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Isaiah 1:25 — Word Study

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WLCוְאָשִׁ֤יבָה יָדִי֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ וְאֶצְרֹ֥ף כַּבֹּ֖ר סִיגָ֑יִךְ וְאָסִ֖ירָה כָּל־ בְּדִילָֽיִךְ׃

BSAI will turnshûwb [return, bring back] My handyâd [an open hand; strength, a side or share] against youʻal I will thoroughly purgetsâraph [completely, utterly, refine, cleanse] your drossçîyg [waste, impurities] I will removeçûwr [take away, turn aside] allkôl [everything] your impuritiesbᵉdîyl [tin, alloy, like dross from silver]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 25 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 (be.di.La.yikh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 1:25quick helps
In a sentenceGod declares His intention to confront and purify His people, removing their impurities.
Who is speakingThe Lord God of Hosts, addressing His people.
Where we areThis verse is part of a declaration of judgment and restoration, following a call for repentance.
The hard wordשׁוּב
Take awayGod's action is both a judgment and a promise of restoration.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 — Isaiah 1:25

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 — God's Judgment and Restorationgenerated

24Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be relieved of My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies.
25I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
26I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”
27Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness.

Isaiah 1:25 is part of a larger message from God to His people, where He expresses His intent to confront their sinfulness and impurities. The preceding verses highlight God's displeasure with their actions, and the subsequent verses promise restoration and righteousness. This passage reflects the dual themes of judgment and hope throughout the book of Isaiah.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Zechariah 13:7–9Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
2Revelation 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
3Isaiah 1:22Your silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water.
4Isaiah 4:4when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.
5Isaiah 6:11–13Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שׁוּב, ve.'a.Shi.vahgenerated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to return or turn back. It encompasses a range of meanings, including physical return, spiritual repentance, and a change in course of action. In this verse, it signifies God's intention to turn His hand against His people as a form of correction.

The parsing as a hiphil infinitive construct indicates that this action is initiated by God, emphasizing His active role in the process of turning and purifying His people.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs in this verse are אָשִׁ֤יבָה (ashivah), אֶצְרֹ֥ף (etzrof), and אָסִ֖ירָה (asirah), which govern the actions of turning, refining, and removing. The structure emphasizes God's decisive actions against His people.

The order of the clauses places God's actions at the forefront, with the verbs leading the sentence, indicating the priority of His intentions in the message.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שׁוּב as ἐπάχω (epachō), which means to turn or return. This choice reflects a similar intent to convey God's action of turning against His people.

The Greek word πυρώσω (purōsō) for refining suggests a process of purification that aligns with the Hebrew meaning, indicating a focus on the transformative aspect of God's judgment.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 1:25 expresses God's intention to confront His people by turning His hand against them and purifying their impurities. He will remove the dross and tin from their lives, emphasizing the need for cleansing and restoration.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for God to turn His hand against His people?

It signifies God's judgment and correction, indicating that He is taking action to confront their sins and impurities.

What is the significance of purging dross?

Purging dross represents the process of refining and purifying, where God removes impurities to make His people stronger and more faithful.

How does this verse relate to the themes of judgment and restoration?

This verse illustrates the dual themes by showing God's judgment against sin while also promising purification and eventual restoration for His people.

What does 'all your impurities' refer to?

It refers to the moral and spiritual impurities present in the lives of God's people, which He intends to remove through His refining process.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's refining and purifying touch?
  2. How can I respond to God's correction in my life when I feel His hand against me?
  3. What does it mean to me that God desires to remove my impurities?
  4. How can I help others understand the importance of God's refining process in their lives?

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

Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, interpreting it in the context of God's judgment and the call for repentance, as seen in their writings.

JeromeCOMMENTARY ON Isaiah 1:1.26 c. 347–420
[This concerns] the faithful city of Zion, which later became a harlot. In place of the righteous, or righteousness, murderers dwelled within her.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 1 →
JeromeVerse 25 c. 347–420
And I will turn my hand against you; and I will thoroughly purge away your dross and take away all your alloy. Regarding the dross, which Symmachus interpreted as 'στέμφυλα' (clusters of grapes), Aquila as 'γιγαρτῶδες' (bunch of grapes),
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 1 →
John ChrysostomHOMILIES ON 2 Corinthians 5:3 c. 347–407
For we will not mimic the false prophets who say that most things have been done by them. This is the meaning of “to corrupt,” when someone dilutes the wine, or when someone sells something which ought to be given away freely.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 1:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And I will turn my hand upon thee,.... The remnant, according to the election of grace, left in Jerusalem, Isaiah 1:9 meaning not his afflicting hand, no, not even as a fatherly chastisement; though

Read John Gill on Isaiah 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: I will turn my hand - not in wrath, but in grace (Zechariah 13:7).

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I will turn my hand upon thee, to chastise thee again, which God threatened that he would not do, , but now promiseth that he will do it, not in fury, or so as utterly to destroy them, but in mercy, and with moderation, so as to purge them, as it here follows. And purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin; I will purge out of thee and destroy those wicked men that are incorrigible and infectious to others; and for those of you that are curable, I will by my word, and by the furnace of affliction, purge out all that hypocrisy and corruption that yet remains in you, and requires so sharp a cure.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:Ver. 25. And I will turn my hand upon thee.] So Zechariah 13:7, I will turn my hand upon the little ones; so soon doth it repent the Lord concerning his servants. Here he mitigateth the former fearful menace, and promiseth a reformation. And purely purge away thy dross.] Et expurgabo, ut purificativum, scorias tuas. The wicked are the dross of the state, and wickedness is the dross and dregs of the soul. God promiseth her to purge out both, to separate the precious from the vile, to reform and refine all - a metaphor from metallaries. And I will take away all thy tin.] Thine hypocrisy…

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(25) I will turn my hand upon thee.—The phrase, like the English “visit,” presents both a severe and a gracious aspect. Of the former we have instances in Psalms 81:14, Amos 1:8; of the latter in Zechariah 13:7. The context here inclines to the latter meaning. Jehovah punishes that He may save, and smites that He may heal. Purely purge away thy dross.—Better, will smelt away thy dross with lye, or potash, which was used in the smelting process. The imagery of Isa 1:22 is resumed. The great Refiner can purify the debased metal. In Malachi 3:2-3, we have the same image expanded. The process involved, of course, the rejection of the dross—i.e., in the interpretation of the parable, of the lead…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 25. I will turn my hand upon thee] So the common version; and this seems to be a metaphor taken from the custom of those who, when the metal is melted, strike off the scoriae with their hand previously to its being poured out into the mould. I have seen this done with the naked hand, and no injury whatever sustained. Purge away thy dross - "In the furnace"] The text has כבר cabbor, which some render "as with soap;" as if it were the same with כברית keborith; so Kimchi; but soap can have nothing to do with the purifying of metals. Others, "according to purity," or "purely," as our version. Le Clerc conjectured that the true reading is ככור kechur, "as in the furnace;" see Ezekiel…

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I will turn my hand upon thee - This expression is capable of two significations. The hand may be stretched out for two purposes, either to inflict punishment, or to afford help and protection.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

25. In this verse punishment and salvation are combined: punishment as the means, salvation as the end. I will turn my hand upon thee — This with a view to vigorous correction.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 1 →

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 turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin;

RVARevised Version, American1894

and I will turn my hand upon thee, and throughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then I will turne mine hand vpon thee, and burne out thy drosse, till it be pure, and take away all thy tinne.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I will turn my hand upon thee, and will thoroughly purge away thy dross, and take away all thine alloy;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I turn back My hand upon thee, And I refine as purity thy dross, And I turn aside all thy tin,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I turn back My hand on you, || And I refine your dross as purity, || And I turn aside all your tin,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And I will turn my hand against thee, and purge away as with lye thy dross, and remove all thy tin:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will turn my hand against you, refine away your dross as with lye, and take away all your dross.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I will turn my hand to thee, and I will clean purge away thy dress, and I will take away all thy tin.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I will turn against you. I will refine you in a furnace, removing all impurities.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And my hand will again be on you, washing away what is unclean as with soap, and taking away all your false metal;

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.

וְandclauseverbאָשִׁ֤יבָהI.will.turnnoun phrase · objectיָדִhandי֙myprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלַ֔יִonךְyouוְandclauseverbאֶצְרֹ֥ףI.will.refineprepositional phrase · prepositionalכַּlikenoun phrase(the)בֹּ֖רpotashnoun phrase · objectסִיגָ֑יִdross(es)ךְyourוְandclauseverbאָסִ֖ירָהI.will.removenoun phrase · objectכָּלallnoun phraseבְּדִילָֽיִslag(s)ךְyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in content, with 8 of the 9 words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with one scroll partially restored and one word supplied by an editor, but they maintain the core message of God's judgment and purification.

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

וְאָשִׁ֤יבָה יָדִי֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ וְאֶצְרֹ֥ף כַּבֹּ֖ר סִיגָ֑יִךְ וְאָסִ֖ירָה כָּל־ בְּדִילָֽיִךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאָשִׁ֤יבָהἐπάχωיָדִי֙μουעָלַ֔יִךְσὲוְאֶצְרֹ֥ףπυρώσωכַּבֹּ֖רκαθαρόνוְאָסִ֖ירָהκαὶכָּל־πάνταςבְּדִילָֽיִךְ׃σοῦ

8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Qisaaa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

והשיב יד׳י עלי׳ך ואצרף [כבר] סוגי׳ך ואסיר כול בדילי׳ך

7 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q60a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואשיבה] [יד׳י] [עלי׳ך] [ואצרף] [כבר] [סיגי׳ך] [ואסיר] כל [בדילי׳ך]

1 word on the leather — 8 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.

Isaiah 1:25שׁוּבand I will and I will turnשׁוּביָדhand myhand myיָדעַלon youon youעַלצָרַףso I may reso I may refineצָרַףבֹּרlike potashlike potashבֹּרסִיגdross yourdross yourסִיגסוּרand I will and I will remoסוּרכֹּלallallכֹּלבְּדִילslag yourslag yourבְּדִילכַּףpalmpalmכַּףסוּגto turnto turnסוּגכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלבָּדַלto separatto separateבָּדַלעַלheightheightעַלבֹּרcleannesscleannessבֹּרשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָצַלto rescueto rescueנָצַלכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאבָּחַןto testto testבָּחַןבְּדִילtintinבְּדִילצָרַףto refineto refineצָרַףשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלבָּמָהhigh placehigh placeבָּמָהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָה
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 Isaiah 1:25

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.

and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
וְאָשִׁ֤יבָהve.'a.Shi.vah and I will turn H7725 Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
return, bring back
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-1cs — Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common singular
HC/Vhc1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
יָדִי֙ya.Di hand my H3027 Noun common both singular construct · suffix
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Amplified meaning
an open hand; strength, a side or share
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffix
HNcbsc/Sp1bs
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
עָלַ֔יִךְ'a.La.yikh on you H5921 Preposition · suffix
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 | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
וְאֶצְרֹ֥ףve.'etz.Rof so I may refine H6884 Conjunction · verb qal first person common singular
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To refine means to purify something, like metal, by removing impurities. In the Bible, God refines his people like silver, testing and purifying them through trials. This process makes them stronger and more faithful.
Amplified meaning
completely, utterly, refine, cleanse
Tyndale gloss
to refine
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָרַף (tsaraph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to smelt, refine, or test. It encompasses the processes of fusing metals and proving their purity, with forms indicating both the act of refining and the role of a refiner or goldsmith. The word appears in various contexts, including both literal and figurative uses of purification.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צָרַף vb. smelt, refine, test

Qal

smelt, refine

test

test (and prove true)

as n. smelter, refiner

Niph. many shall be refined

Pi. as n. a refiner

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6884 צָרַף smelt, refine, test

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6884 tsaraph tsaw-raf'

a primitive root; to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or

figuratively):--cast, (re-)fine(-er), founder, goldsmith,

melt, pure, purge away, try.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָרַף (tsa.raph) — to refine.

1) to smelt, refine, test

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to smelt, refine

1a2) to test

1a3) to test (and prove true)

1a4) smelter, refiner, goldsmith (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be refined

1c) (Piel) to be a refiner

1c1) refiner (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb qal first person common singular
HC/Vqu1cs
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
כַּבֹּ֖רka.Bor like potash H1253 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a type of lye or soap used for washing or a substance used in metal smelting. It is also used to describe something as pure. The KJV translates it as purely or never so.
Tyndale gloss
lye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֹּר (bor) refers to lye, potash, or alkali, primarily used in smelting metals. The term is associated with cleansing properties and can function as a soap or flux. It appears in Isaiah 1:25, where its context relates to purification.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֹּר n.m. lye, potash, alkali used in smelting metals Is 1:25

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1253 בֹּר lye, potash, alkali used in smelting metals

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1253 bor bore

the same as 1252; vegetable lye (from its cleansing); used as

a soap for washing, or a flux for metals:--X never so, purely.

see HEBREW for 01252

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֹּר (bor) — lye.

lye, potash, alkali used in smelting metal

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
סִיגָ֑יִךְsi.Ga.yikh dross your H5509 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means the waste or scum that rises to the surface when metal is melted, like dross from silver. It's about refining and purifying.
Amplified meaning
waste, impurities
Tyndale gloss
dross
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סִיג (sig) refers to both a movement away and dross, particularly in the context of metals like silver. The word is derived from a root meaning refuse or scoria, and it appears in Ezekiel 22:18. The lexicons consistently emphasize its meanings related to both physical movement and the impurities found in metal.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סִיג, שִׂיג n.[m.] 1. a moving back or away. 2. dross

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5509 סִיג, שִׂיג 1. a moving back or away. 2. dross

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5509 ciyg seeg

or cuwg (Ezek. 22:18) {soog}; from 5472 in the sense of

refuse; scoria:--dross.

see HEBREW for 05472

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סִיג (sig) — dross.

1) a moving back or away

2) dross (usually of silver)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
וְאָסִ֖ירָהve.'a.Si.rah and I will remove H5493 Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common singular
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
take away, turn aside
Tyndale gloss
to turn aside: remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּר (sur) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It encompasses a range of actions including removal, avoidance, and coming to an end. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to turn aside or be taken away. It appears in contexts involving both literal and figurative departures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּר and [שׂוּר] 300 vb. turn aside

Qal

turn aside, out of one's course

depart

of lifeless things = be removed

= come to an end

Pô‛lēl he turned aside my ways (my steps)

Hiph.

cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

rarer uses

Pô‛lēl be taken away, removed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5493 סוּר, שׂוּר turn aside .. turn aside, out of one's course

. depart

. of lifeless things = be removed

. = come to an end

.he turned aside my ways (my steps)

. . cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

. rarer uses

.be taken away, removed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5493 cuwr soor

or suwr (Hosea 9:12) {soor}; a primitive root; to turn off

(literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back,

decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous,

lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away,

down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take

(away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: remove.

: remove

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: depart.

: depart

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: turn aside.

: turn_aside/deflect

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common singular
HC/Vhc1cs
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
everything
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I will turn hand my on you so I may refine like potash dross your and I will remove all slag your
בְּדִילָֽיִךְ׃be.di.La.yikh slag your H913 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to tin or alloy, and is also used figuratively to describe Israel. It is translated as plummet or tin in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
tin, alloy, like dross from silver
Tyndale gloss
tin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּדִיל (bdiyl) refers to alloy, tin, or dross, indicating a material that is often removed by smelting. The term is associated with the concept of tin, and it can also metaphorically relate to Israel. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּדִיל n.[m.] alloy, tin, dross

alloy

tin (plumbum album)

plummet

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H913 בְּדִיל alloy, tin, dross

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

913 bdiyl bed-eel'

from 914; alloy (because removed by smelting); by analogy,

tin:--+ plummet, tin.

see HEBREW for 0914

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּדִיל (be.dil) — tin.

1) alloy, tin, dross

1a) of Israel (metaph.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2fs
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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