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Exodus 12:20 — Word Study

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WLCכָּל־ מַחְמֶ֖צֶת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ בְּכֹל֙ מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תֹּאכְל֖וּ מַצּֽוֹת׃ פ

BSA{You are} notlôʼ [in no way, never] to eatʼâkal anythingkôl [food, substance] leavenedchâmêts [containing yeast] eatʼâkal [devour, consume] unleavened breadmatstsâh [without yeast, pure, sweet bread] in allkôl [every, entire] your homesmôwshâb [dwellings, habitations, places of residence]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 12
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 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 (ma.Tzot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 12:20quick helps
In a sentenceThe Israelites are commanded to avoid leavened bread and to eat unleavened bread in their homes.
Who is speakingGod, through Moses, giving instructions to the Israelites.
Where we areIn the context of the Passover, detailing the dietary restrictions.
The hard wordמַחְמֶ֖צֶת
Take awayThe directive emphasizes purity and obedience during the Passover.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbחמץ 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 — Exodus 12:20

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 — Instructions for the Passovergenerated

19For seven days there must be no leaven found in your houses. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreigner or native of the land, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel.
20You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”
21Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, “Go at once and select for yourselves a lamb for each family, and slaughter the Passover lamb.
22Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.

Exodus 12:20 is part of the instructions given to the Israelites regarding the Passover. They are to refrain from eating anything leavened, which symbolizes sin or corruption, and instead consume unleavened bread, representing purity and obedience to God's commands. This dietary law is significant during the Passover festival, which commemorates their deliverance from Egypt.


Cross References


The Key Word מַחְמֶ֖צֶת, mach.Me.tzetgenerated

The word חָמֵץ (chamets) refers to anything that is leavened, primarily bread that contains yeast. This term is derived from a root that implies sourness or fermentation. In this context, it emphasizes the prohibition against leavened products during Passover, symbolizing the removal of sin and impurity from their lives.

As a feminine singular participle in the Hiphil form, it indicates an active state of being leavened. This construction highlights the ongoing nature of the prohibition, reinforcing the idea that the Israelites must actively avoid leavened items during this sacred time.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses leavened and unleavened bread.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs תֹאכֵ֑לוּ (you will eat) and תֹּאכְל֖וּ (you will eat) govern the structure of the verse. The first verb is negated by לֹ֣א (not), while the second verb commands the consumption of unleavened bread.

The sentence structure emphasizes the prohibition of leavened bread first, followed by the command to eat unleavened bread, which highlights the importance of this instruction during the Passover.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָמֵץ as ζυμωτὸν (zyma), which means leavened. This choice reflects a direct equivalence in meaning, emphasizing the same prohibition against leavened items.

The use of ἄζυμα (azuma) for unleavened bread aligns with the Hebrew term, maintaining the significance of purity associated with unleavened bread during the Passover.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 12:20 instructs the Israelites not to eat anything leavened but to consume unleavened bread in their homes. This command is part of the Passover observance, emphasizing the importance of purity and obedience to God's laws.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to eat unleavened bread?

Eating unleavened bread symbolizes purity and obedience to God's commands, particularly during the Passover.

Why is leaven associated with sin?

Leaven is often seen as a symbol of sin or corruption in the Bible, which is why it is prohibited during the Passover.

How long is the prohibition against leavened bread?

The prohibition lasts for the duration of the Passover festival, which is seven days.

What is the significance of the Passover?

The Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt and their journey to freedom.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does avoiding leavened bread symbolize in my spiritual life?
  2. How can I apply the principle of purity from this command in my daily actions?
  3. In what ways do I need to remove 'leaven' from my life to align with God's commands?
  4. How can I help others understand the significance of the Passover and its dietary laws?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 12:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Ye shall eat nothing leavened,.... Bread or anything else that had any leaven in it: in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread, that is, if they eat any bread at all, it must be such;

Read John Gill on Exodus 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Exodus 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.Ver. 20. Ye shall eat nothing leavened.] Watch carefully against corruption in life and doctrine: be punctual in your preparation to and participation of the Christian passover.

Read John Trapp on Exodus 12 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. in all your habitations] i.e. throughout the land generally. Another of P’s standing expressions: Exodus 35:3, Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:26; Leviticus 23:3; Leviticus 23:14; Leviticus 23:21; Leviticus 23:31, Numbers 35:29; cf. Ezekiel 6:6; Ezekiel 6:14. 21–27 (J). Moses gives the people directions for the observance of the Passover. As Di. has shewn, the passage cannot be the real sequel to vv. 1–13. Moses does not here repeat to the elders, even in an abridged form, the injunctions before received by him; but while, with the one exception of the application of the blood to the lintel and side posts of the door, nearly all of the many particulars laid down in vv. 1–13 are omitted…

Read Cambridge on Exodus 12 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

18-20. These verses repeat and emphasize the details of the ordinance.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 12 →

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 are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.’”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

You will not eat anything made with yeast; in all the places where you live you must eat bread made without yeast.’”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Ye shall eat nothing leavened: in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Ye shall eate no leauened bread: but in all your habitations shall ye eate vnleauened bread.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Ye shall eat nothing leavened: in all your dwellings shall ye eat unleavened bread.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

anything fermented ye do not eat, in all your dwellings ye do eat unleavened things.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

you do not eat anything fermented—in all your dwellings you eat [only] unleavened things.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Nothing that is leavened shall ye eat; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

You must eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat bread made without yeast.'”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

You shall not eat any thing leavened: in all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You must not eat anything with yeast in it. Eat only bread without yeast in all your homes.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Take nothing which has leaven in it; wherever you are living let your food be unleavened cakes.

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.

clausenoun phrase · objectכָּלanyמַחְמֶ֖צֶתthing.leavenedadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbתֹאכֵ֑לוּyou.will.eatclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseכֹל֙allnoun phraseמוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיplacesכֶ֔םyour.dwellingverbתֹּאכְל֖וּyou.will.eatobjectמַצּֽוֹתunleavened.bread(s)

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, "כָּל־ מַחְמֶ֖צֶת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ בְּכֹל֙ מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תֹּאכְל֖וּ מַצּֽוֹת׃ פ" which translates to, "You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, although it presents the words in a different order. The Samaritan Pentateuch also agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q22) partially preserve the text, with some words restored by an editor, but they align with the overall message of the Masoretic Text.

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

כָּל־ מַחְמֶ֖צֶת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ בְּכֹל֙ מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תֹּאכְל֖וּ מַצּֽוֹת׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כָּל־πᾶνמַחְמֶ֖צֶתζυμωτὸνלֹ֣אοὐκתֹאכֵ֑לוּἔδεσθεבְּכֹל֙παντὶמוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔םὑμῶνתֹּאכְל֖וּἔδεσθεמַצּֽוֹת׃ פἄζυμα

8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

כל מחמצת לא תאכלו בכל מושׁבתיכם תאכלו מצות

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q22a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[כל] [מחמצת] [לא] [תאכלו] [בכל] [מושבתי׳כם] תאוכלו מצות

nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 6 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.

Exodus 12:20כֹּלanyanyכֹּלחָמֵץthing leavething leavenedחָמֵץלֹאnotnotלֹאאָכַלyou will eayou will eatאָכַלכֹּלin allin allכֹּלמוֹשָׁבdwelling pldwelling placesמוֹשָׁבאָכַלyou will eayou will eatאָכַלמַצָּהunleavened unleavened breaמַצָּהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַליָשַׁבto dwellto dwellיָשַׁבמָצַץto drink dto drink deeplyמָצַץעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםבָּצֵקdoughdoughבָּצֵקאָכַלto eatto eatאָכַליָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדמַאֲכָלfoodfoodמַאֲכָלפַּ֫עַםbeatbeatפַּ֫עַםרָקִיקflatbreadflatbreadרָקִיקחַלָּהbunbunחַלָּה
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 Exodus 12:20

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.

any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
כָּל־kol- any H3605 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
food, substance
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

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

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

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

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

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

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

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

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
מַחְמֶ֖צֶתmach.Me.tzet thing leavened H2556 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) feminine singular
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this verb means to oppress or be cruel to someone, often causing them harm or suffering. It appears in Psalms and Proverbs, describing ruthless behaviors, and warning against treating others harshly. It involves being merciless.
Tyndale gloss
to leaven
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָמֵץ (chamets) is a Hebrew word with several meanings, primarily related to being sour or leavened. It can describe something that is fermented or harsh in taste, as well as denote a color (red) or a quality (ruthless). The entries indicate its use in various contexts, including emotional states like being embittered or grieving.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָמֵץ vb. be sour, leavened

Qal be leavened

Hithp. be soured, embittered

base

[חמץ] vb. be red

base

[חמץ] vb. be ruthless—only Qal Pt. ψ 71:4

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2556a חָמֵץ be sour, leavened .be leavened

. be soured, embittered

H2556b חמץ be red H2556c חמץ be ruthless

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2556 chamets khaw-mates'

a primitive root; to be pungent; i.e. in taste (sour, i.e.

literally fermented, or figuratively, harsh), in color

(dazzling):--cruel (man), dyed, be grieved, leavened.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָמֵץ (cha.mets) — to leaven.

1) to be leavened, be sour

1a) (Qal) to be leavened

1b) (Hiphil) to taste something leavened

1c) (Hithpael) to be embittered, grieved

חָמַץ (cha.mats) — be red.

to be red

חָמַץ (cha.mats) — to oppress.

to be cruel, oppress, be ruthless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhrfsa — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) feminine singular
HVhrfsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
לֹ֣אlo' 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.
Amplified meaning
in no way, never
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
any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
תֹאכֵ֑לוּto.Khe.lu you will eat H398 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVqi2mp
any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
בְּכֹל֙be.Khol in all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
every, entire
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

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

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

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

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

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

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

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

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

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

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
מוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔םmo.she.Vo.tei.Khem dwelling places your H4186 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
44× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A seat can refer to a physical place of sitting or a gathering of people, like an assembly. It can also mean a dwelling place or location, and is sometimes used to describe a group of people living together.
Amplified meaning
dwellings, habitations, places of residence
Tyndale gloss
seat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹשָׁב (mowshab) refers to a seat or dwelling-place, encompassing meanings such as assembly, location, and the act of dwelling. It can denote both a physical site and an abstract concept of a session or time of dwelling. The word suggests a community of dwellers or those who sit together.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוֹשָׁב n.m. seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers

seat

sitting = those sitting, sitting company or assembly

dwelling-place of people, tribe, etc.

alm. = abstr. dwelling

= house

situation of city; location of image

time of dwelling

coll. = those dwelling

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4186 מוֹשָׁב seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers . . seat

. sitting = those sitting, sitting company or assembly

. . dwelling-place of people, tribe, etc.

. alm. = abstr. dwelling

. = house

. situation of city; location of image

. time of dwelling

. coll. = those dwelling

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4186 mowshab mo-shawb'

or moshab {mo-shawb'}; from 3427; a seat; figuratively, a

site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place

or the time); by implication, population:--assembly, dwell

in, dwelling(-place), wherein (that) dwelt (in), inhabited

place, seat, sitting, situation, sojourning.

see HEBREW for 03427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹשָׁב (mo.shav) — seat.

1) seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers

1a) seat, sitting, those sitting, sitting company or assembly

1b) dwelling place, dwelling

1c) situation, location

1d) time of dwelling

1e) those dwelling, dweller

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp2mp
any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
תֹּאכְל֖וּto.khe.Lu you will eat H398 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Amplified meaning
devour, consume
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVqi2mp
any thing leavened not you will eat in all dwelling places your you will eat unleavened bread
מַצּֽוֹת׃ פma.Tzot unleavened bread H4682 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
53× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, matstsah refers to unleavened bread, a sweet bread made without yeast, often eaten during the Passover festival. It symbolizes purity and simplicity. This bread is mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
without yeast, pure, sweet bread
Tyndale gloss
unleavened bread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַצָּה (matstsah) refers to unleavened bread or cakes, specifically those made without yeast. The term is linked to the idea of sweetness, contrasting with sour or bitter bread. It is notably associated with the festival of Passover, during which leaven is prohibited.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַצָּה n.f. unleavened bread, or cake(s)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4682 מַצָּה unleavened bread, or cake(s)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4682 matstsah mats-tsaw'

from 4711 in the sense of greedily devouring for sweetness;

properly, sweetness; concretely, sweet (i.e. not soured or

bittered with yeast); specifically, an unfermented cake or

loaf, or (elliptically) the festival of Passover (because no

leaven was then used):--unleaved (bread, cake), without

leaven.

see HEBREW for 04711

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַצָּה (mats.tsah) — unleavened bread.

unleavened (bread, cake), without leaven.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ (With yeast, which symbolized pervasive corruption)

→ See BREAD

→ See PASSOVER

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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