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Ezekiel 40:37 — Word Study

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WLCוְאֵילָ֗יו לֶֽחָצֵר֙ הַחִ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה וְתִמֹרִ֥ים אֶל־ אֵילָ֖יו מִפּ֣וֹ וּמִפּ֑וֹ וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מַעֲל֖וֹת מַעֲלָֽיו׃

BSAIts porticoʼayil [facing the outer courtyard, toward the utter court] faced the outerchîytsôwn [external, secular] courtchâtsêr and its side pillarsʼayil [posts, uprights] were decorated with palm treestimmôr [palms] on each sidepôh [this side and that side, here and there] Eightshᵉmôneh [the number eight, a special number] stepsmaʻălâh led up to itmaʻăleh [ascent, an upward movement, climbing]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 40
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 37 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 (ma.'a.lov) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 40:37quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel describes the structure of a temple entrance, highlighting its portico, decorative pillars, and the steps leading up to it.
Who is speakingThe prophet Ezekiel, relaying a vision of the temple.
Where we areIn a detailed description of the temple's architecture, specifically its entrance.
The hard wordתִּמֹרָה
Take awayThe temple entrance is grand, adorned with palm trees, and requires ascent to enter.
3 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them › clause subjectתִּמֹרָה 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 40:37

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 Vision of the Templegenerated

36as did its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
37Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.
38There was a chamber with a doorway by the portico in each of the inner gateways. There the burnt offering was to be washed.
39Inside the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were to be slaughtered.

Ezekiel 40:37 is part of a larger vision where Ezekiel details the design and layout of the temple, emphasizing its grandeur and the significance of its structure. This description serves to convey the holiness and majesty of the place where God's presence would dwell, contrasting with the previous temple's destruction.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 40:31–34Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps led up to it.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תִּמֹרָה, ve.ti.mo.Rimgenerated

The word תִּמֹרָה (timoráh) refers specifically to palm trees, often used decoratively in architecture. This term is derived from a root associated with palms, indicating its connection to beauty and victory, as seen in various biblical contexts.

In this verse, the palm trees symbolize not only aesthetic appeal but also a connection to peace and triumph, enhancing the sacred atmosphere of the temple entrance.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the depiction of palm trees at the temple entrance, using similar terms across versions.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is introduced by the subject תִּמֹרִ֥ים (timorím), indicating the decorative elements of the pillars, with several prepositional phrases elaborating on their placement and the surrounding structure.

The sentence structure emphasizes the grandeur of the temple entrance, with the portico facing the outer court and the steps leading up to it, creating a vivid picture of the ascent into a sacred space.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תִּמֹרָה as φοίνικες (phoinikes), which means 'palms.' This choice reflects a direct rendering of the Hebrew term, maintaining the imagery of palm trees as symbols of victory and beauty.

This alignment with the Hebrew text underscores the significance of the palm trees in the context of the temple's design.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 40:37 describes the entrance to the temple, noting that its portico faces the outer court and is adorned with palm trees. Eight steps lead up to this entrance, emphasizing its significance and grandeur.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the palm trees in the temple?

The palm trees symbolize victory and beauty, enhancing the sacred atmosphere of the temple entrance.

Why are there eight steps leading up to the portico?

The eight steps represent an ascent, emphasizing the importance of approaching the sacred space of the temple.

How does this verse connect to the overall vision of the temple?

This verse highlights the detailed design and grandeur of the temple, reflecting its significance as a dwelling place for God's presence.

What does the outer court represent?

The outer court serves as a transitional space between the secular world and the sacredness of the temple, emphasizing the holiness of the area.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do the elements of the temple's design reflect God's holiness?
  2. In what ways can we create spaces in our lives that honor God, similar to the temple's grandeur?
  3. What do the palm trees symbolize for us today in our worship and relationship with God?
  4. How can we approach God with the reverence that the ascent to the temple entrance implies?

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

Gregory the Dialogist comments on the temple's vestibule, emphasizing its structure and significance in his homilies.

Gregory the DialogistHomilies on Ezekiel, Book 2, Homily 8 c. 540–604
"And its vestibule looked toward the outer court, and carved palm trees on its front on this side and on that, and its ascent was by eight steps." Behold,
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 40 →

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 40:37 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures; And he measured the south gate according to these measures - namely, the measures of the outer gate.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 40 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

37. the posts … utter court] Probably: and the porch thereof was toward the outer court, cf. Ezekiel 40:31; Ezekiel 40:34. So LXX. The “posts” are mentioned immediately after, and said to be decorated with palm trees, Ezekiel 40:16; Ezekiel 40:26; Ezekiel 40:31.

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 40 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

OF THE INNER COURT WITH ITS GATES, FOR , AND CELLS FOR PRIESTS, Ezekiel 40:28-49.28-37.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 40 →

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

Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Its posts were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Its portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Its jambs faced the outer court, and it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the posts thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the posts thereof were toward the outer court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And its posts were towards the outer court; and palm-trees were upon its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the postes thereof were towarde the vtter court, and palme trees were vpon the postes thereof on this side, and on that side, and the going vp to it had eight steps.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And its posts were toward the outer court; and there were palm-trees upon its posts, on this side and on that side: and its ascent was [by] eight steps.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and its posts [are] to the outer court, and palm-trees [are] unto its posts, on this side and on that side, and eight steps [are] its ascent.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and its posts [are] toward the outer court, and palm-trees [are] on its posts, on this side and on that side, and eight steps [are] its ascent.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And its door-posts were toward the outer court; and palm-shaped capitals were upon its door-posts, on this side, and on that side: and by eight steps was the ascent to it.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Its portico faced the outer courtyard; it had palm trees on either side of it and eight steps going up it.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the porch thereof looked to the outward court: and the graving of palm trees in the front thereof was on this side and on that side: and the going up to it was by eight steps.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Its porch faced the outer courtyard, and its posts were decorated with palm tree designs on all sides. It had eight steps leading up to it.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Its uprights were on the side nearest to the outer square; there were palm-trees on the uprights, on this side and on that: and there were eight steps going up to it.

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.

וְandclausenoun phrase · subjectאֵילָ֗יpillarsוitsprepositional phrase · predicateלֶֽ[were].tonoun phrasethenoun phraseחָצֵר֙courtyardadjective phraseהַ(the)חִ֣יצוֹנָ֔הouterוְandclausesubjectתִמֹרִ֥יםpalm.treesprepositional phrase · predicateאֶל[were].tonoun phraseאֵילָ֖יpillarsוitsprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseמִfromפּ֣וֹhereוּandprepositional phraseמִfromפּ֑וֹhereוּand.[was]clausenoun phrase · predicateשְׁמֹנֶ֥הeightמַעֲל֖וֹתstepsnoun phrase · subjectמַעֲלָֽיascentsוits

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 largely agree in their wording for Ezekiel 40:37, with nine out of eleven words matching. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the core imagery remains consistent across both texts.

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

וְאֵילָ֗יו לֶֽחָצֵר֙ הַחִ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה וְתִמֹרִ֥ים אֶל־ אֵילָ֖יו מִפּ֣וֹ וּמִפּ֑וֹ וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מַעֲל֖וֹת מַעֲלָֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֵילָ֗יוαιλαμμωלֶֽחָצֵר֙αὐλὴνהַחִ֣יצוֹנָ֔הἐχωτέρανוְתִמֹרִ֥יםφοίνικεςאֵילָ֖יוαιλευמִפּ֣וֹἔνθενוּמִפּ֑וֹἔνθενוּשְׁמֹנֶ֥הὀκτὼמַעֲל֖וֹתκλιμακτῆρες

9 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 40:37אַ֫יִלand pillarsand pillars itsאַ֫יִלחָצֵר[were] to t[were] to the cחָצֵרחִיצוֹןouterouterחִיצוֹןתִּמֹרָהand palm trand palm treesתִּמֹרָהאֶל[were] to[were] toאֶלאַ֫יִלpillars itspillars itsאַ֫יִלפֹּהfrom herefrom hereפֹּהפֹּהand from heand from hereפֹּהשְׁמֹנֶהand [was] eand [was] eightשְׁמֹנֶהמַעֲלָהstepsstepsמַעֲלָהמַעֲלֶהascents itsascents itsמַעֲלֶהאוּלstrengthstrengthאוּלחצצרto blowto blowחצצרחַ֫יִץwallwallחַ֫יִץהוּאhe/she/ithe/she/itהוּאשָׁמֵןrichrichשָׁמֵןעָלָהto ascend:to ascend: riseעָלָהתָּמָרpalmpalmתָּמָרמַעֲלֶהascentascentמַעֲלֶהתִּמֹרָהpalmpalmתִּמֹרָהעַתּוּדgoatgoatעַתּוּדכֶּ֫בֶשׂlamblambכֶּ֫בֶשׂחִיצוֹןouterouterחִיצוֹןמַטָּרָהguardhouseguardhouseמַטָּרָהחָצֵרcourtcourtחָצֵרכְּרוּבcherubcherubכְּרוּבפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫העָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂר
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 40:37

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 pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
וְאֵילָ֗יוve.'ei.lov and pillars its H352 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
187× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A strong tree, like an oak or a ram, symbolizes strength and power, as seen in 1 Kings 7:2 where Solomon builds a house with strong pillars. It can also refer to a chief or leader, like in 1 Chronicles 12:14 where the leaders of the tribes are listed.
Amplified meaning
facing the outer courtyard, toward the utter court
Tyndale gloss
ram
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִל (ayil) encompasses several meanings, including 'ram,' 'projecting pillar or pilaster,' 'leader or chief,' and 'terebinth.' It is derived from a root meaning strength, suggesting a connection to might and support. The term appears in various contexts, reflecting its diverse applications in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִל 156 n.m. ram (as leader of flock)

base

אַ֫יִל n.[m.] projecting pillar or pilaster

base

[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. leader, chief

base

[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. terebinth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H352a אַ֫יִל ram H352b אַ֫יִל projecting pillar or pilaster H352c אַ֫יִל leader, chief H352d אַ֫יִל terebinth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

352 'ayil ah'-yil

from the same as 193; properly, strength; hence, anything

strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from

his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or

other strong tree:--mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram,

tree.

see HEBREW for 0193

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — ram.

1) ram

1a) ram (as food)

1b) ram (as sacrifice)

1c) ram (skin dyed red, for tabernacle)

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — pillar.

pillar, door post, jambs, pilaster

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — leader.

strong man, leader, chief

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — terebinth.

mighty tree, terebinth

Aramaic equivalent: i.lan (אִילָן "tree" H0363)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
לֶֽחָצֵר֙le.cha.Tzer [were] to the courtyard H2691 Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
191× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A village in the Bible is a small settlement surrounded by walls. In Matthew 21:2, Jesus sends his disciples to a village to find a donkey, while in Mark 6:6, Jesus travels from village to village teaching.
Tyndale gloss
court
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָצֵר (chatser) refers to an enclosure or court, and can also mean a settled abode, settlement, or village, typically appearing in the plural form חֲצֵרִים. The word is derived from a root meaning to enclose, indicating spaces that are surrounded by walls or fences.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָצֵר 145 n.m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court

base

[חָצֵר] 46 n.m. settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2691a חָצֵר n. m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court H2691b חָצֵר settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2691 chatser khaw-tsare'

(masculine and feminine); from 2690 in its original sense; a

yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly

surrounded with walls):--court, tower, village.

see HEBREW for 02690

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָצֵר (cha.tser) — court.

1) court, enclosure

1a) enclosures

1b) court

חָצֵר (cha.tser) — village.

settled abode, settlement, village, town

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
HRd/Ncbsa
and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
הַחִ֣יצוֹנָ֔הha.Chi.tzo.Nah outer H2435 Particle
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means outer or external, describing something outside or secular. It is used in Ezekiel 40:5 to describe the outer wall of a building.
Amplified meaning
external, secular
Tyndale gloss
outer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חִיצוֹן (chiytsown) refers to something that is outer or external, derived from the root word for 'wall side.' It covers meanings related to the exterior or outward aspects, often in a secular context as opposed to sacred. The entries consistently emphasize its use in describing outer or external qualities.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חִיצוֹן adj. outer, external

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2435 חִיצוֹן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2435 chiytsown khee-tsone'

from 2434; properly, the (outer) wall side; hence, exterior;

figuratively, secular (as opposed to sacred):--outer, outward,

utter, without.

see HEBREW for 02434

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חִיצוֹן (chi.tson) — outer.

outer, external, outward

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Adj — Particle
HTd/Aafsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

out'-er: This adjective is used 12 times by Ezekiel of the outside court of the temple. In Matthew we find it 3 times (8:12; 22:13; 25:30) in "outer darkness" (to skotos to exoteron), which typifies the utter darkness of the doom of the lost.

and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
וְתִמֹרִ֥יםve.ti.mo.Rim and palm trees H8561 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a palm tree or a decorative column shaped like a palm, often used in architecture. It symbolizes peace and victory, as seen in the tabernacle's design. Exodus describes palm trees in the wilderness.
Amplified meaning
palms
Tyndale gloss
palm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תִּמֹרָה (timmorah) refers to a palm-like pilaster or ornament, specifically a palm tree figure. It is a feminine noun and appears in plural form as תִּמֹּר (timmor). The term is derived from a root related to palm trees, and its usage is primarily architectural.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תִּמֹרָה 19 n.f. palm(-tree) figure, as ornament

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8561 תִּמֹרָה, תִּמֹּר, תִּמֹּרָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8561 timmor tim-more'

(plural o or (feminine) timmorah (singular and plural)

{tim-mo-raw'}; from the same root as 8558; (arch.) a palm-like

pilaster (i.e. umbellate):--palm tree.

see HEBREW for 08558

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תִּמֹרָה (tim.rah) — palm.

palm tree figure (as ornament)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Were frequently used as types of kings, or men of wealth and power, Ps 37:35 Isa 2:13 Da 4:10-26 Zec 11:1,2. The "tree of knowledge of good and evil" bore the forbidden fruit, by eating of which Adam fatally increased his knowledge—of good by its loss, of sin and woe by actual experience, Ge 2:9,17. The "tree of life" may have been both an assurance and a means of imparting life, a seal of eternal holiness and bliss, if man had not sinned. Compare Re 22:2.

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Originally created by God

Ge 1:11,12; 2:9

- Made for the glory of God

Ps 148:9

- DIFFERENT KINDS OF MENTIONED

. Of the wood

So 2:3

. Of the forest

Isa 10:19

. Bearing fruit

Ne 9:25; Ec 2:5; Eze 47:12

. Evergreen

Ps 37:35; Jer 17:2

. Deciduous or casting the leaves

Isa 6:13

- Of various sizes

Eze 17:24

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) Laws Concerning

Le 19:23; 27:30; De 16:21; 20:19

(2) Evil, Sinners Compared to

Ps 37:35; Mt 7:18; Lu 3:9; Jude 12

(3) Saints as

Nu 24:6; Ps 1:3; 52:8; 92:12; Isa 61:3; Jer 17:8; Eze 47:7; Ho 14:6

(4) Varieties Mentioned

Almond

and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
אֶל־'el- [were] to H413 Preposition
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
HR — Preposition
HR
and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
אֵילָ֖יו'ei.lov pillars its H352 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
187× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A strong tree, like an oak or a ram, symbolizes strength and power, as seen in 1 Kings 7:2 where Solomon builds a house with strong pillars. It can also refer to a chief or leader, like in 1 Chronicles 12:14 where the leaders of the tribes are listed.
Amplified meaning
posts, uprights
Tyndale gloss
ram
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִל (ayil) encompasses several meanings, including 'ram,' 'projecting pillar or pilaster,' 'leader or chief,' and 'terebinth.' It is derived from a root meaning strength, suggesting a connection to might and support. The term appears in various contexts, reflecting its diverse applications in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִל 156 n.m. ram (as leader of flock)

base

אַ֫יִל n.[m.] projecting pillar or pilaster

base

[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. leader, chief

base

[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. terebinth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H352a אַ֫יִל ram H352b אַ֫יִל projecting pillar or pilaster H352c אַ֫יִל leader, chief H352d אַ֫יִל terebinth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

352 'ayil ah'-yil

from the same as 193; properly, strength; hence, anything

strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from

his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or

other strong tree:--mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram,

tree.

see HEBREW for 0193

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — ram.

1) ram

1a) ram (as food)

1b) ram (as sacrifice)

1c) ram (skin dyed red, for tabernacle)

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — pillar.

pillar, door post, jambs, pilaster

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — leader.

strong man, leader, chief

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — terebinth.

mighty tree, terebinth

Aramaic equivalent: i.lan (אִילָן "tree" H0363)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
מִפּ֣וֹmi.Po from here H6311 Preposition · adverb
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'here' or 'this place', and is used to indicate a specific location. It can also mean 'from here' or 'hither', showing movement or direction from a certain spot.
Amplified meaning
this side and that side, here and there
Tyndale gloss
here
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֹּה (poh) means 'here' or 'hither' in Hebrew. It is derived from a primitive particle indicating location. The word is used to denote a specific place, as seen in Job 38:11. Various lexicons confirm its meaning, with no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֹּה 58, and פּוֹ, also פֹּא, adv.loc. here, hither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6311 פֹּה, and פּוֹ, also פֹּא here, hither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6311 poh po

or po6 (Job 38:11) {po}; or pow {po}; probably from a

primitive inseparable particle "p" (of demonstrative force)

and 1931; this place (French ici), i.e. here or hence:--here,

hither, the one (other, this, that) side.

see HEBREW for 0po6

see HEBREW for 01931

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֹּה (poh) — here.

1) here, from here, hither

1a) here

1b) hither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adv — Preposition · adverb
HR/D
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

her, in composition:

and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
וּמִפּ֑וֹu.mi.Po and from here H6311 Conjunction · preposition · adverb
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'here' or 'this place', and is used to indicate a specific location. It can also mean 'from here' or 'hither', showing movement or direction from a certain spot.
Tyndale gloss
here
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֹּה (poh) means 'here' or 'hither' in Hebrew. It is derived from a primitive particle indicating location. The word is used to denote a specific place, as seen in Job 38:11. Various lexicons confirm its meaning, with no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֹּה 58, and פּוֹ, also פֹּא, adv.loc. here, hither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6311 פֹּה, and פּוֹ, also פֹּא here, hither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6311 poh po

or po6 (Job 38:11) {po}; or pow {po}; probably from a

primitive inseparable particle "p" (of demonstrative force)

and 1931; this place (French ici), i.e. here or hence:--here,

hither, the one (other, this, that) side.

see HEBREW for 0po6

see HEBREW for 01931

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֹּה (poh) — here.

1) here, from here, hither

1a) here

1b) hither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/R/D — Conjunction · preposition · adverb
HC/R/D
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

her, in composition:

and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥הu.she.mo.Neh and [was] eight H8083 Conjunction
109× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number eight, which was considered a special number in biblical times. It is used to describe quantities, such as eight days or eight years, and also appears in ordinal forms, like eighth or eighth day.
Amplified meaning
the number eight, a special number
Tyndale gloss
eight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמֹנֶה (shmoneh) means 'eight' and can also denote 'eighth' as an ordinal number. It is derived from the idea of plumpness, suggesting a surplus beyond seven, which is considered a perfect number. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations with other numbers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה 109 n.m. et f. eight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8083 שְׁמֹנֶה, (less oft. שְׁמוֹנֶה), שְׁמֹנָה eight

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8083 shmoneh shem-o-neh'

or shmowneh {shem-o-neh'}; feminine shmonah {shem-o-naw'}; or

shmownah {shem-o-naw'}; apparently from 8082 through the idea

of plumpness; a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above

the "perfect" seven); also (as ordinal)

eighth:--eight((-een, -eenth)), eighth.

see HEBREW for 08082

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמֹנֶה (she.mo.neh) — eight.

1) eight, eighth

1a) eight (as cardinal number)

1b) eighth (as ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Acbsa
and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
מַעֲל֖וֹתma.'a.Lot steps H4609 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Represents a step or journey upward, like the steps of a stair or a song of ascent, as in Psalm 120-134, which are songs the Israelites sang while traveling to Jerusalem for festivals. It symbolizes spiritual ascent.
Tyndale gloss
thought
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַעֲלָה (ma`alah) refers to a step or stair, as well as the concept of elevation or ascent. It can denote both a physical journey to a higher place and a figurative rise in thought or status. The term is notably used in the context of 'songs of ascent' in certain Psalms, indicating a spiritual or literal elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַעֲלָה] n.f. what comes up;—pl. cstr. Ez 11:5

ref

מַעֲלָה 46 n.f. step, stair

step, stair

steps (forming sun-dial)

stories of heaven

ascent

song of ascents

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4609a מַעֲלָה what comes up H4609b מַעֲלָה step, stair

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4609 ma`alah mah-al-aw'

feminine of 4608; elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a

journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising),

or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or

grade-mark, figuratively, a superiority of station);

specifically a climactic progression (in certain

Psalms):--things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up,

stair, step, story.

see HEBREW for 04608

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַעֲלָה (ma.a.lah) — thought.

what comes up, thoughts

מַעֲלָה (ma.a.lah) — step.

1) step, stair

1a) step, stair

1b) steps (of sundial)

1c) stories (of heaven)

1d) ascent

1e) song of ascent

1e1) to the three great pilgrim feasts (Psalm titles)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
and pillars its [were] to the courtyard outer and palm trees [were] to pillars its from here and from here and [was] eight steps ascents its
מַעֲלָֽיו׃ma.'a.lov ascents its H4608 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means an upward movement, like climbing a hill or stairs, as in Exodus 20:26, where the Israelites are instructed not to climb the altar by steps. It can also represent spiritual growth.
Amplified meaning
ascent, an upward movement, climbing
Tyndale gloss
ascent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַעֲלֶה (ma`aleh) refers to an ascent or elevation, such as a hill or stairs. It can denote both a physical incline and a figurative rise in status or priority. The term is derived from a root meaning to go up, and is used in contexts like the ascent of a mountain or a passageway.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַעֲלֶה 19 n.m. ascent

ascent of hill or mt.; מ׳ עַקְרַבִּים = Scorpion-pass, on S. border of Pal.

of stairs; to a wall

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4608 מַעֲלֶה ascent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4608 ma`aleh mah-al-eh'

from 5927; an elevation, i.e. (concretely) acclivity or

platform; abstractly (the relation or state) a rise or

(figuratively) priority:--ascent, before, chiefest, cliff,

that goeth up, going up, hill, mounting up, stairs.

see HEBREW for 05927

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַעֲלֶה (ma.a.leh) — ascent.

ascent, incline

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
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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