Genesis 12:3 — Word Study
WLCוַאֲבָֽרֲכָה֙ מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ֖ אָאֹ֑ר וְנִבְרְכ֣וּ בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָאֲדָמָֽה׃
BSAI will blessbârak▸ [praise and honor] those who bless youbârak [show kindness to] and curseʼârar▸ [utterly condemn, bring into contempt] those who curse youqâlal [speak evil of] and allkôl [every single one, the entirety of] the familiesmishpâchâh [nations, tribes, clans] of the earthʼădâmâh [land, soil, ground] will be blessedbârak■ [receive divine favor, be highly honored]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַאֲבָֽרֲכָה֙ | so let me bless | Conjunction, verb piel infinitive construct first person common singular |
| מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ | [those who] bless you | Verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ֖ | and [one who] disdains you | Conjunction, verb piel participle (active) masculine singular common, suffix |
| אָאֹ֑ר | I will curse | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| וְנִבְרְכ֣וּ | and they will be blessed | Verb, Niphal, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| בְךָ֔ | by you | Preposition, suffix |
| כֹּ֖ל | all | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת | [the] clans of | Noun common, feminine plural construct |
| הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ | the earth | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you. ” |
| KJV | And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. |
| ASV | and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. |
| YLT | And I bless those blessing thee, and him who is disesteeming thee I curse, and blessed in thee have been all families of the ground.' |
| WEB | I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” |
| BBE | To them who are good to you will I give blessing, and on him who does you wrong will I put my curse: and you will become a name of blessing to all the families of the earth. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of בָּרַךְ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence features a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship of blessings and curses.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָרַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 — Genesis 12:3
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 — God's Covenant with Abrahamgenerated
Genesis 12:3 is part of God's promise to Abraham, where He declares that blessings will flow through Abraham to all the families of the earth. This verse emphasizes the significance of Abraham's role in God's redemptive plan, as well as the reciprocal nature of blessing and cursing based on how others respond to him. It sets the stage for the unfolding narrative of Israel's history and God's relationship with humanity.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 27:29 | May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.” |
| 2 | Exodus 23:22 | But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. |
| 3 | Numbers 24:9 | He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.” |
| 4 | Matthew 25:40–45 | And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ |
| 5 | Genesis 18:18 | Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 18 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּרַךְ, va.'a.va.ra.Khahgenerated
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is derived from a root meaning 'to kneel' and conveys the idea of blessing, which involves showing favor or honor. In this context, it signifies God's intention to bestow favor upon those who show kindness to Abraham, reflecting a relationship of mutual respect and care.
The use of בָּרַךְ here highlights the importance of Abraham in the covenantal framework, where blessings are not just personal but extend to communities and nations. This word encompasses both the act of blessing and the deeper implications of divine favor.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is אֲבָֽרֲכָה֙, I will bless, which governs the blessings and curses expressed in the following clauses. The structure emphasizes the conditional nature of the blessings based on the actions of others toward Abraham.
The verse contains multiple clauses: the first outlines God's promise to bless, the second details the consequences for those who curse Abraham, and the final clause indicates the broader impact of Abraham's blessings on all families of the earth.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּרַךְ as εὐλογήσω, which carries a similar meaning of blessing. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the Hebrew concept of divine favor.
The Greek term καταράσομαι for אָרַר indicates a strong sense of cursing, aligning with the Hebrew's implications of judgment and condemnation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 12:3 shows God's promise to Abraham, stating that He will bless those who treat him well and curse those who do not. This promise extends to all families on earth, indicating that Abraham's influence will be significant and far-reaching.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To bless someone means to show them kindness and favor, as God promises to do for those who honor Abraham.
This verse establishes Abraham as a key figure in God's plan, indicating that his descendants will play a crucial role in the future of Israel and the world.
It signifies that God's plan of salvation and blessing is not limited to Israel but extends to all nations, highlighting the universal scope of His covenant.
The blessings and curses reflect the reciprocal relationship between God, Abraham, and those who interact with him, emphasizing the importance of how one treats God's chosen.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I show kindness to those who are part of God's family today?
- In what ways have I experienced blessings in my life that I can attribute to my relationship with God?
- What does it mean for me to be a blessing to others, as Abraham was called to be?
- How can I better understand and appreciate the significance of God's promises in my life?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 12:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd I will bless them that bless thee,.... Not the priests only that should bless his children, the children of Israel, as the Targum of Jonathan, but all men of all nations, and of every age, that
Read John Gill on Genesis 12 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. I will bless them that bless thee.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 12 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThose that are friends or enemies to thee shall be the same to me; a marvellous condescension and privilege. In thee, i.e. in thy Seed, as it is explained 26:4 28:14, i.e. in and through Christ, ,16,28,29; or, for thee, as the Chaldee hath it, i.e. for thy sake; or, by thee, i.e. by thy means; or, with thee, by comparing this with ,9, i.e. in the same way and manner in which thou art blessed, that is, by a fruitful faith: compare ,12,16. All families of the earth, i.e. all nations; which is to be limited to the believers of all nations, by the whole current of the Scriptures. All that shall be blessed shall be blessed by this means, and no other way.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 12 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Ver. 3. And I will bless them that bless thee.] Some there are that will curse those whom God blessed; but nothing so many as they that will rise up and call them blessed. These are expressed here in the plural number; those in the singular only. "For who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" But say there be some Balaams that would curse God’ s Israel, or some Esaus that could wish them unblest again; yet God will turn Balaam’ s curse into a blessing (which is reckoned as a great favour); and he will tell Esau (if not in…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 12 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2, 3) Thou shalt be a blessing.—More correctly, Be thou a blessing. The promises made to Abram are partly personal and partly universal, embracing the whole world. In return for all that he abandons he is to become the founder of a powerful nation, who will honour his name, and teach the inheritors of their spiritual privileges to share in their veneration for him. But in the command to “be” or “become a blessing,” we reach a higher level, and it is the glory of Abram’s faith that it was not selfish, and in return for his consenting to lead the life of a stranger, he was to be the means of procuring religious privileges, not only for his own descendants, but also “for all families of the…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 12 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. In thee] In thy posterity, in the Messiah, who shall spring from thee, shall all families of the earth be blessed; for as he shall take on him human nature from the posterity of Abraham, he shall taste death for every man, his Gospel shall be preached throughout the world, and innumerable blessings be derived on all mankind through his death and intercession.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. and I will bless, &c.] The blessing which Abram receives from God is to be a source of good to his friends and of evil to his foes. Observe the delicacy with which the recipients of the blessing are expressed in the plural; but of the curse in the singular (“him that curseth will I curse”). It is assumed that his friends are numerous and his foes few. curse] Cf. Genesis 27:29, “Cursed be every one that curseth thee.” in thee shall all the families of the earth, &c.] These words can be understood in two ways, according as the verb is rendered (a) passively, (b) reflexively. (a) “On account of thee the whole world shall be blessed.” In Abram is impersonated a blessing that shall become…
Read Cambridge on Genesis 12 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. I will bless… curse — The promise is here expanded — Abram, as the man of faith, is to be identified with the divine plan for human redemption; his friends are, therefore, God’s friends, his enemies God’s enemies.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 12 →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
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you. ”
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name.”
Tyndale line
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
I will also blesse them that blesse thee, and curse them that curse thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Strictly literal
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
And I bless those blessing thee, and him who is disesteeming thee I curse, and blessed in thee have been all families of the ground.'
And I bless those blessing you, and I curse him who is cursing you, and all families of the ground have been blessed in you.”
And I will bless those that bless thee, and him that curseth thee, will I curse; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
I will bless those who bless you, but whoever dishonors you I will curse. Through you will all the families of the earth be blessed.”
From the Latin
I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed:
Simplified
I will bless those who bless you; I will curse those who curse you. Everyone on earth will be blessed through you.”
To them who are good to you will I give blessing, and on him who does you wrong will I put my curse: and you will become a name of blessing to all the families of the earth.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Genesis 12:3 states, 'I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.' The Septuagint largely agrees with the Masoretic Text, with 8 of the 9 words matching, though its word order and articles differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch presents three notable differences: it uses 'אברך' (I will bless) instead of 'אֲבָרֲכָה' (I will bless), 'מקלליך' (be slight) instead of 'מְקַלֶּלְךָ' (I will curse), and 'משׁפחות' (clan) instead of 'מִשְׁפְּחֹת' (families). These variations suggest slight differences in interpretation or emphasis among the texts.
וַאֲבָֽרֲכָה֙ מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ֖ אָאֹ֑ר וְנִבְרְכ֣וּ בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָאֲדָמָֽה׃
8 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.
ואברך מברכיך ומקלליך אאר ונברכו בך כל משׁפחות האדמה
3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: אברך (bless), מקלליך (be slight), משׁפחות (clan)
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.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 12:3
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.
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.
[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless
Qal
kneel down
bless
Niph. bless oneself
Pi.
bless God, adore with bended knees
God blesses
men bless men
salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
Pu.
pass. to be blessed, adored
prospered by God
have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
in gratitude
Hiph. and he made his camel kneel
Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
base
H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down
. bless
. bless oneself
. . bless God, adore with bended knees
. God blesses
. men bless men
. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
. . pass. to be blessed, adored
. prospered by God
. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
. in gratitude
. and he made his camel kneel
. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
1288 barak baw-rak'
a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as
an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);
also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X
abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,
congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),
praise, salute, X still, thank.
בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.
1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse
Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb piel infinitive construct first person common singularHC/Vpc1cs
(barakh): This word is found more frequently in the Old Testament than in the New Testament, and is used in different relations.
(1) It is first met in Ge 1:22 at the introduction of animal life upon the earth, where it is written, "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply," etc. The context furnishes the key to its meaning, which is the bestowal of good, and in this particular place the pleasure and power of increase in kind. Thus it is generally employed in both Testaments, the context always determining the character of the bestowal; for instance (where man is the recipient), whether the good is temporal or spiritual, or both.
Occasionally, however, a different turn is given to it as in Ge 2:3 the King James Version, where it is written, "And God blessed the seventh…
Bless
(1.) God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual (Gen. 1:22; 24:35; Job 42:12; Ps. 45:2; 104:24, 35).
(2.) We bless God when we thank him for his mercies (Ps. 103:1, 2; 145:1, 2).
(3.) A man blesses himself when he invokes God’s blessing (Isa. 65:16), or rejoices in God’s goodness to him (Deut. 29:19; Ps. 49:18).
(4.) One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare (Gen.…
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.
[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless
Qal
kneel down
bless
Niph. bless oneself
Pi.
bless God, adore with bended knees
God blesses
men bless men
salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
Pu.
pass. to be blessed, adored
prospered by God
have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
in gratitude
Hiph. and he made his camel kneel
Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
base
H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down
. bless
. bless oneself
. . bless God, adore with bended knees
. God blesses
. men bless men
. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
. . pass. to be blessed, adored
. prospered by God
. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
. in gratitude
. and he made his camel kneel
. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
1288 barak baw-rak'
a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as
an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);
also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X
abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,
congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),
praise, salute, X still, thank.
בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.
1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse
Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
V-Piel | Suff — Verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHVprmpc/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word קָלַל (qalal) is a primitive root meaning to be light or trifling, covering a range of senses from being swift to being of little account. It can also mean to curse or treat with contempt. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances such as making light or being lightly esteemed.
[קָלַל] 82 vb. be slight, swift, trifling
Qal
be slight, of water, be abated
be swift
trifling, i.e. of little account
Niph.
shew oneself swift
appear trifling
be lightly esteemed
Pi. curse (prop. make contemptible)
Pu. be cursed
Hiph.
make light, lighten
treat with contempt
Pilp.
shake
(peculiarly) whet
Hithpalp. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves
base
H7043 קָלַל be slight, swift, trifling .. be slight, of water, be abated
. be swift
. trifling, i.e. of little account
. . shew oneself swift
. appear trifling
. be lightly esteemed
. curse (prop. make contemptible)
. be cursed
. . make light, lighten
. treat with contempt
. . shake
. (peculiarly) whet
. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves
7043 qalal kaw-lal'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) light, literally
(swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling,
vile, etc.):--abate, make bright, bring into contempt,
(ac-)curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make
somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly
afflict, -ly esteem, thing), X slight(-ly), be swift(-er),
(be, be more, make, re-)vile, whet.
קָלַל (qa.lal) — to lighten.
1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water)
1a2) to be swift
1a3) to be trifling, be of little account
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift
1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant
1b3) to be lightly esteemed
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to make despicable
1c2) to curse
1d) (Pual) to be cursed
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to make light, lighten
1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour
1f) (Pilpel)
1f1) to shake
1f2) to whet
1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro
Conj | V-Piel | Suff — Conjunction · verb piel participle (active) masculine singular common · suffixHC/Vprmsc/Sp2ms
אָרַר (arar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to curse. It encompasses various forms, including the act of cursing (Qal), being cursed (Niphal), and putting a curse on someone (Piel). The entries indicate that it can also imply being made a curse (Hophal). There is a consistent focus on the concept of cursing throughout the definitions.
[אָרַר] vb. curse
Qal curse
Niph. cursed
Pi. curse, lay under a curse
Hoph. be cursed
base
H779 אָרַר curse .curse
. cursed
. curse, lay under a curse
. be cursed
779 'arar aw-rar'
a primitive root; to execrate:--X bitterly curse.
אָרַר (a.rar) — to curse.
1) to curse
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to curse
1a2) cursed be he (participle used as in curses)
1b) (Niphal) to be cursed, cursed
1c)(Piel) to curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on
1d) (Hophal) to be made a curse, be cursed
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
kurs ('alah (Nu 5:21,23,17, etc.), me'erah (Pr 3:33; Mal 2:2, etc.), klalah (Ge 27:12,13); katara (Ga 3:10,13)): This word as noun and verb renders different Hebrew words, some of them being more or less synonymous, differing only in degree of strength. It is often used in contrast with "bless" or "blessing" (De 11:29). When a curse is pronounced against any person, we are not to understand this as a mere wish, however violent, that disaster should overtake the person in question, any more than we are to understand that a corresponding "blessing" conveys simply a wish…
Curse
Denounced by God against the serpent (Gen. 3:14), and against Cain (4:11). These divine maledictions carried their effect with them. Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men (Gen. 9:25; 49:7; Deut. 27:15; Josh. 6:26). Such curses are not the consequence of passion or revenge, they are predictions.
No one on pain of death shall curse father or mother (Ex. 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Lev. 19:14). Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable by death (Lev. 24:10-16).…
→ Denounced
Against the serpent Ge 3:14,15
Against Adam and Eve Ge 3:15-19
Against the ground Ge 3:17,18
Against Cain Ge 4:11-16
Against Canaan, Noah's son Ge 9:24-27
Against Meroz Jud 5:23
Against Gehazi 2Ki 5:27
→ Barak commands Balaam to curse Israel Nu 22:6; 23:11
→ See BENEDICTIONS
→ CURSES OF THE MOSAIC LAW De 27:1-26; Jos 8:30-34
See BLESSINGS
The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.
[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless
Qal
kneel down
bless
Niph. bless oneself
Pi.
bless God, adore with bended knees
God blesses
men bless men
salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
Pu.
pass. to be blessed, adored
prospered by God
have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
in gratitude
Hiph. and he made his camel kneel
Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
base
H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down
. bless
. bless oneself
. . bless God, adore with bended knees
. God blesses
. men bless men
. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing
. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates
. . pass. to be blessed, adored
. prospered by God
. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam
. in gratitude
. and he made his camel kneel
. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart
1288 barak baw-rak'
a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as
an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);
also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X
abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,
congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),
praise, salute, X still, thank.
בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.
1) to bless, kneel
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to kneel
1a2) to bless
1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
1c) (Piel) to bless
1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse
Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
Conj | V-Niphal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/VNq3cp
bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).
See BEATITUDES.
ךָּ (ka) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2ms
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.
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
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)
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
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)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah) refers to a clan or family, encompassing a circle of relatives and extending to tribes or peoples. It can also denote a class of persons, species of animals, or kinds of things. The entries highlight its various uses, including guilds and aristocrats, but do not present any significant disagreement.
מִשְׁפָּחָה 303 n.f. clan
clan
= guild
= species, kind
pl. = aristocrats
base
H4940 מִשְׁפָּחָה clan . clan
. = guild
. = species, kind
. pl. = aristocrats
4940 mishpachah mish-paw-khaw'
from 8192 (compare 8198); a family, i.e. circle of relatives;
figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or
sort (of things); by extens. a tribe or people:--family,
kind(-red).
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 08198
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mish.pa.chah) — family.
1) clan, family
1a) clan
1a1) family
1a2) tribe
1a3) people, nation
1b) guild
1c) species, kind
1d) aristocrats
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural constructHNcfpc
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.
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…
אֲדָמָה (adamah) refers to ground or land, encompassing meanings such as tilled soil, a specific plot of land, and the earth's visible surface. It can denote territory or the whole inhabited earth, and it is also the name of a city in Naphtali. The word is derived from a root meaning 'red,' likely referring to the color of soil.
אֲדָמָה 224 n.f. ground, land (as tilled)
ground (as tilled, yielding sustenance)
piece of ground, landed property
earth as material substance
ground as earth's visible surface
land, territory, country
whole earth, inhabited earth
n. pr. loc. city in Naphtali
base
H127 אֲדָמָה ground, land . ground (as tilled, yielding sustenance)
. piece of ground, landed property
. earth as material substance
. ground as earth's visible surface
. land, territory, country
. whole earth, inhabited earth
. n. pr. loc. city in Naphtali
127 'adamah ad-aw-maw'
from 119; soil (from its general redness):--country, earth,
ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.
see HEBREW for 0119
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: soil.
: soil
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
1e) land, territory, country
1f) whole inhabited earth
1g) city in Naphtali
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: country.
: country
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
1e) land, territory, country
1f) whole inhabited earth
1g) city in Naphtali
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: planet.
: planet
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):
In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.
'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).
Earth
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.
(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (
The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…
In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.
Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2