Genesis 21:8 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּגְדַּ֥ל הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אַבְרָהָם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל אֶת־ יִצְחָֽק׃
BSASo the childyeled [youth, young one] grewgâdal▸ [to magnify, become great] and was weanedgâmal▸ [to ripen, become mature] and AbrahamʼAbrâhâm [father of many] heldʻâsâh▸ a greatgâdôwl [large, significant] feastmishteh [celebration, banquet] on the dayyôwm [a period of time, an occasion] IsaacYitschâq [he laughs, son of Abraham] was weanedgâmal [treated well, matured]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל | and he grew up | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| הַיֶּ֖לֶד | the child | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל | and he was weaned | Verb, Niphal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וַיַּ֤עַשׂ | and he prepared | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אַבְרָהָם֙ | Abraham | Noun proper masculine |
| מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה | a feast | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| גָד֔וֹל | great | Adj |
| בְּי֖וֹם | on [the] day | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הִגָּמֵ֥ל | was weaned | Verb, Niphal, infinitive construct common |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| יִצְחָֽק׃ | Isaac | Noun proper masculine |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. |
| KJV | And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. |
| ASV | And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. |
| YLT | And the lad groweth, and is weaned, and Abraham maketh a great banquet in the day of Isaac's being weaned; |
| WEB | The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. |
| BBE | And when the child was old enough to be taken from the breast, Abraham made a great feast. |
Where they part company is גָּדוֹל — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around two main actions, Isaac's growth and weaning, leading to Abraham's celebration.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאַבְרָהָם
verbגָּדַל
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 21:8
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 Weaning of Isaacgenerated
Genesis 21:8 describes a pivotal moment when Isaac, the son of Abraham, grows and is weaned. This marks a transition in his life, celebrated by a significant feast hosted by Abraham. The surrounding verses provide context, illustrating the joy and significance of this event in the family's life, particularly in relation to God's promises.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 1:22 | but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.” |
| 2 | Psalm 131:2 | Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. |
| 3 | Hosea 1:8 | After she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, Gomer conceived and gave birth to a son. |
| 4 | Genesis 19:3 | But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. |
| 5 | Genesis 26:30 | So Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גָּדַל, vai.yig.Dalgenerated
The verb גָּדַל (gadal) means to grow up or become great. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to magnify and promote. The parsing indicates it is in the Qal stem, sequential imperfect, third person masculine singular, showing that Isaac was actively growing during this time.
This word is often used in the context of growth not just in size but in importance or stature. Here, it marks Isaac's development and the significance of his weaning as a milestone in his life.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations are largely consistent in rendering גָּדַל as grew in the BSB, KJV, ASV, and others, emphasizing Isaac's growth.
Where they differ is in the rendering of גָּדוֹל. The BSB and others use great, while the FBV opts for large, reflecting a slight variation in emphasis.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs in the verse are וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל (and he grew), וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל (and he was weaned), and וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (and he prepared). The structure indicates a sequence of actions: Isaac's growth, his weaning, and the subsequent celebration.
The sentence flows with a series of clauses that build upon each other, culminating in Abraham's action of preparing a feast, which highlights the importance of the occasion.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates גָּדַל as ηὐχήθη, which suggests a focus on the idea of growth in a broader, possibly divine context. This choice reflects a nuanced understanding of Isaac's development.
The use of ἀπεγαλακτίσθη for וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל emphasizes the act of weaning as a significant transition, aligning with the Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 21:8 tells us that Isaac grew and was weaned, marking an important milestone in his life. Abraham celebrated this occasion with a great feast, highlighting the joy and significance of Isaac's maturity.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Weaning signifies a child's transition from dependence on their mother for nourishment to a stage of greater independence, marking a significant developmental milestone.
The feast celebrated Isaac's weaning, symbolizing joy and the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham regarding his descendants.
Isaac's growth and weaning are part of the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, showcasing the continuation of the lineage promised to him.
Abraham's feast teaches the importance of celebrating milestones in life and recognizing God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What milestones in my life have I celebrated, and how have they shaped my faith?
- How can I recognize and celebrate the growth of those around me?
- What does Isaac's weaning teach us about the importance of transitions in life?
- In what ways can I reflect on God's promises and their fulfillment in my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, discussing the significance of Isaac's growth and the celebration by Abraham.
Isaac, Scripture says, “grew” and became strong; that is, Abraham’s joy grew as he looked not at those things “which are seen but at the things which are not seen.” For Abraham did not rejoice about present things or about the riches of…Early Church Fathers on Genesis 21 →
The boy grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day of his weaning. Isaac is nourished with milk when each chosen one, that is, the son of the promise, newly begotten in Christ, receives the first rudiments of faith,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 21 →
And Abraham held a great feast on the day of Isaac's weaning, because it is indeed a great solemnity for the highest teachers of the mind when they see those whom they have nurtured ascend to the summit of wisdom and virtue.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 21 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 21:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the child grew, and was weaned,.... He throve under the nursing of its mother, and through the blessing of God upon him; and being healthy and robust, and capable of digesting stronger food, and
Read John Gill on Genesis 21 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 21 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIt doth not appear how old Isaac was, because the time for the weaning of children is very various, according to the differing tempers and necessities of children, or inclination of parents; and in those times, when men’ s lives were longer than now they are, proportionably the time was longer ere children were weaned.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 21 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the [same] day that Isaac was weaned.Ver. 8. And Abraham made a great feast.] A laudable custom, saith Cajetan, that the beginning of the eating of the firstborn should be celebrated with a feast. St Augustine observeth here, that this solemnity at the weaning of Isaac, was a type of our spiritual regeneration: at, and after which, the faithful keep a continual feast, "Let us keep the festivity, or holy day," saith Paul, that "feast of fat things full of marrow; of wines on the lees well refined," proceeding from milk to stronger meat, and being to the world, as a weaned child. His mouth doth not water after…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 21 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) The child grew, and was weaned.—According to tradition, Isaac was two years old when weaned. Three years is the age mentioned in 2 Chronicles 31:16, 2Ma 7:27; and Samuel was old enough at his weaning to be left at the tabernacle with Eli (1 Samuel 1:24). In Persia and India it is still the custom to celebrate the weaning of a child by an entertainment.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 21 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 8. The child grew and was weaned] [-----Anglo-Saxon-----]. Anglo-Saxon VERSION. Now the child waxed and became weaned. We have the verb to wean from the Anglo-Saxon [A.S.] awendan, to convert, transfer, turn from one thing to another, which is the exact import of the Hebrew word גמל gamal in the text. Hence [A.S.] wenan, to wean, to turn the child from the breast to receive another kind of ailment. And hence, probably, the word WEAN, a young child, which is still in use in the northern parts of Great Britain and Ireland, and which from its etymology seems to signify a child taken from the breast; surely not from the Scotch wee-ane, a little one, much less from the German wenig…
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 21 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges8–21 (E). The Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael A narrative from E which forms a parallel to that in chap. 16. (J).
Read Cambridge on Genesis 21 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible8. The child… was weaned — At what age we are not told; perhaps not until he was three years old. Comp. 2Ma 7:27; Josephus, Ant., 2; 9, 6; 1 Samuel 1:22, note.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 21 →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
So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
The child grew and was weaned. Abraham prepared a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Tyndale line
And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the day that Isaac was weaned.
Then the childe grewe and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Izhak was weaned.
Strictly literal
And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
And the lad groweth, and is weaned, and Abraham maketh a great banquet in the day of Isaac's being weaned;
And the boy grows, and is weaned, and Abraham makes a great banquet in the day of Isaac’s being weaned;
And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
From the Latin
And the child grew and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day of his weaning.
Simplified
The baby grew up, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a large feast.
And when the child was old enough to be taken from the breast, Abraham made a great feast.
Word by word, the decisions they made
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 and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree on the essential wording of the verse, with a notable difference in the Samaritan version where it includes the word for 'son' (בנו), adding clarity to Isaac's identity.
וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אַבְרָהָם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל אֶת־ יִצְחָֽק׃
10 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.
ויגדל הילד ויגמל ויעשׂ אברהם משׁתה גדול ביום הגמל את יצחק בנו
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: בנו (son)
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 21:8
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.
גָּדַל (gadal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to grow up or become great. It encompasses a range of meanings including to magnify, promote, and make powerful. The word has various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of growth and greatness. Notably, it can also imply self-magnification.
גָּדַל 115 vb. grow up, become great
Qal
grow up
become great
to be magnified
Pi.
cause to grow
make great, powerful
magnify
Pu. brought up
Hiph.
make great
magnify
do great things
Hithp. I will magnify myself
base
H1431 גָּדַל grow up, become great .. grow up
. become great
. to be magnified
. . cause to grow
. make great, powerful
. magnify
. brought up
. . make great
. magnify
. do great things
. I will magnify myself
1431 gadal gaw-dal'
a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare 1434), i.e. to
be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body,
mind, estate or honor, also in pride):--advance, boast, bring
up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax),
great(-er, come to...estate, + things), grow(up),increase,
lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass,
promote, proudly (spoken), tower.
see HEBREW for 01434
גָּדַל (ga.dal) — to magnify.
1) to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to grow up
1a2) to become great
1a3) to be magnified
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to cause to grow
1b2) to make great, powerful
1b3) to magnify
1c) (Pual) to be brought up
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to make great
1d2) to magnify
1d3) to do great things
1e) (Hithpael) to magnify oneself
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
יֶ֫לֶד (yeled) refers to a child, son, or youth, encompassing meanings like offspring and young man. It can also figuratively denote apostate Israelites. The word is derived from a root meaning something born, indicating its connection to birth and lineage.
יֶ֫לֶד 89 n.m. child, son, boy, youth
base
H3206 יֶ֫לֶד child, son, boy, youth
3206 yeled yeh'-led
from 3205; something born, i.e. a lad or offspring:--boy,
child, fruit, son, young man (one).
see HEBREW for 03205
יֶ֫לֶד (ye.led) — youth.
1) child, son, boy, offspring, youth
1a) child, son, boy
1b) child, children
1c) descendants
1d) youth
1e) apostate Israelites (fig.)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
Child
This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Gen. 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7).
The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, “the children of Edom,” “the children of Moab,” “the children of Israel.”
גָּמַל (gamal) is a Hebrew root meaning to deal fully or adequately with someone, which includes concepts like recompensing or rewarding. It also specifically refers to weaning a child and can denote the ripening of fruit, particularly almonds. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.
גָּמַל vb. 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen
Qal
deal out to, do to
deal bountifully with
recompense, repay, requite
wean a child (complete his nursing)
trans. ripen, bear ripe (almonds)
Niph. be weaned
base
H1580 גָּמַל 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen
1580 gamal gaw-mal'
a primitive root; to treat a person (well or ill), i.e.
benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e.
(specifically) to wean:--bestow on, deal bountifully, do
(good), recompense, requite, reward, ripen, + serve, mean,
yield.
גָּמַל (ga.mal) — to wean.
1) to deal fully with, recompense
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to deal out to, do to
1a2) to deal bountifully with
1a3) to recompense, repay, requite
2) (Qal) to wean a child (Niphal) to be weaned
3) (Qal) to ripen, bear ripe (almonds)
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/VNw3ms
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
The Hebrew word אַבְרָם (*Abram*) refers to the biblical figure later known as אַבְרָהָם (*Abraham*), meaning 'father of a multitude.' He is first mentioned in Genesis 11:26 as the son of Terah and is notable for being the patriarch of the Hebrew nation through God's covenant. The name reflects his role as a significant ancestor.
אַבְרָם n.pr.m. (id., Thes al. exalted father) Abram = אַבְרָהָם Abraham
base
H85 אַבְרָם Abram = אַבְרָהָם Abraham
85 'Abraham ab-raw-hawm'
contracted from 1 and an unused root (probably meaning to be
populous); father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of
Abram:--Abraham.
see HEBREW for 01
אַבְרָהָם (av.ra.ham) — Abraham.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.11.26;
son of: Terah (H8646);
brother of: Nahor (H5152H), Haran (H2039) and Sarah (H8283); married to Sarah (H8283), Hagar (H1904) and Keturah (H6989);
father of: Ishmael (H3458), Isaac (H3327), Zimran (H2175), Jokshan (H3370), Medan (H4091), Midian (H4080), Ishbak (H3435) and Shuah (H7744); also called Abram at Gen.11.26--17.5; 2x
§ Abraham = "father of a multitude" or "chief of multitude"
friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God's elective covenant
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a'-bra-ham:
I. NAME 1. Various Forms 2. Etymology 3. Association II. KINDRED III. CAREER 1. Period of Wandering 2. Period of Residence at Hebron 3. Period of Residence in the Negeb IV. CONDITIONS OF LIFE 1. Economic Conditions 2. Social Conditions 3. Political Conditions 4. Cultural Conditions V. CHARACTER 1. Religious Beliefs 2. Morality 3. Personal Traits VI. SIGNIFICANCE IN THE HISTORY OF RELIGION 1. In the Old Testament 2. In the New Testament 3. In Jewish Tradition 4. In the Koran VII. INTERPRETATIONS OF THE STORY OTHER THAN HISTORICAL 1. The Allegorical Interpretation 2. The Personification Theory 3. The Mythical Theory 4. The "Saga" Theory
I. Name.
1. Various Forms:
In the Old Testament, when applied, to the patriarch, the name appears as 'abhram, up to Ge 17:5; thereafter always as 'abhraham. Two other persons are named 'abhiram.…
Abraham
Father of a multitude, son of Terah, named (Gen. 11:27) before his older brothers Nahor and Haran, because he was the heir of the promises. Till the age of seventy, Abram sojourned among his kindred in his native country of Chaldea. He then, with his father and his family and household, quitted the city of Ur, in which he had hitherto dwelt, and went some 300 miles north to Haran, where he abode fifteen years. The cause of his migration was a call from God (Acts 7:2-4). There is no mention of this first call in the Old Testament; it is implied, however, in Gen. 12. While they tarried at Haran, Terah died at the age of 205 years. Abram now received a second and more definite call, accompanied by a promise from God (Gen.…
(father of a multitude) was the son of Terah, and founder of the great Hebrew nation. (B.C. 1996-1822.) His family, a branch of the descendants of Shem, was settled in Ur of the Chaldees, beyond the Euphrates, where Abraham was born. Terah had two other sons, Nahor and Haran. Haran died before his father in Ur of the Chaldees, leaving a son, Lot; and Terah, taking with him Abram, with Sarai his wife and his grandson Lot, emigrated to Haran in Mesopotamia, where he died. On the death of his father, Abram, then in the 75th year of his age, with Sarai and Lot, pursued his course to the land of Canaan, whither he was directed by divine command, (Genesis 12:5) when he received the general promise that he should become the founder of a great nation, and that all the families of the earth should be blessed in him. He passed through the…
Father of a multitude, Ge 17:4,5; the great founder of the Jewish nation. He was a son of Terah, a descendant of Shem, and born in Ur, a city of Chaldea, A.M. 2008, B. C. 1996, Ge 11:27,28. Here he lived seventy years, when at the call of God he left his idolatrous kindred, and removed to Haran, in Mesopotamia, Ac 7:2-4, accompanied by his father, his wife Sarai, his brother Nahor, and his nephew Lot. A few years after, having buried his father, he again removed at the call of God, with his wife and nephew, and entered the land of promise as a nomad or wandering shepherd. Sojourning for a time at Shechem, he built here, as was his custom, an alter to the Lord, who appeared to him, and promised that land to his seed. Removing…
מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh) refers to a feast or banquet, as well as the act of drinking. It is derived from a root meaning to drink and encompasses both the act of drinking and the social gatherings associated with it. The term is noted in various contexts, including celebrations and meals.
מִשְׁתֶּה 45 n.m. 1. feast. 2. drink
base
H4960 מִשְׁתֶּה 1. feast. 2. drink
4960 mishteh mish-teh'
from 8354; drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also
(by implication) a banquet or (generally) feast:--banquet,
drank, drink, feast((-ed), -ing).
see HEBREW for 08354
מִשְׁתֶּה (mish.teh) — feast.
1) feast, drink, banquet
1a) feast, banquet
1b) drink
Aramaic equivalent: mish.teh (מִשְׁתֶּה "feast" H4961)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Feast
As a mark of hospitality (Gen. 19:3; 2 Sam. 3:20; 2 Kings 6:23); on occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Gen. 21:8); on birthdays (Gen. 40:20; Job 1:4; Matt. 14:6); and on the occasion of a marriage (Judg. 14:10; Gen. 29:22).
גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.
גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great
in magnitude and extent
in number
in intensity
in sound, loud
in age
in importance
in phrases
cstr.
as subst. concr. do great things
† as subst. neut. greatness of arm
H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent
. in number
. in intensity
. in sound, loud
. in age
. in importance
. in phrases
. cstr.
. as subst. concr. do great things
. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm
H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel
1419 gadowl gaw-dole'
or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any
sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +
exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,
thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,
proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.
see HEBREW for 01431
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.
adj
1) great
1a) large (in magnitude and extent)
1b) in number
1c) in intensity
1d) loud (in sound)
1e) older (in age)
1f) in importance
1f1) important things
1f2) great, distinguished (of men)
1f3) God Himself (of God)
subst
1g) great things
1h) haughty things
1i) greatness
Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)
§ Haggedolim = "the great one"
(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14
§ Haggedolim = "the great one"
(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).
adj
great
Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.
adj
1) great
1a) large (in magnitude and extent)
1b) in number
1c) in intensity
1d) loud (in sound)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
day, opp. night
Day as division of time
יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
Pl. days of anyone
Days
יוֹם = time
Phrases
base
H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night
. Day as division of time
. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
. Pl. days of anyone
. Days
. יוֹם = time
. Phrases
3117 yowm yome
from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm
hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one
sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by
an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +
chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)
day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +
(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as
(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,
presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,
then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,
weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole
(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
יוֹם (yom) — day.
: day/when/time/period
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: old.
: old/(full/many)[days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: year.
: year[of_days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
da (yom; hemera): This common word has caused some trouble to plain readers, because they have not noticed that the word is used in several different senses in the English Bible. When the different uses of the word are understood the difficulty of interpretation vanishes. We note several different uses of the word:
(1) It sometimes means the time from daylight till dark. This popular meaning is easily discovered by the context, e. g. Ge 1:5; 8:22, etc. The marked periods of this daytime were morning, noon and night, as with us. See Ps 55:17. The early hours were sometimes called "the cool of the day" (Ge 3:8). After the exile the day. or daytime was divided into twelve hours and the night into twelve (see
Day
The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). “The heat of the day” (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) was at our nine o’clock, and “the cool of the day” just before sunset (Gen. 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judg. 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex.…
The variable length of the natural day at different seasons led in the very earliest times to the adoption of the civil day (or one revolution of the sun) as a standard of time. The Hebrews reckoned the day from evening to evening, (Leviticus 23:32) deriving it from (Genesis 1:5) "the evening and the morning were the first day." The Jews are supposed, like the modern Arabs, to have adopted from an early period minute specifications of the parts of the natural day. Roughly, indeed, they were content to divide it into "morning, evening and noonday," (Psalms 55:17) but when they wished for greater accuracy they pointed to six unequal parts, each of which was again subdivided. These are held to have been -- "the dawn." "Sunrise."…
The day is distinguished into natural, civil, and artificial. The natural day is one revolution of the earth on its axis. The civil day is that, the beginning and the end of which are determined by the custom of any nation. The Hebrews began their day in the evening, Le 23:32; the Babylonians at sunrise; and we begin at midnight. The artificial day is the time of the sun’s continuance above the horizon, which is unequal according to different seasons, on account of the obliquity of the equator. The sacred writers generally divide the day into twelve hours. The sixth hour always ends at noon throughout the year; and the twelfth hour is the last hour before sunset. But in summer, all the hours of the day were longer than in winter, while those of night were shorter. See HOURS, and THREE.
גָּמַל (gamal) is a Hebrew root meaning to deal fully or adequately with someone, which includes concepts like recompensing or rewarding. It also specifically refers to weaning a child and can denote the ripening of fruit, particularly almonds. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.
גָּמַל vb. 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen
Qal
deal out to, do to
deal bountifully with
recompense, repay, requite
wean a child (complete his nursing)
trans. ripen, bear ripe (almonds)
Niph. be weaned
base
H1580 גָּמַל 1. deal fully or adequately with, deal out to. 2. wean. 3. ripen
1580 gamal gaw-mal'
a primitive root; to treat a person (well or ill), i.e.
benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e.
(specifically) to wean:--bestow on, deal bountifully, do
(good), recompense, requite, reward, ripen, + serve, mean,
yield.
גָּמַל (ga.mal) — to wean.
1) to deal fully with, recompense
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to deal out to, do to
1a2) to deal bountifully with
1a3) to recompense, repay, requite
2) (Qal) to wean a child (Niphal) to be weaned
3) (Qal) to ripen, bear ripe (almonds)
V-Niphal-Inf-a — Verb · Niphal · infinitive construct commonHVNcc
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
יִצְחָק (Yitschaq) refers to Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, whose name means 'he laughs.' The entries indicate that he is a significant figure in the Old Testament, mentioned first in Genesis 17:19, and is the father of Jacob and Esau. The word is built from the root associated with laughter or mockery.
יִצְחָק 108, יִשְׂחָק 4 n.pr.m. Isaac, son of Abr. and Sarah (he laugheth)
base
H3327 יִצְחָק, יִשְׂחָק Isaac, son of Abr. and Sarah (he laugheth)
3327 Yitschaq yits-khawk'
from 6711; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son
of Abraham:--Isaac. Compare 3446.
see HEBREW for 06711
see HEBREW for 03446
יִצְחָק (yits.chaq) — Isaac.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.17.19;
son of: Abraham (H0085) and Sarah (H8283);
half-brother of: Ishmael (H3458), Zimran (H2175), Jokshan (H3370), Medan (H4091), Midian (H4080), Ishbak (H3435) and Shuah (H7744); married to Rebekah (H7259);
father of: Esau (H6215) and Israel (H3478)
§ Isaac = "he laughs"
son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
i'-zak:oIT- (CS:HebrewIT+`iruIT-/CS): Eldest son of Caleb (1Ch 4:15); probably to be read Ir, the syllable "-u" being the conjunction "and" belonging to the following word.
I. NAME
1. Root, Forms, Analogues
2. Implication
II. FAMILY AND KINDRED
1. Birth and Place in the Family
2. Relation to the Religious Birthright
3. Significance of Marriage
III. STORY OF LIFE
1. Previous to Marriage
2. Subsequent to Marriage
IV. BIBLICAL REFERENCES
1. In the Old Testament
2. In the New Testament
V. VIEWS OTHER THAN THE HISTORICAL
I. Name.
1. Root, Forms and Analogues:
This name has the double spelling, yitschaq, and yitschaq (Isaak), corresponding to the two forms in which appears the root meaning "to laugh"--a root that runs through nearly all the Semitic languages. In Hebrew both tsachaq and sachaq have their cognate nouns, and signify, in the simple stem, "to…
Isaac
Laughter. (1) Israel, or the kingdom of the ten tribes (Amos 7:9, 16).
(2.) The only son of Abraham by Sarah. He was the longest lived of the three patriarchs (Gen. 21:1-3). He was circumcised when eight days old (4-7); and when he was probably two years old a great feast was held in connection with his being weaned.
The next memorable event in his life is that connected with the command of God given to Abraham to offer him up as a sacrifice on a mountain in the land of Moriah (Gen. 22). (See ABRAHAM.) When he was forty years of age Rebekah was chosen for his wife (Gen. 24). After the death and burial of his father he took up his residence at Beer-lahai-roi (25:7-11), where his two sons, Esau and Jacob, were born (21-26), the former of whom seems to have been his favourite son…
(laughter), the son whom Sara bore to Abraham, in the hundredth year of his age, at Gerar. (B.C. 1897.) In his infancy he became the object of Ishmael’s jealousy; and in his youth the victim, in intention, of Abraham’s great sacrificial act of faith. When forty years old he married Rebekah his cousin, by whom, when he was sixty, he had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Driven by famine to Gerar, he acquired great wealth by his flocks but was repeatedly dispossessed by the Philistines of the wells which he sunk at convenient stations. After the deceit by which Jacob acquired his father’s blessing Isaac sent his son to seek a wife in Padan-aram; and all that we know of him during the last forty-three years of his life in that he saw that GOD, with a large and prosperous family, return to him at Hebron. (Genesis 36:27) before he died there, at…
Laughter, Ge 17:17 18:12 21:6, one of the patriarchal ancestors of the Hebrew nation and of Christ, son of Abraham and Sarah, B. C. 1896-1705. His history is related in Ge 21:1-34 24:1-28:22 35:27-29. He is memorable for the circumstances attending his birth, as a child of prophecy and promise, in the old age of his parents. Even in childhood he was the object of dislike to his brother Ishmael, son of the bondwoman; and in this, a type of all children of the promise, Ga 4:29. Trained in the fear of God to early manhood, he showed a noble trust and obedience in his conduct during that remarkable trail of faith which established Abraham as the "father of the faithful;" and in his meek submission to all the will of God…