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Ezekiel 19:7 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֵּ֙דַע֙ אַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יו וְעָרֵיהֶ֖ם הֶחֱרִ֑יב וַתֵּ֤שַׁם אֶ֙רֶץ֙ וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ מִקּ֖וֹל שַׁאֲגָתֽוֹ׃

BSAHe broke downyâdaʻ their strongholdsʼalmânâh and devastatedchârab [laying waste] their citiesʻîyr [made desolate, ruined] The landʼerets [earth, territory] and everything in itmᵉlôʼ [all its fullness, the entire region] shudderedyâsham at the soundqôwl [voice, noise] of his roaringshᵉʼâgâh [fierce cry, loud voice]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 19
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 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 (sha.'a.ga.To) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 19:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes the destruction brought by a fierce lion, emphasizing the devastation of cities and the fear it instills.
Who is speakingThe prophet Ezekiel, conveying a message about destruction.
Where we areIn a passage detailing the consequences of a lion's rampage, illustrating the devastation it causes.
The hard wordשַׁאֲגָתֽוֹ
Take awayThe destruction is complete; the land and its fullness tremble.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָדַע 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 19:7

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 — The Lament for Israel's Leadersgenerated

6He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.
7He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.
8Then the nations set out against him from the provinces on every side. They spread their net over him; he was trapped in their pit.
9With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19:7 describes the destruction caused by a fierce lion, symbolizing the devastation of cities and the fear it instills in the land and its inhabitants. This imagery reflects the consequences of leadership failure and the resulting chaos, as seen in the broader context of Ezekiel's lament over Israel's leaders. The verse emphasizes the power of the lion's roar, which causes the land to tremble, illustrating the seriousness of the situation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 22:25The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.
2Proverbs 19:12A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
3Proverbs 28:3–15A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
4Ezekiel 12:19Then tell the people of the land that this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: ‘They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who dwell in it.
5Ezekiel 30:12I will make the streams dry up and sell the land to the wicked. By the hands of foreigners I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it. I, the LORD, have spoken.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שַׁאֲגָתֽוֹ, sha'a.ga.Togenerated

The word שַׁאֲגָה (sha'a.ga) refers to a loud, powerful roar, often associated with lions. It conveys a sense of intensity and fear, highlighting the impact of the lion's presence in the narrative. The use of this term emphasizes the ferocity of the lion's actions and the response of the land and its people.

This noun is feminine singular and carries a construct form, indicating a possessive relationship, as seen in the context of the lion's roar. The roar is not just a sound; it signifies a threat that causes the land to shudder, illustrating the power and authority of the lion.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses roaring for שַׁאֲגָה.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse contains multiple clauses, with the main verb יֵּ֨דַע֙ (knew) governing the actions described. The structure highlights the sequential actions of destruction and desolation, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship between the lion's roar and the resulting fear in the land.

The clauses are interconnected, with the roar causing a reaction from the land and its inhabitants. The arrangement underscores the impact of the lion's actions, illustrating the devastation experienced.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יֵּ֨דַע֙ as ἐνέμετο, indicating a sense of distribution or allocation, which may suggest a broader interpretation of the consequences of the lion's actions.

The choice of ἐνέμετο rather than a direct translation emphasizes the severity of the lion's impact on the land, reflecting a nuanced understanding of the original Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 19:7 describes how a fierce lion breaks down strongholds and devastates cities, causing the land and everything in it to tremble at the sound of its roaring. This imagery illustrates the destruction and fear brought by the lion, reflecting the consequences of failed leadership.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the lion symbolize in this verse?

The lion represents powerful leadership or forces that bring destruction and fear.

How does the roar of the lion affect the land?

The roar instills fear, causing the land and its inhabitants to shudder, indicating the severity of the destruction.

What is the significance of the cities being devastated?

The devastation of cities signifies the collapse of order and security, reflecting the consequences of leadership failure.

Why is the term 'widows' used in this context?

The mention of 'widows' highlights vulnerability and loss, emphasizing the impact of destruction on the population.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this verse teach about the consequences of leadership failure?
  2. How can we recognize the signs of destruction in our own communities?
  3. In what ways can we provide support to those who are vulnerable, like the widows mentioned?
  4. How does the imagery of the lion's roar challenge our understanding of power and fear?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 19:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And he knew their desolate palaces,.... He took notice of the palaces or seats of the richest men of the nation, and pillaged them of their treasure and wealth, and so they became desolate: it may be

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He, Jehoiakim, knew their desolate palaces, on view; not only heard of them, but setting on them violently, and taking them, he came to know their palaces, which are here called, what he made them, desolate; so the word . Palaces; or it may be rendered widows, and then it will refer to such whose husbands this lion devoured, and thereby occasioned their petitioning to him, and thus he knew them, whom he made desolate; but the former best suits what follows. Laid waste their cities; pilling, polling, and by exactions driving the inhabitants out by his cruelty and tyranny. The land was desolate; the whole land, or the country, sped as ill as the cities, and so it was emptied of men, riches…

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 19:7 And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.Ver. 7. And he knew their desolate places.] He had made them desolate, and bereft them of their right owners, whom he had devoured, and then seized them for himself. Some read and render it, He knew their desolate widows - i.e., He first killed up their husbands, and then lay with the widows: the men he devoured, the women he deflowered. Such work this wicked prince made, till God took him in hand; as he did also the other three here lamented, of whom may be said, as Plutarch doth of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, emperors, that they…

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 19 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Knew their desolate palaces.—This verse continues to describe the abominations of Jehoiachin’s ways. The word “desolate palaces,” although defended by some authorities, should be rendered, as in the margin, widows. The mention of the king’s violation of these is an unavoidable departure from the figure, such as often occurs in Ezekiel.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5–8. Jehoiachin carried captive to Babylon The second young lion is Jehoiachin. The intermediate prince Jehoiakim could not be included in an elegy, because he died in peace. It is the princes of Israel whom foreign nations captured that are lamented. What is touched upon is more the humiliation and sorrow of Israel, the mother lioness, in her young lions being captured, than the fate of the two persons. The elegy is a national one, cf. on Ezekiel 19:1. 5. And she saw that she had waited—her hope was lost; And she took another of her whelps—she made him a young lion. 6. And he walked among the lions—he grew a young lion, And he learned to catch the prey—he devoured men. 7. And he broke down…

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 19 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7. And he knew their desolate palaces, etc. — R.V., “knew their palaces” (or, “widows”). With a change of one letter the text becomes “he brake down,” etc. Cornill, by some further alteration, obtains the reading which Dr.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 19 →

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

He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities. The land was desolate with its fullness, because of the noise of his roaring.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it was frightened at the sound of his roaring.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, because of the noise of his roaring.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And he knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, because of the noise of his roaring.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fullness of it, by the noise of his roaring.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he knew their widowes, and he destroyed their cities, and the land was wasted, and all that was therein by the noyse of his roaring.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he knew their [desolate] palaces, and he laid waste their cities, so that the land was desolate, and all it contained, by the noise of his roaring.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And it knoweth his forsaken habitations, And their cities it hath laid waste, And desolate is the land and its fulness, Because of the voice of his roaring.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And he knows his forsaken habitations, || And he has laid waste [to] their cities, || And the land and its fullness is desolate, || Because of the voice of his roaring.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he broke down their palaces, and their cities laid he in ruins: and then was terrified the land, with all that filled it, because of the noise of his roaring.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He seized their widows and ruined their cities. The land and its fullness were abandoned because of the sound of his roaring.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He learned to make widows, and to lay waste their cities: and the land became desolate, and the fulness thereof by the noise of his roaring.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He tore down their fortresses and destroyed their towns. All the people living in the country were appalled when they heard him roaring.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And he sent destruction on their widows and made waste their towns; and the land and everything in it became waste because of the loud sound of his voice.

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.

וַandclauseverbיֵּ֨דַע֙it.knewnoun phrase · objectאַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יwidowsוitsוְandclausenoun phrase · objectעָרֵיcitiesהֶ֖םtheirverbהֶחֱרִ֑יבit.laid.wasteוַandclauseverbתֵּ֤שַׁםit.was.desolatenoun phrase · subjectאֶ֨רֶץ֙[the].landוּandnoun phraseמְלֹאָ֔whatהּfills.itprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseקּ֖וֹלthe.soundnoun phraseשַׁאֲגָתֽits.roaringוֹhis

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


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

Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with all nine words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the verse's meaning across these textual traditions.

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

וַיֵּ֙דַע֙ אַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יו וְעָרֵיהֶ֖ם הֶחֱרִ֑יב וַתֵּ֤שַׁם אֶ֙רֶץ֙ וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ מִקּ֖וֹל שַׁאֲגָתֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֵּ֙דַע֙ἐνέμετοאַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יוαὐτοῦוְעָרֵיהֶ֖םπόλειςהֶחֱרִ֑יבἐχηρήμωσενוַתֵּ֤שַׁםἠφάνισενאֶ֙רֶץ֙γῆνוּמְלֹאָ֔הּτὸמִקּ֖וֹלφωνῆςשַׁאֲגָתֽוֹ׃αὐτοῦ

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

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 19:7יָדַעand it knewand it knewיָדַעאַלְמָנָהwidows itswidows itsאַלְמָנָהעִירand cities and cities theiעִירחָרֵבit laid wasit laid wasteחָרֵביָשַׁםand it was and it was desoיָשַׁםאֶ֫רֶץ[the] land[the] landאֶ֫רֶץמְלֹאand what fiand what fills מְלֹאקוֹלfrom [the] from [the] sounקוֹלשְׁאָגָהroaring itsroaring itsשְׁאָגָהעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרמָלֵאto fillto fillמָלֵאשָׁאַגto roarto roarשָׁאַגאַלְמָןforsakenforsakenאַלְמָןאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןיָתוֹםorphanorphanיָתוֹםגֵּרsojournersojournerגֵּרמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדיָשַׁםbe desolatbe desolateיָשַׁםיָבֵשׁto witherto witherיָבֵשׁחָרֵבto dryto dryחָרֵבמְלֹאfullnessfullnessמְלֹאכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםחֹ֫פֶןpalmpalmחֹ֫פֶןרָעַםto thunderto thunderרָעַם
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 19:7

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 knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
וַיֵּ֙דַע֙vai.Ye.da' and it knew H3045 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
אַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יו'al.me.no.Tav widows its H490 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
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
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp3ms
and it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
וְעָרֵיהֶ֖םve.'a.rei.Hem and cities their H5892 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
made desolate, ruined
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
and it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
הֶחֱרִ֑יבhe.che.Riv it laid waste H2717 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
40× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To slay or destroy is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to dry up or desolate something. It is used to describe fighting, attacking, or laying waste.
Amplified meaning
laying waste
Tyndale gloss
to dry
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרֵב (charab) is a Hebrew verb with meanings related to dryness and destruction. It can refer to being dry or dried up, as well as to making something waste or desolate. Additionally, it can mean to attack or slay. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical desiccation to metaphorical desolation, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָרֵב] vb. be dry, dried up

Qal be dry, dried up

Pu. of fresh bow-strings

Hiph. of י׳ drying up rivers

base

[חָרֵב] be waste, desolate

Qal be waste, desolate

Niph. as adj., desolate city

Hiph. lay waste, make desolate

Hoph. she is laid waste

base

[חָרַב] vb. (Aram. and rare) attack, smite down

Qal attack

Niph. the kings have attacked one another, fought together

Hoph. 2 K 3:23

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2717a חָרֵב be dry, dried up H2717b חָרֵב be waste, desolate H2717c חָרַב attack, smite down

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2717 charab khaw-rab'

or chareb {khaw-rabe'}; a primitive root; to parch (through

drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill:--

decay, (be) desolate, destroy(-er), (be) dry (up), slay, X

surely, (lay, lie, make) waste.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרֵב (cha.rev) — to dry.

1) to be dry, be dried up

1a) (Qal) to be dried, be dried up

1b) (Pual) to be dried

1c) (Hiphil) to dry up

1d) (Hophal) to be dried up

חָרֵב (cha.rev) — to destroy.

1) to be waste, lay waste, make desolate, be desolate, be in ruins

1a) (Qal) to be waste, be desolate

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made desolate

1b2) desolate (participle)

1c) (Hiphil) to lay waste, make desolate

1d) (Hophal) to be laid waste

Aramaic equivalent: cha.rav (חֲרַב "be wasted" H2718)

חָרַב (cha.rav) — to slay.

to attack, smite down, slay, fight

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singular
HVhp3ms
and it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
וַתֵּ֤שַׁםva.Te.sham and it was desolate H3456 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to be desolate or lie waste, describing a place or situation that is empty and unused, like a ruined city in Isaiah 61:4. It emphasizes a sense of abandonment and neglect. The term is used to describe desolate landscapes.
Tyndale gloss
be desolate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁם (yasham) is a primitive root meaning to be desolate or to lie waste. The entries consistently describe it as a verb in the Qal form, indicating a state of ruin or desolation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָשַׁם] vb. be desolate

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3456 [יָשַׁם] be desolate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3456 yasham yaw-sham'

a primitive root; to lie waste:--be desolate.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁם (ya.sham) — be desolate.

(Qal) to ruin, be desolate

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

des'-o-lat (very frequently in the Old Testament for shamem, and its derivatives; less frequently, charebh, and its derivatives, and other words. In the New Testament it stands for eremos (Mt 23:38; Ac 1:20; Ga 4:27) eremoo (Re 17:16), and monoo (1Ti 5:5)): From Latin de, intens., solus, alone. Several shades of meaning can be distinguished:

(1) Its primary sense is "left lonely," "forlorn," e. g. Ps 25:16, "Have mercy upon me; for I am desolate" (Hebrew yachidh, "alone"); 1Ti 5:5, "she that is a widow indeed, and…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
אֶ֙רֶץ֙'e.retz [the] land H776 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
earth, territory
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

((1) 'erets;

(2) 'adhamah;

(3) sadheh,

"a piece of land";

(4) ge, "earth";

(5) agros, "field";

(6) chora, "region";

(7) chorion, diminutive of chora;

(8) xeros, "dry land";

(9) 'ezrach, "native" the King James Version "born in the land," "born among you," the Revised Version (British and American) "home-born" (Le 19:34; 14:16; Nu 15:30); "like a green tree in its native soil" (Ps 37:35)):

'Erets occurs hundreds of times and is used in much the same way as 'adhamah, which also occurs often: e.g. "land of Egypt," 'erets mitsrayim (Ge 13:10), and 'adhmath mitsrayim (Ge 47:20). The other words occur less often, and are used in the…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Appeared on the third creative day Ge 1:9

→ Original title to, from God Ge 13:14-17; 15:7; Ex 23:31; Le 25:23

→ Bought and sold Ge 23:3-18; 33:19; Ac 4:34; 5:1-8

→ Sale and redemption of, laws concerning Le 25:15,16,23-33; 27:17-24; Nu 36:4; Jer 32:7-16,25,44; Eze 46:18

and it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
וּמְלֹאָ֔הּu.me.lo.'Ah and what fills it H4393 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fullness means having everything that is needed, like a full container or a complete amount. It can also mean a large quantity, like a multitude of things.
Amplified meaning
all its fullness, the entire region
Tyndale gloss
fullness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְלֹא (melo') refers to 'fulness' or 'that which fills.' It encompasses various meanings, including a handful, mass, or multitude. The term appears in contexts that highlight both literal and figurative senses of fullness, such as in Ezekiel 41:8. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְלֹא, [מְלוֹא] n.m. fulness, that which fills

fulness of hand (= handful)

mass of shepherds; multitude of nations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4393 מְלֹא, מְלוֹא fulness, that which fills

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4393 mlo' mel-o'

rarely mlowf {mel-o'}; or mlow (Ezekiel 41:8), {mel-o'}; from

4390; fulness (literally or figuratively):--X all along, X

all that is (there-)in, fill, (X that whereof...was) full,

fulness, (hand- )full, multitude.

see HEBREW for 04390

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְלֹא (me.lo) — fullness.

1) fulness, that which fills

1a) fulness, handful

1b) mass, multitude

1c) fulness, that which fills, entire contents

1d) full length, full line

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs
and it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
מִקּ֖וֹלmi.Kol from [the] sound of H6963 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Amplified meaning
voice, noise
Tyndale gloss
voice: sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹל 506 n.m. sound, voice

base

קֹל n.[m.] lightness, frivolity;—Je 3:9

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6963 qowl kole

or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a

voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),

fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,

proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +

yell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹל (qol) — voice.

: voice/shout/loud

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קֹל (qol) — frivolity.

lightness, frivolity

קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.

: sound/noise

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.

: thunder

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.

: message/proclaim

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].

: [sound_of](THING)

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.

: listen

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

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 it knew widows its and cities their it laid waste and it was desolate [the] land and what fills it from [the] sound of roaring its
שַׁאֲגָתֽוֹ׃sha.'a.ga.To roaring its H7581 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the sound of roaring, often used to describe the fierce cry of a lion or the wicked. It is also used to describe a distress cry in Isaiah 5:29. The sound is intense and powerful.
Amplified meaning
fierce cry, loud voice
Tyndale gloss
roaring
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שְׁאָגָה (*shagah*) means 'roaring' and is derived from the root word for a rumbling or moan. It specifically refers to the roaring of a lion or a distress cry, particularly associated with the wicked. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to loud, powerful sounds.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁאָגָה n.f. roaring

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7581 שְׁאָגָה roaring

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7581 shagah sheh-aw-gaw'

from 7580; a rumbling or moan:--roaring.

see HEBREW for 07580

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁאָגָה (she.a.gah) — roaring.

1) roaring

1a) of lion, the wicked, distress cry

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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