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Ezekiel 27:31 — Word Study

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WLCוְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ קָרְחָ֔ה וְחָגְר֖וּ שַׂקִּ֑ים וּבָכ֥וּ אֵלַ֛יִךְ בְּמַר־ נֶ֖פֶשׁ מִסְפֵּ֥ד מָֽר׃

BSAThey will shave their headsqârach [make themselves utterly bald] for youʼêl and wrap themselves inchâgar [gird] sackclothsaq [coarse cloth, a sign of humility] They will weepbâkâh [cry out in agony, shed tears] over youʼêl with anguishmar [bitterness, deep sorrow] of soulnephesh [the essence of a person, living being] and bittermar [intensely painful, unpleasant] mourningmiçpêd [lamentation, intense grief]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 27
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 31 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 (Mar) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 27:31quick helps
In a sentenceThe people express their grief through mourning rituals, showing deep sorrow for Tyre.
Who is speakingThe voice of the mourners, lamenting over Tyre.
Where we areIn a lamentation for Tyre, reflecting on its downfall.
The hard wordקָרְחָה
Take awayThe mourning is profound and ritualistic, highlighting the loss.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbקָרַח 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 27:31

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 Tyregenerated

30They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.
31They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.
32As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament for you: ‘Who was ever like Tyre, silenced in the middle of the sea?
33When your wares went out to sea, you satisfied many nations. You enriched the kings of the earth with your abundant wealth and merchandise.

Ezekiel 27:31 depicts the deep mourning of the people over the destruction of Tyre. They engage in traditional mourning practices, such as shaving their heads and wearing sackcloth, to express their sorrow. This lamentation emphasizes the cultural significance of these rituals in times of loss, reflecting the profound impact of Tyre's downfall on the surrounding nations.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 7:18They will put on sackcloth, and terror will overwhelm them. Shame will cover all their faces, and all their heads will be shaved.
2Leviticus 21:5Priests must not make bald spots on their heads, shave off the edges of their beards, or make cuts in their bodies.
3Deuteronomy 14:1You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,
4Isaiah 15:2Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.
5Isaiah 22:12On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word קָרַח, ve.hik.Ri.chugenerated

The verb קָרַח (qarach) is a Hiphil form meaning 'to make bald'. It indicates the act of shaving the head, typically associated with mourning or devotion. The parsing as a sequential perfect third person common plural shows that this action is performed collectively by the mourners.

This act of baldness is a visible sign of grief, representing the depth of sorrow felt by the people. The cultural context highlights that shaving one's head was a common practice in ancient Israel during times of mourning, as a way to externalize internal pain.


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 הִקְרִ֤יחוּ (they will make bald) governs the entire verse, with several phrases describing the actions taken by the mourners. The structure emphasizes the collective nature of their mourning.

The main verb is followed by a series of actions: shaving their heads, girding themselves with sackcloth, and weeping. This sequence highlights the ritualistic approach to mourning in Hebrew culture.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint does not provide a direct Greek equivalent for קָרַח, indicating a focus on the Hebrew text's cultural practices rather than a literal translation. This choice suggests an emphasis on the mourning rituals themselves rather than the specific act of shaving.

The absence of a corresponding Greek term for קָרַח may reflect the translators' understanding of the cultural significance of baldness in mourning.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 27:31 shows how the people mourn for Tyre by shaving their heads and wearing sackcloth, expressing deep sorrow through weeping and lamentation. These actions are traditional signs of grief, reflecting the cultural practices of the time.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does shaving their heads signify?

Shaving their heads is a traditional sign of mourning, representing deep sorrow and loss.

Why do they wear sackcloth?

Sackcloth is worn as a symbol of humility and grief, often used in mourning rituals.

What does 'anguish of soul' mean?

It refers to deep emotional pain and sorrow, highlighting the intensity of their mourning.

How does this verse reflect cultural practices?

The actions described are traditional mourning practices in ancient Israel, showcasing how the people expressed their grief collectively.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some modern ways we express grief and loss in our lives?
  2. How can understanding these mourning practices help us empathize with others in their sorrow?
  3. In what ways can we support those who are mourning in our communities?
  4. What does this passage teach us about the importance of communal mourning?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 27:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee,.... Either by shaving their heads, or tearing off their hair, as mourners in distress have been used to do: and gird them with sackcloth; about

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 27 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 27 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

It was the custom of the heathen, to either pull off with their hands, or cut off, the hair of their heads in great mournings, which God forbade to his people, . Thus do Tyre’ s mourners in baldness express their sorrow and despair. Gird them with sackcloth; another usual ceremony of mourners, well known to all. With bitterness of heart; it shall be a hearty mourning, not a counterfeit one; this referring to the inward grief, the next bitter wailing refers to the outward expressing it.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 27 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 27:31 And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart [and] bitter wailing.Ver. 31. And they shall make.] Moerebunt induti saccis, inducto calvitio. If this had been for sin, as it is offensivum Dei, et aversivum a Deo, then it had been right.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 27 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

31. For these signs of grief cf. ch. Ezekiel 7:18; Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 22:12; Jeremiah 16:16; Jeremiah 47:5; Micah 1:16.

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 27 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

29-31. All those who have charge of other ships (nations) shall “hiss” in dismay (Davidson, compare 1 Kings 9:8) and lament over (not “against”) her, regretting their loss of trade, and perhaps

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 27 →

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

They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They will make themselves bald for you, and clothe themselves with sackcloth. They will weep for you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.

NETBNew English Translation2006

they will tear out their hair because of you and put on sackcloth, and they will weep bitterly over you with intense mourning.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and they shall make themselves bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee in bitterness of soul with bitter mourning.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and they shall make themselves bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee in bitterness of soul with bitter mourning.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird themselves with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They shall plucke off their heare for thee and gird them with a sackecloth, and they shall weepe for thee with sorow of heart and bitter mourning.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird themselves with sackcloth; and they shall weep for thee in bitterness of soul with bitter mourning.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And they have made for thee baldness, And they have girded on sackcloth, And they have wept for thee, In bitterness of soul — a bitter mourning.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they have made themselves bald for you, || And they have girded on sackcloth, || And they have wept for you, || In bitterness of soul—a bitter mourning.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And they make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird themselves with sackcloth, and they weep for thee with bitterness of heart in a bitter complaint.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They will shave their heads bald for you and bind themselves with sackcloth, and they will weep bitterly over you and they will cry out.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they shall shave themselves bald for thee, and shall be girded with haircloth: and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of soul, with most bitter weeping.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They shave their heads for you and clothe themselves in sackcloth. They weep for you, crying out in agony and heartfelt mourning

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And they will have the hair of their heads cut off because of you, and will put haircloth on their bodies, weeping for you with bitter grief in their souls, even with bitter sorrow.

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.

וְandclauseverbהִקְרִ֤יחוּthey.will.make.baldprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֵלַ֨יִbecauseךְ֙of.youobjectקָרְחָ֔הbaldnessוְandclauseverbחָגְר֖וּthey.will.gird.themselvesobjectשַׂקִּ֑יםsackcloth(s)וּandclauseverbבָכ֥וּthey.will.weepprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֵלַ֛יִbecauseךְof.youprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwithnoun phraseמַרbitternessנֶ֖פֶשׁof.emotionnoun phrase · adverbialמִסְפֵּ֥דwailingמָֽרbitter

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 closely in their wording, with all eleven words matched. This consistency indicates that the core elements of the lamentation have been preserved across these texts.

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

וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ קָרְחָ֔ה וְחָגְר֖וּ שַׂקִּ֑ים וּבָכ֥וּ אֵלַ֛יִךְ בְּמַר־ נֶ֖פֶשׁ מִסְפֵּ֥ד מָֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּ’’אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙’’קָרְחָ֔ה’’וְחָגְר֖וּ’’שַׂקִּ֑ים’’וּבָכ֥וּ’’אֵלַ֛יִךְ’’בְּמַר־’’נֶ֖פֶשׁ’’מִסְפֵּ֥ד’’מָֽר׃’’

11 of the 11 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 27:31קָרַחand they wiand they will mקָרַחאֶלbecause of because of youאֶלקָרְחָהbaldnessbaldnessקָרְחָהחָגַרand they wiand they will gחָגַרשַׂקsackclothsackclothשַׂקבָּכָהand they wiand they will wבָּכָהאֶלbecause of because of youאֶלמַרwith bitterwith bitternessמַרנֶ֫פֶשׁemotionemotionנֶ֫פֶשׁמִסְפֵּדwailingwailingמִסְפֵּדמַרbitterbitterמַרמָרַרto provoketo provokeמָרַרקָרַחto make bato make baldקָרַחשָׁקַקto rushto rushשָׁקַקנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁסָפַדto mournto mournסָפַדפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫המָתוֹקsweetsweetמָתוֹקקָרְחָהbald spotbald spotקָרְחָהרֹאשׁheadheadרֹאשׁזָקָןbeardbeardזָקָןגָּרַעto dimishto dimishגָּרַעאַבְנֵטgirdlegirdleאַבְנֵטשַׂקsackclothsackclothשַׂקאֵ֫פֶרashesashesאֵ֫פֶרחָגַרto girdto girdחָגַרבְּכִיweepingweepingבְּכִיבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁ
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 27:31

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 they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
וְהִקְרִ֤יחוּve.hik.Ri.chu and they will make bald H7139 Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person common plural
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To make bald, or shave the head, often as a sign of mourning or devotion, as seen in Isaiah's prophecy and Ezekiel's actions.
Amplified meaning
make themselves utterly bald
Tyndale gloss
to make bald
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָרַח (qarach) is a primitive root meaning to make bald. It covers various forms of the verb, including making oneself bald and the act of baldness, often associated with mourning practices. The entries indicate that this action was typically performed by mourners, as noted in the Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרַח vb. make bald, or a baldness, usu. (by mourners) for the dead Qal make a baldness … for.

Niph. men shall not make themselves bald for them.

Hiph. and they shall make a baldness for thee.

Hoph. every head made bald (by carrying load).

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7139 קָרַח

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7139 qarach kaw-rakh'

a primitive root; to depilate:--make (self) bald.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרַח (qa.rach) — to make bald.

1) to be bald, make bald

1a) (Qal) to make bald, make a baldness

1b) (Niphal) to make oneself bald

1c) (Hiphil) to make oneself bald

1d)(Hophal) to make bald

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vhq3cp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙'e.La.yikh because of you H413 Preposition · suffix
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2fs
and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
קָרְחָ֔הka.re.Chah baldness H7144 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to baldness or a bald spot, often translated as 'bald' or 'baldness' in the KJV. It describes a lack of hair.
Tyndale gloss
bald spot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָרְחָה (qorchah) refers to baldness or a bald spot, often associated with mourning. It is derived from the root word for baldness and is mentioned in Ezekiel 27:31. The term emphasizes the physical state of being bald, which can carry cultural significance in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרְחָה n.f. baldness, bald spot, made as sign of mourning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7144 קָרְחָה baldness, bald spot, made as sign of mourning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7144 qorchah kor-khaw'

or qorcha; (Ezek. 27:31) {kor-khaw'}; from 7139;

baldness:--bald(-ness), X utterly.

see HEBREW for 07139

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קׇרְחָה (qor.chah) — bald spot.

baldness, bald

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bald'-ness qorchah: The reference in the Bible to baldness is not to the natural loss of hair, but to baldness produced by shaving the head. This was practiced as a mark of mourning for the dead (Le 21:5; Isa 15:2; 22:12); as the result of any disaster (Am 8:10; Mic 1:16). The custom arose from the fact that the hair was regarded as a special ornament. It was the custom of the people of the land, and the Israelites were strictly forbidden to practice it (Le 21:5; Deut 14:1). These are striking passages with reference to the knowledge the Israelites had concerning the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Baldness

From natural causes was uncommon (2 Kings 2:23; Isa. 3:24). It was included apparently under “scab” and “scurf,” which disqualified for the priesthood (Lev. 21:20). The Egyptians were rarely subject to it. This probably arose from their custom of constantly shaving the head, only allowing the hair to grow as a sign of mourning. With the Jews artificial baldness was a sign of mourning (Isa. 22:12; Jer. 7:29; 16:6); it also marked the conclusion of a Nazarite’s vow (Acts 18:18; 21:24; Num. 6:9). It is often…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Natural baldness seems to have been uncommon, since it exposed people to public derision. (Leviticus 13:29; 2 Kings 2:23; Isaiah 3:24; 15:2; Jeremiah 47:5; Ezekiel 7:18) Artificial baldness marked the conclusion of a Nazarite’s vow, (Numbers 6:9; Acts 18:18) and was a sign of mourning.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Le 13:40,41

→ A judgment Isa 3:24; Jer 47:5; 48:37; Eze 7:18

→ Artificial, a sign of mourning Isa 22:12; Jer 16:6; Eze 27:31; 29:18; Am 8:10; Mic 1:16

→ Artificial, as an idolatrous practice, forbidden Le 21:5; De 14:1

→ INSTANCES OF

and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
וְחָגְר֖וּve.cha.ge.Ru and they will gird themselves H2296 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
44× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word chagar means to gird or put on a belt, and is used to describe preparing for battle or work, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
gird
Tyndale gloss
to gird
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָגַר (chagar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gird or to put on a belt. It is a primitive root that conveys the action of binding or restraining oneself, often in preparation for action. The entries consistently emphasize its use in the context of girding on clothing or armor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָגַר] vb. gird, gird on, gird oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2296 [חָגַר] gird, gird on, gird oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2296 chagar khaw-gar'

a primitive root; to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.):--be

able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, X on

every side.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָגַר (cha.gar) — to gird.

1) to gird, gird on, gird oneself, put on a belt

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to gird

1a2) to gird on, bind on

1a3) to gird oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
שַׂקִּ֑יםsa.Kim sackcloth H8242 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This term refers to a coarse cloth or sack used for mourning or carrying grain. People wore sackcloth to show humility or grief, like in the book of Esther. It symbolized repentance and sorrow.
Amplified meaning
coarse cloth, a sign of humility
Tyndale gloss
sackcloth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׂק (saq) refers to a type of coarse cloth or sacking, often associated with mourning. It can denote both a sack used for carrying grain and sackcloth worn in times of grief or humiliation. The term is derived from a root meaning to allow liquid to pass through, indicating its mesh-like quality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׂק n.m. sack, sackcloth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8242 שַׂק sack, sackcloth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8242 saq sak

from 8264; properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run

through), i.e. coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning

and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grain,

etc.):--sack(-cloth, -clothes).

see HEBREW for 08264

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׂק (saq) — sackcloth.

1) mesh, sackcloth, sack, sacking

1a) sack (for grain)

1b) sackcloth

1b1) worn in mourning or humiliation

1b2) same material spread out to lie on

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sak'-kloth.

See BURIAL.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sackcloth

Cloth made of black goats’ hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners (Gen. 37:34; 42:25; 2 Sam. 3:31; Esther 4:1, 2; Ps. 30:11, etc.), and as a sign of repentance (Matt. 11:21). It was put upon animals by the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:8).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

cloth used in making sacks or bags, a coarse fabric, of a dark color, made of goat’s hair, (Isaiah 50:3; Revelation 6:12) end resembling the eilicium of the Romans. It, was used also for making the rough garments used by mourners, which were in extreme cases worn next the skin. (1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 6:30; Job 16:15; Isaiah 32:11)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A symbol of mourning 1Ki 20:31,32; Job 16:15; Isa 15:3; Jer 4:8; 6:26; 49:3; La 2:10; Eze 7:18; Da 9:3; Joe 1:8

→ Worn by Jacob when it was reported to him that Joseph had been devoured by wild animals Ge 37:34

→ Animals covered with, at a time of national mourning Jon 3:8

→ See MOURNING

and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
וּבָכ֥וּu.va.Khu and they will weep H1058 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
114× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To weep means to cry or shed tears, often in grief or sadness. In the Bible, weeping is a common expression of emotion, as seen in the stories of David and Jeremiah, who both wept bitterly in times of sorrow and repentance.
Amplified meaning
cry out in agony, shed tears
Tyndale gloss
to weep
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּכָה (bakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to weep or bewail. It encompasses various forms of weeping, including expressions of grief, humiliation, or joy, and can denote lamentation or crying bitterly. The entries highlight its use in both the Qal and Piel stems, indicating different nuances of weeping.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּכָה 114 vb. weep, bewail

Qal

weep

weep bitterly

weep upon

bewail

in sense of burden, annoy with weeping

of penitent weeping

Pi. lament; bewail

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1058 בָּכָה weep, bewail

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1058 bakah baw-kaw'

a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan:--X at all,

bewail, complain, make lamentation, X more, mourn, X sore, X

with tears, weep.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּכָה (ba.khah) — to weep.

1) to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy)

1a2) to weep bitterly (with cognate acc.)

1a3) to weep upon (embrace and weep)

1a4) to bewail

1b) (Piel) participle

1b1) lamenting

1b2) bewailing

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
אֵלַ֛יִךְ'e.La.yikh because of you H413 Preposition · suffix
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2fs
and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
בְּמַר־be.mar- with bitterness of H4751 Preposition
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mar means bitter, describing something that tastes bad or is unpleasant. It can also describe emotional pain or discontent, like being angry or chafed.
Amplified meaning
bitterness, deep sorrow
Tyndale gloss
bitter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַר (mar) means 'bitter' or 'bitterness' in Hebrew. It can describe the taste of food or water, as well as figurative uses related to pain or discontent. The word can function as both an adjective and a noun, and it can also be used adverbially to mean 'bitterly.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַר adj. and subst. bitter, bitterness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4751 מַר bitter, bitterness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4751 mar mar

or (feminine) marah {maw-raw'}; from 4843; bitter (literally

or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially)

bitterly:--+ angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented,

X great, heavy.

see HEBREW for 04843

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַר (mar) — bitter.

adj

1) bitter, bitterness

1a) of water or food

1b) of harlot's end, end of wickedness, cry (fig.)

1c) of pain (subst)

adv

2) bitterly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Aamsc
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 they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
נֶ֖פֶשׁNe.fesh emotion H5315 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Amplified meaning
the essence of a person, living being
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
מִסְפֵּ֥דmis.Ped wailing H4553 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a lamentation or mourning, often expressed through wailing. It is used in the Bible to convey intense grief and sadness, like in a lamentation.
Amplified meaning
lamentation, intense grief
Tyndale gloss
mourning
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְפֵּד (misped) refers to wailing or mourning. It is derived from the root word that means to lament. The entries consistently highlight its association with expressions of grief, such as lamentation and mourning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְפֵּד n.m. wailing

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4553 מִסְפֵּד wailing

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4553 micepd mis-pade'

from 5594; a lamentation:--lamentation, one mourneth,

mourning, wailing.

see HEBREW for 05594

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְפֵּד (mis.ped) — mourning.

wailing

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of the wicked Mt 13:42

Thompson Chain Reference topics

--SEE Mourners, SORROW

Weeping, WEEPING

& WEEPING

and they will make bald because of you baldness and they will gird themselves sackcloth and they will weep because of you with bitterness of emotion wailing bitter
מָֽר׃Mar bitter H4751 Adj
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mar means bitter, describing something that tastes bad or is unpleasant. It can also describe emotional pain or discontent, like being angry or chafed.
Amplified meaning
intensely painful, unpleasant
Tyndale gloss
bitter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַר (mar) means 'bitter' or 'bitterness' in Hebrew. It can describe the taste of food or water, as well as figurative uses related to pain or discontent. The word can function as both an adjective and a noun, and it can also be used adverbially to mean 'bitterly.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַר adj. and subst. bitter, bitterness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4751 מַר bitter, bitterness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4751 mar mar

or (feminine) marah {maw-raw'}; from 4843; bitter (literally

or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially)

bitterly:--+ angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented,

X great, heavy.

see HEBREW for 04843

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַר (mar) — bitter.

adj

1) bitter, bitterness

1a) of water or food

1b) of harlot's end, end of wickedness, cry (fig.)

1c) of pain (subst)

adv

2) bitterly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bitter

Bitterness is symbolical of affliction, misery, and servitude (Ex. 1:14; Ruth 1:20; Jer. 9:15). The Chaldeans are called the “bitter and hasty nation” (Hab. 1:6). The “gall of bitterness” expresses a state of great wickedness (Acts 8:23). A “root of bitterness” is a wicked person or a dangerous sin (Heb. 12:15).

The Passover was to be eaten with “bitter herbs” (Ex. 12:8; Num. 9:11). The kind of herbs so designated is not known. Probably they were…

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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