornbush, as in Judges 9:14.
Amplified meaning
to be thrust away, as a thorn driven away
Tyndale gloss
thorn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹץ (qots) refers to a thorn or thornbush, derived from a root meaning to prick. The entries consistently describe it as a plant with sharp points, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹץ n.m. thornbush, thorn

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6975 קוֹץ thornbush, thorn

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6975 qowts kotse

or qots {kotse}; from 6972 (in the sense of pricking); a

thorn:--thorn.

see HEBREW for 06972

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹץ (qots) — thorn.

1) thorn, thornbush

1a) thornbush

1b) thorn

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
and a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
מֻנָ֖דmu.Nad [which is] chased away H5074 Verb · Hophal · participle (passive) masculine singular
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to wander or flee, and is used in the Bible to describe people moving from place to place, like the Israelites in the wilderness in Exodus 14:3. It can also mean to chase someone away or to flutter like a bird.
Tyndale gloss
to wander
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָדַד (nadad) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses meanings related to movement, such as retreating, fleeing, departing, straying, and wandering. It can also refer to the fluttering of wings. The word has various forms, including Qal, Poal, Hiphil, Hophil, and Hithpolel, indicating different nuances of fleeing or being chased. Its Aramaic equivalent is נְדַד (H5075), meaning 'to flee.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָדַד] vb. retreat, flee, depart, stray, wander, flutter

Qal

retreat, flee

flee, depart

wander, stray

trans. flutter wings

Po‛ēl the sun hath arisen and it (the locust swarm) fleeth away

Hiph. chase away

Hoph. be chased away

Hithpo‛l. flee away

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5074 [נָדַד] retreat, flee, depart, stray, wander, flutter

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5074 nadad naw-dad'

a primitive root; properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to

flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee, or

(causatively) to drive away:--chase (away), X could not,

depart, flee (X apace, away), (re-)move, thrust away, wander

(abroad, -er, -ing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָדַד (na.dad) — to wander.

1) to retreat, flee, depart, move, wander abroad, stray, flutter

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to retreat, flee

1a2) to flee, depart

1a3) to wander, stray

1a4) to flutter (of birds)

1b) (Poal) to flee away, be chased

1c) (Hiphil) to chase away

1d) (Hophal) to be chased away

1e) (Hithpolel) to flee away

Aramaic equivalent: ne.dad (נְדַד "to flee" H5075)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hophal-Inf-c — Verb · Hophal · participle (passive) masculine singular
HVHsmsa
and a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
כֻּלָּ֑הַםku.La.ham all of them H3605 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

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

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

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

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

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

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

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

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
לֹ֥אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
בְיָ֖דve.Yad in a hand H3027 Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Amplified meaning
with the hand, by human strength
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

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

(yadh, "hand"; kaph, "the hollow hand," "palm"; yamin, "the right hand"; semo'l, "the left hand"; cheir, "hand"; dexia, "the right hand"; aristera, "the left hand" (only Lu 23:33; 2Co 6:7), or euphemistically (for evil omens come from the left hand; compare Latin sinister, German linkisch, etc.); euonumos, literally, "having a good name"): The Hebrew words are used in a large variety of idiomatic expressions, part of which have passed into the Greek (through the Sepuagint) and into modern European languages (through the translations of the Bible; see Oxford Hebrew Lexicon, under the word "yadh"). We group what has to be said about the word under the following heads:

1. The Human Hand: Various Uses:

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hand

Called by Galen “the instrument of instruments.” It is the symbol of human action (Ps. 9:16; Job 9:30; Isa. 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:8). Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence (Ps. 26:6; 73:13; Matt. 27:24), also of sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Isa. 51:16; Ps. 24:3, 4). In Ps. 77:2 the correct rendering is, as in the Revised Version, “My hand was stretched…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Often put of strength, power; so to be "in the hand" of any one, is to be in his power. Joining hands, or striking hands, is a very common method of pledging one’s self to a contract or bargain; just as persons among us often shake hands in token of an agreement. To "lift the hand," means to make oath. "At the right hand of God," is the place of honor, power, and happiness, Ps 16:11 45:9 110:1 Mt 26:64 Col 3:1. The right hand meant towards the south, the Jews being wont to speak as if facing the east. The "laying on of hands," signified consecration to office, and the bestowal of a blessing or of divine gifts, Ge 48:14 Nu…

→ Imposition of hands Heb 6:2

→ In consecration Ge 48:14; Ex 29:10,15,19; Le 1:4; 3:2,8,13; 4:15,24,33; 16:21

→ In ordaining the Levites Nu 8:10,11

→ Joshua Nu 27:18-23; De 34:9

→ Timothy 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6

→ In healing Mr 6:5; 7:32; 16:18; Lu 4:40; Ac…

and a worthless person [is] like thorn[s] [which is] chased away all of them for not in a hand people will take
יִקָּֽחוּ׃yi.Ka.chu people will take H3947 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
966× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Amplified meaning
taken, plucked up
Tyndale gloss
to take: take
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָקַח 965 vb. take

Qal

take, take in hand

take and carry along with oneself

take from, or out of

take, carry away

take away from, so as to deprive of

esp. take away life

take to or for a person

take up, upon = put upon

= fetch

take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

take = capture, seize

take = carry off

in phr. take vengeance

Niph.

be captured, of ark

be taken away, removed

be taken, brought unto

Pu.

be taken from, out of

= be stolen from

be taken captive

be taken away, removed

Hoph.

be taken, brought unto

be taken out of

be taken away from

Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand

. take and carry along with oneself

. . take from, or out of

. take, carry away

. take away from, so as to deprive of

. esp. take away life

. take to or for a person

. take up, upon = put upon

. = fetch

. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

. take = capture, seize

. take = carry off

. in phr. take vengeance

. . be captured, of ark

. be taken away, removed

. be taken, brought unto

. . be taken from, out of

. = be stolen from

. be taken captive

. be taken away, removed

. . be taken, brought unto

. be taken out of

. be taken away from

. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3947 laqach law-kakh'

a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of

applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,

get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,

seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.

: take

1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take, take in the hand

1a2) to take and carry along

1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away

1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept

1a5) to take up or upon, put upon

1a6) to fetch

1a7) to take, lead, conduct

1a8) to take, capture, seize

1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be taken away, be removed

1b3) to be taken, brought unto

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be taken from or out of

1c2) to be stolen from

1c3) to be taken captive

1c4) to be taken away, be removed

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto

1d2) to be taken out of

1d3) to be taken away

1e) (Hithpael)

1e1) to take hold of oneself

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tak: Most of the very numerous examples of this word are still in good use and only a few call for special attention. "To take" in the sense of "capture" is still common, but when a person or living animal is in point, modern English usually adds "prisoner" or "captive." English Versions of the Bible not infrequently has this addition (Ge 14:14, etc.), but more commonly "take" is used without it (Jos 10:39; Job 5:13; Sirach 23:21; Joh 7:30, etc.). An occasional obscurity is thus caused, as in Ge 27:3, "take me venison" for "hunt venison for me." "To take advice" (2Ch…

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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