Genesis 9:25 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָר֣וּר כְּנָ֑עַן עֶ֥בֶד עֲבָדִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְאֶחָֽיו׃
BSAhe saidʼâmar▸ [to declare or speak] Cursed beʼârar [to execrate or wish harm upon] CanaanKᵉnaʻan [son of Ham, the ancestor of the Canaanites] A servantʻebed [slave or bondservant] of servantsʻebed [those in bondage or subjection] shall he behâyâh▸ [exist or come into being] to his brothersʼâch [relatives, kin, or fellow descendants]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | and he said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אָר֣וּר | [be] cursed | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| כְּנָ֑עַן | Canaan | Noun proper masculine |
| עֶ֥בֶד | a slave of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| עֲבָדִ֖ים | slaves | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| יִֽהְיֶ֥ה | he will be | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לְאֶחָֽיו׃ | of brothers his | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” |
| KJV | And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. |
| ASV | And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. |
| YLT | and saith: 'Cursed [is] Canaan, Servant of servants he is to his brethren.' |
| WEB | He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” |
| BBE | Cursed be Canaan; let him be a servant of servants to his brothers. |
Translations agree on the rendering of the curse and the servitude of Canaan.
The main clause introduces the speaker's declaration, followed by the curse and the future state of Canaan, creating a clear structure of cause and effect.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectכְּנַעַן
verbאָמַר
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 9:25
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 Curse of Canaangenerated
Genesis 9:25 describes Noah's reaction to his son's actions after he awoke from drunkenness. In this moment, Noah pronounces a curse on his grandson Canaan, indicating that he will be a servant to his brothers. This curse reflects the consequences of sin and the dynamics of family relationships in the biblical narrative, echoing themes of judgment and servitude found throughout Scripture.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 9:22 | And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. |
| 2 | Genesis 3:14 | So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life. |
| 3 | Genesis 4:11 | Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. |
| 4 | Genesis 49:7 | Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 27:16 | ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אָר֣וּר, 'a.Rurgenerated
The Hebrew word אָרַר (arar) means to curse or execrate, carrying a weighty connotation of wishing harm upon someone. This participial form indicates a state of being cursed, highlighting the seriousness of Noah's declaration.
Cursing in this context is not merely a statement but an invocation of divine judgment. The implications of this curse extend beyond Canaan himself, affecting his descendants and shaping the narrative of the Canaanites in biblical history.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
Two finite verbs govern the verse: יֹּ֖אמֶר (he said) and יִֽהְיֶ֥ה (he will be). The first verb introduces the curse, while the second verb expresses the future state of Canaan.
The structure emphasizes the declaration of the curse and its implications for Canaan's future, with the noun phrases detailing who is affected and the nature of the servitude.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אָר֣וּר as ἐπικατάρατος (G1944), which carries a similar meaning of being cursed or condemned. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the term's weight in both Hebrew and Greek contexts.
The translation of Canaan as ξανααν (G5477) indicates a direct correspondence, maintaining the identity of the figure being cursed.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 9:25 recounts Noah's words after he learns of his son's actions. He curses Canaan, declaring that he will serve his brothers. This moment highlights the consequences of sin and the dynamics within Noah's family.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Noah's curse indicates a divine judgment on Canaan, establishing a future of servitude that affects his descendants.
Canaan is the son of Ham, who acted disrespectfully towards Noah, prompting this curse as a response to the actions of his father.
This phrase suggests a lowly status, indicating that Canaan will be subordinate not just to his brothers but to all others, emphasizing his position in the family hierarchy.
The curse on Canaan sets the stage for the future interactions between the Israelites and the Canaanites, as seen in later books of the Bible.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What lessons can we learn about the consequences of our actions from Noah's curse?
- How do family dynamics influence our relationships and responsibilities?
- In what ways can we ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of past generations?
- How does understanding the curse of Canaan help us interpret later biblical events?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers reference this verse to discuss themes of judgment and servitude, illustrating its lasting impact on theological discussions.
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 9 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 9:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he said,.... Not in a drunken fit, as some profane persons would suggest, for he was awaked from his wine; nor in the heat of passion, but by inspiration, under a spirit of prophecy: cursed [be]
Read John Gill on Genesis 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said - apparently upon awaking and learning what had happened.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAnd he said, not from the passion of revenge, but by Divine inspiration, and the Spirit of prophecy, Cursed be Canaan; hateful to God, abhorred by men, miserable in his person and posterity. Quest. Seeing Ham committed the crime, why is the curse inflicted upon his son Canaan? Answ. 1. When Canaan is mentioned, Ham is not exempted from the curse, but rather more deeply plunged into it, whilst he is pronounced accursed, not only in his person, (which is manifestly supposed by his commission of that sin for which the curse was inflicted), but also in his posterity, which doubtless was a great aggravation of his grief; as on the contrary Joseph is said to be blessed when his children are…
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 9:25 And he said, Cursed [be] Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.Ver. 25. And he said, Cursed be Canaan.] Because an imitator, and abettor of his father’ s sin. Neither good egg, nor good bird, as they say. God himself hath cursed such captives with a curse. "The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother; the ravens of the valley shall pick it out; and the young eagles shall eat it." Now they are cursed with a witness, whom the Holy Ghost thus curseth, in such emphatical manner, with such exquisite terms. Their parents also, through their unnaturalness, are compelled to curse them, as Noah here: as Oedipus of old; and our Henry II.…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(25) Cursed be Canaan.—The prophecy of Noah takes the form of a poem, like Lamech’s boast in Genesis 4. In it Ham is passed over in silence, as though his unfilial conduct, recorded in Genesis 9:22, made him unworthy of a blessing, while it was not so wicked as to bring on him a curse. The whole weight of Noah’s displeasure falls on Canaan, whose degraded position among the nations is thrice insisted upon. A servant of servants. That is, the most abject of slaves. This was fulfilled in the conquest of Canaau by Joshua, but the race had nevertheless a great future before it. The Hittites were one of the foremost nations of antiquity, and the Sido-nians, Tyrians, and Phœnicians were such…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 25. Cursed be Canaan] See on the preceding verses. In the 25th, 26th, and 27th verses, instead of Canaan simply, the Arabic version has Ham the father of Canaan; but this is acknowledged by none of the other versions, and seems to be merely a gloss.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18–27. Noah, as the Vine-dresser, and his three Sons. (J.) In this section the narrative, which begins at Genesis 9:20, is introduced by the two connecting Genesis 9:18-19, which either conclude J’s account of the Flood, or are an editorial insertion by the compiler. (a) 18, 19 Noah and his family leave the ark: (b) 20–24 Noah plants a vineyard, drinks wine, becomes intoxicated, is observed and ridiculed by Ham, but Shem and Japheth shew respect: (c) 25–27 the curse of Noah on Canaan, the blessing on Shem and Japheth.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible25. And he said — Render the whole prophecy thus:Cursed be Canaan, A servant of servants let him be unto his brethren.And he said:Blessed be Jehovah, God of Shem; And let Canaan be a servant unto
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 9 →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
he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”
he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
So he said, “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves he will be to his brothers.”
Tyndale line
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
And he said, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be to his brethren.
And said, Cursed be Canaan: a seruant of seruants shall he be vnto his brethren.
Strictly literal
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; Let him be a bondman of bondmen to his brethren.
and saith: 'Cursed [is] Canaan, Servant of servants he is to his brethren.'
and says: “Cursed [is] Canaan, || Servant of servants he is to his brothers.”
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
So he said, “Cursed be Canaan. May he be a servant to his brothers' servants.”
From the Latin
He said: Cursed be Chanaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
Simplified
and said, “May Canaan be cursed! He will be the lowest kind of slave and will serve his brothers!”
Cursed be Canaan; let him be a servant of servants to his brothers.
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 states, 'וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָר֣וּר כְּנָ֑עַן עֶ֥בֶד עֲבָדִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְאֶחָֽיו׃', which translates to 'he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”' The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all seven words correspond, although the word order and articles differ due to its own syntax. The Samaritan Pentateuch also aligns perfectly with the Masoretic Text, presenting the same phrase word for word: 'ויאמר ארור כנען עבד עבדים יהיה לאחיו'. Therefore, both the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch confirm the Masoretic Text in this instance.
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָר֣וּר כְּנָ֑עַן עֶ֥בֶד עֲבָדִ֖ים יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְאֶחָֽיו׃
7 of the 7 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.
ויאמר ארור כנען עבד עבדים יהיה לאחיו
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 9:25
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.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
אָרַר (arar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to curse. It encompasses various forms, including the act of cursing (Qal), being cursed (Niphal), and putting a curse on someone (Piel). The entries indicate that it can also imply being made a curse (Hophal). There is a consistent focus on the concept of cursing throughout the definitions.
[אָרַר] vb. curse
Qal curse
Niph. cursed
Pi. curse, lay under a curse
Hoph. be cursed
base
H779 אָרַר curse .curse
. cursed
. curse, lay under a curse
. be cursed
779 'arar aw-rar'
a primitive root; to execrate:--X bitterly curse.
אָרַר (a.rar) — to curse.
1) to curse
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to curse
1a2) cursed be he (participle used as in curses)
1b) (Niphal) to be cursed, cursed
1c)(Piel) to curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on
1d) (Hophal) to be made a curse, be cursed
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) refers to both Canaan, the son of Ham, and the land west of the Jordan River where the Israelites settled, as well as the term for merchant or trader. The word is associated with lowland and trade, particularly linked to the Canaanites and Phoenicians. There is a distinction made between its use as a proper noun and as a common noun for merchants.
כְּנַ֫עַן 90 n.pr.m. et terr. Canaan
as n. pr. m., son of Ham
land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants
the coast, esp. Phoenicia
base
כְּנַ֫עַן n.[m.] merchant(s) (because Canaanites, esp. Phoenicians, were traders)
base
H3667a כְּנַ֫עַן Canaan . as n. pr. m., son of Ham
. . land, W. of Jordan, into wh. Hebrews came, and where they settled, subduing the inhabitants
. the coast, esp. Phoenicia
H3667b כְּנַ֫עַן merchant(s)
3667 Kna`an ken-ah'-an
from 3665; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country
inhabited by him:--Canaan, merchant, traffick.
see HEBREW for 03665
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.
§ Canaan = "lowland"
the land west of the Jordan peopled by the descendants of Canaan and subsequently conquered by the Israelites under Joshua
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — merchant.
merchant, trader
Also means: ke.na.a.ni (כְּנַעֲנִי "merchant" H3669B)
כְּנַ֫עַן (ke.na.an) — Canaan.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.9.18;
son of: Ham (H2526);
brother of: Cush (H3568), Egypt (H4714) and Put (H6316);
father of: Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Jebusite (H2983), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577)
§ merchant, trader
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
Canaan
(1.) The fourth son of Ham (Gen. 10:6). His descendants were under a curse in consequence of the transgression of his father (9:22-27). His eldest son, Zidon, was the father of the Sidonians and Phoenicians. He had eleven sons, who were the founders of as many tribes (10:15-18).
(2.) The country which derived its name from the preceding. The name as first used by the Phoenicians denoted only the maritime plain on which Sidon was built. But in the time of Moses and Joshua it denoted the whole country to the west of the Jordan and the Dead Sea (Deut. 11:30). In Josh. 5:12 the LXX. read, “land of the Phoenicians,” instead of “land of Canaan.”
(Ca’nan) (low, flat). The fourth son of Ham, (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8) the progenitor of the Phoenicians [ZIDON, OR SIDON], and of the various nations who before the Israelite conquest people the seacoast of Palestine, and generally the while of the country westward of the Jordan. (Genesis 10:13; 1 Chronicles 1:13) (B.C. 2347.) The name "Canaan" is sometimes employed for the country itself.
1. The son of Ham, and grandson of Noah, Ge 9:18. His numerous posterity seem to have occupied Zidon first, and thence spread into Syria and Canaan, Ge 10:15-19 1Ch 1:13-16. The Jews believe that he was implicated with his father in the dishonor done to Noah, Ge 9:20-27, which was the occasion of the curse under which he and his posterity suffered, Jos 9:23,27 2Ch 8:7,8 2. The land peopled by Canaan and his posterity, and afterwards given to the Hebrews. This country has at different periods been called by various names, either from its inhabitants or some…
merchant; trader; or that humbles and subdues
The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
slave, servant of household
Subjects, of chief
Servants, worshippers of God
Servant of י׳, in a special sense
Israel as a people is servant of י׳
In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
Phrases
base
H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household
. Subjects, of chief
. Servants, worshippers of God
. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
. Phrases
5650 `ebed eh'-bed
from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,
(man-)servant.
see HEBREW for 05647
עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.
1) slave, servant
1a) slave, servant, man-servant
1b) subjects
1c) servants, worshippers (of God)
1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
1e) servant (of Israel)
1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
slave, servant of household
Subjects, of chief
Servants, worshippers of God
Servant of י׳, in a special sense
Israel as a people is servant of י׳
In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
Phrases
base
H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household
. Subjects, of chief
. Servants, worshippers of God
. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
. Phrases
5650 `ebed eh'-bed
from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,
(man-)servant.
see HEBREW for 05647
עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.
1) slave, servant
1a) slave, servant, man-servant
1b) subjects
1c) servants, worshippers (of God)
1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
1e) servant (of Israel)
1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
