Isaiah 24:17 — Word Study
WLCפַּ֥חַד וָפַ֖חַת וָפָ֑ח עָלֶ֖יךָ יוֹשֵׁ֥ב הָאָֽרֶץ׃
BSATerrorpachad [fear, dread] and pitpachath [a hole or trap] and snarepach [a thin, flat piece of metal or a net] await youʻal O dwelleryâshab [inhabitant, one who sits or remains] of the earthʼerets [land, soil, or ground]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פַּ֥חַד | dread | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וָפַ֖חַת | and pit | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וָפָ֑ח | and snare | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| עָלֶ֖יךָ | [are] on you | Preposition, suffix |
| יוֹשֵׁ֥ב | O inhabitant of | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular common |
| הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | the earth | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of the earth. |
| KJV | Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. |
| ASV | Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. |
| YLT | Fear, and a snare, and a gin, [Are] on thee, O inhabitant of the land. |
| WEB | Fear, the pit, and the snare are on you who inhabit the earth. |
| BBE | Fear, and death, and the net, are come on you, O people of the earth. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of פַּחַד — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence presents a stark warning, with one main clause followed by a direct address to the subject.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָשַׁב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 24:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Judgment of the Earthgenerated
Isaiah 24:17 presents a dire warning to the inhabitants of the earth about the consequences of their actions. The preceding verses describe a world in turmoil, where treachery abounds, and the earth itself is shaken. This verse serves as a culmination of the threats that await those who dwell on the land, setting the stage for the following descriptions of calamity in Isaiah 24:18.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 26:21–22 | If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times, according to your sins. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 19:17 | Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 8:3 | And wherever I have banished them, the remnant of this evil family will choose death over life,” declares the LORD of Hosts. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 48:43–44 | Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,” declares the LORD. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 14:21 | For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פַּחַד, Pa.chadgenerated
The noun פַּחַד (pachad) refers to a feeling of dread or terror, often evoked by sudden or frightening events. It is derived from a root meaning to be alarmed, indicating both the feeling of fear and the object that inspires it. In this context, it emphasizes the fear of God's judgment.
This word appears frequently in the Bible, often in contexts related to divine wrath. The parsing indicates that it is a masculine singular noun, highlighting its role as a subject of fear for the inhabitants of the earth.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses terror, pit, and snare consistently with other translations like the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implied in the phrase וָפַ֖חַת, and await, which governs the entire sentence. The structure follows a straightforward order, presenting three elements of impending judgment: terror, pit, and snare, all awaiting the subject.
The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the severity of the threats, leading with פַּחַד to highlight the dread before introducing the other two elements.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, פַּחַד is rendered as φόβος (phobos), which also means fear or terror. This choice aligns closely with the original meaning, emphasizing the emotional response to impending danger.
The translation choices reflect a consistent understanding of the dread associated with divine judgment, maintaining the weight of the original Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 24:17 warns that terror, pit, and snare await those who dwell on the earth. This verse follows a description of treachery and impending judgment, indicating that the inhabitants will face dire consequences for their actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In this verse, 'terror' refers to a deep sense of dread or fear, particularly in relation to God's judgment.
Both 'pit' and 'snare' symbolize traps or dangers that await the inhabitants, representing the consequences of their treachery.
This phrase refers to all people living on the earth, particularly those who are engaging in treachery and sin.
This verse serves as a warning amidst a broader message of judgment, highlighting the impending dangers that result from the inhabitants' actions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I recognize areas of fear or dread in my own life, and how can I address them?
- What traps or snares might I be setting for myself or others through my actions?
- In what ways can I ensure that I am not an inhabitant of the earth who faces dread?
- How does understanding divine judgment shape my perspective on my actions and their consequences?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, emphasizing the themes of treachery and impending fear for those who dwell on the earth.
The treacherous have dealt treacherously; indeed, they have dealt treacherously with treachery. Fear, the pit, and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 24 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 24:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleFear, and the pit, and the snare, [are] upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
Read John Gill on Isaiah 24 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryFear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. Fear, and the pit, and the snare. This verse explains the wretchedness spoken of in Isaiah 24:16. Jeremiah (Jeremiah 48:43-44) uses the same words.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 24 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleGreat and various judgments, some actually inflicted, and others expected and justly feared, as the punishment of their last-mentioned treachery.
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 24 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 24:17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, [are] upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.Ver. 17. Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee.] Metaphora a venatoribus, a metaphor from hunters, elegantly expressed in the original by words of a like sound. God hath variety of plagues at command; his quiver is full of shafts, neither can he possibly want a weapon to beat his rebels with. If the Amorites escape the sword, yet they are brained with hailstones If the Syrians get into a walled town, yet they are baned by the fall of a wall upon them.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 24 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) Fear, and the pit, and the snare . . .—The words paint the rapid succession of inevitable calamities, in imagery drawn from the several forms of the hunter’s work. There is first the terror of the startled beast; then the pit dug that he might fall into it; then the snare, if he struggled out of the pit, out of which there was no escape (Isaiah 8:15). The passage is noticeable as having been reproduced by Jeremiah in his prophecy against Moab (Jeremiah 48:43-44).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 24 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. Fear, and the pit - "The terror, the pit"] If they escape one calamity, another shall overtake them. "As if a man should flee from a lion, and a bear should overtake him: Or should betake himself to his house, and lean his hand on the wall, And a serpent should bite him." Amos 5:19. "For," as our Saviour expressed it in a like parabolical manner, "wheresoever the carcass is there shall the eagles be gathered together," Matthew 24:28. The images are taken from the different methods of hunting and taking wild beasts, which were anciently in use. The terror was a line strung with feathers of all colours, which fluttering in the air scared and frightened the beasts into the toils, or…
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 24 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17–20. This description of the judgment on the earth and its inhabitants seems to connect immediately with Isaiah 24:13. 17, 18a recur almost verbatim in Jeremiah 48:43 f. (cf. also Amos 5:19). 18b—20 describe the physical convulsions which accompany the day of Jehovah. the windows from on high are opened] An allusion to the story of the Deluge (Genesis 7:11; Genesis 8:2). The rest of the imagery is based on the phenomena of the earthquake.
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 24 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFear, and the pit - This verse is an explanation of the cause of the wretchedness referred to in the previous verse.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 24 →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
Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of the earth.
Fear, the pit, and the snare are on you who inhabit the earth.
Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of the earth.
Terror, pit, and snare are ready to overtake you inhabitants of the earth!
Tyndale line
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
Feare, and the pitte, and the snare are vpon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
Strictly literal
Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, inhabitant of the land.
Fear, and a snare, and a gin, [Are] on thee, O inhabitant of the land.
Fear, and a snare, and a trap, || [Are] on you, O inhabitant of the earth.
Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the land.
Terror, the pit, and the snare are upon you, inhabitants of the earth.
From the Latin
Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O thou inhabitant of the earth.
Simplified
Terrors and pit-traps and snares are waiting for you, people of the earth.
Fear, and death, and the net, are come on you, O people of the earth.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches five out of six words in the verse. The Dead Sea Scrolls also align closely with the Masoretic Text, with minor variations indicating the same core message.
פַּ֥חַד וָפַ֖חַת וָפָ֑ח עָלֶ֖יךָ יוֹשֵׁ֥ב הָאָֽרֶץ׃
5 of the 6 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.
פחד ופחת ופח עלי׳ך יושב הארץ
6 words on the leather.
פחד ופחת [ופח] [עלי׳ך] [יושב] [הארץ]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 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.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 24:17
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.
פַּ֫חַד (pachad) refers to the concept of dread or terror, often indicating both the feeling of fear and the object that inspires it. The word is derived from a root meaning to be alarmed, and it encompasses a range of meanings related to fear and terror.
פַּ֫חַד 49 n.m. dread
dread
= object of dread
as design. dei
base
H6343 פַּ֫חַד dread . dread
. = object of dread
. as design. dei
6343 pachad pakh'-ad
from 6342; a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by
implication, the feeling):--dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great
(fear, -ly feared), terror.
see HEBREW for 06342
פַּ֫חַד (pa.chad) — dread.
1) terror, dread
1a) dread
1b) object of dread
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
פַּ֫חַת (pachath) refers to a pit or hole, often associated with trapping animals. It is likely derived from a root meaning to dig. The entries consistently describe it as a snare or pit, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
פַּ֫חַת n.m. pit
base
H6354 פַּ֫חַת pit
6354 pachath pakh'-ath
probably from an unused root apparently meaning to dig; a
pit, especially for catching animals:--hole, pit, snare.
פַּ֫חַת (pa.chat) — pit.
pit, hole
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
The word translates different Hebrew words of which the most important are:
(1) bor, "pit" or "cistern," made by digging, (Ge 37:20); hence, "dungeon" (Jer 38:6, margin "pit");
(2) be'er, "pit" or "well" made by digging (Ge 21:25);
(3) she'ol, generally rendered "hell" in the King James Version (see HELL);
Pit
A hole in the ground (Ex. 21:33, 34), a cistern for water (Gen. 37:24; Jer. 14:3), a vault (41:9), a grave (Ps. 30:3). It is used as a figure for mischief (Ps. 9:15), and is the name given to the unseen place of woe (Rev. 20:1, 3). The slime-pits in the vale of Siddim were wells which yielded asphalt (Gen. 14:10).
[HELL]
A reservoir, either natural or artificial, for water. Pits were sometimes used as dungeons, Ge 37:20; Jer 38:6; or being slightly covered, and baited, they served as traps to catch wild beasts, a device which illustrates the plots of designing men and women, Ps 119:85; Pr 22:14; 26:27; Eze 19:4. The word pit is also used to denote the grave, Ps 28:1; 30:3,9; and hell, Re 20:1.
פַּח (pach) refers to both a bird trap and a metal plate. It is derived from a root meaning to spread out or pound thin, indicating its use as a snare or a thin sheet of metal. The word can also figuratively represent calamities or plots. The entries consistently highlight these two primary meanings without significant disagreement.
פַּח n.m. bird-trap
base
[פַּח] n.[m.] plate of metal
base
H6341a פַּח bird-trap H6341b פַּח plate of metal
6341 pach pakh
from 6351; a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin); also a
spring net (as spread out like a lamina):--gin, (thin) plate,
snare.
see HEBREW for 06351
פַּח (pach) — snare.
1) bird trap, trap, snare
1a) bird trap (literal)
1b) of calamities, plots, source or agent of calamity (fig.)
פַּח (pach) — plate.
plate (of metal)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
snar (pach; pagis, but brochos, in 1Co 7:35): Over half a dozen Hebrew words are used to indicate different methods of taking birds and animals, of which the snare (pach) is mentioned oftener than any other. It was a noose of hair for small birds, of wire for larger birds or smaller animals. The snares were set in a favorable location and grain scattered to attract the attention of feathered creatures. They accepted the bribe of good feeding and walked into the snare, not suspecting danger. For this reason the snare became particularly applicable in describing a tempting bribe offered by men to lead their fellows into trouble, and the list of references is a long one, all of the same nature. See Ex 10:7; 1Sa 18:21; 28:9;
Snare
The expression (Amos 3:5), “Shall one take up a snare from the earth?” etc. (Authorized Version), ought to be, as in the Revised Version, “Shall a snare spring up from the ground?” etc. (See GIN.)
→ General scriptures concerning Am 3:5
→ FIGURATIVE
Of the evils in life of wicked people Job 18:8-10
Of the devices of evil people to deceive the righteous Ps 91:3; Jer 5:26
See AMBUSH
See CONSPIRACY
See PIT
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.
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)
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)
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
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
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp2ms
יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.
יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell
Qal
sit
sit, sit down
sit down
sit = be set (as a jewel)
remain, stay, tarry
with special emphasis of qualifying phr.
dwell, have one’s abode
of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited
Niph. be inhabited, of land
Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee
Hiph.
cause to sit
cause to abide
cause to dwell
cause cities to be inhabited
marry (prop. give a dwelling to)
Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land
base
H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell
3427 yashab yaw-shab'
a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as
judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to
remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)
abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease
self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)
inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),
(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),
(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),
take, tarry.
יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.
1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sit, sit down
1a2) to be set
1a3) to remain, stay
1a4) to dwell, have one's abode
1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited
1c) (Piel) to set, place
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to sit
1d2) to cause to abide, set
1d3) to cause to dwell
1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited
1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be inhabited
1e2) to make to dwell
Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular commonHVqrmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):
In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.
'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).
Earth
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.
(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (
The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…
In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.
Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2