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Hosea 2:4 — Word Study

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WLCוְאֶת־ בָּנֶ֖יהָ לֹ֣א אֲרַחֵ֑ם כִּֽי־ בְנֵ֥י זְנוּנִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃

BSAI will have nolôʼ [as the righteous Judge] becausekîy of adulteryzânûwn [fornication, unfaithfulness]

Word
Listen & take awayHosea 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (He.mah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Hosea 2:4quick helps
In a sentenceGod declares that He will not show compassion to the children born of unfaithfulness.
Who is speakingThe Lord, speaking through the prophet Hosea.
Where we areIn a passage where God addresses the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness.
The hard wordזְנוּנִ֖ים
Take awayThe lack of compassion is tied to the nature of the children’s conception.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbכִּי 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 — Hosea 2:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — God's Judgment on Unfaithfulnessgenerated

3Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst.
4I will have no compassion on her children, because they are the children of adultery.
5For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
6Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way.

Hosea 2:4 is part of a larger narrative where God uses the metaphor of marriage to illustrate His relationship with Israel. The passage highlights the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness, as God expresses His decision to withhold compassion from the children born of this unfaithfulness. This theme of judgment is echoed throughout the book of Hosea, emphasizing the seriousness of spiritual adultery.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Hosea 1:6Gomer again conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I should ever forgive them.
2Isaiah 27:11When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
3Jeremiah 13:14I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”
4Jeremiah 16:5Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD.
5Ezekiel 8:18Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֲרַחֵ֑ם, 'a.ra.Chemgenerated

The verb רָחַם (racham) means to have compassion or show mercy. It is derived from a root that emphasizes deep affection and tenderness, often associated with maternal love. In this context, the Piel form indicates an active expression of compassion, but here it is negated, showing that God will not extend this mercy.

The parsing indicates that this is a first-person singular imperfect verb, meaning God is stating His intention or future action regarding His compassion towards the children. This highlights the personal and relational aspect of God's judgment.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb אֲרַחֵ֑ם, I will have compassion, governs the main clause, while the noun phrases that follow specify the subject and object. The structure emphasizes the relationship between God's decision and the nature of the children.

The main clause is followed by a causal clause introduced by כִּי, for, explaining why God will not have compassion — because the children are born of unfaithfulness.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֲרַחֵ֑ם as οὐ (ou), indicating a strong negation. This choice reflects the severity of God's judgment and the finality of His decision not to show mercy.

The Greek rendering emphasizes the same themes found in the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Hosea 2:4 states that God will not show compassion for the children born of unfaithfulness. This reflects the serious consequences of Israel's spiritual adultery, as God expresses His judgment on their actions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God will not have compassion on her children?

It indicates that the children born from unfaithfulness will not receive God's mercy due to the nature of their conception, which symbolizes Israel's unfaithfulness to God.

Why does God use the metaphor of unfaithfulness?

God uses this metaphor to illustrate the betrayal of Israel against Him, portraying their idolatry and disobedience as a form of spiritual adultery.

How does this verse connect to the overall message of Hosea?

This verse highlights the themes of judgment and mercy in Hosea, showing that while God desires relationship, unfaithfulness leads to consequences.

What can we learn from God's declaration in this verse?

We can learn about the seriousness of spiritual fidelity and the consequences of turning away from God, as well as the importance of seeking His mercy.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's compassion in my life, and how can I ensure I remain faithful to Him?
  2. What does it mean to me that God holds us accountable for our actions?
  3. How can I reflect God's mercy to others while also understanding the seriousness of unfaithfulness?
  4. What steps can I take to strengthen my relationship with God and avoid spiritual unfaithfulness?

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

Jerome comments on this passage, interpreting it as a reflection of God's judgment on unfaithfulness, emphasizing the consequences faced by those who stray from Him.

JeromeCommentary on Hosea 2:4-5 c. 347–420
"And I will not have pity on her sons, for they are the sons of fornication, because their mother has committed fornication: she is confounded that conceived them, because she said: I will go after my lovers, that give me bread, and water,
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Hosea 2:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And I will not have mercy upon her children,.... The posterity of the Jews in succeeding ages, until the time of their conversion comes; they persisting in the sins of their forefathers, filling up

Read John Gill on Hosea 2 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.

Read Robert Jamieson on Hosea 2 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I will not have mercy: see . Upon her children: by this expression particular persons are severally, as by mother the whole nation was, threatened, that none might flatter themselves with hope of better: it is observable they are called her children, not God’ s. For they be the children of whoredoms; born in whoredom, and, like the mother, addicted to whoredom; as if God had said, They are none of mine by birth, nor any whit like me in disposition, but a spurious and hateful brood, and as such I will use them.

Read Matthew Poole on Hosea 2 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Hosea 2:4 And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they [be] the children of whoredoms.Ver. 4. And I will not have mercy upon her children] Lo, here another "and" to those four before; and more dreadful than the rest. Like as that in Jeremiah 16:13, where "I will not show you favour," was worse to them than their captivity in a strange country. Say that God do cast off his people, yet if he say, "they shall be as if I had not cast them off, and will hear them," Zechariah 10:6, the affliction is nothing so great as when he sends an evil, an only evll without mixture of mercy, as here, Ezekiel 7:5. Oh, this pure wrath, this judgment without mercy, must needs be very heavy: when it is…

Read John Trapp on Hosea 2 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Her children.—The children are like their mother: not only are they born of doubtful parentage, but are personally defiled. Not only is idolatry enshrined in the national sanctuary and the royal palace, but the people love to have it so. They endorse the degradation of their mother.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Hosea 2 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. They be the children of whoredoms.] They are all idolaters; and have been consecrated to idols, whose marks they bear.

Read AdamClarke on Hosea 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. And upon her children …] No bar shall be opposed, Jehovah declares, to the natural consequence of a corrupt and corrupting religion. Israel, as an independent nation, must at least for a time cease to be. It appears then that the appeal in Hosea 2:4 was uttered as a forlorn hope. All but a few of the Israelites were too far gone to desire to cooperate in a reformation. They were the ‘children of whoredom’, not merely as the children of idolaters, but as idolaters themselves.

Read Cambridge on Hosea 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will not have mercy upon her children - God visits the sins of the parents upon the children, until the entailed curse be cut off by repentance.

Read Albert Barnes on Hosea 2 →

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

I will have no compassion on her children, because they are the children of adultery.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Indeed, on her children I will have no mercy, for they are children of unfaithfulness.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I will have no compassion on her children, because they are the children of adultery.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I will have no pity on her children, because they are children conceived in adultery.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Yea, upon her children will I have no mercy; for they are children of whoredom;

RVARevised Version, American1894

Yea, upon her children will I have no mercy; for they be children of whoredom.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they are the children of lewdness.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And I wil haue no pitie vpon her children: for they be the children of fornications.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they are the children of whoredoms.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And her sons I do not pity, For sons of whoredoms [are] they,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And her sons I do not pity, || For they [are] sons of whoredoms,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(2:6) And upon her children will I not have mercy; for they are children of prostitution;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will not have any mercy on her children, for they are children of prostitution.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I will not have mercy on her children: for they are the children of fornications.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I will have no pity on her children, because they are children of prostitution.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And I will have no mercy on her children, for they are the children of her loose ways.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclausenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseבָּנֶ֖יchildrenהָheradverbialלֹ֣אnotverbאֲרַחֵ֑םI.will.have.compassion.onכִּֽי(dm)clausenoun phrase · predicateבְנֵ֥י[are].childrenזְנוּנִ֖יםof.prostitution(s)subjectהֵֽמָּהthey

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads וְאֶת־ בָּנֶ֖יהָ לֹ֣א אֲרַחֵ֑ם כִּֽי־ בְנֵ֥י זְנוּנִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃, and this is fully matched by the Septuagint. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration but largely agree with the Masoretic Text in meaning.

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

וְאֶת־ בָּנֶ֖יהָ לֹ֣א אֲרַחֵ֑ם כִּֽי־ בְנֵ֥י זְנוּנִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֶת־κρίθητεבָּנֶ֖יהָὑμῶνלֹ֣אκρίθητεאֲרַחֵ֑םὅτιכִּֽי־αὐτὴבְנֵ֥יοὐזְנוּנִ֖יםγυνήהֵֽמָּה׃μου

8 of the 8 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q79a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ריבו] [באמ׳כם] [ריבו] כי הא לו אשת׳י [ואנכי] [לא] [איש׳ה] [ותסר] זנוני׳ה מבין [פני׳ה] [ונאפופי׳ה] [מבין] [שדי׳ה]

4 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 11 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q82a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ריב] [באמ׳כם] ריב [כי] [היא] [לא] [אשת׳י] [ואנכי] [לא] [איש׳ה] [ותסר] [זנוני׳ה] [מפני׳ה] [ונאפופי׳ה] [מבין] [שדי׳ה]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 15 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.

Hosea 2:4אֵתand the objand the object אֵתבֵּןchildren hechildren herבֵּןלֹאnotnotלֹארָחַםI will haveI will have comרָחַםכִּיforforכִּיבֵּן[are] child[are] children בֵּןזְנוּנִיםprostitutioprostitutionזְנוּנִיםהֵ֫מָּהtheytheyהֵ֫מָּהבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתזָנָהto fornicato fornicateזָנָההֲלַךְto goto goהֲלַךְעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדהָמָהto roarto roarהָמָהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעכֶּ֫שֶׁףsorcerysorceryכֶּ֫שֶׁףמְרִיrebellionrebellionמְרִיסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶר
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 Hosea 2:4

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 the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
בָּנֶ֖יהָba.Nei.ha children her H1121 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc/Sp3fs — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3fs
and the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
as the righteous Judge
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
אֲרַחֵ֑ם'a.ra.Chem I will have compassion on H7355 Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to have compassion or show love, often used to describe God's mercy towards humanity, as seen in the Bible. It involves deep feelings of sympathy and kindness. In the KJV, it is translated as having mercy or pity.
Tyndale gloss
to have compassion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָחַם (racham) is a Hebrew verb meaning to love or have compassion. It conveys a sense of deep affection and mercy, applicable to both God and humans. The root emphasizes tenderness and pity, with forms indicating active compassion (Piel) and being shown compassion (Pual). The entries consistently highlight its emotional depth and relational aspect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָחַם] vb. denom. love. Pi. have compassion

Qal I love thee

Pi. have compassion, compassionate

Pu. be shewn compassion, compassionated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7355 רָחַם vb. denom. love. Pi. have compassion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7355 racham raw-kham'

a primitive root; to fondle; by implication, to love,

especially to compassionate:--have compassion (on, upon),

love, (find, have, obtain, shew) mercy(-iful, on, upon),

(have) pity, Ruhamah, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָחַם (ra.cham) — to have compassion.

1) to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion

1a) (Qal) to love

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to have compassion, be compassionate

1b1a) of God, man

1c) (Pual) to be shown compassion, be compassionate

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVpi1cs — Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
HVpi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

and the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
בְנֵ֥יve.Nei [are] children of H1121 Noun common · masculine plural construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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 the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
זְנוּנִ֖יםze.nu.Nim prostitution H2183 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fornication refers to adultery or prostitution, and is often used figuratively to describe idolatry in the Bible. It involves being unfaithful or engaging in immoral sexual behavior.
Amplified meaning
fornication, unfaithfulness
Tyndale gloss
fornication
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זְנוּנִים (zanuwn) refers to fornication, with implications of adultery and idolatry. It is built from the root word for sexual immorality and can denote both literal and figurative forms of unfaithfulness. The term appears in contexts that suggest a range of sexual and religious connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זְנוּנִים n.[m.] fornication

sexual

international

religious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2183 זְנוּנִים fornication

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2183 zanuwn zaw-noon'

from 2181; adultery; figuratively, idolatry:--whoredom.

see HEBREW for 02181

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זְנוּנִים (za.nun) — fornication.

adultery, fornication, prostitution

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pros-ti-tu'-shun.

See CRIMES; HARLOT; PUNISHMENTS.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Lascivious behavior)

→ Forbidden Le 19:29; De 23:17

→ See ADULTERY

→ See LASCIVIOUSNESS

and the object marker children her not I will have compassion on for [are] children of prostitution they
הֵֽמָּה׃He.mah they H1992 Pronoun
553× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
they(masc.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1992 hem haym

or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from

1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)

many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,

their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.

see HEBREW for 01981

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).

they, these, the same, who

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp3mp — Pronoun
HPp3mp
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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