Menu

Daniel 2:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיֹּ֧אמֶר לָהֶ֛ם הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חֲל֣וֹם חָלָ֑מְתִּי וַתִּפָּ֣עֶם רוּחִ֔י לָדַ֖עַת אֶֽת־ הַחֲלֽוֹם׃

BSAhemelek said to themʼâmar [the royal advisors] I have had a dreamchălôwm [experienced, been given, vision, prophetic message] and my spiritrûwach [the breath of life, my mind and emotions] is anxiouspâʻam [troubled, deeply concerned] to understandyâdaʻ [to know, to discern the meaning of] itchălôwm [the dream, the vision]

Word
Listen & take awayDaniel 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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 (ha.cha.Lom) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Daniel 2:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe king expresses his anxiety about a troubling dream and seeks understanding.
Who is speakingThe king, addressing his royal advisors.
Where we areIn the context of the king's troubling dream, as he seeks answers.
The hard wordחֲלֹם
Take awayThe king is deeply troubled and desires clarity about his dream.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָמַר 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 — Daniel 2:3

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 King's Troubling Dreamgenerated

2So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,
3he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.”
4Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
5The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble.

Daniel 2:3 describes how the king is distressed by a dream he has experienced. He seeks the interpretation from his advisors, indicating the significance of dreams in understanding divine messages. This moment sets the stage for the unfolding events where the king's dream will be interpreted, highlighting the tension between earthly wisdom and divine revelation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Daniel 2:1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.
2Genesis 40:8“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
3Genesis 41:15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.Daniel 2:1 Genesis 40:8 Genesis 41:15

The Key Word חֲלֹם, cha.Lomgenerated

The Hebrew word חֲלוֹם (chalowm) means 'dream' and can refer to both ordinary dreams and those with prophetic significance. It is derived from a root that suggests a connection to dreaming, indicating its importance in conveying messages from God.

In this verse, the word emphasizes the king's experience of a significant dream that is causing him distress, highlighting the emotional weight of dreams in the biblical narrative.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is יֹּ֧אמֶר, he said, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a direct address to the advisors, followed by the king's statement about his dream and his emotional state.

The sentence is constructed with a main clause followed by a series of phrases that describe the dream and the king's troubled spirit, emphasizing the urgency of his need for understanding.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חֲלוֹם as ἐνύπνιον, which means 'dream' and carries a similar connotation of a vision or message. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, suggesting that the dream holds significant importance.

The use of ἐνύπνιον reflects the translators' understanding of dreams as vehicles for divine communication, consistent with the Hebrew context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Daniel 2:3 shows the king expressing his anxiety about a dream he has had. He tells his advisors that his spirit is troubled and he seeks to understand the meaning of the dream. This moment highlights the importance of dreams in conveying messages and the king's need for clarity.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the king mean by saying he has had a dream?

The king is indicating that he has experienced a significant dream that is causing him distress and he seeks understanding of its meaning.

Why is the king's spirit troubled?

The king's spirit is troubled because the dream he experienced is unclear and he feels anxious about its implications.

What role do dreams play in the Bible?

Dreams in the Bible often serve as a means of divine communication, conveying important messages or prophecies.

How do the advisors respond to the king's request?

The advisors promise to interpret the dream, but the king's demand for them to first tell him the dream itself reveals the challenge they face.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What significance do dreams hold in my own life, and how do I seek understanding of them?
  2. How can I discern messages or lessons from experiences that trouble my spirit?
  3. In what ways can I approach others for wisdom and understanding when faced with confusion?
  4. How do I respond to moments of uncertainty or anxiety, similar to the king's experience?

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

Early commentators like Jerome and Theodoret of Cyrus reference this verse to discuss the nature of dreams and divine revelation.

JeromeSt. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER TWO c. 347–420
Verse 3. "And the king said to them, 'I have seen a dream, and from the confusion of my mind I do not know what I have seen.'" There remained in the king's heart only a shadow, so to speak, or a mere echo or trace of the dream,
Early Church Fathers on Daniel 2 →
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON Daniel 2:3-4 c. 393–460
And having summoned them, they were given the request by that one whom they serve, and foolishly they promised. For human wisdom is incapable of knowing the divine mysteries without assistance from above.
Early Church Fathers on Daniel 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Daniel 2:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream,.... What before is called dreams is here expressed in the singular, a dream; for it was but one dream, though it contained in it various things;

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

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

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

He remembered the fact in general, but could not repeat it perfectly, much less know the meaning of it; yet it had left such an impression on him, as put him into great perplexity. The Lord hath ways to affright the greatest men in the world, in the midst of their security and jollity.

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

Daniel 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.Ver. 3. I have dreamed a dream.] His thoughts had been occupied belike about the issue of his kingdoms, and thereupon he had a divine vision. He that is moderately careful about the affairs of his lawful calling shall not be destitute of divine direction. And my spirit was troubled.] Heb., Troubled itself. Jesus also troubled himself, but without sin.

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

(3) I have dreamed.—It has been questioned whether the king had really forgotten his dream, or whether he only pretended to have done so in order that he might prove the skill of his wise men. The conduct of the Chaldæans (Daniel 2:10) makes the latter hypothesis possible. However, it is more in accordance with what is stated about the anxious condition of the king’s mind to assume that he remembered a portion of the dream, but that he had lost the general outline of it.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Daniel 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–6. Nebuchadnezzar, being troubled by a dream, summons the wise men of Babylon before him, and bids them both tell him what his dream had been, and also interpret it to him.

Read Cambridge on Daniel 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream - That is, clearly, to know all about it; to recollect distinctly what it was, and to understand what it meant.

Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 2 →

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 said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

The king told them, “I have had a dream, and I am anxious to understand the dream.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the King sayde vnto them, I haue dreamed a dreame, and my spirite was troubled to knowe the dreame.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and the king saith to them, 'A dream I have dreamed, and moved is my spirit to know the dream.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and the king says to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is moved to know the dream.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my mind is anxious to know what the dream means.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the king said to them: I saw a dream: and being troubled in mind I know not what I saw.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

“I've had a dream that has really upset me,” he told them. “I need to know what it means.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the king said to them, I have had a dream, and my spirit is troubled by the desire to have the dream made clear to me.

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.

וַandclauseverbיֹּ֧אמֶרhe.saidprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoהֶ֛םthemnoun phrase · subjectהַtheמֶּ֖לֶךְkingclauseobjectחֲל֣וֹםa.dreamverbחָלָ֑מְתִּיI.have.dreamedוַandclauseverbתִּפָּ֣עֶםit.was.troublednoun phrase · subjectרוּחִ֔spiritיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoclauseverbדַ֖עַתknownoun phrase · objectאֶֽת(et)noun phraseהַtheחֲלֽוֹםdream

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 9 of the 10 words matching. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some damage, with 5 words supplied by an editor, but the core message remains consistent.

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

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר לָהֶ֛ם הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חֲל֣וֹם חָלָ֑מְתִּי וַתִּפָּ֣עֶם רוּחִ֔י לָדַ֖עַת אֶֽת־ הַחֲלֽוֹם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּ֧אמֶרεἶπενלָהֶ֛םαὐτοῖςהַמֶּ֖לֶךְβασιλεύςחֲל֣וֹםἐνύπνιονחָלָ֑מְתִּיἑώρακαוַתִּפָּ֣עֶםἐκινήθηרוּחִ֔יμουלָדַ֖עַתἐπιγνῶναιהַחֲלֽוֹם׃ἐνύπνιον

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

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Q71a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ויאמר ל׳הם [המלך] [חלום] [חלמתי] [ותפעם] [רוח׳י] לדעת את החלום

5 words on the leather — 5 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.

Daniel 2:3אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַרהֶםto themto themהֶםמֶ֫לֶךְthe kingthe kingמֶ֫לֶךְחֲלוֹםa dreama dreamחֲלוֹםחָלַםI have dreaI have dreamedחָלַםפָּעַםand it was and it was trouפָּעַםרוּחַspirit myspirit myרוּחַיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעאֵתthe object the object markאֵתחֲלוֹםthe dreamthe dreamחֲלוֹםחָלַםbe healthybe healthyחָלַםמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְרִיחַto smellto smellרִיחַאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/GodיהוהנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּראַשּׁוּרAsshurAsshurאַשּׁוּרחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםמַחֲנֵה־דָ֑ןמַחֲנֵה־דָ֑ןנְשָׁמָהbreathbreathנְשָׁמָהקָדִיםeasteastקָדִיםאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁ
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 Daniel 2:3

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 he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
וַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Amplified meaning
the royal advisors
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
לָהֶ֛םla.Hem to them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3mp
and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekh the king H4428 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

King

Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).

This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called KING OF KINGS Ezr 7:12; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37

→ Divinely authorized De 17:15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12; 1Ch 22:10; 2Ch 2:11,12; Pr 8:15; Da 2:21,37; 4:17; 5:20; Ho 8:4; 13:11

→ How chosen

By divine appointment, Saul 1Sa 10:1

and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
חֲל֣וֹםcha.Lom a dream H2472 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a dream, which can be ordinary or have a prophetic meaning, as seen in the Bible where God communicates through dreams. It appears in the story of Joseph in Genesis. The word is also used in Joel 2:28.
Amplified meaning
experienced, been given, vision, prophetic message
Tyndale gloss
dream
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֲלוֹם (chalowm) means 'dream' and can refer to both ordinary dreams and those with prophetic significance. It is derived from a root that suggests a connection to dreaming. The Aramaic equivalent is חֵ֫לֶם (chelem).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲלוֹם n.m. dream

ordinary dream of sleep

dreams with prophetic meaning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2472 חֲלוֹם dream

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2472 chalowm khal-ome'

or (shortened) chalom {khal-ome'}; from 2492; a

dream:--dream(-er).

see HEBREW for 02492

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲלוֹם (cha.lom) — dream.

1) dream

1a) dream (ordinary)

1b) dream (with prophetic meaning)

Aramaic equivalent: che.lem (חֵ֫לֶם "dream" H2493)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dream

God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob (Gen. 28:12; 31:10), Laban (31:24), Joseph (37:9-11), Gideon (Judg. 7), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech (Gen. 20:3-7), Pharaoh’s chief butler and baker (40:5), Pharaoh (41:1-8), the Midianites (Judg. 7:13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1; 4:10, 18), the wise men from the east (Matt. 2:12), and Pilate’s wife (27:19).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The orientals, and in particular the Jews, greatly regarded dreams, and applied for their interpretation to those who undertook to explain them. We see the antiquity of this custom in the history of Pharaoh’s butler and baker, Ge 40:1-23; and Pharaoh himself and Nebuchadnezzar are also instances. God expressly forbade his people to observe dreams, and to consult explainers of them. He condemned to death all who pretended to have prophetic dreams, even though what they foretold came to pass, if they had any tendency to promote idolatry, De 13:1-3. But they were not forbidden, when they thought they had a significant dream, to address the prophets of the Lord, or the high priest in his ephod, to have it explained. The Lord frequently made known his will in dreams, and enabled…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Evanescent Job 20:8

→ Vanity of Ec 5:3,7

→ INSTANCES OF

Of Abimelech,, concerning Sarah Ge 20:3

Of Jacob, concerning the ladder Ge 28:12

The ring-straked cattle Ge 31:10-13

Concerning his going down into Egypt Ge 46:2

Of Laban, concerning Jacob Ge 31:24

Of Joseph, concerning the sheaves Ge 37:5-10

Of Midianite concerning the cake of barley Jud 7:13

and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
חָלָ֑מְתִּיcha.La.me.ti I have dreamed H2492 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to dream, like in Genesis 37:5-10 where Joseph dreams about his future. It can also mean to recover or be in good health, as in Psalm 73:4.
Tyndale gloss
be healthy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָלַם (chalam) has two primary meanings: to be healthy or strong, and to dream. It can refer to physical health or restoration in the Hiphil form, while the Qal form encompasses ordinary, prophetic, and false dreams. The entries indicate a connection between health and dreaming, but do not show any significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָלַם] vb. be healthy, strong

Qal their young are healthy

Hiph. and restore me to health

base

חָלַם vb. dream

Qal dream

Hiph. dream

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2492a חָלַם be healthy, strong .their young are healthy

. and restore me to health

H2492b חָלַם dream

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2492 chalam khaw-lam'

a primitive root; properly, to bind firmly, i.e. (by

implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also (through

the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream:--(cause to)

dream(-er), be in good liking, recover.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלַם (cha.lam) — be healthy.

1) to be healthy, be strong

1a) (Qal) to be healthy

1b) (Hiphil) to restore to health

חָלַם (cha.lam) — to dream.

1) to dream

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to dream (ordinary)

1a2) to dream (prophetic)

1a3) to dream (of false prophets)

1b) (Hiphil) to dream

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
וַתִּפָּ֣עֶםva.ti.Pa.'em and it was troubled H6470 Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to trouble or disturb something, like beating on a drum. It is used in various forms to describe being pushed or agitated, and is found in several books of the Bible.
Amplified meaning
troubled, deeply concerned
Tyndale gloss
to trouble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּעַם (pa`am) is a Hebrew verb that conveys the idea of thrusting or impelling, often associated with a regular beating or disturbance. It can be used in various forms, such as to indicate being disturbed or agitated. The entries highlight its usage in different contexts, including a reference to Daniel 2:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּעַם] vb. thrust, impel (prob. orig. strike, hit)

Qal the spirit of י׳ began to impel him.

Niph. be disturbed

Hithp. Dn 2:1.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6470 [פָּעַם] thrust, impel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6470 pa`am paw-am'

a primitive root; to tap, i.e. beat regularly; hence

(generally) to impel or agitate:--move, trouble.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּעַם (pa.am) — to trouble.

1) to thrust, impel, push, beat persistently

1a) (Qal) to impel

1b) (Niphal) to be beaten, be disturbed

1c) (Hithpael) to be disturbed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/VNw3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
רוּחִ֔יru.Chi spirit my H7307 Noun common both singular construct · suffix
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
the breath of life, my mind and emotions
Tyndale gloss
spirit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּחַ (ruach) means breath, wind, or spirit. It encompasses various meanings, including the breath of life, emotional disposition, and the spirit of God. The term can refer to both physical phenomena, like wind, and abstract concepts, such as moral character or mental acts. Notably, it is used frequently in the context of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit

breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

wind (117 t.)

spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

spirit of the living, breathing being

spirit as seat of emotion

occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

rarely of the will

רוּחַ esp. of moral character

spirit of God (94 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7307 רוּחַ breath, wind, spirit . breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

. wind (117 t.)

. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

. spirit of the living, breathing being

. spirit as seat of emotion

. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

. rarely of the will

. רוּחַ esp. of moral character

. spirit of God (94 t.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7307 ruwach roo'-akh

from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or

even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger,

unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by

resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including

its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X

cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)),

tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).

see HEBREW for 07306

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit.

: spirit

1) wind, breath, mind, spirit

1a) breath

1b) wind

1b1) of heaven

1b2) quarter (of wind), side

1b3) breath of air

1b4) air, gas

1b5) vain, empty thing

1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)

1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour

1c2) courage

1c3) temper, anger

1c4) impatience, patience

1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)

1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse

1c7) prophetic spirit

1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)

1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being

1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)

1e1) desire

1e2) sorrow, trouble

1f) spirit

1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts

1f2) rarely of the will

1f3) as seat especially of moral character

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffix
HNcbsc/Sp1fs
and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
לָדַ֖עַתla.Da.'at to know H3045 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
to know, to discern the meaning of
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
and he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
אֶֽת־'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 he said to them the king a dream I have dreamed and it was troubled spirit my to know the object marker the dream
הַחֲלֽוֹם׃ha.cha.Lom the dream H2472 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a dream, which can be ordinary or have a prophetic meaning, as seen in the Bible where God communicates through dreams. It appears in the story of Joseph in Genesis. The word is also used in Joel 2:28.
Amplified meaning
the dream, the vision
Tyndale gloss
dream
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֲלוֹם (chalowm) means 'dream' and can refer to both ordinary dreams and those with prophetic significance. It is derived from a root that suggests a connection to dreaming. The Aramaic equivalent is חֵ֫לֶם (chelem).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲלוֹם n.m. dream

ordinary dream of sleep

dreams with prophetic meaning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2472 חֲלוֹם dream

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2472 chalowm khal-ome'

or (shortened) chalom {khal-ome'}; from 2492; a

dream:--dream(-er).

see HEBREW for 02492

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲלוֹם (cha.lom) — dream.

1) dream

1a) dream (ordinary)

1b) dream (with prophetic meaning)

Aramaic equivalent: che.lem (חֵ֫לֶם "dream" H2493)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dream

God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob (Gen. 28:12; 31:10), Laban (31:24), Joseph (37:9-11), Gideon (Judg. 7), and Solomon (1 Kings 3:5). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech (Gen. 20:3-7), Pharaoh’s chief butler and baker (40:5), Pharaoh (41:1-8), the Midianites (Judg. 7:13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1; 4:10, 18), the wise men from the east (Matt. 2:12), and Pilate’s wife (27:19).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The orientals, and in particular the Jews, greatly regarded dreams, and applied for their interpretation to those who undertook to explain them. We see the antiquity of this custom in the history of Pharaoh’s butler and baker, Ge 40:1-23; and Pharaoh himself and Nebuchadnezzar are also instances. God expressly forbade his people to observe dreams, and to consult explainers of them. He condemned to death all who pretended to have prophetic dreams, even though what they foretold came to pass, if they had any tendency to promote idolatry, De 13:1-3. But they were not forbidden, when they thought they had a significant dream, to address the prophets of the Lord, or the high priest in his ephod, to have it explained. The Lord frequently made known his will in dreams, and enabled…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Evanescent Job 20:8

→ Vanity of Ec 5:3,7

→ INSTANCES OF

Of Abimelech,, concerning Sarah Ge 20:3

Of Jacob, concerning the ladder Ge 28:12

The ring-straked cattle Ge 31:10-13

Concerning his going down into Egypt Ge 46:2

Of Laban, concerning Jacob Ge 31:24

Of Joseph, concerning the sheaves Ge 37:5-10

Of Midianite concerning the cake of barley Jud 7:13

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate