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Deuteronomy 9:17 — Word Study

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WLCוָאֶתְפֹּשׂ֙ בִּשְׁנֵ֣י הַלֻּחֹ֔ת וָֽאַשְׁלִכֵ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֣י יָדָ֑י וָאֲשַׁבְּרֵ֖ם לְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃

BSASo I tooktâphas [seized, grasped] the twoshᵉnayim [a pair, dual] tabletslûwach [polished stones, wooden or metal slabs] and threw themshâlak [cast away, hurled] out ofʻal my handsyâd [open, powerful] shattering themshâbar [breaking, smashing] before your eyesʻayin [in your sight, visibly]

Word
Listen & take awayDeuteronomy 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 17 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 (le.'ei.nei.Khem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Deuteronomy 9:17quick helps
In a sentenceMoses recounts how he seized the tablets and shattered them in front of the people.
Who is speakingMoses, addressing the Israelites.
Where we areIn the context of Moses' anger over the people's idolatry.
The hard wordאֶתְפֹּשׂ
Take awayThe act of breaking the tablets symbolizes the breaking of the covenant.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbתָּפַשׂ 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 9:17

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 — Moses Breaks the Tabletsgenerated

16And I saw how you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you.
17So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, shattering them before your eyes.
18Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger.
19For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.

Deuteronomy 9:17 describes a moment of intense emotion for Moses as he reacts to the sin of the Israelites. After witnessing their idolatry with the golden calf, he takes the two tablets of the covenant and shatters them, symbolizing the broken relationship between God and His people. This act serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the seriousness of the covenant made with the Lord.


Cross References


The Key Word אֶתְפֹּשׂ, et.Pošgenerated

The verb תָּפַשׂ (taphas) means to seize or grasp firmly. It indicates an active engagement, where Moses takes hold of the tablets decisively. This word can imply both a physical action of capturing and a figurative sense of taking responsibility or control.

In this context, Moses' seizing of the tablets reflects his authority and urgency in responding to the people's sin. The Qal form of the verb suggests a straightforward action, emphasizing the immediacy of his response.


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 אֶתְפֹּשׂ governs the sentence, with several phrases providing detail about the action. The structure is straightforward, with the verb leading and the objects and modifiers following, typical of Hebrew syntax.

The phrase בִּשְׁנֵי הַלֻּחֹת acts as a noun phrase specifying the two tablets, while the prepositional phrases detail the action of throwing and breaking. This structure emphasizes the sequential actions taken by Moses.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֶתְפֹּשׂ as ἐπιλαβόμενος (epilabomenos), which means 'having seized.' This choice highlights the active nature of Moses' action in a way that aligns with the Greek understanding of taking hold.

This translation choice indicates a close connection to the physical act of seizing, suggesting a direct engagement with the tablets, similar to the Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Deuteronomy 9:17 shows Moses taking the two tablets of the covenant and throwing them down, breaking them in front of the Israelites. This action represents his anger at their sin and the breaking of their agreement with God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Moses mean by throwing down the tablets?

Moses throwing down the tablets symbolizes the breaking of the covenant between God and the Israelites due to their sin of idolatry.

Why did Moses shatter the tablets?

Moses shattered the tablets in a moment of anger and disappointment after seeing the people worship a golden calf, which represented a serious breach of their covenant with God.

What significance do the tablets have?

The tablets contain the Ten Commandments, which are fundamental laws given by God to guide the Israelites in their covenant relationship with Him.

How does this event reflect on the Israelites' behavior?

This event highlights the Israelites' quick turn to idolatry and their failure to uphold their commitment to God, prompting Moses' drastic action.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the act of breaking the tablets teach us about the seriousness of our commitments to God?
  2. In what ways can we reflect on our own actions to ensure we remain faithful to our promises?
  3. How can we respond when we see others turning away from their commitments?
  4. What steps can we take to rebuild trust after a breach of covenant, as Moses had to do?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 9:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands,.... In wrath and indignation at the sin they were guilty of: and brake them before your eyes; as an emblem of their breach of them by transgressing them.

Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Not by an unbridled passion, but in zeal for God’ s honour, and by the direction of God’ s Spirit, to signify to the people, that the covenant between God and them contained in those tables was broken and made void, and they were now quite cast out of God’ s favour, and could expect nothing from him but fiery indignation and severe justice. See Poole "".

Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Deuteronomy 9:17 And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.Ver. 17. And cast them.]

Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) I . . . brake them before your eyes.—This shows that the act was deliberate on Moses’ part. He did not simply drop the tables in his passion before they reached the camp; he deliberately broke the material covenant in the face of the people, who had broken the covenant itself. When we remember the effect of hastily touching not the tables of the Law themselves, but the mere chest that contained them, in after-times, we may well believe that the breaking of these two tables was an act necessary for the safety of Israel. In Exodus 33:7, we read that Moses placed the temporary tabernacle outside the camp at the same time. The two actions seem to have had the same significance, and to have…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. Vivid variation and expansion of Exo 32:19 b: and Moses’ anger waxed hot and he cast the tables out of his hands and brake them beneath the mount.

Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

17. I took the two tables,… and brake them before your eyes — This was equivalent to declaring that the covenant which Jehovah had made with them was now broken by their apostasy. Comp. Exodus 32:1-17.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 9 →

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

So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, shattering them before your eyes.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I took hold of the two tablets, and threw them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, shattering them before your eyes.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I grabbed the two tablets, threw them down, and shattered them before your very eyes.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Therefore I tooke the two Tables, and cast them out of my two handes, and brake them before your eyes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I seized the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'And I lay hold on the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and break them before your eyes,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I lay hold on the two tablets, and cast them out of my two hands, and break them before your eyes,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and I broke them before your eyes.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands. I broke them before your eyes.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

I cast the tables out of my hands, and broke them in your sight.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I threw the two tablets down, smashing them to pieces as you watched.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And I let the stones go from my hands, and they were broken before your eyes.

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.

וָandclauseverbאֶתְפֹּשׂ֙I.seizedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּ(on).thenoun phraseשְׁנֵ֣יtwonoun phraseהַtheלֻּחֹ֔תtabletsוָֽandclauseverbאַשְׁלִכֵ֔Iobjectםthrew.themprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseמֵfromעַ֖לonnoun phraseשְׁתֵּ֣יthe.twonoun phraseיָדָ֑handsיmyוָandclauseverbאֲשַׁבְּרֵ֖Iobjectםbroke.themprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseעֵינֵיeyesכֶֽםyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches all nine words. The Samaritan Pentateuch shows three differences in wording: אתפשׂה (seize), לוחות (tablet), and אשׁליכם (throw). The Dead Sea Scrolls contain one word on the leather and several supplied by an editor, but overall they align closely with the Masoretic Text.

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

וָאֶתְפֹּשׂ֙ בִּשְׁנֵ֣י הַלֻּחֹ֔ת וָֽאַשְׁלִכֵ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֣י יָדָ֑י וָאֲשַׁבְּרֵ֖ם לְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וָאֶתְפֹּשׂ֙ἐπιλαβόμενοςבִּשְׁנֵ֣יδύοהַלֻּחֹ֔תπλακῶνוָֽאַשְׁלִכֵ֔םαὐτὰςמֵעַ֖לἀπὸשְׁתֵּ֣יδύοיָדָ֑יμουוָאֲשַׁבְּרֵ֖םσυνέτριψαלְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ὑμῶν

9 of the 9 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

ואתפשׂה בשׁני הלוחות ואשׁליכם מעל שׁתי ידי ואשׁברם לעיניכם

3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: אתפשׂה (seize), לוחות (tablet), אשׁליכם (throw)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q30a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואתפש] [בשני] [הלחת] [ואשלכ׳ם] מעל שתי [יד׳י] [ואשבר׳ם] [לעיני׳כם]

1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 7 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Deuteronomy 9:17תָּפַשׂand I seizeand I seizedתָּפַשׂשְׁנַ֫יִם[the] two[the] twoשְׁנַ֫יִםלוּחַthe tabletsthe tabletsלוּחַשָׁלַךְand I threwand I threw theשָׁלַךְעַלfrom onfrom onעַלשְׁנַ֫יִם[the] two[the] twoשְׁנַ֫יִםיָדhands myhands myיָדשָׁבַרand I brokeand I broke theשָׁבַרעַ֫יִןto eyes youto eyes yourעַ֫יִןשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיכַּףpalmpalmכַּףעַלheightheightעַלשָׂבַרto inspectto inspectשָׂבַרעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןאֶ֫בֶןstone: weistone: weightאֶ֫בֶןנְבֵלָהcarcasscarcassנְבֵלָהבּוֹרpitpitבּוֹרכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָצַלto rescueto rescueנָצַלמַצֵּבָהpillarpillarמַצֵּבָהגָּדַעto cut dowto cut down/offגָּדַעחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁר
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 9:17

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 I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
וָאֶתְפֹּשׂ֙va.'et.Pos and I seized H8610 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To capture or seize something, like in 1 Kings 13:4, where a prophet grabs the king's altar. It means to take hold of or grasp something firmly.
Amplified meaning
seized, grasped
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּפַשׂ (taphas) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lay hold of or seize. It encompasses actions like capturing, wielding, and handling, with nuances in different forms such as being seized or caught. The entries suggest a range of physical and figurative uses, including the idea of manipulation or unwarranted use.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּפַשׂ vb. lay hold of, wield

Qal

lay hold of, seize

grasp in order to wield, wield, use skilfully

Niph. be seized, arrested, caught

Pi. a lizard thou mayest grasp with the hands

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8610 תָּפַשׂ lay hold of, wield

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8610 taphas taw-fas'

a primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to

capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use

unwarrantably:--catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over),

stop, X surely, surprise, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּפַשׂ (ta.pha.s) — to capture.

1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch

1a2) to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully

1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured

1c) (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
בִּשְׁנֵ֣יbish.Nei [the] two H8147 Preposition · noun common both dual construct
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
a pair, dual
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition · noun common both dual construct
HR/Ncbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
הַלֻּחֹ֔תha.lu.Chot the tablets H3871 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a polished tablet, possibly made of stone, wood, or metal. In the Bible, it is used to describe the tablets of stone given to Moses, and is translated as board, plate, or table in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
polished stones, wooden or metal slabs
Tyndale gloss
tablet
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לוּחַ (luwach) refers to a tablet, board, or plate, typically made of stone, wood, or metal. It is notably associated with the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. The entries highlight its use for various types of surfaces, including wooden boards and metal plates, particularly in the context of Solomon's temple.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לוּחַ n.m. tablet, board or plank, plate

chiefly of stone tablets on which ten words were written

wooden boards; planks

(metal) plates on bases of lavers in Solomon’s temple

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3871 לוּחַ tablet, board or plank, plate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3871 luwach loo'-akh

or luach {loo'-akh}; from a primitive root; probably meaning

to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or

metal:--board, plate, table.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לוּחַ (lu.ach) — tablet.

1) board, slab, tablet, plank

1a) tablets (of stone)

1b) boards (of wood)

1c) plate (of metal)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
וָֽאַשְׁלִכֵ֔םva.'ash.li.Khem and I threw them H7993 Verb hiphil sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
125× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To throw or cast away is the meaning of this Hebrew verb. It is used in various contexts, including throwing lots or casting out something unwanted. The word appears in stories like Jonah being thrown into the sea.
Amplified meaning
cast away, hurled
Tyndale gloss
to throw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלַךְ (shalak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to throw, cast, or fling. It can be used literally or figuratively, covering actions like throwing away or casting lots. The Hiphil form indicates an active throwing, while the Hophal form suggests being thrown or cast. The entries collectively emphasize various nuances of throwing and casting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁלַךְ] 125 vb. Hiph. 112 throw, fling, cast

Hoph.

be thrown, cast

be cast forth, out

be cast down

metaph., be cast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7993 שָׁלַךְ Hiph. throw, fling, cast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7993 shalak shaw-lak

a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or

figuratively):--adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off,

out), hurl, pluck, throw.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלַךְ (sha.lakh) — to throw.

1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down

1a2) to cast (lots) (fig)

1b) (Hophal)

1b1) to be thrown, be cast

1b2) to be cast forth or out

1b3) to be cast down

1b4) to be cast (metaph)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
Hc/Vhw1cs/Sp3mp
and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
מֵעַ֖לme.'Al from on H5921 Preposition · preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Prep — Preposition · preposition
HR/R
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
שְׁתֵּ֣יshe.Tei [the] two H8147 Noun common · feminine dual construct
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfdc — Noun common · feminine dual construct
HNcfdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
יָדָ֑יya.Dai hands my H3027 Noun common both dual construct · suffix
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Amplified meaning
open, powerful
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

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

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

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

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

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

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

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

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

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

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

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

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

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

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cd | Suff — Noun common both dual construct · suffix
HNcbdc/Sp1bs
and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
וָאֲשַׁבְּרֵ֖םva.'a.sha.be.Rem and I broke them H7665 Verb piel sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
147× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to break or shatter something, either physically or emotionally. It can also mean to burst or rupture, and is often used to describe intense violence or destruction. In the Bible, it's translated as break or crush.
Amplified meaning
breaking, smashing
Tyndale gloss
to break
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁבַר (shabar) means to break or shatter, with various nuances including breaking in pieces, causing to break out (like bringing to birth), and being broken or crushed. It appears in different forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating active and passive meanings. The lexicons do not present any significant disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁבַר 148 vb. break, break in pieces

Qal 53 break, lit.

Niph. 57 be broken

Pi. 26 shatter, break

Hiph. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth

Hoph. be broken, shattered (in heart)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7665 שָׁבַר break, break in pieces .break, lit.

. be broken

. shatter, break

. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth

. be broken, shattered (in heart)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7665 shabar shaw-bar'

a primitive root; to burst (literally or

figuratively):--break (down, off, in pieces, up),

broken((-hearted)), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt,

quench, X quite, tear, view (by mistake for 7663).

see HEBREW for 07663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁבַר (sha.var) — to break.

1) to break, break in pieces

1a) (Qal)

1a1) break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench

1a2) to break, rupture (fig)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked

1b2) to be broken, be crushed (fig)

1c) (Piel) to shatter, break

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to break out, bring to the birth

1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be shattered

Aramaic equivalent: te.var (תְּבַר "to break" H8406)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
Hc/Vpw1cs/Sp3mp
and I seized [the] two the tablets and I threw them from on [the] two hands my and I broke them to eyes your
לְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃le.'ei.nei.Khem to eyes your H5869 Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
in your sight, visibly
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HR/Ncfdc/Sp2mp
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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