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Genesis 35:20 — Word Study

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WLCוַיַּצֵּ֧ב יַעֲקֹ֛ב מַצֵּבָ֖ה עַל־ קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ הִ֛וא מַצֶּ֥בֶת קְבֻֽרַת־ רָחֵ֖ל עַד־ הַיּֽוֹם׃

BSAJacobYaʻăqôb [the son of Isaac and Rebekah] set upnâtsab [erected, established] a pillarmatstsêbâh [monumental stone, memorial] on herʻal graveqᵉbûwrâh [tomb, place of burial] ithûwʼ marksmatstsebeth [serves as a memorial to] Rachel’sRâchêl [the mother of Joseph and Benjamin] tombqᵉbûwrâh [grave, final resting place] toʻad this dayyôwm [until now, as far as this point in time]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 35
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 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 (hai.Yom) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 35:20quick helps
In a sentenceJacob erected a memorial stone at Rachel's grave.
Who is speakingJacob, a key patriarch in Israel's history.
Where we areAt the burial site of Rachel, near Bethlehem.
The hard wordמַצֵּבָה
Take awayThe memorial stone serves as a lasting tribute.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיַעֲקֹב verbנָצַב 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 — Genesis 35:20

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 Burial of Rachelgenerated

19So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
20Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.
21Israel again set out and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of Eder.
22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

Genesis 35:20 recounts the moment Jacob set up a pillar over Rachel's grave after her death during childbirth. This act not only marks her resting place but also signifies Jacob's love and remembrance for her. The context includes Rachel's death in Genesis 35:19 and the subsequent journey of Jacob and his family, highlighting the significance of this location in Israel's history.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 35:9–14After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.
21 Samuel 10:2When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
32 Samuel 18:17–18They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מַצֵּבָה, ma.tze.Vahgenerated

The word מַצֵּבָה (maṣṣēbā) refers to a pillar or memorial stone, indicating a place of significance. It is derived from a root meaning 'to stand' or 'to station,' which emphasizes its role as a marker of remembrance.

In this verse, it signifies the establishment of a memorial for Rachel, marking her grave and serving as a lasting tribute. The use of the feminine form indicates it refers specifically to a memorial associated with a female figure.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses set up for the action of Jacob.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וַיַּצֵּ֧ב (vai.ya.Tzev), meaning 'and he set up,' governs the entire sentence. It is followed by a noun phrase that serves as the object, מַצֵּבָה, and a prepositional phrase indicating the location of the action.

The structure emphasizes Jacob's action of erecting the pillar, with the noun phrases providing clarity on what is being set up and where it is located.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיַּצֵּ֧ב as ἔστησεν (estēsen), meaning 'he placed' or 'he set up.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning, indicating the act of establishing a memorial.

The term used in the LXX for מַצֵּבָה is στήλην (stēlēn), which also refers to a pillar or stone, reinforcing the idea of a memorial.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 35:20 describes how Jacob set up a pillar on Rachel's grave after she died. This pillar marks her tomb and serves as a memorial to her memory, indicating the significance of her resting place in biblical history.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Why did Jacob set up a pillar at Rachel's grave?

Jacob erected the pillar as a memorial for Rachel, honoring her memory after her death during childbirth.

What does the pillar signify?

The pillar signifies a lasting tribute to Rachel, marking her grave and serving as a reminder of her importance in Jacob's life.

Is Rachel's grave still recognized today?

The verse states that the pillar marks Rachel's tomb to this day, indicating its continued significance.

What role does Rachel play in Jacob's family?

Rachel was Jacob's beloved wife and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, making her a key figure in the lineage of Israel.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the act of memorializing someone signify in our own lives?
  2. How can we honor the memories of loved ones who have passed away?
  3. In what ways does the story of Rachel and Jacob reflect the importance of family in our lives?
  4. What can we learn from Jacob's actions regarding grief and remembrance?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 35:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave,.... A sepulchral monument erected in memory of her; this according to Benjamin of Tudela (e) was made of twelve stones, according to the number of the sons of

Read John Gill on Genesis 35 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. Set a pillar upon her grave ... unto this day.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 35 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Jacob set a pillar, as a monument or memorial of her life and death, and as a testimony of her future resurrection. Unto this day, i.e. unto the time wherein Moses writ this book, and long after. See .

Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 35 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that [is] the pillar of Rachel’ s grave unto this day.Ver. 21. Beyond the tower of Edar.] Or, Of the flock. This tower was built, it seems, for the safety and service of shepherds. There it was, probably, that those shepherds, Luke 2:8, watched their flocks. There also, Helena, mother to Constantine the Great, did afterwards build a temple, for a memorial of the angels that there appeared to those shepherds, carolling Christ into the world.

Read John Trapp on Genesis 35 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) That is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.—This is a later addition, but whether inserted by Moses or Ezra we cannot tell. Its site was known in the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 10:2); and as the pillar would be a mass of unwrought stone, with which the natives would have no object in interfering, its identification upon the conquest of Canaan would not be difficult.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 35 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 20. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave] Was not this the origin of funeral monuments? In ancient times, and among rude nations, a heap of stones designated the burial place of the chief; many of these still remain in different countries. Afterwards a rude stone, with a simple inscription, was used, containing only the name of the deceased, and that of his father. But where arts and sciences flourished, superb monuments were erected highly decorated, and pompously inscribed. It is very likely from the circumstances of Jacob that a single stone constituted the pillar in this case, on which, if writing did then exist, the name, or rather some hieroglyphical device, was probably inscribed.…

Read AdamClarke on Genesis 35 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16–22a (J). Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel “The meaning of the statement that Rachel died when Benjamin was born is that the formation of the new tribe Benjamin broke up the old tribe Rachel” (Bennett). But it would be a mistake to attempt to distinguish too closely the personal and tribal elements in the narrative. Events in personal life may be recorded for their symbolical significance. The story of Jacob, as distinct from that of Joseph, closes with Rachel’s death.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 35 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

20. A pillar… unto this day — An oak marked Deborah’s tomb, (Genesis 35:8,) a pillar Rachel’s.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 35 →

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

Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Jacob set up a pillar on her grave; it marks Rachel’s tomb to this day.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Jacob set up a marker over her grave; it is the Marker of Rachel’s Grave to this day.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Jacob set a pillar on her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Iaakob set a pillar vpon her graue: This is the pillar of Rahels graue vnto this day.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Jacob erected a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave to [this] day.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and Jacob setteth up a standing pillar over her grave; which [is] the standing pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and Jacob sets up a standing pillar over her grave; which [is] the standing pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: this is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave. It is the marker of Rachel's grave to this day.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Jacob erected a pillar over her sepulchre: this is the pillar of Rachel’s monument, to this day.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Jacob set up a stone memorial over Rachel's grave, and it's still there to this day.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Jacob put up a pillar on her resting-place; which is named, The Pillar of the resting-place of Rachel, to this day.

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.

וַandclauseverbיַּצֵּ֧בhe.set.upsubjectיַעֲקֹ֛בJacobobjectמַצֵּבָ֖הa.pillarprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלovernoun phraseקְבֻרָתָ֑graveהּherclausesubjectהִ֛ואitnoun phrase · predicateמַצֶּ֥בֶת[is].the.pillarnoun phraseקְבֻֽרַתof.the.graveרָחֵ֖לof.Rachelprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַדuntilnoun phraseהַthisיּֽוֹםday

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


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

The Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Dead Sea Scrolls generally agree on the wording of this verse, with the Samaritan Pentateuch differing by using the word הִיא (she) instead of the pronoun הִ֛וא (it). This variation does not change the meaning but highlights a different emphasis.

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

וַיַּצֵּ֧ב יַעֲקֹ֛ב מַצֵּבָ֖ה עַל־ קְבֻרָתָ֑הּ הִ֛וא מַצֶּ֥בֶת קְבֻֽרַת־ רָחֵ֖ל עַד־ הַיּֽוֹם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּצֵּ֧בἔστησενיַעֲקֹ֛בιακωβמַצֵּבָ֖הστήληνעַל־ἐπὶקְבֻרָתָ֑הּτοῦהִ֛ואαὕτηמַצֶּ֥בֶתστήληקְבֻֽרַת־μνημείουרָחֵ֖לραξηλעַד־ἕωςהַיּֽוֹם׃ἡμέρας

11 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויצב יעקב מצבה על קברתה היא מצבת קברת רחל עד היום

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: היא (she)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q1a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ויצב [יעקב] [מצבה] [על] [קברת׳ה] [הוא] [מצבת] [קברת] [רחל] [עד] [היום]

1 word on the leather — 10 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Genesis 35:20נָצַבand he set and he set upנָצַביַעֲקֹבJacobJacobיַעֲקֹבמַצֵּבָהa pillara pillarמַצֵּבָהעַלoveroverעַלקְבֻרָהgrave hergrave herקְבֻרָההוּאititהוּאמַצֵּבָה[is] [the] [is] [the] pillמַצֵּבָהקְבֻרָה[the] grave[the] grave ofקְבֻרָהרָחֵלRachelRachelרָחֵלעַדuntiluntilעַדיוֹםthis daythis dayיוֹםקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרנָצַבto standto standנָצַבעָקַבto assailto assailעָקַבעַלheightheightעַלרָחֵלeweeweרָחֵלעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדמַצֵּבָהpillarpillarמַצֵּבָהפֶּ֫תַחentranceentranceפֶּ֫תַחקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאלָבָןLabanLabanלָבָןיִצְחָקIsaacIsaacיִצְחָקאֲשֵׁרָהAsherahAsherahאֲשֵׁרָהגָּדַעto cut dowto cut down/offגָּדַעכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתקְבֻרָהtombtombקְבֻרָה
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 Genesis 35:20

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 he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
וַיַּצֵּ֧בvai.ya.Tzev and he set up H5324 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stand or station oneself, either physically or as an appointed official. This word is used in various contexts, including setting up a monument or establishing a leader. It can also mean to stand firm or be established in a position.
Amplified meaning
erected, established
Tyndale gloss
to stand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָצַב (natsab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stand or take one's stand, with various applications including to be stationed, appointed, or established. It can refer to standing upright, setting up a pillar, or fixing a boundary. The entries highlight its use in different forms, such as Niphal and Hiphil, indicating both active and passive meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָצַב] vb. Niph. take one's stand, stand

Niph.

station oneself, take one's stand, for definite purpose

stand = be stationed (by appointment, or in fulfillment of duty)

take an upright position, stand

be stationed = appointed over

Pt. as subst. deputy = prefect (as appointed, deputed)

stand firm

Hiph.

station, set

set up, erect pillar

cause to stand erect, waters

fix, establish boundary

Hoph. fixed, determined

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5324 נָצַב Niph. take one's stand, stand . . . station oneself, take one's stand, for definite purpose

. stand = be stationed (by appointment, or in fulfillment of duty)

. take an upright position, stand

. be stationed = appointed over

. Pt. as subst. deputy = prefect (as appointed, deputed)

. stand firm

. . station, set

. set up, erect pillar

. cause to stand erect, waters

. fix, establish boundary

. fixed, determined

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5324 natsab naw-tsab'

a prim root; to station, in various applications (literally

or figuratively):--appointed, deputy, erect, establish, X

Huzzah (by mistake for a proper name), lay, officer, pillar,

present, rear up, set (over, up), settle, sharpen, establish,

(make to) stand(-ing, still, up, upright), best state.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָצַב (na.tsav) — to stand.

1) to stand, take one's stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to station oneself, take one's stand

1a2) to stand, be stationed

1a3) to stand, take an upright position

1a4) to be stationed, be appointed

1a5) deputy, prefect, appointed, deputed (subst)

1a6) to stand firm

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to station, set

1b2) to set up, erect

1b3) to cause to stand erect

1b4) to fix, establish

1c) (Hophal) to be fixed, be determined, be stationary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhw3ms
and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
יַעֲקֹ֛בya.'a.Ko Jacob H3290 Noun proper masculine
350× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Amplified meaning
the son of Isaac and Rebekah
Tyndale gloss
Jacob
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַעֲקֹב (i.e. *Ya`aqob*) refers to Jacob, a key figure in the Old Testament. The word is derived from a root meaning 'heel-catcher' or 'supplanter.' Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, brother of Esau, and father of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is also known as Israel, highlighting his significance in biblical history.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַעֲקֹב 344, יַעֲקוֹב 6 n.pr.m. et gent. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, father of tribes of Isr.

as n.pr.m.

as n.pr.gent.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3290 יַעֲקֹב, יַעֲקוֹב Jacob

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3290 Ya`aqob yah-ak-obe'

from 6117; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the

Israelitish patriarch:--Jacob.

see HEBREW for 06117

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) — Jacob.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);

father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently

Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478)

§ Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter"

son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Jacob

One who follows on another’s heels; supplanter, (Gen. 25:26; 27:36; Hos. 12:2-4), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. He was born probably at Lahai-roi, when his father was fifty-nine and Abraham one hundred and fifty-nine years old. Like his father, he was of a quiet and gentle disposition, and when he grew up followed the life of a shepherd, while his brother Esau became an enterprising hunter. His dealing with Esau, however, showed much mean selfishness and cunning (Gen. 25:29-34).

When Isaac was about 160 years of age, Jacob and his mother conspired to deceive the aged patriarch (Gen. 27), with the view of procuring the transfer of the birthright to himself. The birthright secured to him who…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(supplanter), the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. He was born with Esau, probably at the well of Lahai-roi, about B.C. 1837. His history is related in the latter half of the book of Genesis. He bought the birthright from his brother Esau, and afterward acquired the blessing intended for Esau, by practicing a well-known deceit on Isaac. (Jacob did not obtain the blessing because of his deceit, but in spite of it. That which was promised he would have received in some good way; but Jacob and his mother, distrusting God’s promise, sought the promised blessing in a wrong way, and received with it trouble and sorrow. --ED.) Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Son of Isaac and Rebekah, and twin-brother to Esau. As at his birth he held his brother’s heel, he was called Jacob, that is, the heelholder, one who comes behind and catches the heel of his adversary, a supplanter, Ge 25:26. This was a king of predictive intimation of his future conduct in life. Jacob was meek and peaceable, living a shepherd life at home. Esau was more turbulent and fierce, and passionately fond of hunting. Isaac was partial to Esau, Rebekah to Jacob. Jacob having taken advantage of his brother’s absence and his father’s infirmity to obtain the blessing of the birthright, or primogeniture, was compelled to fly into Mesopotamia to avoid the consequences of his brother’s wrath, Ge 27:1-28:22. On his journey the Lord appeared to him in a dream, (see LADDER,)…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

that supplants, undermines; the heel

and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
מַצֵּבָ֖הma.tze.Vah a pillar H4676 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A pillar or monument, sometimes used as a memorial or with an altar, like those found in Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
monumental stone, memorial
Tyndale gloss
pillar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַצֵּבָה (maṣṣēbā) refers to a pillar or a memorial stone, often associated with altars. It can also denote a stump or a standing image, potentially an idol. The word is derived from a participle form indicating something that is stationed or set up.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת n.f. pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4676 מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4676 matstsebah mats-tsay-baw'

feminine (causatively) participle of 5324; something

stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an

idol:--garrison, (standing) image, pillar.

see HEBREW for 05324

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַצֵּבָה (mats.tse.vah) — pillar.

1) pillar, mastaba, stump

1a) pillar

1a1) as monument, personal memorial

1a2) with an altar

1b)(Hoph) stock, stump (of tree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pil'-ar (matstsebhah, `ammudh; stulos): In a good many cases the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "pillars" for the King James Version "images" (matstsebhoth, Ex 34:13; De 7:5; 1Ki 14:23, etc.). In Ge 19:26, where "pillar of salt" is given, the word is netsibh; in 1Sa 2:8 it is matsuq; while in most other single uses the Revised Version margin gives variant renderings, as in Jud 9:6 (mutstsabh), the Revised Version margin "garrison"; in 1Ki 10:12 (mic`adh), the Revised Version margin "`a railing,'…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pillar

Used to support a building (Judg. 16:26, 29); as a trophy or memorial (Gen. 28:18; 35:20; Ex. 24:4; 1 Sam. 15:12, A.V., “place,” more correctly “monument,” or “trophy of victory,” as in 2 Sam. 18:18); of fire, by which the Divine Presence was manifested (Ex. 13:2). The “plain of the pillar” in Judg. 9:6 ought to be, as in the Revised Version, the “oak of the pillar”, i.e., of the monument or stone set up by Joshua (24:26).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The notion of a pillar is of a shaft or isolated pile either supporting or not supporting a roof. But perhaps the earliest application of the pillar was the votive or monumental, This in early times consisted of nothing but a single stone or pile of stones. (Genesis 28:18; 31:40) etc. The stone Ezel, (1 Samuel 20:19) was probably a terminal stone or a way-mark. The "place" set up by Saul (1 Samuel 15:12) is explained by St, Jerome to be a trophy. So also Jacob set up a pillar over Rachel’s grave. (Genesis 36:20) The monolithic tombs and obelisks of Petra are instances of similar usage. Lastly, the figurative use of the term "pillar," in reference to the cloud and fire…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Sometimes means a monumental column, Ge 35:20 2Sa 18:18; or a column of cloud or smoke, Ex 13:21 Jud 20:40. The stately column which adorns and supports the front of a temple, Jud 16:25-30 Job 9:6 26:11, illustrates the position of prophets, Jer 1:18, apostles, Ga 2:9, believers, Re 3:12, and the church itself, respecting the truth, 1Ti 3:15.

and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
עַל־'al- over H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
קְבֻרָתָ֑הּke.vu.ra.Tah grave her H6900 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for tomb or grave, referring to a place of burial. It is used in the Bible to describe the final resting place of individuals, such as Abraham and Sarah. This term appears in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
tomb, place of burial
Tyndale gloss
tomb
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קְבֻרָה (qbuwrah) refers to a grave or burial site, derived from the root meaning to bury. It encompasses terms like sepulture and sepulchre, indicating a place for interment. The word appears in contexts related to death and burial practices in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קְבֻרָה], and (4 t.) קְבוּרָה n.f. grave, burial

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6900 [קְבֻרָה], and (4 t.) קְבוּרָה grave, burial

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6900 qbuwrah keb-oo-raw'

or qburah {keb-oo-raw'}; feminine passive participle of 6912;

sepulture; (concretely) a sepulchre:--burial, burying place,

grave, sepulchre.

see HEBREW for 06912

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קְבֻרָה (qe.vu.rah) — tomb.

1) grave, burial, burial site

1a) grave

1b) burial

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3fs
and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
הִ֛ואhi' it H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
מַצֶּ֥בֶתma.Tze.vet [is] [the] pillar of H4678 Noun common · feminine singular construct
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A monumental stone or pillar, often used as a memorial, like the ones Jacob set up in Genesis 28:18 and 35:14. It can also refer to a tree stump. In the Bible, pillars were used to mark important events or people.
Amplified meaning
serves as a memorial to
Tyndale gloss
pillar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַצֵּבָה (maṣṣēbā) refers to a pillar or a stump, often used in the context of monumental stones or memorials. It can denote a stationary object like a pillar or the stock of a tree. The term appears in various contexts, including altars.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת n.f. pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4678 מַצֵּבָה, מַצֶּ֫בֶת pillar, maṣṣēbā, stump

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4678 matstsebeth mats-tseh'-beth

from 5324; something stationary, i.e. a monumental stone;

also the stock of a tree:--pillar, substance.

see HEBREW for 05324

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַצֶּבֶת (mats.tse.vet) — pillar.

1) pillar, mastaba, stump

1a) pillar

1a1) as monument, personal memorial

1a2) with an altar

1b) (Hoph) stock, stump (of tree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
קְבֻֽרַת־ke.vu.rat- [the] grave of H6900 Noun common · feminine singular construct
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for tomb or grave, referring to a place of burial. It is used in the Bible to describe the final resting place of individuals, such as Abraham and Sarah. This term appears in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
grave, final resting place
Tyndale gloss
tomb
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קְבֻרָה (qbuwrah) refers to a grave or burial site, derived from the root meaning to bury. It encompasses terms like sepulture and sepulchre, indicating a place for interment. The word appears in contexts related to death and burial practices in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קְבֻרָה], and (4 t.) קְבוּרָה n.f. grave, burial

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6900 [קְבֻרָה], and (4 t.) קְבוּרָה grave, burial

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6900 qbuwrah keb-oo-raw'

or qburah {keb-oo-raw'}; feminine passive participle of 6912;

sepulture; (concretely) a sepulchre:--burial, burying place,

grave, sepulchre.

see HEBREW for 06912

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קְבֻרָה (qe.vu.rah) — tomb.

1) grave, burial, burial site

1a) grave

1b) burial

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
רָחֵ֖לra.Chel Rachel H7354 Noun proper feminine
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Rachel was a wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her name means ewe, and she is an important figure in the book of Genesis, where her story is told in detail.
Amplified meaning
the mother of Joseph and Benjamin
Tyndale gloss
Rachel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָחֵל (Rachel) refers to the daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob, known for being the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The name is associated with the meaning 'ewe.' She is first mentioned in Genesis 29:6. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding her identity or familial connections.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָחֵל 47 n.pr.f. Rachel, daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7354 רָחֵל Rachel, daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7354 Rachel raw-khale'

the same as 7353; Rachel, a wife of Jacob:--Rachel.

see HEBREW for 07353

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָחֵל (ra.chel) — Rachel.

A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.6;

daughter of: Laban (H3837A);

sister of: Leah (H3812); married to Israel (H3478);

mother of: Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144)

Also named: Rhachēl (Ῥαχήλ "Rachel" G4478)

§ Rachel = "ewe"

daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ra'-chel (rachel, "ewe"; Rhachel (Ge 29:6; Jer 31:15, the King James Version "Rahel")):

1. Biography:

An ancestress of Israel, wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban, the Aramean, the brother of Jacob's mother; so Rachel and Jacob were cousins. They met for the first time upon the arrival of Jacob at Haran, when attracted by her beauty he immediately fell in love with her, winning her love by his chivalrous act related in Ge 29:10 ff. According to the custom of the times Jacob contracted with Laban for her possession, agreeing to serve him 7 years as the stipulated price (29:17-20). But when the time had passed, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah instead of Rachel. When Jacob…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Rachel

Ewe, “the daughter”, “the somewhat petulant, peevish, and self-willed though beautiful younger daughter” of Laban, and one of Jacob’s wives (Gen. 29:6, 28). He served Laban fourteen years for her, so deep was Jacob’s affection for her. She was the mother of Joseph (Gen. 30:22-24). Afterwards, on Jacob’s departure from Mesopotamia, she took with her her father’s teraphim (31:34, 35). As they journeyed on from Bethel, Rachel died in giving birth to Benjamin (35:18, 19), and was buried “in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave”. Her sepulchre is still regarded with great veneration by the Jews. Its traditional site is about half a mile from Jerusalem.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(ewe, or sheep), the younger of the daughters of Laban, the wife of Jacob (B.C. 1753) and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. The incidents of her life may be found in Genesis29-33, 35. The story of Jacob and Rachel has always had a peculiar interest. The beauty of Rachel, Jacob’s deep love and long servitude for her, their marriage, and Rachel’s death on giving birth to Benjamin, with Jacob’s grief at her loss, (Genesis 48:7) makes a touching tale. Yet from what is related to us concerning her character there does not seem much to claim any high degree of admiration and esteem. She appears to have shared all the duplicity and falsehood of her family. See, for instance, Rachel’s stealing her father’s images, and the ready dexterity and presence of mind with which she concealed her theft. (

Ewe or sheep, Ru 4:11, the younger sister of Leah, daughter of Laban, and the chosen wife of Jacob, though her sister was favored with more children. Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, and died soon after the birth of the latter. See her history in Ge 29:1-35:29. Her sepulchre, half an hour’s walk north of Bethlehem, is shown unto this day, the spot being marked by a Mohammedan wely or tomb, a stone enclosure and a dome. The prophecy, Jer 31:15, representing her as mourning over her posterity, the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, is quoted in Mt 2:18, in reference to the massacre at Bethlehem, in which undoubtedly many of her descendants suffered. It is…

and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
עַד־'ad- until H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he set up Jacob a pillar over grave her it [is] [the] pillar of [the] grave of Rachel until this day
הַיּֽוֹם׃hai.Yom this day H3117 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
until now, as far as this point in time
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

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

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."…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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.

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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