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Exodus 22:24 — Word Study

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WLCוְחָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֔י וְהָרַגְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם בֶּחָ֑רֶב וְהָי֤וּ נְשֵׁיכֶם֙ אַלְמָנ֔וֹת וּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם יְתֹמִֽים׃ פ

BSAyouʼêth will becomehâyâh [be]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 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 (ye.to.Mim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 22:24quick helps
In a sentenceGod expresses His anger and warns of severe consequences for mistreatment of others.
Who is speakingGod, addressing the Israelites through Moses.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger section on social justice and the treatment of the vulnerable.
The hard wordחָרָה
Take awayGod's anger leads to serious consequences for wrongdoing.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbכֶּסֶף 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 22:24

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 — God's Warning Against Injusticegenerated

23If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
24My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
25If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
26If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,

Exodus 22:24 is part of a larger discourse on the treatment of the poor and vulnerable in society. God warns that mistreatment will invoke His anger, leading to dire consequences, including death and the resulting orphaning of children and widowhood of wives. This reflects God's concern for justice and His protective stance towards the marginalized.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 31:23For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
2Psalm 69:24Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.
3Psalm 76:7You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?
4Psalm 90:11Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.
5Nahum 1:6

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חָרָה, cha.Rahgenerated

The verb חָרָה (charah) means to burn or be kindled, particularly in the context of anger. It conveys a sense of intense emotion, describing strong feelings such as anger or zeal. The parsing indicates it is in the Qal stem, which is the most common form, expressing a simple action of becoming incensed.

This word is often used to describe God's reactions to injustice or sin, emphasizing the seriousness of His wrath. In this verse, it signifies that God's anger is not merely a fleeting emotion but a burning response to the mistreatment of others.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses kindled to convey the burning anger of God, which is consistent across the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb חָרָה (charah) governs the main clause, indicating God's anger, and it is followed by a series of clauses detailing the consequences of that anger. The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between God's anger and the resulting actions.

The sentence is complex, with multiple clauses that describe the actions stemming from God's anger: the killing, the widowhood of wives, and the fatherlessness of children. This layered structure highlights the severity of the consequences.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָרָה as ἀργύριον (silver), which suggests a different interpretative approach, possibly focusing on the value or cost associated with anger and violence. This choice indicates a broader interpretation of the consequences of sin.

This divergence from the Hebrew text reflects the translators' understanding of the implications of God's anger, suggesting that it carries a weighty consequence beyond immediate physical actions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 22:24 warns that if people mistreat others, God will respond with anger and will bring severe consequences, including death. This will leave wives as widows and children as orphans, emphasizing the importance of treating others justly.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God's anger will be kindled?

It means that God will become very angry, leading to serious consequences for those who mistreat others.

Why does God mention widows and fatherless children?

God highlights the vulnerability of widows and orphans to emphasize the moral responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

How does this verse relate to social justice?

This verse underscores God's concern for justice and the treatment of the vulnerable, indicating that mistreatment will not go unpunished.

What are the implications of God's warning?

The warning serves as a serious reminder of the consequences of injustice and the importance of treating others with care and respect.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can ensure I treat others with fairness and justice?
  2. How can I be more aware of the needs of the vulnerable in my community?
  3. In what ways can I respond to anger in a constructive manner rather than allowing it to lead to harm?
  4. How does understanding God's anger towards injustice shape my actions and attitudes?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 22:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And my wrath shall wax hot,.... Against those that afflict them, being so devoid of humanity, compassion, and tenderness, and so guilty of oppression and injustice, which are aggravated by the

Read John Gill on Exodus 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child , [ lo' (H3808) tª`anuwn (H6031)] - ye shall not afflict or humble.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 22 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Exodus 22:24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.Ver. 24. Your wives shall be widows.] God delights to punish cruelty in kind, as he did in Agag.

Read John Trapp on Exodus 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

LAWS.(16-31) The remainder of the chapter contains laws which it is impossible to bring under any general head or heads, and which can, therefore, only be regarded as miscellaneous. Moses may have recorded them in the order in which they were delivered to him; or have committed them to writing as they afterwards occurred to his memory.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. Those who had shewn heartlessness towards widows and orphans will perish in battle (cf. Isaiah 9:17), and their wives and children will become widows and orphans themselves.

Read Cambridge on Exodus 22 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

24. I will kill you with the sword — Observe here that Jehovah is the governor and judge over all, and will, sooner or later, punish all evildoers and them that forget mercy.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 22 →

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

My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

NETBNew English Translation2006

and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then shall my wrath be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wiues shall be widowes, and your children fatherlesse.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and my anger shall burn, and I will slay you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and Mine anger hath burned, and I have slain you by the sword, and your wives have been widows, and your sons orphans.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and My anger has burned, and I have slain you by the sword, and your wives have been widows, and your sons orphans.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(22:23) My wrath shall wax hot, and I will slay you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows, and your children will become fatherless.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I will become angry, and I will kill you with the sword. Your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And in the heat of my wrath I will put you to death with the sword, so that your wives will be widows and your children without fathers.

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.

וְandclauseverbחָרָ֣הit.will.burnnoun phrase · subjectאַפִּ֔angerיmyוְandclauseverbהָרַגְתִּ֥יI.will.killnoun phrase · objectאֶתְכֶ֖םyouprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֶּwithnoun phrasetheחָ֑רֶבswordוְandclauseclauseverbהָי֤וּthey.will.benoun phrase · subjectנְשֵׁיwivesכֶם֙yourobjectאַלְמָנ֔וֹתwidowsוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectבְנֵיchildrenכֶ֖םyourobjectיְתֹמִֽיםfatherless.ones

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


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

The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint, with nine of the ten words matched. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs in two words, changing the context slightly by using terms related to lending and interest, which shifts the focus from divine anger to social justice in financial dealings.

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

וְחָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֔י וְהָרַגְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם בֶּחָ֑רֶב וְהָי֤וּ נְשֵׁיכֶם֙ אַלְמָנ֔וֹת וּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם יְתֹמִֽים׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְחָרָ֣הἀργύριονאַפִּ֔יἐκδανείσῃςוְהָרַגְתִּ֥יἀδελφῷאֶתְכֶ֖םτῷבֶּחָ֑רֶבπαρὰוְהָי֤וּοὐκנְשֵׁיכֶם֙ἔσῃאַלְמָנ֔וֹתαὐτὸνוּבְנֵיכֶ֖םοὐκ

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

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

אם כסף תלוה את עמי את עני עמך לא תהיה לו כנשׁא לא תשׂימנו עליו נשׁך

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: נשׁא (give loan), תשׂימנו (put)

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

אם כסף תלוה את עמ׳י את עני עמ׳כה לא תהיה [ל׳ו] [כנשה] [לא] [תשימו׳ן] עלי׳ו נשך

10 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q11a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[אם] [כסף] [תלוה] [את] [עמ׳י] [את] [העני] [עמ׳ך] [לא] תהיה ל׳ו [כנשה]

2 words on the leather — 10 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Exodus 22:24חָרָהand it willand it will burחָרָהאַףanger myanger myאַףהָרַגand I will and I will killהָרַגאֵתthe object the object markאֵתחֶ֫רֶבwith the swwith the swordחֶ֫רֶבהָיָהand they wiand they will bהָיָהאִשָּׁהwives yourwives yourאִשָּׁהאַלְמָנָהwidowswidowsאַלְמָנָהבֵּןand childreand children yoבֵּןיָתוֹםfatherless fatherless onesיָתוֹםאָנֵףbe angrybe angryאָנֵףאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתחָרֵבto dryto dryחָרֵבבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהחָרַרto scorchto scorchחָרַרחָרָהto contendto contendחָרָההָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאאִישׁmanmanאִישׁאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאַלְמָןforsakenforsakenאַלְמָןגֵּרsojournersojournerגֵּראַףfacefaceאַףיוֹנָהJonahJonahיוֹנָהאָרֵךְslowslowאָרֵךְחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןבָּחוּרyouthyouthבָּחוּרחֶ֫רֶבswordswordחֶ֫רֶבמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁ
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 22:24

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 it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
וְחָרָ֣הve.cha.Rah and it will burn H2734 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be incensed means to be very angry or furious, like a fire burning. It describes strong emotions like anger, zeal, or jealousy, and is used to express intense feelings in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
to be incensed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרָה (charah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to burn or be kindled, particularly in the context of anger or zeal. It encompasses various forms, including to glow, grow warm, or become incensed. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal (to burn), Niphal (to be angry), and Hiphil (to kindle). The lexicons do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָרָה vb. burn, be kindled, of anger

Qal

of man

of God

Niph. be angry with

Hiph. burned with zeal (?) in repairing; and kindled his anger against me

Hithp. heat oneself in vexation.—The foll. forms are somewhat dub.: how canst thou hotly contend (in a race) with the horses?; because thou strivest eagerly (to excel) in cedar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2734 חָרָה burn, be kindled, of anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2734 charah khaw-raw'

a primitive root (compare 2787); to glow or grow warm;

figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal,

jealousy:--be angry, burn, be displeased, X earnestly, fret

self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, X very, be

wroth. See 8474.

see HEBREW for 02787

see HEBREW for 08474

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרָה (cha.rah) — to be incensed.

1) to be hot, furious, burn, becomeangry, be kindled

1a) (Qal) to burn, kindle (anger)

1b) (Niphal) to be angry with, be incensed

1c) (Hiphil) to burn, kindle

1d) (Hithpael) to heat oneself in vexation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqq3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
אַפִּ֔י'a.Pi anger my H639 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
276× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word can mean face, but also anger or nose. It is used to describe someone's countenance or emotions, like anger or patience. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of God's emotions.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַף (aph) primarily means nostril or nose, but it also refers to the face and is often associated with anger. It can denote a person's countenance or expressions of ire. The entries highlight its connection to rapid breathing in passionate states, indicating its use in contexts of anger or wrath.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַף 277 n.m. nostril, nose, face, anger

nostril, as organ of breathing

Dn. face

mostly anger

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H639 אַף nostril, nose, face, anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

639 'aph af

from 599; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and

occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in

passion) ire:--anger(-gry), + before, countenance, face, +

forebearing, forehead, + (long-)suffering, nose, nostril,

snout, X worthy, wrath.

see HEBREW for 0599

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַף (aph) — face: anger.

: anger

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

אַף (aph) — face: nose.

: nose

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

אַף (aph) — face.

: face

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
וְהָרַגְתִּ֥יve.ha.rag.Ti and I will kill H2026 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
167× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To kill or slay with intent, as seen in the Bible when God instructs the Israelites to destroy certain nations. This word is used in various forms, including to murder or destroy. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Tyndale gloss
to kill
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָרַג (harag) is a Hebrew verb meaning to kill or slay, often implying ruthless violence. It encompasses a range of meanings including murder, destruction, and being killed. The entries indicate its use in various contexts, such as wholesale slaughter in battle or divine judgment. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, indicating various nuances of killing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָרַג vb. kill, slay

Qal

kill, slay, implying ruthless violence

hence of wholesale slaughter after battle

of God’s slaying in judgment

rarely of judicial killing by men (at God’s command)

of killing beasts

of killing by beasts

quite general

destroy, ruin

Niph.

shall priest and prophet be slain in the sanctuary?

pass. of Qal 1 b

Pu. be slain

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2026 הָרַג kill, slay

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2026 harag haw-rag'

a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent:--destroy, out

of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter),

slay(-er), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָרַג (ha.rag) — to kill.

1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kill, slay

1a2) to destroy, ruin

1b) (Niphal) to be killed

1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqq1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqq1cs
and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
אֶתְכֶ֖ם'et.Khem the object marker you H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp2mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
בֶּחָ֑רֶבbe.Cha.rev with the sword H2719 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
413× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Tyndale gloss
sword
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶ֫רֶב (chereb) means 'sword' and can also refer to other cutting instruments like knives and tools. It is derived from a root meaning 'drought,' highlighting its destructive nature. The term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote weapons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶ֫רֶב 411 n.f. sword (as weapon)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2719 חֶ֫רֶב sword (as weapon)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2719 chereb kheh'-reb

from 2717; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its

destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp

implement:--axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.

see HEBREW for 02717

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶ֫רֶב (che.rev) — sword.

1) sword, knife

1a) sword

1b) knife

1c) tools for cutting stone

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

sord.

See ARMOR, III, 5.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sword

Of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Ex. 32:27; 1 Sam. 31:4; 1 Chr. 21:27; Ps. 149:6: Prov. 5:4; Ezek. 16:40; 21:3-5).

It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deut. 32:25; Ps. 7:12; 78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Ps. 57:4; 64:3; Prov. 12:18). The word of God is likened also to a…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[ARMS, ARMOR]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used by

Gideon Jud 7:20

Goliath 1Sa 21:9

Peter Mt 26:51; Joh 18:10

→ David' s army equipped with 1Ch 21:5

→ To be beaten into plowshares Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3

→ Made of plowshares Joe 3:10

→ Two-edged Heb 4:12; Re 1:16; 2:12

→ FIGURATIVE

Of war Ge 27:40

and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
וְהָי֤וּve.ha.Yu and they will be H1961 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Amplified meaning
be
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
נְשֵׁיכֶם֙ne.shei.Khem wives your H802 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
781× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Tyndale gloss
woman
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִשָּׁה (ishshah) means 'woman,' 'wife,' or 'female.' It can refer to a woman in general, a wife in relation to a man, or the female of animals. The term also has distributive and reciprocal uses, indicating 'each woman' from her neighbor. The word is derived from the masculine forms אִישׁ (ish) and אִישָׁה (ishah), indicating a broad range of meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female

woman

Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

Female of animals

With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H802 אִשָּׁה woman, wife, female . woman

. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

. Female of animals

. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

802 'ishshah ish-shaw'

feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym

{naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as

582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none,

one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0582

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman.

: woman

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: wife.

: wife/widow

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: another.

: another

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc/Sp2mp — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2mp
and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
אַלְמָנ֔וֹת'al.ma.Not widows H490 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
56× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A widow is a woman whose husband has died, often left alone and vulnerable. The Bible teaches care and compassion for widows, as seen in the stories of Ruth and Naomi. God commands his people to look out for them.
Tyndale gloss
widow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַלְמָנָה (*almanah*) means 'widow' and is derived from the root of another word. It can also refer to a desolate place, such as a desolate house or palace. The entries consistently emphasize its primary meaning as 'widow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַלְמָנָה 61 n.f. widow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H490 אַלְמָנָה widow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

490 'almanah al-maw-naw'

fem of 488; a widow; also a desolate place:--desolate house

(palace), widow.

see HEBREW for 0488

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַלְמָנָה (al.ma.nah) — widow.

widow

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Widows

To be treated with kindness (Ex. 22:22; Deut. 14:29; 16:11, 14; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12; 27:19, etc.). In the New Testament the same tender regard for them is inculcated (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Tim. 5:3-16) and exhibited.

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Character of true

Lu 2:37; 1Ti 5:5,10

- GOD

. Surely hears the cry of

Ex 22:23

. Judges for

De 10:18; Ps 68:5

. Relieves

Ps 146:9

. Establishes the border of

Pr 15:25

. Will witness against oppressors of

Mal 3:5

- Exhorted to trust in God

Jer 49:11

- SHOULD NOT BE

. Afflicted

Ex 22:22

. Oppressed

and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
וּבְנֵיכֶ֖םu.ve.nei.Khem and children your H1121 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncmpc/Sp2mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp2mp
and it will burn anger my and I will kill the object marker you with the sword and they will be wives your widows and children your fatherless ones
יְתֹמִֽים׃ פye.to.Mim fatherless ones H3490 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to an orphan or a child without a father, like in Exodus where God commands the Israelites to care for the fatherless.
Tyndale gloss
orphan
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָתוֹם (yathowm) means 'orphan' and is derived from a root that suggests loneliness or bereavement. The term specifically refers to a fatherless child or a bereaved person. All entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָתוֹם n.[m.] orphan

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3490 יָתוֹם orphan

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3490 yathowm yaw-thome'

from an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved

person:--fatherless (child), orphan.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָתוֹם (ya.tom) — orphan.

an orphan, fatherless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
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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