Menu

Ezekiel 16:56 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְל֤וֹא הָֽיְתָה֙ סְדֹ֣ם אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ לִשְׁמוּעָ֖ה בְּפִ֑יךְ בְּי֖וֹם גְּאוֹנָֽיִךְ׃

BSADid you notlôʼ [never] treathâyâh your sisterʼâchôwth [close relative, kin] SodomÇᵉdôm [a city known for wickedness] as an object of scornshᵉmûwʻâh [ridicule, contempt] in the dayyôwm [period of time, era] of your pridegâʼôwn [arrogance, haughtiness, a state of being puffed up]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 16
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 56 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 (ge.'o.Na.yikh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 16:56quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel questions Jerusalem about her treatment of Sodom, highlighting her pride.
Who is speakingThe prophet Ezekiel, conveying God's message.
Where we areIn a passage addressing Jerusalem's sins and comparing her to Sodom.
The hard wordסְדֹ֣ם
Take awayThe verse serves as a reminder of pride's destructive nature.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה 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 — Ezekiel 16:56

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 — Ezekiel's Prophecy Against Jerusalemgenerated

55And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state. You and your daughters will also return to your former state.
56Did you not treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn in the day of your pride,
57before your wickedness was uncovered? Even so, you are now scorned by the daughters of Edom and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you.
58You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your abominations, declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 16:56 addresses Jerusalem's pride and her scornful treatment of Sodom, a city known for its wickedness. The surrounding verses emphasize the consequences of Jerusalem's actions, reminding her that she will face similar scorn and judgment. This passage serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of pride and the importance of humility before God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 65:5They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
2Zephaniah 3:11On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you have transgressed against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.
3Luke 15:28–30The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
4Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word סְדֹם, se.Domgenerated

The Hebrew word סְדֹם (sedom) refers specifically to Sodom, a city infamous for its immorality and wickedness. It is often mentioned in the context of divine judgment, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The parsing indicates it is a proper noun, identifying a specific place rather than a general term.

Sodom represents not just a geographical location but also a symbol of moral failure. In this verse, Ezekiel uses Sodom to draw a stark comparison to Jerusalem, highlighting the severity of her pride and scorn.


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 finite verb הָֽיְתָה֙, did she become?, governs the main clause, with a noun phrase subject and several prepositional phrases providing additional context. The structure emphasizes the actions of Jerusalem in relation to Sodom, illustrating the contrast between her pride and her treatment of her sister city.

The word order places emphasis on the subject סְדֹם, making it clear that the focus is on Jerusalem's actions towards Sodom, which serves to highlight her moral failings.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates סְדֹם as σοδομα (), maintaining the reference to the city known for wickedness. This choice reflects the translators' intent to preserve the original meaning and context of the Hebrew text.

The Greek word ἦν (ēn) corresponds to the Hebrew verb הָיָה, indicating a state of being, which aligns with the original intent of the verse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 16:56 asks Jerusalem if she treated her sister Sodom with scorn during her prideful days. This verse highlights the consequences of pride and the importance of humility, as Jerusalem is reminded of her actions towards Sodom.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to treat Sodom as an object of scorn?

It refers to the disdain and contempt Jerusalem had for Sodom, highlighting her arrogance and failure to recognize her own sins.

Why is Sodom significant in this verse?

Sodom symbolizes extreme wickedness and serves as a warning to Jerusalem about the consequences of pride and moral failure.

What does the day of pride refer to?

The day of pride refers to a period when Jerusalem was arrogant and looked down upon others, particularly Sodom.

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

This verse illustrates the theme of judgment and accountability, emphasizing that pride leads to downfall and scorn.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can pride lead to a lack of compassion for others?
  2. How can we ensure that we do not scorn others while being aware of our own faults?
  3. What lessons can we learn from Sodom's destruction about the consequences of sin?
  4. How can we cultivate humility in our lives to avoid the pitfalls of pride?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Jerome comments on this verse, noting how it reflects Jerusalem's pride and her disregard for Sodom before her own wickedness was revealed.

JeromeVerse 56 and following c. 347–420
However, your sister Sodom was not heard in your mouth on the day of your pride before your wickedness was revealed, like it is now with the disgrace of the daughters of Syria,
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 16 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 16:56 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth,.... Or, "was not for a hearing", or "a report, in thy mouth" (g); the destruction of Sodom, though it was such an awful judgment of God, so

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 16 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride, For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned - literally, was not for a report.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 16 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

This is the reason why their state should be hopeless as that of Sodom. The sins of Sodom and her plagues were not minded by thee, though thou didst worse in thy prosperity, didst not fear like misery, nor wouldst forbear like sins. Thou shouldst have told thy children what Sodom did against the Lord, and what the Lord did against theln, that thou and thy daughters might have repented, and returned; but no such things were told them.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 16 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 16:56 For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,Ver. 56. For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned.] Thou thoughtest her not worthy to be named in the same day with thee, and little dreamedst that thou shouldst be matched with her in misery. Or thus, Thou wouldst neither hear nor speak of her, though I had thrown her forth for an example of divine vengeance. In the day of thy pride.] Heb., Prides; for pride buddeth, and, like a great swelling in the body which breaks and runs with loathsome and foul matter, it breaks forth into odious practices.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 16 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

56. Jerusalem did not deign to refer to Sodom on account of the wickedness and evil repute of the latter. Others interrogatively: Was not Sodom a report (a moral byword) in thy mouth? But the interrogative form is precarious.

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 16 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Was not mentioned by thy mouth - Was held in utter contempt.

Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 16 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

56. Thy sister Sodom was not mentioned — Jerusalem had always refused to acknowledge Sodom as a spiritual relative, notwithstanding the marked family likeness. It was counted a disgrace even to refer to such a disgusting neighbor.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 16 →

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

Did you not treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn in the day of your pride,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Did you not treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn in the day of your pride,

NETBNew English Translation2006

In your days of majesty, was not Sodom your sister a byword in your mouth,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,

RVARevised Version, American1894

For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For thy sister Sodom was not heard of by thy report in the day of thy pride,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Yea, Sodom thy sister was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And thy sister Sodom hath not been for a report in thy mouth, In the day of thine arrogancy,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And your sister Sodom has not been for a report in your mouth, || In the day of your arrogancy,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And was not thy sister Sodom a report in thy mouth in the days of thy pride,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Sodom your sister was not even mentioned by your mouth in the days when you were proud,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Sodom thy sister was not heard of in thy mouth, in the day of thy pride,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Didn't you mock your sister Sodom when you were feeling proud,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Was not your sister Sodom an oath in your mouth in the day of your pride,

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.

וְandclauseadverbialל֤וֹאnotverbהָֽיְתָה֙did.she.become?noun phrase · subjectסְדֹ֣םSodomnoun phraseאֲחוֹתֵ֔sisterךְyourprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ(into).aשְׁמוּעָ֖הmentionprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseפִ֑יmouthךְyourprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseי֖וֹםthe.daynoun phraseגְּאוֹנָֽיִyour.pride(s)ךְyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all eight words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency underscores the reliability of the transmission of this passage.

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

וְל֤וֹא הָֽיְתָה֙ סְדֹ֣ם אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ לִשְׁמוּעָ֖ה בְּפִ֑יךְ בְּי֖וֹם גְּאוֹנָֽיִךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְל֤וֹאκαὶהָֽיְתָה֙ἦνסְדֹ֣םσοδομαאֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְσουלִשְׁמוּעָ֖הἀκοὴνבְּפִ֑יךְσουבְּי֖וֹםἡμέραιςגְּאוֹנָֽיִךְ׃σου

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.

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.

Ezekiel 16:56לֹאand notand notלֹאהָיָהdid she becdid she become?הָיָהסְדֹםSodomSodomסְדֹםאָחוֹתsister yoursister yourאָחוֹתשְׁמוּעָהa mentiona mentionשְׁמוּעָהפֶּהin mouth yoin mouth yourפֶּהיוֹםin [the] dain [the] day ofיוֹםגָּאוֹןpride yourpride yourגָּאוֹןפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָהגָּאָהto rise upto rise upגָּאָההָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאאָחbrother: mbrother: male-sאָחאֶזְרָחִיEzrahiteEzrahiteאֶזְרָחִישָׁמֵםbe desolatbe desolate: deשָׁמֵםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדעֲמֹרָהGomorrahGomorrahעֲמֹרָהמַהְפֵּכָהoverthrowoverthrowמַהְפֵּכָהתָּמָרTamarTamarתָּמָרעֶרְוָהnakednessnakednessעֶרְוָהחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחשְׁבִיעִיseventhseventhשְׁבִיעִישַׁבָּתSabbathSabbathשַׁבָּתהָדָרglorygloryהָדָר
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 Ezekiel 16:56

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 not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
וְל֤וֹאve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
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
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
הָֽיְתָה֙ha.ye.Tah did she become? H1961 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
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.
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-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-kum':

(1) Greek ginomai, used in New Testament for a change of state, corresponding to Hebrew hayah of Old Testament. Compare Mt 18:3 with De 27:9.

(2) For what is fitting, suitable, proper, in New Testament: "prepei" (Mt 3:15; Eph 5:3; 1Ti 2:10); in Old Testament, na'awah, na'ah, Ps 93:5: "Holiness becometh thy house." in this sense, the adverb "becomingly" must be interpreted: "Walk becomingly toward them that are without" (1Th 4:12), i.e. in a way that is consistent with your profession.

and not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
סְדֹ֣םse.Dom Sodom H5467 Noun proper
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Sodom was a city near the Dead Sea, known for its wickedness and corruption. According to the book of Genesis, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah as a judgment for their sins. The city has become a symbol of evil and immorality.
Amplified meaning
a city known for wickedness
Tyndale gloss
Sodom
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סְדֹם (sedom) refers to Sodom, a significant Canaanite city often mentioned alongside Gomorrah. The name is linked to the idea of burning, possibly due to its volcanic or bituminous landscape. It is located near the Dead Sea and is known for its destruction by divine judgment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סְדֹם 39 n.pr.loc. Sodom, important Canaanitish name (usu.) with Gomorrah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5467 סְדֹם Sodom, important Canaanitish name (usu.) with Gomorrah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5467 Cdom sed-ome'

from an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic

or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea:--

Sodom.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סְדֹם (se.dom) — Sodom.

Sodom = "burning"

a Canaanite city, usually paired with Gomorrah, located in the area of the Dead Sea and the Jordan river; both cities destroyed by God in judgment

Also named: Sodoma (Σόδομα "Sodom" G4670)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sod'-um (cedhom; Sodoma) One of the 5 CITIES OF THE PLAIN (which see), destroyed by fire from heaven in the time of Abraham and Lot (Ge 19:24). The wickedness of the city became proverbial. The sin of sodomy was an offense against nature frequently connected with idolatrous practices (see Rawlinson, History of Phoenicia). See SODOMITE. The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah is used as a warning to those who reject the gospel (Mt 10:15; 11:24; 2Pe 2:6; Jude 1:7). The word is used in a typical sense in Re 11:8. Sodom was probably located in plain South of the Dead Sea, now covered with water. The name is still preserved in Jebel…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sodom

Burning; the walled, a city in the vale of Siddim (Gen. 13:10; 14:1-16). The wickedness of its inhabitants brought down upon it fire from heaven, by which it was destroyed (18:16-33; 19:1-29; Deut. 23:17). This city and its awful destruction are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Deut. 29:23; 32:32; Isa. 1:9, 10; 3:9; 13:19; Jer. 23:14; Ezek. 16:46-56; Zeph. 2:9; Matt. 10:15; Rom. 9:29;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(burning), one of the most ancient cities of Syria. It is commonly mentioned in connection with Gomorrah, but also with Admah and Zeboim, and on one occasion -- (Genesis 14:1) ... --with Bela or Zoar. Sodom was evidently the chief town in the settlement. The four are first named in the ethnological records of (Genesis 10:19) as belonging to the Canaanites. The next mention of the name of Sodom, (Genesis 13:10-13) gives more certain indication of the position of the city. Abram and Lot are standing together between Bethel and Ai, ver. 3, taking a survey of the land around and below them. Eastward of them, and absolutely at their feet, lay the "circle of Jordan." The whole circle was one great oasis --"a garden of Jehovah."…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the cities of the plain, and for some time the dwellingplace of Lot, Ge 13:10-13 14:12. Its crimes and vices were so enormous, that God destroyed it by fire from heaven, with three neighboring cities, Gomorrah, Zeboim, and Admah, which were as wicked as itself, Ge 19:1-20. The plain of Siddim in which they stood was pleasant and fruitful, like an earthy paradise; but it was first burned, and afterwards mostly overflowed by the waters of the Dead Sea or Lake of Sodom. See JORDAN, and SEA 3.

The prophets, in denouncing woes upon other countries, mention the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and intimate that these places shall be desert and dried up and uninhabited, Jer 49:18 50:40; that they shall be covered with briers…

and not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
אֲחוֹתֵ֔ךְ'a.cho.Tekh sister your H269 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
114× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A sister in the Bible can be a biological sibling, a half-sister, or a close relative. In Genesis 4:2, Cain's sister is not named, but in Genesis 24:15, Rebekah is Isaac's cousin and future wife.
Amplified meaning
close relative, kin
Tyndale gloss
sister
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָחוֹת (achowth) means 'sister' and can refer to a full sister, half-sister, or a relative. It is used both literally and figuratively, symbolizing relationships such as that of Israel and Judah, and can also imply intimacy or connection. The word is built from a feminine form related to other terms for kinship.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָחוֹת 114 n.f. sister

sister

= beloved

symbol. of Judah, Samaria, Sodom & Jerusalem

fig. of intimate connection

another

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H269 אָחוֹת sister

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

269 'achowth aw-khoth'

irregular feminine of 251; a sister (used very widely (like

250), literally and figuratively):--(an-)other, sister,

together.

see HEBREW for 0251

see HEBREW for 0250

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָחוֹת (a.chot) — sister.

1) sister

1a) sister (same parents)

1b) half-sister (same father)

1c) relative

1c1) (metaph) of Israel's and Judah's relationship

1d) beloved

1d1) bride

1e) (fig.) of intimate connection

1f) another

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2fs
and not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
לִשְׁמוּעָ֖הlish.mu.'Ah a mention H8052 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means news or a report, often referring to a message or announcement, like the tidings of Jesus' birth in the Gospel of Luke.
Amplified meaning
ridicule, contempt
Tyndale gloss
tidings
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמוּעָה (shmuw`ah) refers to a report or announcement, encompassing meanings such as news, rumor, and tidings. It is derived from the root of שָׁמַע (to hear). The word appears in contexts related to communication and information sharing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמוּעָה n.f. report report

= mention

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8052 שְׁמוּעָה report

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8052 shmuw`ah sehm-oo-aw'

feminine passive participle of 8074; something heard, i.e. an

announcement:--bruit, doctrine, fame, mentioned, news,

report, rumor, tidings.

see HEBREW for 08074

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמוּעָה (she.mu.ah) — tidings.

1) report, news, rumour

1a) report, news, tidings

1b) mention

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
and not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
בְּפִ֑יךְbe.Fikh in mouth your H6310 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

. external organ

. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,

assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +

file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)

say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,

tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2fs — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2fs
and not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
בְּי֖וֹםbe.Yom in [the] day of H3117 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
period of time, era
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹם 2285 n.m. day

day, opp. night

Day as division of time

יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

Pl. days of anyone

Days

יוֹם = time

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night

. Day as division of time

. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

. Pl. days of anyone

. Days

. יוֹם = time

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3117 yowm yome

from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm

hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one

sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by

an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +

chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)

day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +

(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as

(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,

presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,

then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,

weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole

(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹם (yom) — day.

: day/when/time/period

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: old.

: old/(full/many)[days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: year.

: year[of_days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

Read the full entry →
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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and not did she become? Sodom sister your a mention in mouth your in [the] day of pride your
גְּאוֹנָֽיִךְ׃ge.'o.Na.yikh pride your H1347 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means pride or majesty, describing something excellent or arrogant, like nations or God's power, as seen in the KJV translations of Isaiah and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
arrogance, haughtiness, a state of being puffed up
Tyndale gloss
pride
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּאוֹן (ga'own) refers to exaltation, majesty, and excellence, but can also imply pride in a negative sense. It is derived from the root associated with arrogance and includes connotations of both divine and national majesty, as well as references to the Jordan. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּאוֹן n.m. exaltation

exaltation, majesty, excellence

pride (bad sense)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1347 גָּאוֹן exaltation . exaltation, majesty, excellence

. pride (bad sense)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1347 ga'own gaw-ohn'

from 1342; the same as 1346:--arrogancy, excellency(-lent),

majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling.

see HEBREW for 01342

see HEBREW for 01346

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּאוֹן (ga.on) — pride.

1) exaltation, majesty, pride

1a) majesty, exaltation, excellence

1a1) of nations

1a2) of God

1a3) of the Jordan

1b) pride, arrogance (bad sense)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2fs
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate