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Deuteronomy 21:4 — Word Study

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WLCוְהוֹרִ֡דוּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֤וא אֶת־ הָֽעֶגְלָה֙ אֶל־ נַ֣חַל אֵיתָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־ יֵעָבֵ֥ד בּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֣א יִזָּרֵ֑עַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־ שָׁ֥ם אֶת־ הָעֶגְלָ֖ה בַּנָּֽחַל׃

BSAbringyârad the heiferʻeglâh [a young female calf, nearly grown] toʼêl a valleynachal [a low area of land, a brook or stream] with running waterʼêythân [a strong and permanent stream, never to be stopped] thatʼăsher has notlôʼ been plowedʻâbad [worked or cultivated] or sownzâraʻ [planted with seeds] {and break} itsʻeglâh neckʻâraph [to destroy or kill, often used to describe beheading or cutting off] thereshâm [in that place, at that time] by the streamnachal [a small river or valley]

Word
Listen & take awayDeuteronomy 21
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ba.Na.chal) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Deuteronomy 21:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe elders of the city must bring a heifer to a valley with running water for a specific ritual.
Who is speakingGod, through Moses, giving instructions to the Israelites.
Where we areInstructions for a ritual concerning unsolved murder, found in the law.
The hard wordהָעֶגְלָה
Take awayThe heifer must not have been worked or sown.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָרַד 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 — Deuteronomy 21:4

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

Context — Ritual for Unsolved Murdergenerated

3Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work,
4bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.
5And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.
6Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,

Deuteronomy 21:4 outlines the procedure for addressing an unsolved murder in Israel. The elders of the nearest city are responsible for bringing a heifer to a designated valley, where specific conditions must be met. This ritual emphasizes the seriousness of the crime and the community's responsibility in seeking atonement. The act of breaking the heifer's neck signifies the gravity of the situation and the need for divine intervention in resolving the matter.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Peter 2:21–24For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
21 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הָעֶגְלָה, ha.'eg.Lahgenerated

The word עֶגְלָה (eglah) refers to a young female calf, specifically one that is nearly grown. It signifies purity and innocence, aligning with the ritual's intent to address the seriousness of murder. The choice of a heifer, which has not been used for labor, underscores the need for a suitable sacrifice that meets specific criteria.

This term is derived from the root meaning 'to be young' and is consistently associated with sacrificial contexts in the Hebrew Bible. The heifer's role in this ritual highlights the community's need for atonement and the importance of adhering to God's commandments.


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 הוֹרִ֡דוּ (ho.Ri.du), meaning 'and they will bring down,' governs the entire verse. It is followed by a series of noun phrases and prepositional phrases that detail the actions to be taken and the conditions of the heifer and the location.

The structure emphasizes the sequence of actions required: bringing the heifer, specifying the valley, and performing the act of breaking its neck, all of which are crucial to the ritual's integrity.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הוֹרִ֡דוּ as καταβιβάσουσιν, which means 'they will bring down.' This choice indicates a direct correspondence with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the act of bringing the heifer to a specific location.

The term used in the Septuagint reflects the same ritualistic intent but may carry a slightly different connotation in the Greek context, where the emphasis might be more on the act of descent rather than the ceremonial aspect.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Deuteronomy 21:4 describes a ritual for addressing an unsolved murder. The elders of the city must bring a heifer to a valley with running water, where it has not been worked or sown. They will break its neck there by the stream, signifying the community's responsibility in seeking atonement for the crime.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the heifer in this ritual?

The heifer represents purity and innocence, serving as a suitable sacrifice to atone for the unsolved murder, reflecting the community's need for divine intervention.

Why must the heifer not be worked or sown?

The heifer must be unblemished and free from labor to ensure it is a fitting sacrifice, emphasizing the seriousness of the ritual.

What role do the elders play in this process?

The elders are responsible for carrying out the ritual, symbolizing the community's leadership and accountability in addressing the crime.

How does this ritual reflect the community's responsibility?

By performing this ritual, the community acknowledges its collective guilt and seeks atonement, demonstrating the importance of justice and purity in society.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this ritual teach us about the importance of community responsibility in justice?
  2. How can we apply the principles of purity and accountability from this passage in our lives today?
  3. In what ways can we ensure that our actions reflect a commitment to justice and righteousness?
  4. How does understanding the significance of sacrifices in the Old Testament deepen our appreciation for the concept of atonement?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 21:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley,.... Cities being generally built on hills, and so had adjacent valleys, to which there was a descent; but here a rough valley,

Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 21 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 21 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Neither eared nor sown; partly to represent the hard and unprofitable and untutored heart of the murderer; and partly that such a desert and horrid place might beget a horror of murder and of the murderer. Strike off the heifer’ s neck, to show what they would and should have done to the murderer if they had found him.

Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 21 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Deuteronomy 21:4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’ s neck there in the valley:Ver. 4. Which is neither eared nor sown.] That is, that afterwards should neither be tilled nor sown, for horror and hatred of the innocent blood there spilled. So the mountains of Gilboah.

Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 21 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XXI. Deuteronomy 21:1-9. .(1) If one be found slain—It is remarkable that in our own time the most effectual remedy against outrages of which the perpetrators cannot be discovered is a fine upon the district in which they occur. (2) Thy elders and thy judges shall come forth.—Rashi says these were to be special commissioners, members of the great Sanhedrin. (3-4) An heifer, which hath not been wrought with . . . a rough valley which is neither eared nor sown.—Rashi’s note on this is curious: “The Holy One, blessed be He! said, ‘A yearling heifer which hath borne no fruit shall come and be beheaded in a place which yieldeth no fruit, to atone for the murder of the man whom they did not…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 21 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley] נחל איתן nachal eythan might be translated a rapid stream, probably passing through a piece of uncultivated ground where the elders of the city were to strike off the head of the heifer, and to wash their hands over her in token of their innocence. The spot of ground on which this sacrifice was made must be uncultivated, because it was considered to be a sacrifice to make atonement for the murder, and consequently would pollute the land. This regulation was calculated to keep murder in abhorrence, and to make the magistrates alert in their office, that delinquents might be discovered and punished, and thus public expense saved.

Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 21 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. the elders of that city] Luc. omits. a valley with running water] i.e. with a perennial brook, cp. Amos 5:24 (and see Driver’s note here). The running water is usually explained as meant to carry off the blood, but no blood is mentioned; unless it was so in the original law (see introd. note). The primitive idea was rather the checking of a demon or of the spirit of the slain man. Cp. the belief in the preference of spirits for dry places (Luke 11:24) and their aversion to running water (in modern times that ghosts cannot cross bridges, e.g. Tam o’ Shanter). neither plowed nor sown] therefore unprofaned by common use, and so meet for a solemn rite. Dillm. (after Ewald): ‘that the…

Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 21 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Eared - i. e., plowed; compare Genesis 45:6 note and references. The word is derived from the Latin, and is in frequent use by English writers of the fifteenth and two following centuries.

Read Albert Barnes on Deuteronomy 21 →

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

bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.

NETBNew English Translation2006

and bring the heifer down to a wadi with flowing water, to a valley that is neither plowed nor sown. There at the wadi they are to break the heifer’s neck.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to a rough valley, which is neither tilled nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And let the Elders of that citie bring the heifer vnto a stonie valley, which is neyther eared nor sowen, and strike off the heifers necke there in the valley.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto an ever-flowing watercourse, which is not tilled, nor is it sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the watercourse;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and the elders of that city have brought down the heifer unto a hard valley, which is not tilled nor sown, and have beheaded there the heifer in the valley.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and [the] elderly of that city have brought down the heifer to a hard valley, which is not tilled nor sown, and have beheaded the heifer there in the valley.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither tilled nor sown, and they shall break there the neck of the heifer in the valley;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then they must lead the heifer down to a valley with running water, a valley that has been neither plowed nor sown, and there in the valley they must break the heifer's neck.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they shall bring her into a rough and stony valley, that never was ploughed, nor sown: and there they shall strike off the head of the heifer:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Take the cow to a valley that has a stream running through it and whose ground has never been plowed or sown. Break the cow's neck there beside the stream.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And they are to take the cow into a valley where there is flowing water, and which is not ploughed or planted, and there the neck of the cow is to be broken:

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.

וְandclauseverbהוֹרִ֡דוּthey.will.bring.downnoun phrase · subjectזִקְנֵי֩the.eldersnoun phraseהָofnoun phraseעִ֨ירthe.cityadjective phraseהַ(the)הִ֤ואthatnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהָֽtheעֶגְלָה֙heiferprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phrasenoun phraseנַ֣חַלa.wadiאֵיתָ֔ןever-flowingrelpאֲשֶׁ֛רwhichclauseclauseadverbialלֹאnotverbיֵעָבֵ֥דit.is.tilledprepositional phrase · prepositionalבּ֖inוֹitוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיִזָּרֵ֑עַit.is.sownוְandclauseverbעָֽרְפוּthey.will.break.the.neck.ofadverbialשָׁ֥םtherenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהָtheעֶגְלָ֖הheiferprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrasetheנָּֽחַלwadi

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 Samaritan Pentateuch show some differences: the Samaritan Pentateuch uses והורידו (descend) instead of הוֹרִ֡דוּ (bring down), suggesting a variation in interpretation. The Dead Sea Scrolls align closely with the Masoretic Text but include some restored words, indicating minor textual variations.

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

וְהוֹרִ֡דוּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֤וא אֶת־ הָֽעֶגְלָה֙ אֶל־ נַ֣חַל אֵיתָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־ יֵעָבֵ֥ד בּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֣א יִזָּרֵ֑עַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־ שָׁ֥ם אֶת־ הָעֶגְלָ֖ה בַּנָּֽחַל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהוֹרִ֡דוּκαταβιβάσουσινהָעִ֨ירπόλεωςהַהִ֤ואἐκείνηςהָֽעֶגְלָה֙δάμαλινאֶל־εἰςנַ֣חַלφάραγγαאֵיתָ֔ןτραξεῖανאֲשֶׁ֛רἥτιςלֹא־οὐκוְלֹ֣אοὐδὲיִזָּרֵ֑עַσπείρεταιוְעָֽרְפוּ־νευροκοπήσουσινהָעֶגְלָ֖הδάμαλινבַּנָּֽחַל׃ἐν

14 of the 20 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

והורידו זקני העיר ההיא את העגלה אל נחל איתן אשׁר לא יעבד בו ולא יזרע וערפו שׁם את העגלה בנחל

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: הורידו (descend), היא (she)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q33a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

והרידו זקני העיר ההיא [את] העגלה [אל] נחל [איתן] [אשר] [לא] [יעבד] [ב׳ו] [ולא] יזרע וערפו שם את [העגלה] [בנחל]

7 words on the leather — 3 partly restored, 10 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Deuteronomy 21:4יָרַדand they wiand they will bיָרַדזָקֵן[the] elder[the] elders ofזָקֵןעִירthe citythe cityעִירהוּאthatthatהוּאאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעֶגְלָהthe heiferthe heiferעֶגְלָהאֶלtotoאֶלנַ֫חַלa wadia wadiנַ֫חַלאֵיתָןever-flowinever-flowingאֵיתָןאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרלֹאnotnotלֹאעָבַדit is tilleit is tilledעָבַדוֹin itin itוֹלֹאand notand notלֹאזָרַעit is sownit is sownזָרַעעָרַףand they wiand they will bעָרַףשָׁםtherethereשָׁםאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעֶגְלָהthe heiferthe heiferעֶגְלָהנַ֫חַלin the wadiin the wadiנַ֫חַלאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתנָחַלto inheritto inheritנָחַלזָקֵןbe oldbe oldזָקֵןעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרעֵ֫גֶלcalfcalfעֵ֫גֶלעֹ֫רֶףneckneckעֹ֫רֶףעָרַףto dropto dropעָרַףאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁיְפֵה־פִיָּהיְפֵה־פִיָּהצֹעַרZoarZoarצֹעַרקִדְרוֹןKidronKidronקִדְרוֹןאָרְנוֹןArnonArnonאָרְנוֹןיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשְׁאוֹלhell: Sheohell: Sheolשְׁאוֹלבּוֹרpitpitבּוֹרבָּחוּרyouthyouthבָּחוּר
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 Deuteronomy 21:4

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

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

and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
וְהוֹרִ֡דוּve.ho.Ri.du and they will bring down H3381 Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person common plural
381× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To go down or descend, like going to a lower place or falling. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing people and things moving downwards.
Tyndale gloss
to go down
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend

Qal 306

come or go down

go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle

go down to (acc.) threshing-floor

go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt

from Jerusalem

from altar

go down

= sink, in water

go down to She’ôl

fig. going down (dissolving) in tears

= be prostrated

of divine manifestations: descend

of inanimate things

Hiph.

cause to come or go down

bring down

send down rain = cause to flow down

= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor

bring down to She’ôl

take down (from cart)

let down

Hoph.

be brought down

be taken down

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down

. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle

. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor

. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt

. from Jerusalem

. from altar

. go down

. = sink, in water

. go down to She’ôl

. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears

. = be prostrated

. of divine manifestations: descend

. of inanimate things

. . cause to come or go down . bring down

. send down rain = cause to flow down

. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor

. bring down to She’ôl

. take down (from cart)

. let down

. . be brought down

. be taken down

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3381 yarad yaw-rad'

a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or

conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,

the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to

bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,

bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,

fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X

indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,

let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.

1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go or come down

1a2) to sink

1a3) to be prostrated

1a4) to come down (of revelation)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to bring down

1b2) to send down

1b3) to take down

1b4) to lay prostrate

1b5) to let down

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought down

1c2) to be taken down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vhq3cp
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
זִקְנֵי֩zik.Nei [the] elders of H2205
178× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means old or elderly, as in the case of the elderly men who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18:11. It can also refer to those in positions of authority, like the elders who helped Moses in Exodus 24:1. The term is used to describe respect and leadership.
Tyndale gloss
old
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָקֵן (zaqen) means 'old' and is used to refer to human beings, often as a noun for 'old man' or 'elder.' It encompasses meanings related to age and authority, indicating both age and leadership roles. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be old,' and it is consistently associated with the concept of elders in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָקֵן adj. old

old, of human beings

usu. as subst.

old man (or woman)

elder

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2205 זָקֵן old . old, of human beings

. usu. as subst. . old man (or woman)

. elder

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2205 zaqen zaw-kane'

from 2204; old:--aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man,

men and...women), senator.

see HEBREW for 02204

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָקֵן (za.qen) — old: elder.

: elder/leader

1) old

1a) old (of humans)

1b) elder (of those having authority)

זָקֵן (za.qen) — old.

: old

1) old

1a) old (of humans)

1b) elder (of those having authority)

Also means: za.qen (זָקֵן ": elder" H2205)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAampc
HAampc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
הָעִ֨ירha.'Ir the city H5892 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

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

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

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

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

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncfsa — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sit'-i (`ir, qiryah; polis):

I. THE CANAANITE CITY

1. Origin

2. Extent

3. Villages

4. Sites

5. External Appearance

6. General

II. THE CITY OF THE JEWISH OCCUPATION

1. Tower or Stronghold

2. High Place

3. Broad Place

4. Streets

5. General Characteristics

III. STORE CITIES

IV. LEVITICAL CITIES

LITERATURE

I. The Canaanite City.

1. Origin:

The development of the Canaanite city has been traced by Macalister in his report on the excavation at Gezer (Palestine Exploration Fund Statement, 1904, 108 ff). It originated on the slopes of a bare rocky spur, in which the Neolithic Troglodytes quarried their habitations out of the solid rock, the stones therefrom being used to form a casing to the earthen ramparts, with which the site was afterwards surrounded and which served as a protection against the intrusion of enemies. Later Semitic intruders occupied the site, stone houses were built, and high stone defense…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

City

The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain (Gen. 4:17). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12). Next, we have a record of the cities of the Canaanites, Sidon, Gaza, Sodom, etc. (10:12, 19; 11:3, 9; 36:31-39). The earliest description of a city is that of Sodom (19:1-22). Damascus is said to be the oldest existing city in the world. Before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt (Num. 13:22). The Israelites in Egypt were employed in building the “treasure cities” of Pithom and Raamses (Ex. 1:11); but it does not seem that they had any cities of their own in Goshen (Gen.…

and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
הַהִ֤ואha.Hiv' that H1931 Particle · pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Pp3fs — Particle · pronoun
HTd/Pp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
הָֽעֶגְלָה֙ha.'eg.Lah the heifer H5697 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a young female calf, nearly grown into a heifer. It is also the name of a place near Zoar and south of Moab. The word is often translated as 'calf', 'cow', or 'heifer'.
Amplified meaning
a young female calf, nearly grown
Tyndale gloss
heifer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶגְלָה (*eglah*) means 'heifer' and refers to a female calf, particularly one that is nearly grown. It is also associated with a geographical location, עֶגְלַת (*eglat*), known as Eglath-shelishiyah, situated near Zoar and the southern border of Moab.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶגְלָה n.f. heifer

base

עֶגְלַת n.pr.loc. (the) third Eglath, near Zoar and S. border of Moab

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5697a עֶגְלָה heifer H5697b עֶגְלַת (the) third Eglath, near Zoar and S. border of Moab

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5697 `eglah eg-law'

feminine of 5695; a (female) calf, especially one nearly

grown (i.e. a heifer):--calf, cow, heifer.

see HEBREW for 05695

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶגְלָה (eg.lah) — heifer.

heifer

עֶגְלַת (eg.lat) — Eglath-shelishiyah.

§ Eglath = "heifer"

A place near Zoar and south of Moab

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hef'-er (parah, in Nu 19 (see following article) and Ho 4:16; `eghlah, elsewhere in the Old Testament; damalis, in Heb 9:13):For the "heifer of three years old" in the King James Version, the Revised Version margin of Isa 15:5; Jer 48:34, see EGLATH-SHELISHIYAH. A young cow (contrast BULLOCK). The `eghlah figures specifically in religious rites only in the ceremony of De 21:1-9 for the cleansing of the land, where an unexpiated murder had been committed. This was not a sacrificial rite--the priests are witnesses only, and the animal was slain by breaking the neck--but sacrificial purity was required for the heifer.…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heifer

Heb. ‘eglah, (Deut. 21:4, 6; Jer. 46:20). Untrained to the yoke (Hos. 10:11); giving milk (Isa. 7:21); ploughing (Judg. 14:18); treading out grain (Jer. 50:11); unsubdued to the yoke an emblem of Judah (Isa. 15:5; Jer. 48:34).

Heb. parah (Gen. 41:2; Num. 19:2). Bearing the yoke (Hos. 4:16)…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(1 Samuel 6:7-12; Job 21:10; Isaiah 7:21) The heifer or young cow was not commonly used for ploughing, but only for treading out the corn. (Hosea 10:11) but see Judg 14:18 When it ran about without any headstall, (26:4) hence the expression an "unbroken heifer," (Hosea 4:16) Authorized Version "backsliding" to which Israel is compared.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Red heifers were to be offered in sacrifice for the national sins, in the impressive manner described in Nu 19:1-10, illustrating the true sacrifice for sin in the person of Christ, Heb 9:13,14. The well-fed heifer was a symbol of wanton wildness, Jer 46:20 50:11 Ho 4:16.

and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
נַ֣חַלNa.chal a wadi H5158 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a brook or stream, often referring to a small river or valley, is used in the Bible to describe natural landscapes, such as the Brook Kidron in 2 Samuel 15:23. It can also refer to a narrow valley or a shaft of a mine, emphasizing the idea of a flowing body of water.
Amplified meaning
a low area of land, a brook or stream
Tyndale gloss
Brook
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נַ֫חַל (*nachal*) primarily refers to a torrent or stream, often associated with a valley or wadi where water flows, particularly in winter. It can also denote a shaft of a mine. Additionally, the term may relate to palm trees in certain contexts. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, including references in Psalms and Ezekiel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נַ֫חַל n.m. torrent, torrent-valley, wady

base

[נַ֫חַל] n.[m.] perh. palm-tree;—only pl. abs., Nu 24:6

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5158a נַ֫חַל torrent, torrent-valley, wady H5158b נַ֫חַל perh. palm-tree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5158 nachal nakh'-al

or (feminine) nachlah (Psalm 124:4) {nakh'-law}; or nachalah

(Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) {nakh-al-aw'}; from 5157 in its

original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by

implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a

shaft (of a mine):--brook, flood, river, stream, valley.

see HEBREW for 05157

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — torrent: river.

: river/bed

1) torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley

1a) torrent

1b) torrent-valley, wadi (as stream bed)

1c) shaft (of mine)

Also means: na.chal (נַ֫חַל ": valley" H5158N)

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — palm-tree.

palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Eshcol) Valley.

Combined with esh.kol (אֶשְׁכֹּל " of Eshcol" H0812H)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Shittim) Valley.

Combined with shit.tim (שִׁטִּים " of Shittim" H7851H)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Sorek) Valley.

Combined with s.vo.req (שֹׂרֵק " of Sorek" H7796)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

palm-tree

Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

palm-tree

Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
אֵיתָ֔ן'ei.Tan ever-flowing H386 Adj
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for strong or mighty, often used to describe a leader or a powerful force. It can also mean permanent or enduring, like a constantly flowing stream. In the Bible, it's used to describe God's strength and power.
Amplified meaning
a strong and permanent stream, never to be stopped
Tyndale gloss
strong
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵיתָן (eythan) refers to qualities of strength and permanence. It can describe something that is perpetual or ever-flowing, like a stream, and is used figuratively to denote enduring stability. The term can also refer to a chieftain, emphasizing might and strength.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵיתָן, אֵתָן adj. perennial, ever-flowing, fig. permanent, as subst, steady flow, permanence

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H386 אֵיתָן, אֵתָן perennial, ever-flowing, fig. permanent, as subst, steady flow, permanence

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

386 'eythan ay-thawn'

or (shortened) ethan {ay-thawn'}; from an unused root

(meaning to continue); permanence; hence (concrete) permanent;

specifically a chieftain:--hard, mighty, rough, strength,

strong.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵיתָן (e.tan) — strong.

1) perpetual, constant, perennial, ever-flowing

1a) ever-flowing (of a stream)

1b) permanence, permanent, enduring (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.Sher which H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

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

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

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

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

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

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

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

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

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
לֹא־lo'- 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 they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
יֵעָבֵ֥דye.'a.Ved it is tilled H5647 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To serve or work is the meaning of this verb, which can also imply slavery or bondage, as seen in the story of the Israelites in Egypt. It is used to describe various types of work or service, including serving God or other people. The word has different forms and meanings in different contexts.
Amplified meaning
worked or cultivated
Tyndale gloss
to serve
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve

Qal

labour, work, do work

work for another, serve him by labour

serve as subjects

serve God

serve י׳ with Levitical service

Niph.

be tilled, of land

dub. cultivated field

Pu. worked

Hiph.

compel to labour as slaves

make to serve as subjects

cause to serve God

Hoph. be led or enticed to serve

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work

. work for another, serve him by labour

. serve as subjects

. serve God

. serve י׳ with Levitical service

. . be tilled, of land

. dub. cultivated field

. worked

. . compel to labour as slaves

. make to serve as subjects

. cause to serve God

. be led or enticed to serve

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5647 `abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to

serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in

bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,

execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,

(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)

servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from

margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.

: serve[someone]

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve

1d2) to cause to serve as subjects

1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.

: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
בּ֖וֹbo in it H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · 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
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
יִזָּרֵ֑עַyi.za.Re.a' it is sown H2232 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
56× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sow or plant seed is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which also has figurative uses like spreading ideas or producing spiritual fruit. It appears in various forms, such as conceiving or yielding seed, and is used in biblical passages like Genesis and Psalm 107.
Amplified meaning
planted with seeds
Tyndale gloss
to sow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָרַע (zara`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sow or scatter seed. It covers various aspects of planting and yielding, including the figurative sense of producing or conceiving. The root can denote actions in different forms, such as being sown or becoming pregnant. The entries indicate a range of uses, from agricultural to reproductive contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָרַע vb. sow, scatter seed

Qal

lit. sow

of shrub and tree producing, yielding seed

fig.

Niph. be sown, fructified

be sown

be fructified, made pregnant

Pu. of princes and judges under fig. of trees

Hiph.

produce seed

of a woman, = bear a child

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2232 זָרַע sow, scatter seed .. lit. sow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2232 zara` zaw-rah'

a primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate,

plant, fructify:--bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er),

yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָרַע (za.ra) — to sow.

1) to sow, scatter seed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sow

1a2) producing, yielding seed

1b)(Niphal)

1b1) to be sown

1b2) to become pregnant, be made pregnant

1c) (Pual) to be sown

1d) (Hiphil) to produce seed, yield seed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
וְעָֽרְפוּ־ve.'a.re.fu- and they will break [the] neck of H6202 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To break the neck means to destroy or kill, often used to describe beheading or cutting off, as seen in animal sacrifices.
Amplified meaning
to destroy or kill, often used to describe beheading or cutting off
Tyndale gloss
to break the neck
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָרַף (araph) is a verb meaning to break the neck of an animal, derived from a primitive root suggesting bending downward. It is used in a figurative sense to imply destruction. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to the act of beheading or breaking down.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָרַף] vb. denom. break the neck of an animal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6202 עָרַף vb. denom. break the neck of an animal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6202 `araph aw-raf'

a primitive root (identical with 6201 through the idea of

sloping); properly, to bend downward; but used only as a

denominative from 6203, to break the neck; hence

(figuratively) to destroy:--that is beheaded, break down,

break (cut off, strike off) neck.

see HEBREW for 06201

see HEBREW for 06203

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָרַף (a.raph) — to break the neck.

(Qal) to break the neck (of an animal)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
שָׁ֥םsham there H8033 Adverb
834× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Amplified meaning
in that place, at that time
Tyndale gloss
there
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁם adv. there, thither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8033 שָׁם there, thither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8033 sham shawm

a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or

thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +

thither, + whither.

see HEBREW for 0834

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁם (sham) — there.

1) there, thither

1a) there

1b) thither (after verbs of motion)

1c) from there, thence

1d) then (as an adverb of time)

Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)

שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

This name means there, thither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
הָעֶגְלָ֖הha.'eg.Lah the heifer H5697 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a young female calf, nearly grown into a heifer. It is also the name of a place near Zoar and south of Moab. The word is often translated as 'calf', 'cow', or 'heifer'.
Tyndale gloss
heifer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶגְלָה (*eglah*) means 'heifer' and refers to a female calf, particularly one that is nearly grown. It is also associated with a geographical location, עֶגְלַת (*eglat*), known as Eglath-shelishiyah, situated near Zoar and the southern border of Moab.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶגְלָה n.f. heifer

base

עֶגְלַת n.pr.loc. (the) third Eglath, near Zoar and S. border of Moab

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5697a עֶגְלָה heifer H5697b עֶגְלַת (the) third Eglath, near Zoar and S. border of Moab

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5697 `eglah eg-law'

feminine of 5695; a (female) calf, especially one nearly

grown (i.e. a heifer):--calf, cow, heifer.

see HEBREW for 05695

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶגְלָה (eg.lah) — heifer.

heifer

עֶגְלַת (eg.lat) — Eglath-shelishiyah.

§ Eglath = "heifer"

A place near Zoar and south of Moab

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hef'-er (parah, in Nu 19 (see following article) and Ho 4:16; `eghlah, elsewhere in the Old Testament; damalis, in Heb 9:13):For the "heifer of three years old" in the King James Version, the Revised Version margin of Isa 15:5; Jer 48:34, see EGLATH-SHELISHIYAH. A young cow (contrast BULLOCK). The `eghlah figures specifically in religious rites only in the ceremony of De 21:1-9 for the cleansing of the land, where an unexpiated murder had been committed. This was not a sacrificial rite--the priests are witnesses only, and the animal was slain by breaking the neck--but sacrificial purity was required for the heifer.…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heifer

Heb. ‘eglah, (Deut. 21:4, 6; Jer. 46:20). Untrained to the yoke (Hos. 10:11); giving milk (Isa. 7:21); ploughing (Judg. 14:18); treading out grain (Jer. 50:11); unsubdued to the yoke an emblem of Judah (Isa. 15:5; Jer. 48:34).

Heb. parah (Gen. 41:2; Num. 19:2). Bearing the yoke (Hos. 4:16)…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(1 Samuel 6:7-12; Job 21:10; Isaiah 7:21) The heifer or young cow was not commonly used for ploughing, but only for treading out the corn. (Hosea 10:11) but see Judg 14:18 When it ran about without any headstall, (26:4) hence the expression an "unbroken heifer," (Hosea 4:16) Authorized Version "backsliding" to which Israel is compared.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Red heifers were to be offered in sacrifice for the national sins, in the impressive manner described in Nu 19:1-10, illustrating the true sacrifice for sin in the person of Christ, Heb 9:13,14. The well-fed heifer was a symbol of wanton wildness, Jer 46:20 50:11 Ho 4:16.

and they will bring down [the] elders of the city that the object marker the heifer to a wadi ever-flowing which not it is tilled in it and not it is sown and they will break [the] neck of there the object marker the heifer in the wadi
בַּנָּֽחַל׃ba.Na.chal in the wadi H5158 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a brook or stream, often referring to a small river or valley, is used in the Bible to describe natural landscapes, such as the Brook Kidron in 2 Samuel 15:23. It can also refer to a narrow valley or a shaft of a mine, emphasizing the idea of a flowing body of water.
Amplified meaning
a small river or valley
Tyndale gloss
Brook
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נַ֫חַל (*nachal*) primarily refers to a torrent or stream, often associated with a valley or wadi where water flows, particularly in winter. It can also denote a shaft of a mine. Additionally, the term may relate to palm trees in certain contexts. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, including references in Psalms and Ezekiel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נַ֫חַל n.m. torrent, torrent-valley, wady

base

[נַ֫חַל] n.[m.] perh. palm-tree;—only pl. abs., Nu 24:6

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5158a נַ֫חַל torrent, torrent-valley, wady H5158b נַ֫חַל perh. palm-tree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5158 nachal nakh'-al

or (feminine) nachlah (Psalm 124:4) {nakh'-law}; or nachalah

(Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) {nakh-al-aw'}; from 5157 in its

original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by

implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a

shaft (of a mine):--brook, flood, river, stream, valley.

see HEBREW for 05157

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — torrent: river.

: river/bed

1) torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley

1a) torrent

1b) torrent-valley, wadi (as stream bed)

1c) shaft (of mine)

Also means: na.chal (נַ֫חַל ": valley" H5158N)

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — palm-tree.

palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Eshcol) Valley.

Combined with esh.kol (אֶשְׁכֹּל " of Eshcol" H0812H)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Shittim) Valley.

Combined with shit.tim (שִׁטִּים " of Shittim" H7851H)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Sorek) Valley.

Combined with s.vo.req (שֹׂרֵק " of Sorek" H7796)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

palm-tree

Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

palm-tree

Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
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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