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Deuteronomy 28:16 — Word Study

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WLCאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בָּעִ֑יר וְאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃

BSAYouʼattâh [as individuals, as a nation] will be cursedʼârar [to be under God's judgment, to suffer] in the cityʻîyr [town, urban area] and cursedʼârar [to be under God's judgment, to suffer] in the countrysâdeh [field, rural area, countryside]

Word
Listen & take awayDeuteronomy 28
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 16 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.sa.Deh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Deuteronomy 28:16quick helps
In a sentenceDisobedience to God brings curses in both urban and rural settings.
Who is speakingMoses, delivering God's message to the Israelites.
Where we areThe section of blessings and curses in Deuteronomy.
The hard wordאָר֥וּר
Take awayCurses are pronounced on those who do not follow God's commands.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectאַתָּה verbאָרַר 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 28:16

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 — Curses for Disobediencegenerated

15If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
16You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
17Your basket and kneading bowl will be cursed.
18The fruit of your womb will be cursed, as well as the produce of your land, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks.

Deuteronomy 28:16 is part of a larger section where Moses outlines the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments. The Israelites are warned that failure to follow God's laws will lead to curses affecting every aspect of their lives, both in the city and in the countryside. This theme of blessings and curses is a central element in the covenant relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing the importance of obedience.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 28:3–14You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
2Proverbs 3:33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
3Isaiah 24:6–12Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants must bear the guilt; the earth’s dwellers have been burned, and only a few survive.
4Isaiah 43:28So I will disgrace the princes of your sanctuary, and I will devote Jacob to destruction and Israel to reproach.”
5Jeremiah 9:11“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

The Key Word אָר֥וּר, 'a.Rurgenerated

The word אָרַר (arar) is a verb meaning to curse, specifically indicating being under God's judgment. It is a passive participle in this verse, which shows that the subject, אַתָּ֖ה (attah), will experience the curse rather than actively cursing.

This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts of divine judgment. The choice of this term underscores the seriousness of the consequences for disobedience, as it reflects a state of being cursed rather than a mere action.


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 verse has a straightforward structure with two main clauses connected by the conjunction וְ (ve, and). The finite verb אָר֥וּר (arar, cursed) governs both clauses, indicating that the subject אַתָּ֖ה (attah, you) will be cursed in both locations.

The word order emphasizes the duality of the curses — in the city and in the open country — highlighting that no place is exempt from the consequences of disobedience.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אָר֥וּר as ἐπικατάρατος (epikataratos), which carries a similar meaning of being cursed or under a curse. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of divine judgment across both the Hebrew and Greek texts.

The use of ἐπικατάρατος in the LXX emphasizes the severity of the curse, aligning with the Hebrew's focus on the consequences of failing to obey God's commands.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Deuteronomy 28:16 tells us that if the Israelites do not obey God's commands, they will face curses both in the city and in the countryside. This warning serves as a reminder of the importance of following God's laws to avoid judgment.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be cursed in the city and in the country?

It means that disobedience to God will result in negative consequences affecting all areas of life, whether in urban or rural settings.

Why is the emphasis on both the city and the countryside?

This emphasizes that God's judgment is comprehensive and affects every aspect of life, regardless of location.

What are some examples of curses mentioned in this chapter?

The chapter outlines various curses, including failed crops, sickness, and defeat by enemies, illustrating the consequences of disobedience.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Deuteronomy?

This verse is part of a larger discourse on the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience, central to the covenant relationship between God and Israel.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to ensure I am following God's commands to avoid negative consequences?
  2. How can I encourage others to understand the importance of obedience to God?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to align my actions with God's will?
  4. How does understanding the consequences of disobedience affect my relationship with God?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 28:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the field.

Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 28 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 28 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Deuteronomy 28:16 Cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the city, and cursed [shalt] thou [be] in the field. Ver. 16.

Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 28 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16-19) Cursed. . . .—Here we have the counterpart of Deu 28:3-6, inclusive. The only difference is in the position of “the basket and the store” which come one place earlier in the curses than in the blessings.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 28 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15–46. The Curses The opening Deuteronomy 28:15-20, correspond to the blessings in Deuteronomy 28:1-7, except that there are no antitheses to Deuteronomy 28:1 b and Deuteronomy 28:2 b, and that the curse on basket and kneading-bowl precedes that on fruit of thy body, etc. Then the Discourse leaves the limits it had observed in the remainder of the blessings, Deuteronomy 28:8-14, and while here and there it gives the exact contrast of these blessings (cp. Deuteronomy 28:23 f. with Deuteronomy 28:12 a, Deuteronomy 28:25 with Deuteronomy 28:7 b, Deuteronomy 28:37 and Deuteronomy 28:46 with Deuteronomy 28:10, Deuteronomy 28:43 f. with Deuteronomy 28:12 b, Deuteronomy 28:13 a), the rest is a…

Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 28 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

16-19. Cursed… in the city… field… basket… store… fruit of body… land… kine… sheep… comest in… goest out — The curses here enumerated stand in contrast with the blessings in 3-6.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 28 →

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

You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You will be cursed in the city, and you will be cursed in the field.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.

NETBNew English Translation2006

You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the field.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Cursed shalt thou bee in the towne, and cursed also in the fielde.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'Cursed [art] thou in the city, and cursed [art] thou in the field.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Cursed [are] you in the city, and cursed [are] you in the field.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Cursed will you be in the city, and cursed will you be in the field.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, cursed in the field.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You will be cursed when you're in the town; you will be cursed when you're in the countryside.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

You will be cursed in the town and cursed in the field.

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.

clauseverbאָר֥וּר[will.be].cursedsubjectאַתָּ֖הyouprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּinnoun phrasetheעִ֑ירcityוְandclauseverbאָר֥וּר[will.be].cursedsubjectאַתָּ֖הyouprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrasethe.openשָּׂדֶֽהcountry

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, 'אָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בָּעִ֑יר וְאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶֽה,' which translates to 'You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.' The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the words used, although its word order and articles differ due to its translation style. The Samaritan Pentateuch also aligns word for word with the Masoretic Text. The Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically 4Q42 and 4Q45, contain fragments that support the Masoretic Text's wording, although some words are restored by editors in these scrolls. Overall, the primary witnesses agree with the Masoretic Text on this verse, affirming its translation and meaning.

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

אָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בָּעִ֑יר וְאָר֥וּר אַתָּ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אָר֥וּרἐπικατάρατοςאַתָּ֖הσὺבָּעִ֑ירπόλειוְאָר֥וּרἐπικατάρατοςאַתָּ֖הσὺבַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ἀγρῷ

6 of the 6 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

ארור אתה בעיר וארור אתה בשׂדה

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q42a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ארור] [אתה] [בעיר] [וארור] [אתה] [בשדה]

nothing on the leather here — 6 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q45a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ארור אתה בעיר [וארור] [אתה] [בשדה]

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 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 28:16אָרַר[will be] c[will be] curseאָרַראַתָּ֫הyouyouאַתָּ֫העִירin the cityin the cityעִיראָרַרand [will band [will be] cאָרַראַתָּ֫הyouyouאַתָּ֫השָׂדַיin the openin the open couשָׂדַיעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרמַרbitterbitterמַריָרַשׁto possessto possess: posיָרַשׁמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדעֵ֫שֶׂבvegetationvegetationעֵ֫שֶׂבכֶּרֶםvineyardvineyardכֶּרֶם
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 28:16

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.

[will be] cursed you in the city and [will be] cursed you in the open country
אָר֥וּר'a.Rur [will be] cursed H779 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singular
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To curse someone or something, like God cursing the serpent in Genesis 3. It means to execrate or wish harm upon someone, often used in the context of punishment or judgment. This word appears in various biblical accounts.
Amplified meaning
to be under God's judgment, to suffer
Tyndale gloss
to curse
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָרַר (arar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to curse. It encompasses various forms, including the act of cursing (Qal), being cursed (Niphal), and putting a curse on someone (Piel). The entries indicate that it can also imply being made a curse (Hophal). There is a consistent focus on the concept of cursing throughout the definitions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָרַר] vb. curse

Qal curse

Niph. cursed

Pi. curse, lay under a curse

Hoph. be cursed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H779 אָרַר curse .curse

. cursed

. curse, lay under a curse

. be cursed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

779 'arar aw-rar'

a primitive root; to execrate:--X bitterly curse.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָרַר (a.rar) — to curse.

1) to curse

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to curse

1a2) cursed be he (participle used as in curses)

1b) (Niphal) to be cursed, cursed

1c)(Piel) to curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on

1d) (Hophal) to be made a curse, be cursed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singular
HVqsmsa
[will be] cursed you in the city and [will be] cursed you in the open country
אַתָּ֖ה'a.Tah you H859 Pronoun
1,094× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Amplified meaning
as individuals, as a nation
Tyndale gloss
you(m.s.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou

base

אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)

base

אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)

base

אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)

base

אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

859 'attah at-taw'

or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine

(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem

{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah

{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun

of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and

you:--thee, thou, ye, you.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).

you (second pers. sing. masc.)

אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).

you (second pers. pl. masc.)

Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)

אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).

you (second pers. pl. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[will be] cursed you in the city and [will be] cursed you in the open country
בָּעִ֑ירba.'Ir in the city H5892 Preposition · 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.
Amplified meaning
town, urban area
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
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HRd/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.…

[will be] cursed you in the city and [will be] cursed you in the open country
וְאָר֥וּרve.'a.Rur and [will be] cursed H779 Conjunction · verb qal participle (passive) masculine singular
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To curse someone or something, like God cursing the serpent in Genesis 3. It means to execrate or wish harm upon someone, often used in the context of punishment or judgment. This word appears in various biblical accounts.
Amplified meaning
to be under God's judgment, to suffer
Tyndale gloss
to curse
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָרַר (arar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to curse. It encompasses various forms, including the act of cursing (Qal), being cursed (Niphal), and putting a curse on someone (Piel). The entries indicate that it can also imply being made a curse (Hophal). There is a consistent focus on the concept of cursing throughout the definitions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָרַר] vb. curse

Qal curse

Niph. cursed

Pi. curse, lay under a curse

Hoph. be cursed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H779 אָרַר curse .curse

. cursed

. curse, lay under a curse

. be cursed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

779 'arar aw-rar'

a primitive root; to execrate:--X bitterly curse.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָרַר (a.rar) — to curse.

1) to curse

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to curse

1a2) cursed be he (participle used as in curses)

1b) (Niphal) to be cursed, cursed

1c)(Piel) to curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on

1d) (Hophal) to be made a curse, be cursed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Inf-c — Conjunction · verb qal participle (passive) masculine singular
HC/Vqsmsa
[will be] cursed you in the city and [will be] cursed you in the open country
אַתָּ֖ה'a.Tah you H859 Pronoun
1,094× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Tyndale gloss
you(m.s.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou

base

אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)

base

אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)

base

אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)

base

אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

859 'attah at-taw'

or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine

(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem

{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah

{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun

of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and

you:--thee, thou, ye, you.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).

you (second pers. sing. masc.)

אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).

you (second pers. pl. masc.)

Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)

אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).

you (second pers. pl. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp2ms — Pronoun
HPp2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[will be] cursed you in the city and [will be] cursed you in the open country
בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ba.sa.Deh in the open country H7704 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
334× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Amplified meaning
field, rural area, countryside
Tyndale gloss
field
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂדַי (saday) and שָׂדֶה (sadeh) both refer to a field or land, encompassing cultivated areas, open fields, and regions opposed to mountains or seas. The terms can denote specific portions of ground and are associated with wildlife habitats. They derive from a root meaning to spread out, indicating flat, expansive areas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂדַי n.m. field, land

cultivated field

home of wild beasts

plain, opp. mt.

land, opp. sea

base

שָׂדֶה 819 n.m. id. [u.ak.ab]

(ordinary contr. form)open field, country

definite portion of ground, field, land

land, opp. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7704a שָׂדַי field, land . cultivated field

. home of wild beasts

. plain, opp. mt.

. land, opp. sea

H7704b שָׂדֶה id. [7704a] . open field, country

. definite portion of ground, field, land

. land, opp. sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7704 sadeh saw-deh'

or saday {saw-dah'-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread

out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil,

X wild.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — Sirion.

This name means field, land, plain

Another spelling of cher.mon (חֶרְמוֹן "(Mount )Hermon" H2768)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: soil.

: soil

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: country.

: country/field

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — Field (of the Launderer).

Combined with ka.vas (כָּבַס "Washer's" H3526)

This name means field, land

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: wildlife.

: wild(animals/plants)

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — field.

1) field, land

1a) cultivated field

1b) of home of wild beasts

1c) plain (opposed to mountain)

1d) land (opposed to sea)

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

kun'-tri ('erets, "land," sadheh, "field"; agros, "field," chora, "region"): The foregoing are the principal words rendered "country" in English Versions of the Bible, though we find also 'adhamah, "earth" (Jon 4:2); 'i, "island" (Jer 47:4 the King James Version); gelilah, "circuit" (Eze 47:8 the King James Version); chebhel, "rope" (De 3:14); maqom, "place" (Ge 29:26 the King James Version); nepheth,"hill" or "height" (Jos 17:11 the King James Version); genos, "race" (Ac 4:36 the King James Version); ge, "earth"…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ LOVE OF Jud 5:1-31; 2Sa 10:12; Ne 1:1-11; 2:1-20; 5:1-18; Ps 137:1-6

The Jews held religion and country as one (a theocracy), therefore

See CHURCH, LOVE OF

→ See also PATRIOTISM

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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