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Ezekiel 34:5 — Word Study

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WLCוַתְּפוּצֶ֖ינָה מִבְּלִ֣י רֹעֶ֑ה וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה לְאָכְלָ֛ה לְכָל־ חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וַתְּפוּצֶֽינָה׃

BSAThey were scatteredpûwts [without a guide, dispersed] for lack ofbᵉlîy a shepherdrâʻâh [a caregiver, a leader] and when they were scatteredpûwts [dispersed, wandered] they becamehâyâh foodʼoklâh [sustenance, prey] for allkôl [every kind of] the wildsâdeh beastschay [ferocious animals, predators]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 34
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (va.te.fu.Tzei.nah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 34:5quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel describes a flock that has been scattered due to the absence of a shepherd.
Who is speakingEzekiel, conveying God's message about the state of His people.
Where we areIn a passage addressing the failures of the shepherds of Israel.
The hard wordפּוּץ
Take awayThe flock is vulnerable and lost without proper leadership.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectרָעָה verbפּוּץ 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 34:5

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 Shepherds of Israelgenerated

4You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.
5They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.
6My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’
7Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

Ezekiel 34:5 reveals the dire situation of the people of Israel, who are likened to a flock scattered without guidance. This scattering leads to their vulnerability, as they become prey for wild beasts. The surrounding verses emphasize the neglect of the shepherds, who failed to care for the weak and lost, leading to the people's suffering and disarray. This passage serves as a critique of leadership and the consequences of failing to protect and nurture those in one's care.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 34:6My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’
2Ezekiel 33:21–28In the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth day of the tenth month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!”
31 Kings 22:17So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
42 Chronicles 18:16So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
5Jeremiah 23:2Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

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

because there is no shepherdZechariah 10:2–3

The Key Word פּוּץ, va.te.fu.Tzei.nahgenerated

The verb פּוּץ (puwts) means to scatter or disperse. It conveys the idea of breaking apart, either physically or figuratively, and is applicable to groups of people or things. The parsing indicates that it is in the sequential imperfect tense, third person feminine plural, suggesting that the action has ongoing implications for the flock.

This word captures the essence of the flock's plight: they are not just scattered but are left vulnerable and exposed. The absence of a shepherd leads to their disarray, highlighting the importance of leadership in maintaining the safety and unity of the community.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.' The KJV and ASV agree with this wording.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is תְּפוּצֶ֖ינָה, they have been scattered, which governs the entire sentence. Following this, there is a prepositional phrase indicating the reason for the scattering, מִבְּלִ֣י רֹעֶ֑ה, for lack of a shepherd, and a second clause that describes the consequence of this scattering: וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה לְאָכְלָ֛ה, they became food.

The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship: the lack of a shepherd leads to scattering, which in turn results in the flock becoming prey. This illustrates the interconnectedness of leadership and the well-being of the community.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates פּוּץ as διεσπάρη, which also means 'to scatter.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the action of scattering in a similar context.

The use of ποιμένας for 'shepherd' in the LXX aligns with the Hebrew, reinforcing the idea of leadership and care that is absent in the situation described.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 34:5 describes how the people of Israel were scattered because they lacked a shepherd. This scattering made them vulnerable, as they became food for wild beasts. The surrounding verses highlight the failures of the shepherds who did not care for the weak or seek out the lost.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the flock was scattered?

It indicates that the people were left without guidance or protection, making them vulnerable to dangers.

Who is referred to as the shepherd?

The shepherd symbolizes leaders or caregivers who are responsible for the well-being of their community.

What are the consequences of being scattered?

Being scattered leads to vulnerability, as the flock becomes prey for wild beasts, reflecting the dangers of neglect.

How does this passage relate to the responsibilities of leaders?

It serves as a warning to leaders about the importance of caring for those they lead and the consequences of failing to do so.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can leaders today ensure they are caring for those they lead?
  2. How does the concept of being scattered apply to communities in our world today?
  3. What are some practical steps we can take to support those who feel lost or vulnerable?
  4. How can we learn from the failures of the shepherds mentioned in this passage?

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

Pachomius the Great references this verse to encourage spiritual struggle and redemption during Passover, highlighting its significance in the context of care and guidance.

Pachomius the GreatINSTRUCTIONS 2:1-2 c. 292–348
Let us struggle, my beloved, during these six days of the Passover, for they are given to us each year for the redemption of our souls,
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 34 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 34:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And they were scattered because there is no shepherd,.... No good one; there were shepherds, but they were idol shepherds, good for nothing, and it was all one as if there were none: so, in Christ's

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 34 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 34 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They, my neglected sheep, were scattered, by the inroads and invasions of their enemies, that broke in like devouring beasts. No shepherd; no vigilant, faithful, good shepherd that loved the flock, and of love studied its welfare. Became meat; were made a prey of, and devoured by Syrians, Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, &c., all their neighbours might the devour them. The beasts, signify men, troops of robbers, and spoilers. When they were scattered; as sheep scattered are easily devoured by every hungry wolf or fox.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 34 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 34:5 And they were scattered, because [there is] no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.Ver. 5. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd.] None but an idol shepherd, a foolish shepherd; and the sheep, being a foolish creature, even to a proverb, and apt to wander into harm’ s way, will never return to the fold, if not fetched back, but stick in the thorns, or die in a ditch, or run into the wolf’ s mouth. προβατωνηθος; and προβατιουβιονζην.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 34 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) They were scattered, because. . . .—The calamities of the people are attributed to the fault of the rulers, not because the people themselves were free from sin—the contrary has already been abundantly asserted in this book—but because the people’s sins were largely due to the evil example, the idolatries, the oppressions, and the disobedience of their rulers.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 34 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. And they were scattered] There was no discipline kept up; and the flock, the Church, became disorganized, and separated from each other, both in affection and fellowship. And the consequence was, the grievous wolves, false and worldly interested teachers, seized on and made a prey of them. Of the communion of saints such shepherds know nothing, farther than that it makes a part of the common creed.

Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 34 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. The allegory is simple enough. Owing to the evil and selfish government of the rulers the people became the prey of all the nations round about them. The figure of the flock indicates, however, the affection of Jehovah for his people and his compassion over their sufferings.

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 34 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

1-10. The shepherds of the people, instead of feeding the flock, were feeding upon the flock, eating the fat (LXX., milk), and living in ease and luxury, while “my sheep” (Ezekiel 34:5, LXX.) were

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 34 →

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 were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They were scattered, because there was no shepherd. They became food to all the animals of the field, and were scattered.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They were scattered because they had no shepherd, and they became food for every wild beast.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became food to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And they were scattered without a shepherde: and when they were dispersed, they were deuoured of all the beastes of the fielde.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And they are scattered from want of a shepherd, And are for food to every beast of the field, Yea, they are scattered.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they are scattered from want of a shepherd, || And are for food to every beast of the field, || Indeed, they are scattered.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And they were scattered for want of a shepherd; and they became food unto all the beasts of the field, and they were scattered.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then they were scattered without a shepherd, and they became food for all the living beasts in the fields, after they were scattered.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They were scattered because they didn't have a shepherd. When they scattered they were preyed on by all the wild animals for food.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And they were wandering in every direction because there was no keeper: and they became food for all the beasts of the field.

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.

וַandclauseverbתְּפוּצֶ֖ינָהthey.have.been.scatteredprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromclausepredicateבְּלִ֣יnotsubjectרֹעֶ֑הa.shepherdוַandclauseverbתִּהְיֶ֧ינָהthey.have.becomeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְ(into)אָכְלָ֛הfoodprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfornoun phraseכָלeverynoun phraseחַיַּ֥ת(the).animalnoun phraseהַofשָּׂדֶ֖הthe.fieldוַandclauseverbתְּפוּצֶֽינָהthey.have.been.scattered

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads: וַתְּפוּצֶ֖ינָה מִבְּלִ֣י רֹעֶ֑ה וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה לְאָכְלָ֛ה לְכָל־ חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וַתְּפוּצֶֽינָה׃. The Septuagint matches 7 of the 9 words in this verse, indicating a close alignment between the two texts.

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

וַתְּפוּצֶ֖ינָה מִבְּלִ֣י רֹעֶ֑ה וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה לְאָכְלָ֛ה לְכָל־ חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה וַתְּפוּצֶֽינָה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַתְּפוּצֶ֖ינָהδιεσπάρηרֹעֶ֑הποιμέναςוַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָהἐγενήθηלְאָכְלָ֛הκατάβρωμαלְכָל־πᾶσιחַיַּ֥תθηρίοιςהַשָּׂדֶ֖הἀγροῦ

7 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 34:5פּוּץand they haand they have bפּוּץבְּלִיbecause notbecause notבְּלִיבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדa shepherda shepherdבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדהָיָהand they haand they have bהָיָהאָכְלָהfoodfoodאָכְלָהכֹּלfor everyfor everyכֹּלחַיanimal ofanimal ofחַישָׂדַיthe fieldthe fieldשָׂדַיפּוּץand they haand they have bפּוּץבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלחָיָהto liveto liveחָיָההָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאכלה`worn out``worn out`כלהזָרָהto scatterto scatterזָרָהגּוֹיGentileGentileגּוֹיעֵ֫שֶׂבvegetationvegetationעֵ֫שֶׂבדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתרָבַץto stretchto stretchרָבַץעֵ֫דֶרflockflockעֵ֫דֶריֶ֫רֶקgreengreenיֶ֫רֶקעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףשָׂדַיfieldfieldשָׂדַיכֶּרֶםvineyardvineyardכֶּרֶם
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 34:5

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 have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
וַתְּפוּצֶ֖ינָהva.te.fu.Tzei.nah and they have been scattered H6327 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To shatter means to break something into pieces, either physically or figuratively. It can also mean to disperse or scatter people or things, as seen in various Bible translations.
Amplified meaning
without a guide, dispersed
Tyndale gloss
to scatter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פּוּץ (puwts) primarily means to scatter or disperse, applicable to both people and armies. It can also convey the idea of flowing or overflowing. The noun form מֵפִיץ (mephits) refers to a scatterer. Additionally, it has connotations of breaking or shattering, as seen in related forms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פּוּץ] vb. be dispersed, scattered

Qal be dispersed, disperse; be scattered, of enemies

Niph.

be scattered, of army

be spread abroad, of peoples

Hiph.

trans. scatter

intrans. scatter

base

מֵפִיץ n.m. scatterer, disperser

base

פּוּץ vb. flow, overflow

base

[פָּצַץ] vb. break (Ar. break, break asunder; Nab. break asunder; Syr. crush)

Pō‛. a hammer which shatters rock.

Pilp. he [God] dashed me in pieces (fig.).

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6327a פּוּץ be dispersed, scattered .be dispersed, disperse; be scattered, of enemies

. . be scattered, of army

. be spread abroad, of peoples

. . trans. scatter

. intrans. scatter

H6327b מֵפִיץ scatterer, disperser H6327c פּוּץ flow, overflow H6327d [פָּצַץ] break (Ar. break, break asunder; Nab. break asunder; Syr. crush) . a hammer which shatters rock.

. he [God] dashed me in pieces (fig.).

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6327 puwts poots

a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or

figuratively (especially to disperse):--break (dash, shake)

in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive,

retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פּוּץ (puts) — to scatter.

1) to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered

1a) (Qal) to be dispersed, be scattered

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be scattered

1b2) to be spread abroad

1c) (Hiphil) to scatter

1d) Hithpael) scatter

מֵפִיץ (me.phits) — scatterer.

n.m.

scatterer

פּוּץ (puts) — to flow.

(Qal) to flow, overflow

פָּצַץ (pa.tsats) — to shatter.

1) to break

1a) (Polel) to shatter

1b) (Pilpel) to dash to pieces

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
Hc/Vqw3fp
and they have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
מִבְּלִ֣יmi.be.Li because not H1097 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means without or nothing, often used for negation. It appears in various forms, such as without or not yet, in the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
without
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּלִי (bli) refers to a state of wearing out or destruction, and serves as an adverb of negation meaning 'without' or 'not.' It is derived from the root meaning failure and can indicate absence or lack in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence

fig. destruction

defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1097 בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence . fig. destruction

. defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1097 bliy bel-ee'

from 1086; properly, failure, i.e. nothing or destruction;

usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as

long as, etc.:--corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where

no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without.

see HEBREW for 01086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּלִי (be.li) — without.

subst

1) wearing out

adv of negation

2) without, no, not

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
and they have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
רֹעֶ֑הro.'Eh a shepherd H7462 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
177× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to care for or tend to someone or something, like a shepherd with his flock. It can also mean to rule over or associate with someone as a friend, and is sometimes used to describe a close relationship.
Amplified meaning
a caregiver, a leader
Tyndale gloss
House of Shepherds
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12

base

רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze

Qal

trans.

intrans.

Niph. poss.

Hiph. v.

base

[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with

Qal cherish faithfulness

Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man

base

[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7462 ra`ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;

intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);

generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a

friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat

up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,

herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,

shepherd, wander, waste.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.

Ra'ah = "pasturing"

perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"

רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.

1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tend, pasture

1a1a) to shepherd

1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)

1a1c) of people as flock (fig)

1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)

1a2) to feed, graze

1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)

1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)

1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess

Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.

1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)

1a) (Qal) to associate with

1b) (Hithpael) to be companions

רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.

(Piel) to be a special friend

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

shep'-erd (ro`eh, ro`i; poimen, "a feeder"): The sheep owner frequently tends the flocks himself (Ge 4:4; 30:40; compare Eze 34:12), but more often he delegates the work to his children (Ge 29:9; 1Sa 16:19; 17:15) or relatives (Ge 31:6). In such cases the sheep have good care because the keepers have a personal interest in the well-being of the animals, but when they are attended by a hireling (1Sa 17:20) the flocks may be neglected or abused (Isa 56:10,11; Eze…

Shepherd

A word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes the word “pastor” is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In a nomadic state of society every man, from the sheikh down to the slave, is more or less a shepherd. The progenitors of the Jews in the patriarchal age were nomads, and their history is rich in scenes of pastoral life. The occupation of tending the flocks was undertaken,not only by the sons of wealthy chiefs, (Genesis 30:29) ff.; Genesis37:12 ff., but even by their daughters. (Genesis 29:6,8; Exodus 2:10) The Egyptian captivity did march to implant a love of settled abode, and consequently we find the tribes which still retained a taste for shepherd life selecting their own quarters apart from their brethren in the transjordanic district. (

Or PASTOR.

Abel was a keeper of sheep, Ge 4:2, as were the greater number of the ancient patriarchs. When men began to multiply, and to follow different employments, Jabal son of Lamech was acknowledged as father, that is, founder of shepherd and nomads, Ge 4:20. A large part of the wealth of ancient patriarchs consisted in flocks and herds, the care of which was shared by their sons, daughters, and servants. Rachel the bride of Jacob was a shepherdess, Ge 29:6; his sons, the fathers of the tribes of Israel were shepherds, and so was David their king, Ps 78:70-72. The employment is highly honored in the Bible, Lu 2:8-20. In…

and they have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָהva.tih.Yei.nah and they have become H1961 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

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

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

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

Come into being, become

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

sq. prep.

become

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

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

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

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

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

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

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

. sq. prep.

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

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

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

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

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

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

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

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

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

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

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

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

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

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

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

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
Hc/Vqw3fp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-kum':

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

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

and they have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
לְאָכְלָ֛הle.'okh.Lah food H402 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means food or something to eat, like in Psalm 78:25 where it describes manna from heaven. It can also mean being consumed by something, like fire or wild beasts. This word is used in many Old Testament stories.
Amplified meaning
sustenance, prey
Tyndale gloss
food
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכְלָה (okhlah) refers to food or eating, with a focus on consumption. It can denote devouring by wild beasts or figuratively represent ravaged people, as well as consuming in fire. The term is feminine and is derived from a related word, אֹכֶל (okhel), which also pertains to food.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכְלָה 17 n.f. food, eating

esp. in phr.

devouring, by wild beasts, only fig. of ravaged people

consuming, in fire

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H402 אָכְלָה food, eating . esp. in phr.

. devouring, by wild beasts, only fig. of ravaged people

. consuming, in fire

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

402 'oklah ok-law'

feminine of 401; food:--consume, devour, eat, food, meat.

see HEBREW for 0401

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אׇכְלָה (okh.lah) — food.

1) food

1a) food, eating

1b) object of devouring, consuming

1b1) by wild beasts (figurative)

1b2) in fire

1b3) of judgment (figurative)

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

food:

I. VEGETABLE FOODS

1. Primitive Habits

2. Cereals

3. Leguminous Plants

4. Food of Trees

II. ANIMAL FOOD

LITERATURE

In a previous article (see BREAD) it has been shown that in the Bible "bread" usually stands for food in general and how this came to be so. In a complementary article on MEALS the methods of preparing and serving food will be dealt with. This article is devoted specifically to the foodstuffs of the Orient, more especially to articles of food in use among the Hebrews in Bible times. These are divisible into two main classes.

I. Vegetable Foods.

1. Primitive Habits:

Orientals in general are vegetarians, rather than flesh eaters. There is some reason to believe that primitive man was a vegetarian (see Ge 2:16; 3:2,6). It would seem, indeed, from a comparison of Ge 1:29 f…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Food

Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2-5). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6-8; 25:34; 27:3, 4; 43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex.…

The diet of eastern nations has been in all ages light and simple. Vegetable food was more used than animal. The Hebrews used a great variety of articles, (John 21:5) to give a relish to bread. Milk and its preparations hold a conspicuous place in eastern diet, as affording substantial nourishment; generally int he form of the modern leben , i.e. sour milk. Authorized Version "butter;" (Genesis 18:8; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29) Fruit was another source of subsistence: figs stood first in point of importance; they were generally dried and pressed into cakes. Grapes were generally eaten in a dried state as raisins. Of vegetables we have most frequent notice of lentils…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In ancient the food of a people was more entirely the product of their own country than in our day. Palestine was favored with an abundance of animal food, grain, and vegetables. But throughout the East, vegetable food is more used than animal. Bread was the principal food. Grain of various kinds, beans, lentils, onions, grapes, together with olive oil, honey, and the milk of goats and cows were the ordinary fare. The wandering Arabs live much upon a coarse black bread. A very common dish in Syria is rice, with shreds of meat, vegetables, olive oil, etc., intermixed. A similar dish, made with beans, lentils, and various kinds of pulse, was in frequent use at an earlier age, Ge 25:29-34 2Ki 4:38-1.

and they have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
לְכָל־le.khol for every H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
every kind of
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
חַיַּ֥תchai.Yat animal of H2416 Noun common · feminine singular construct
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Amplified meaning
ferocious animals, predators
Tyndale gloss
alive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַי adj. alive, living

of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

of man

of animals, alive, living

animals and man

(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

of water, fresh

(dub.) lively, active

reviving

base

[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18

ref

חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal

animal

in general

wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

living beings, of the cherubic chariot

life, only in late poetry

appetite, activity of hunger

revival, renewal

base

חַיָּה n.f. community

base

חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life

life: physical

life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

sustenance, maintenance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

. of man

. of animals, alive, living

. animals and man

. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

. of water, fresh

. (dub.) lively, active

. reviving

H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general

. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

. living beings, of the cherubic chariot

. life, only in late poetry

. appetite, activity of hunger

. revival, renewal

H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical

. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

. sustenance, maintenance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2416 chay khah'-ee

from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,

year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine

singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether

literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)

beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living

(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)

old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

see HEBREW for 02421

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַי (chay) — alive.

adj

1) living, alive

1a) green (of vegetation)

1b) flowing, fresh (of water)

1c) lively, active (of man)

1d) reviving (of the springtime)

Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)

חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.

kinsfolk

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.

1) living thing, animal

1a) animal

1b) life

1c) appetite

1d) revival, renewal

Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.

community

חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.

1) life (abstract emphatic)

1a) life

1b) sustenance, maintenance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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 have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
הַשָּׂדֶ֖הha.sa.Deh the field H7704 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
334× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Tyndale gloss
field
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂדַי (saday) and שָׂדֶה (sadeh) both refer to a field or land, encompassing cultivated areas, open fields, and regions opposed to mountains or seas. The terms can denote specific portions of ground and are associated with wildlife habitats. They derive from a root meaning to spread out, indicating flat, expansive areas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂדַי n.m. field, land

cultivated field

home of wild beasts

plain, opp. mt.

land, opp. sea

base

שָׂדֶה 819 n.m. id. [u.ak.ab]

(ordinary contr. form)open field, country

definite portion of ground, field, land

land, opp. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7704a שָׂדַי field, land . cultivated field

. home of wild beasts

. plain, opp. mt.

. land, opp. sea

H7704b שָׂדֶה id. [7704a] . open field, country

. definite portion of ground, field, land

. land, opp. sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7704 sadeh saw-deh'

or saday {saw-dah'-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread

out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil,

X wild.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — Sirion.

This name means field, land, plain

Another spelling of cher.mon (חֶרְמוֹן "(Mount )Hermon" H2768)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: soil.

: soil

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: country.

: country/field

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — Field (of the Launderer).

Combined with ka.vas (כָּבַס "Washer's" H3526)

This name means field, land

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: wildlife.

: wild(animals/plants)

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — field.

1) field, land

1a) cultivated field

1b) of home of wild beasts

1c) plain (opposed to mountain)

1d) land (opposed to sea)

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

feld.

See AGRICULTURE.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Field

(Heb. sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is applied to any cultivated ground or pasture (Gen. 29:2; 31:4; 34:7), or tillage (Gen. 37:7; 47:24). It is also applied to woodland (Ps. 132:6) or mountain top (Judg. 9:32, 36; 2 Sam. 1:21). It denotes sometimes a cultivated region as opposed to the wilderness (Gen. 33:19; 36:35). Unwalled villages or scattered houses are spoken of as “in the fields” (Deut. 28:3, 16; Lev. 25:31;

The Hebrew sadeh is applied to any cultivated ground, and in some instances in marked opposition to the neighboring wilderness. On the other hand the sadeh is frequently contrasted with what is enclosed, whether a vineyard, a garden or a walled town. In many passages the term implies what is remote from a house, (Genesis 4:8; 24:63; 22:25) or settled habitation, as in the case of Esau. (Genesis 25:27) The separate plots of ground were marked off by stones, which might easily be removed, (19:14; 27:17) cf. Job 24:2; Prov 22:28; 23:10 The absence of fences rendered the fields liable to damage from straying cattle, (Exodus…

and they have been scattered because not a shepherd and they have become food for every animal of the field and they have been scattered
וַתְּפוּצֶֽינָה׃va.te.fu.Tzei.nah and they have been scattered H6327 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To shatter means to break something into pieces, either physically or figuratively. It can also mean to disperse or scatter people or things, as seen in various Bible translations.
Amplified meaning
dispersed, wandered
Tyndale gloss
to scatter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פּוּץ (puwts) primarily means to scatter or disperse, applicable to both people and armies. It can also convey the idea of flowing or overflowing. The noun form מֵפִיץ (mephits) refers to a scatterer. Additionally, it has connotations of breaking or shattering, as seen in related forms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פּוּץ] vb. be dispersed, scattered

Qal be dispersed, disperse; be scattered, of enemies

Niph.

be scattered, of army

be spread abroad, of peoples

Hiph.

trans. scatter

intrans. scatter

base

מֵפִיץ n.m. scatterer, disperser

base

פּוּץ vb. flow, overflow

base

[פָּצַץ] vb. break (Ar. break, break asunder; Nab. break asunder; Syr. crush)

Pō‛. a hammer which shatters rock.

Pilp. he [God] dashed me in pieces (fig.).

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6327a פּוּץ be dispersed, scattered .be dispersed, disperse; be scattered, of enemies

. . be scattered, of army

. be spread abroad, of peoples

. . trans. scatter

. intrans. scatter

H6327b מֵפִיץ scatterer, disperser H6327c פּוּץ flow, overflow H6327d [פָּצַץ] break (Ar. break, break asunder; Nab. break asunder; Syr. crush) . a hammer which shatters rock.

. he [God] dashed me in pieces (fig.).

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6327 puwts poots

a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or

figuratively (especially to disperse):--break (dash, shake)

in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive,

retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פּוּץ (puts) — to scatter.

1) to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered

1a) (Qal) to be dispersed, be scattered

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be scattered

1b2) to be spread abroad

1c) (Hiphil) to scatter

1d) Hithpael) scatter

מֵפִיץ (me.phits) — scatterer.

n.m.

scatterer

פּוּץ (puts) — to flow.

(Qal) to flow, overflow

פָּצַץ (pa.tsats) — to shatter.

1) to break

1a) (Polel) to shatter

1b) (Pilpel) to dash to pieces

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
Hc/Vqw3fp
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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