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Ezekiel 3:2 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוָאֶפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־ פִּ֑י וַיַּ֣אֲכִלֵ֔נִי אֵ֖ת הַמְּגִלָּ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

BSASo I openedpâthach [to engrave or carve, as with intricate carvings] my mouthpeh [my lips, the edge of my being] and He fedʼâkal [caused me to eat, gave to me as food] meʼêth the scrollmᵉgillâh [a rolled-up book, containing prophetic words, this specific roll, the one given to me]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 2 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 (ha.Zot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 3:2quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel opens his mouth, and God feeds him a scroll.
Who is speakingEzekiel, the prophet, receiving instructions from God.
Where we areIn a vision where God instructs Ezekiel to consume a scroll.
The hard wordמְגִלָּה
Take awayThe act of eating the scroll symbolizes receiving God's message.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbפָּתַח 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 3:2

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Ezekiel's Commissiongenerated

1“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.”
2So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.
3“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4Then He said to me, “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak My words to them.

Ezekiel 3:2 describes a pivotal moment in which God commands Ezekiel to consume a scroll, symbolizing the internalization of God's words. This act prepares him to deliver God's message to the house of Israel, emphasizing the importance of being filled with divine revelation before proclaiming it to others. The context includes God's directive to eat the scroll and the subsequent sweetness of the message, as seen in Ezekiel 3:3.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 25:17So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me,
2Acts 26:19So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.Jeremiah 25:17 Acts 26:19

The Key Word פָּתַח, va.'ef.Tachgenerated

The verb פָּתַח (paṭach) means 'to open' and can denote various actions such as opening doors or, in this case, opening one's mouth. The specific usage here emphasizes the act of preparing to receive and convey a message.

This verb is in the sequential imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing action. Ezekiel's opening of his mouth signifies readiness to receive God's word, which is a crucial step before he can fulfill his prophetic role.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses fed for the Hebrew verb אֲכַל (akal), aligning with the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is וָאֶפְתַּ֖ח (va'ef.Tach), and I opened, governing the action of opening the mouth. The structure emphasizes the sequential nature of the actions: first, Ezekiel opens his mouth, then he is fed the scroll.

The sentence is built around the actions of Ezekiel and God's direct involvement. The use of the object marker אֵת ('et) clarifies what is being acted upon, in this case, the scroll.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb פָּתַח is rendered as διήνοιχα (dihēnoikha), which also means 'to open'. This choice maintains the core meaning of the Hebrew while reflecting the Greek language's nuances.

The translation shows a continuity in the act of opening, but the Greek context may add layers of interpretation regarding the reception of divine knowledge.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 3:2 tells us that God instructed Ezekiel to eat a scroll, symbolizing the internalization of His message. Ezekiel's act of opening his mouth signifies his readiness to receive and proclaim God's words to the people of Israel.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for Ezekiel to eat the scroll?

Eating the scroll symbolizes receiving and internalizing God's message, preparing Ezekiel to deliver it to the Israelites.

Why is the act of opening the mouth significant?

Opening the mouth signifies readiness to speak and convey God's words, highlighting the importance of being filled with divine instruction.

How does this passage relate to other prophetic calls?

Similar to other prophets, Ezekiel's call involves a physical act that symbolizes spiritual readiness, such as Isaiah's vision in Isaiah 6:8.

What does the scroll represent?

The scroll represents God's word and message, which Ezekiel must consume and understand before sharing it with others.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I prepare myself to receive and share God's message with others?
  2. What steps can I take to internalize the teachings of the Bible in my own life?
  3. In what ways does God's word nourish my spiritual journey?
  4. How can I be more open to receiving guidance from God, like Ezekiel?

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

The early Church Fathers comment on Ezekiel's vision, emphasizing the significance of receiving God's word as nourishment for the soul.

JeromeCOMMENTARY ON Ezekiel 1:3.2-3 c. 347–420
With an open mouth the Lord has provided bread, so that the beginnings of his will may be in us and that we may reach the perfection of blessedness that comes from God.
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 3 →
JeromeVerse 2. c. 347–420
And I opened my mouth, and he fed me with that scroll. And he said to me: Son of man. I, he said, opened my mouth, because I was told: Open your mouth, and eat.
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 3 →
Gregory the DialogistHomilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 10 c. 540–604
And it should be noted that the prophet adds, saying: "And I opened my mouth and he fed me with that scroll." Another Prophet testifies that the mouth is in the heart, saying: "Deceitful lips in the heart,
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 3:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

So I opened my mouth,.... To take in the roll, and eat it; he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; he did all that he could towards eating it, but was not sufficient of himself; and therefore

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

So, Heb. And; so soon as he had heard he must eat it. I opened my mouth; not to discuss points, but to obey, to show my readiness indeed, and to do what lay on me to do. He caused me to eat that roll; not by a force compelling me, but by a concurrent help in what the prophet was ready to do.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 3:2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.Ver. 2. So I opened my mouth.] Without delays or consults, I obeyed Christ’ s command, et hausi quodammodo donum prophetiae, and yielded to become a prophet. This was well; but not long after, Ezekiel, through infirmity of the flesh, would have declined the office, and therefore sought to lurk among his countrymen at Telabib, till Christ called him out again and newly employed him. And he caused me to eat that roll.] See on Ezekiel 3:1. Alsted. Chronol., 347.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 3 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

1-3. Ezekiel’s preparation for future speech, by making the truth which he was to utter a part of himself, required the co-operation of the human and the divine.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 3 →

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

So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the scroll.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So I opened my mouth and he fed me the scroll.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the roll.

RVARevised Version, American1894

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the roll.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So I opened my mouth, and he gaue mee this roule to eate.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I open my mouth, and He causeth me to eat this roll.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I open my mouth, and He causes me to eat this scroll.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat this roll.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So I opened my mouth, and he fed me that scroll.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that book:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And, on my opening my mouth, he made me take the roll as food.

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.

וָandclauseverbאֶפְתַּ֖חI.openednoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseפִּ֑mouthיmyוַandclauseverbיַּ֣אֲכִלֵ֔heobjectנִיcaused.me.to.eatnoun phrase · second objectאֵ֖ת(et)noun phraseהַthenoun phraseמְּגִלָּ֥הscrolladjective phraseהַ(the)זֹּֽאתthis

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 show agreement in the essential elements of the verse, with four out of seven words matched. The Septuagint's word order differs, but the core message remains intact.

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

וָאֶפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־ פִּ֑י וַיַּ֣אֲכִלֵ֔נִי אֵ֖ת הַמְּגִלָּ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וָאֶפְתַּ֖חδιήνοιχαפִּ֑יμουוַיַּ֣אֲכִלֵ֔נִיμεהַמְּגִלָּ֥הκεφαλίδα

4 of the 7 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 3:2פָּתַחand I openeand I openedפָּתַחאֵתthe object the object markאֵתפֶּהmouth mymouth myפֶּהאָכַלand he causand he caused tאָכַלאֵתthe object the object markאֵתמְגִלָּהthe scrollthe scrollמְגִלָּהזֶהthisthisזֶהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָהגָּלַלto rollto rollגָּלַלשֶׂהשֶׂהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁפִּתּוּחַengravingengravingפִּתּוּחַדָּלdoordoorדָּלאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםעוּףto flyto flyעוּףשָׂרַףto burnto burnשָׂרַףתּוֹרָהinstructioinstructionתּוֹרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁיר
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 3:2

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 I opened the object marker mouth my and he caused to eat me the object marker the scroll this
וָאֶפְתַּ֖חva.'ef.Tach and I opened H6605 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
144× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to engrave or carve, and is used in Exodus to describe the intricate carvings on the furniture of the tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
to engrave or carve, as with intricate carvings
Tyndale gloss
to open
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּתַח (pathach) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to open' and can refer to various actions such as opening doors, loosening restraints, or engraving. It has different forms, including Qal (to open), Niphal (to be opened), and Piel (to engrave). The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, but there is some overlap in meaning regarding its applications in opening and engraving.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּתַח vb. open

Qal open sack

Niph. be opened

Pi. be opened

free, i.e. ungird, camels

loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

open gates, doors

Hithp. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

base

[פָּתַח] vb. Pi. engrave

Pu. stones engraved with the engravings of a signet.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6605a פָּתַח open .open sack

. be opened

. be opened . free, i.e. ungird, camels

. loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

. open gates, doors

. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

H6605b פָּתַח Pi. engrave

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6605 pathach paw-thakh'

a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively);

specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break

forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self),

(be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to open.

1) to open

1a) (Qal) to open

1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to free

1c2) to loosen

1c3) to open, open oneself

1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself

Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to engrave.

1) to carve, engrave

1a) (Piel) to engrave

1b) (Pual) to be engraved

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
and I opened the object marker mouth my and he caused to eat me the object marker the scroll this
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I opened the object marker mouth my and he caused to eat me the object marker the scroll this
פִּ֑יPi mouth my H6310 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Amplified meaning
my lips, the edge of my being
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. external organ

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

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

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

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

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

1e) extremity, end pim

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

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

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

1e) extremity, end pim

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

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

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

1e) extremity, end pim

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
and I opened the object marker mouth my and he caused to eat me the object marker the scroll this
וַיַּ֣אֲכִלֵ֔נִיvai.Ya.'a.khi.Le.ni and he caused to eat me H398 Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Amplified meaning
caused me to eat, gave to me as food
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

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

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

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

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

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

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

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

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

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

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

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

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

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vhw3ms/Sp1bs
and I opened the object marker mouth my and he caused to eat me the object marker the scroll this
אֵ֖ת'et the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I opened the object marker mouth my and he caused to eat me the object marker the scroll this
הַמְּגִלָּ֥הha.me.gi.Lah the scroll H4039 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A scroll is a rolled-up book, like the one Ezekiel eats in Ezekiel 3:3 or the scroll Jesus reads in Luke 4:17. It contains written words from God.
Amplified meaning
a rolled-up book, containing prophetic words, this specific roll, the one given to me
Tyndale gloss
scroll
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְגִלָּה (megillah) refers to a roll or scroll, often used for writing or books. It is derived from the root meaning 'to roll' and is noted in various contexts, including its Aramaic equivalent. The term is associated with late writings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְגִלָּה n.f. roll (writing, book; late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4039 מְגִלָּה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4039 mgillah meg-il-law'

from 1556; a roll:--roll, volume.

see HEBREW for 01556

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְגִלָּה (me.gil.lah) — scroll.

roll, book, writing

Aramaic equivalent: me.gil.lah (מְגִלָּה "scroll" H4040)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

skrol.

See ROLL.

and I opened the object marker mouth my and he caused to eat me the object marker the scroll this
הַזֹּֽאת׃ha.Zot this H2063 Particle · particle
604× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means this or that, often used to point out something specific. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
this
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֹאת (zot) is a demonstrative pronoun and adverb meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone or be used in apposition to a noun, often serving as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns to add emphasis. In poetry, it may function as a relative pronoun, though this is rare.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

standing alone

In appos. to subst.

More oft. as pred.

It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

With prefixes (in special senses)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2063 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone

. In appos. to subst.

. More oft. as pred.

. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

. With prefixes (in special senses)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2063 zo'th zothe'

irregular feminine of 2089; this (often used adverb):--

hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she,

so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing),

thus.

see HEBREW for 02089

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֹאת (zot) — this.

1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, such

1a) (alone)

1a1) this one

1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another

1b) (appos to subst)

1b1) this

1c) (as predicate)

1c1) this, such

1d) (enclitically)

1d1) then

1d2) who, whom

1d3) how now, what now

1d4) what now

1d5) wherefore now

1d6) behold here

1d7) just now

1d8) now, now already

1e) (poetry)

1e1) wherein, which, those who

1f) (with prefixes)

1f1) in this (place) here, then

1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter

1f3) thus and thus

1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus

1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side

1f6) on this account

1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Tm — Particle · particle
HTd/Tm
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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