Isaiah 28:17 — Word Study
WLCוְשַׂמְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ לְקָ֔ו וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת וְיָעָ֤ה בָרָד֙ מַחְסֵ֣ה כָזָ֔ב וְסֵ֥תֶר מַ֖יִם יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃
BSAI will makesûwm justicemishpâṭ [righteous judgment, moral integrity] the measuring lineqav [a cord or line for measuring] and righteousnesstsᵉdâqâh [virtue, moral uprightness] the levelmishqeleth [a plummet, a tool for ensuring straightness] Hailbârâd [a sign of God's judgment] will sweep awayyâʻâh△ [brush aside, destroy] your refugemachăçeh [safe place, shelter] of lieskâzâb [falsehood, deception] ◂and watermayim [a source of refreshment] will floodshâṭaph▸ [overflow, gush] ◂your hiding placeçêther [secret place, place of concealment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י | and I will make | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect first person common singular |
| מִשְׁפָּט֙ | justice | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לְקָ֔ו | a measuring-line | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וּצְדָקָ֖ה | and righteousness | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת | a leveling tool | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְיָעָ֤ה | and it will sweep away | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| בָרָד֙ | hail | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| מַחְסֵ֣ה | [the] refuge of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| כָזָ֔ב | falsehood | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְסֵ֥תֶר | and [the] shelter | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מַ֖יִם | waters | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃ | they will overflow | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place. |
| KJV | Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. |
| ASV | And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place. |
| YLT | And I have put judgment for a line, And righteousness for a plummet, And sweep away doth hail the refuge of lies, And the secret hiding-place do waters overflow. |
| WEB | I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. |
| BBE | And I will make right decision the measuring-line, and righteousness the weight: and the ice-storm will take away the safe place of false words, and the secret place will be covered by the flowing waters. |
Translations agree on the key terms of justice and righteousness in this verse.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses that elaborate on the consequences of failing to uphold justice.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectבָּרָד
verbשׂים
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 12 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 28:17
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 — God’s Declaration of Justicegenerated
Isaiah 28:17 presents a profound declaration from God, emphasizing His commitment to justice and righteousness. This verse is situated within a larger discourse where God addresses the failures of His people, promising that His standards will ultimately prevail. The surrounding verses further illustrate the consequences of ignoring divine justice and the reality of judgment, as seen in Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 28:18.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 10:22 | Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overflowing with righteousness. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 21:13 | I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab, and I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes out a bowl—wiping it and turning it upside down. |
| 3 | Psalm 94:15 | Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. |
| 4 | Amos 7:7–9 | This is what He showed me: Behold, the Lord was standing by a wall true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. |
| 5 | Romans 2:2–5 | And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 25 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מִשְׁפָּט, mish.Patgenerated
The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) means justice or judgment, highlighting God's righteous standards. It encompasses legal rights and the act of pronouncing a verdict, reflecting both divine and human law.
In this verse, it signifies the measuring standard by which actions and decisions will be evaluated. The word's usage in various contexts reveals its importance in understanding God's expectations for justice within society.
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 main verb of the verse is וְשַׂמְתִּי (ve.sam.Ti), which governs the entire statement. It introduces the actions of making justice and righteousness the standards for evaluation.
The structure includes two main clauses describing what God will establish, followed by a warning of judgment that will sweep away falsehood and deception.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew מִשְׁפָּט is rendered as κρίσιν (krisin), emphasizing the judicial aspect of God's justice. This choice indicates a focus on the legal implications of God's judgment.
The translation of צְדָקָה as δὲ (de) suggests a more connective role in the Greek, which may imply a broader context of moral integrity.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 28:17 tells us that God will establish justice and righteousness as the standards for His people. He warns that hail will destroy their false shelters, and waters will flood their hiding places, symbolizing the judgment that will come upon them.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
God is declaring that His standards of right and wrong will be the measure by which all actions are judged, emphasizing the importance of moral integrity.
Hail represents God's judgment and serves as a metaphor for the destruction of falsehood and deception among the people.
This verse is part of a larger message where God addresses the failures of His people, warning them of the consequences of their actions and the certainty of His judgment.
We are reminded of the importance of aligning our actions with God's standards and the inevitability of facing consequences for falsehood and deception.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see justice being upheld or neglected in my community?
- How can I ensure that my actions align with God's standards of righteousness?
- What falsehoods do I need to confront in my life or in the world around me?
- How can I be a voice for justice and truth in my relationships and interactions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers have commented on this verse, reflecting on God's justice and the moral implications for believers.
Discourse awhile on our present heavy blow, about the just judgments of God, whether we grasp their meaning or are ignorant of their great depth. How again “mercy is put in the balance,” as holy Isaiah declares.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 28 →
The Judge wishes to have mercy on you and to share his own compassion, but on condition that he finds you humble after sin, contrite, lamenting much for your evil deeds, announcing publicly without shame sins committed secretly,Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 28 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 28:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleJudgment also will I lay to the line,.... A metaphor taken from builders, who in building use the line and plummet to carry on their work even and regular, retaining such stones as agree thereunto,
Read John Gill on Isaiah 28 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryJudgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 28 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleJudgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; I will execute just judgment, as it were by a line and plummet annexed to it, i.e. with exactness and care. And this may be understood either, 1. That God would so order and settle things in his church, that justice and judgment should prevail, and not iniquity, as hitherto it had done; or rather, 2. That as God would build up and preserve all believers upon that Foundation-stone, so he would severely punish and utterly destroy all those unbelieving Jews who should reject that Stone. For the line and plummet, or the plumb-line, was not only used in erecting buildings, but also in pulling them down; those parts of the…
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 28 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.Ver. 17. Judgment also will I lay to the line.] Or, I will set out judgment by line, and justice by plummet; that is, I will proportion your punishments to your offences, as it were by line and by level, that the wicked may have their due, and the godly sustain no damage. See 2 Kings 21:12-13 Amos 7:8. Calvin saith that by this expression, borrowed from builders, the Lord here showeth that when the corner stone before spoken of shall be laid, the Church of the faithful built thereupon shall rise up to a fair and…
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 28 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) Judgment also will I lay to the line . . .—Rather, I make judgment for a line, and righteousness for a plummet. The architectural imagery is continued. The “elect corner stone” shall come up to the standard of perfection, laid four-square (Revelation 21:16); and, therefore, should be the true place of refuge; while? the boast of the scorners, which the prophet repeats in the words that follow, should prove a false one. They would see their place of refuge swept away by the great waters. (Comp. Matthew 7:26-27.) Their treaty with death and Hades should be treated as null and void, They should be trampled under foot by the invading armies.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 28 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. Thé first half of the verse continues Isaiah 28:16. In order to build on this foundation, it is necessary that political conduct be conformed to the eternal principles of the Divine government; these are “judgment” and “righteousness” (see on Isaiah 1:21), which are here compared to the builder’s line and plummet. Render as in R.V. I will make judgment the line and righteousness the plummet. Cf. ch. Isaiah 34:11. and the hail …] Every course of action not based on faith in Jehovah, and not in accordance with the strict rule of the Divine righteousness will prove a false refuge in the day of judgment, see Isaiah 28:15 and cf. Isaiah 28:2. Comp. also Matthew 7:24-27. The verb “sweep away”…
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 28 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleJudgment also will I lay to the line - The sense of this is, I will judge them according to the exact rule of law, as an architect frames everything according to the rule which he uses.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 28 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible17. Judgment… line… righteousness… plummet — This means that the rule of God’s dealings is one of the strictest justice.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 28 →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
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge, the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.
Tyndale line
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.
And I will make judgment the line, and righteousness the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.
Iudgement also will I laye to the rule, and righteousnesse to the balance, and the haile shall sweepe away the vaine confidence, and the waters shall ouerflowe the secret place.
Strictly literal
And I will appoint judgment for a line, and righteousness for a plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.
And I have put judgment for a line, And righteousness for a plummet, And sweep away doth hail the refuge of lies, And the secret hiding-place do waters overflow.
And I have put judgment for a line, || And righteousness for a plummet, || And hail sweeps away the refuge of lies, || And waters overflow the secret hiding place.
And I will make of justice a measuring line, and of righteousness a plummet: and the hail shall sweep off the refuge of lies, and the hiding-place against the waters shall these flood away.
I will make justice the measuring stick, and righteousness the plumbline. Hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.
From the Latin
And I will set judgment in weight, and justice in measure: and hail shall overturn the hope of falsehood: and waters shall overflow its protection.
Simplified
I will make justice as straight as a measuring line, and doing what's right the standard rule. Hail will destroy the protection of your lies, and water will flood the place where you're hiding.
And I will make right decision the measuring-line, and righteousness the weight: and the ice-storm will take away the safe place of false words, and the secret place will be covered by the flowing waters.
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 (MT) of Isaiah 28:17 reads: "וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ לְקָ֔ו וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת וְיָעָ֤ה בָרָד֙ מַחְסֵ֣ה כָזָ֔ב וְסֵ֥תֶר מַ֖יִם יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃" The Dead Sea Scrolls (1Qisaa) closely match the MT, with the text: "ושמתי משפט לקו וצדקה למשקלת ויעה ברד ממחסה כזב וסתר מים ושטפו," showing agreement in wording and meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls (1Q8 and 4Q60) contain fragments that align with the MT but include editorial restorations for completeness. The Septuagint, however, does not provide a direct translation but matches 7 out of 12 words with the MT, indicating some level of agreement, though it has its own structure and phrasing. Overall, the MT and the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit significant agreement, while the Septuagint presents a more varied interpretation.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּט֙ לְקָ֔ו וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת וְיָעָ֤ה בָרָד֙ מַחְסֵ֣ה כָזָ֔ב וְסֵ֥תֶר מַ֖יִם יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃
7 of the 12 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.
ושמתי משפט לקו וצדקה למשקלת ויעה ברד ממחסה כזב וסתר מים ושטפו
12 words on the leather.
ושמתי משפט [לקו] [וצדקה] [למשקלת] [ויעה] [ברד] [מחסה] [כזב] [וסתר] מים ישטפו
4 words on the leather — 8 supplied entire by an editor.
[ושמתי] [משפט] לקו [וצדקה] [למשקלת] [ויעה] [ברד] [מחסה] [כזב]
9 words of the verse are on this fragment — 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.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 28:17
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.
The Hebrew word שׂוּם (sum) is a verb meaning to put, place, or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, establishing, and making. It can also refer to laying something upon or directing it. There is a related noun שׂוּמָה (sumah), which may denote a token of unluckiness. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set
Qal
put, set, in a place
put something upon
put, lay, set
put, c. בֵּין
set, direct
set, ordain, in a place
set, establish a law, statute
set, found a nation
set, appoint (as ruler, official)
set, constitute, make
set, determine, fix, bounds
set, station, at a post
put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars
set up altars
= plant, wheat
set, fix (countenance)
make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into
make, constitute
work, bring to pass
appoint, give
set, fix (countenance)
Hiph. I will make him for a sign
Hoph. there was set before him
base
שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl;—2 S 13:32
ref
H7760a שׂוּם, שִׂים put, place, set .. . put, set, in a place
. put something upon
. put, lay, set
. put, c. בֵּין
. set, direct
. . set, ordain, in a place
. set, establish a law, statute
. set, found a nation
. set, appoint (as ruler, official)
. set, constitute, make
. set, determine, fix, bounds
. . set, station, at a post
. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars
. set up altars
. = plant, wheat
. set, fix (countenance)
. . make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into
. make, constitute
. work, bring to pass
. appoint, give
. set, fix (countenance)
. I will make him for a sign
. there was set before him
H7760b שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl
7760 suwm soom
or siym {seem}; a primitive root; to put (used in a great
variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially,
and elliptically):--X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a
name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider,
convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap
up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out),
mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve,
purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set
(on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down,
((over-))turn, X wholly, work.
שׂוּם (sum) — to set: make.
: make/establish
1) to put, place, set, appoint, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on
1a2) to set, direct, direct toward
1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)
1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix
1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix
1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give
1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign
1c) (Hophal) to be set
שׂוּמָה (su.mah) — fate.
token of unluckiness, scowl
שׂוּם (sum) — to set: put.
: put/give
1) to put, place, set, appoint, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on
1a2) to set, direct, direct toward
1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)
1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singularHc/Vqq1cs
The Hebrew word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) primarily means judgment or justice and encompasses various aspects such as legal rights, ordinances, and decisions. It is derived from a root meaning to pronounce a verdict, covering both human and divine law. The entries highlight its application in legal contexts, including the act of deciding cases and the attributes of justice and rectitude.
מִשְׁפָּט 422 n.m. judgment
judgment
justice, right, rectitude
ordinance
decision
one's (legal) right, privilege, due
proper, fitting, measure
custom, manner
what manner of
plan
base
H4941 מִשְׁפָּט judgment . judgment
. justice, right, rectitude
. ordinance
. decision
. one's (legal) right, privilege, due
. . proper, fitting, measure
. custom, manner
. what manner of
. plan
4941 mishpat mish-pawt'
from 8199; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable)
pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree
(human or (participant's) divine law, individual or
collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the
crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a
participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or
even a style:--+ adversary, ceremony, charge, X crime,
custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due,
fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly),
(manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order,
ordinance, right, sentence, usest, X worthy, + wrong.
see HEBREW for 08199
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
1c) ordinance
1d) decision (in law)
1e) right, privilege, due (legal)
1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) — justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
1a) judgment
1a1) act of deciding a case
1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
1a6) execution (of judgment)
1a7) time (of judgment)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
jus'-tis (tsedhaqah; tsedheq; dikaiosune): The original Hebrew and Greek words are the same as those rendered "righteousness." This is the common rendering, and in about half the cases where we have "just" and "justice" in the King James Version, the American Standard Revised Version has changed to "righteous" and "righteousness." It must be constantly borne in mind that the two ideas are essentially the same.
See RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1. Human Justice:
Justice had primarily to do with conduct in relation to others, especially with regard to the rights of others. It is applied to business, where just weights and measures are demanded (Le 19:35,36; De 25:13-16; Am 8:5; Pr 11:1; 16:11…
Justice
Is rendering to every one that which is his due. It has been distinguished from equity in this respect, that while justice means merely the doing what positive law demands, equity means the doing of what is fair and right in every separate case.
A principle of righteousness and equity, controlling our conduct, and securing a due regard to all the rights of others-their persons, property, character, and interests. It has to do, not with pecuniary transactions alone, but with all our intercourse with society. It forms a chief element of the character approved in God’s word; and a truly just man has but to "love mercy, and walk humbly with God," to fulfil all righteousness. Justice in magistrates, rulers, and judges, must be fearless and impartial, and all its decisions such as will bear revision before the court of heaven, De 1:16,17 2Sa 23:3 2Ch 19:6-10. Judgement is peculiarly the prerogative of God, and every earthly tribunal lies under the shadow of the "great white…
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 23:1-3,6-8; Le 19:13-15; De 16:18-20; 25:1-4; Ezr 7:26; Ps 72:1,2; 82:2-4; Pr 17:15,26; 18:5,17; 20:8; 22:27; 24:23; 28:21; 29:26; Ec 3:16,17; 5:8; 7:7; Isa 1:17; 56:1; 59:14,15; Jer 22:1-4; La 3:35,36; Am 5:7,11,12;
קַו (qav) primarily means 'line' or 'cord', often used for measuring. It may also refer to a musical string or a rule. The term has an onomatopoeic aspect noted in the context of Isaiah, suggesting a playful or nonsensical mimicry. There is some ambiguity regarding its figurative uses, but the core meanings revolve around measurement and connection.
קַו mimicry of Isaiah's words, perh. senseless
base
קַו n.m. line
base
H6957a קַו mimicry of Isaiah's words, perh. nonsense H6957b קַו line
6957 qav kav
or qav {kawv}; from 6960 (compare 6961); a cord (as
connecting), especially for measuring; figuratively, a rule;
also a rim, a musical string or accord:--line. Compare 6978.
see HEBREW for 06960
see HEBREW for 06961
see HEBREW for 06978
קַו (qav) — cord.
1) line, measuring-line
2) (BDB) onomatapoetic mimicry of Isaiah's words, perhaps senseless
קַו (qav) — line.
1) cord, line, measuring-line
1a) cord
1b) measuring-line
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
(qaw, qeweh): The usual meaning is simply line, rope or cord, in Isa 28:10,13, but the line was used for measurement, as is evident from such passages as 1Ki 7:23; Job 38:5; Jer 31:39. Whether the line for measuring had a definite length or not we have no means of knowing. In Isa 44:13 it refers to the line used by the carpenter in marking the timber on which he is working, and in Zec 1:16 it refers to the builder's line.
Figuratively: It signifies destruction, or a portion of something marked off by line for destruction, as in
צְדָקָה (tsdaqah) means 'righteousness' and encompasses various aspects such as justice, truthfulness, and ethical rightness. It can refer to God's attribute of sovereignty, righteousness in governance, and even justification or salvation. The term also implies righteous acts and has an Aramaic equivalent, צִדְקָה (tsid.qah).
צְדָקָה 157 n.f. righteousness
righteousness, in government
God's attribute as sovereign
righteousness, in a case or cause
righteousness = truthfulness
righteousness, as ethically right
righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.
pl. righteous acts
base
H6666 צְדָקָה righteousness . righteousness, in government
. God's attribute as sovereign
. righteousness, in a case or cause
. righteousness = truthfulness
. righteousness, as ethically right
. righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.
. pl. righteous acts
6666 tsdaqah tsed-aw-kaw'
from 6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude),
objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively
(prosperity):--justice, moderately, right(-eous)
(act, -ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 06663
צְדָקָה (tse.da.qah) — righteousness.
1) justice, righteousness
1a) righteousness (in government)
1a1) of judge, ruler, king
1a2) of law
1a3) of Davidic king Messiah
1b) righteousness (of God's attribute)
1c) righteousness (in a case or cause)
1d) righteousness, truthfulness
1e) righteousness (as ethically right)
1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation
1f1) of God
1f2) prosperity (of people)
1g) righteous acts
Aramaic equivalent: tsid.qah (צִדְקָה "righteousness" H6665)
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
ri'-chus-nes (tsaddiq, adjective, "righteous," or occasionally "just" tsedheq, noun, occasionally = "riahteousness," occasionally = "justice"; dikaios, adjective, dikaiosune, noun, from dike, whose first meaning seems to have been "custom"; the general use suggested conformity to a standard: righteousness, "the state of him who is such as he ought to be" (Thayer)):
1. Double Aspect of Righteousness: Changing and Permanent
2. Social Customs and Righteousness
3. Changing Conception of Character of God: Obligations of Power
4. Righteousness as Inner
5. Righteousness as Social
6. Righteousness as Expanding in Content with Growth in Ideals of Human Worth
LITERATURE
1. Double Aspect of Righteousness: Changing and Permanent:
In Christian thought the idea of righteousness contains both a permanent and a changing element. The fixed element is the will to do right; the changing factor is the conception of…
Righteousness
See JUSTIFICATION.
Rectitude, justice, holiness; an essential perfection of God’s character, Job 36:3; Isa 51:5-8; Joh 17:25; and of his administration, Ge 18:25; Ro 3:21,22; 10:3. It is the wonder of grace that as the righteous guardian of the law, he can acquit the unrighteous. "The righteousness of Christ" includes his spotless holiness, his perfect obedience the law demands; and "the righteousness of faith" is that imputed to the sinner who believes in Christ. With reference to personal character, righteousness is used both for uprightness between man and man, and for true religion,
מִשְׁקֶ֫לֶת (mishqeleth) refers to a levelling instrument or plummet used for achieving horizontal accuracy. It is derived from related terms indicating weight or measurement. The entries consistently describe it as a tool for leveling, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[מִשְׁקֶ֫לֶת], מִשְׁקֹ֫לֶת n.f. levelling instrument, level (for horizontal accuracy)
base
H4949 [מִשְׁקֶ֫לֶת], מִשְׁקֹ֫לֶת levelling instrument, level (for horizontal accuracy)
4949 mishqeleth mish-keh'-leth
or mishqoleth {mish-ko'-leth}; feminine of 4948 or 4947; a
weight, i.e. a plummet (with line attached):--plummet.
see HEBREW for 04948
see HEBREW for 04947
מִשְׁקֶ֫לֶת (mish.qe.let) — level.
level, levelling tool or instrument, plummet
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
The Hebrew word יָעָה (ya'ah) is a primitive root meaning to sweep together or sweep away, often implying the idea of carrying something away. It is used in the Qal form, as noted in Isaiah 28:17.
יָעָה vb. sweep together (with collat. idea of carrying away)—Qal Is 28:17
ref
H3261 יָעָה sweep together (with collat. idea of carrying away)
3261 ya`ah yaw-aw'
a primitive root; apparently to brush aside:--sweep away.
יָעָה (ya.ah) — to sweep away.
(Qal) to sweep, sweep away, sweep together
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms
בָּרָד (barad) means hail, specifically referring to hailstones. It is derived from the root word associated with H1258. The term is noted in the context of God's judgment in a figurative sense.
בָּרָד n.m. hail
base
H1259 בָּרָד hail
1259 barad baw-rawd'
from 1258; hail -hail ((stones)).
see HEBREW for 01258
בָּרָד (ba.rad) — hail.
1) hail
1a) of God's judgment (fig.)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Hail!
A salutation expressive of a wish for the welfare of the person addressed; the translation of the Greek Chaire, “Rejoice” (Luke 1:8). Used in mockery in Matt. 27:29.
A salutation, importing a wish for the welfare of the person addressed. It is now seldom used among us; but was customary among our Saxon ancestors, and imported "joy to you," or "health to you," including in the term health all kind of prosperity.
מַחְסֶּה (machaceh) refers to a refuge or shelter, both literally and figuratively. It conveys meanings of protection from danger or storms, and can also imply a place of trust or hope. The word is derived from a root meaning to cover or protect, and is used in contexts that emphasize safety.
מַחְסֶּה n.m. refuge, shelter
base
H4268 מַחְסֶּה refuge, shelter
4268 machaceh makh-as-eh'
or machceh {makh-seh'}; from 2620; a shelter (literally or
figuratively):--hope, (place of) refuge, shelter, trust.
see HEBREW for 02620
מַחְסֶּה (ma.cha.seh) — refuge.
1) refuge, shelter
1a) from rain or storm, from danger
1b) of falsehood
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
כָּזָב (kazab) refers to a lie or falsehood, encompassing meanings like deceit and untruth. It is derived from a root that suggests the concept of deception. The entries consistently describe it as a term for falsehood without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כָּזָב n.m. lie, falsehood, deceptive thing
base
H3577 כָּזָב lie, falsehood, deceptive thing
3577 kazab kaw-zawb'
from 3576; falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively
(idol):--deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying.
see HEBREW for 03576
כָּזָב (ka.zav) — lie.
a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
fols'-hood.
See LYING.
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 20:16; 23:1; Le 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; Job 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; Ps 5:6,9; 10:7; 12:2,3; 28:3; 31:18; 34:13; 36:3; 50:19,20; 52:2-5; 55:21,23; 58:3; 59:12; 62:4; 63:11; 101:5,7; 109:2; 116:11; 119:29,69,163; 120:2-4; 144:8,11; Pr 2:12-15; 3:3; 6:12,13,17-19; 10:9,10,18,31; 11:9; 12:17,19,20,22; 13:5; 14:5,8,25; 17:4,7; 19:5,9,22,28; 20:17; 21:6; 26:18,19,24-26,28; 27:14; Ec 5:6; Isa 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8;
סֵ֫תֶר (se.ter) refers to concepts of covering, hiding, and secrecy, encompassing both literal and figurative meanings. It can denote a hiding place or shelter, as well as the idea of secrecy, including slanderous speech. The feminine form, סִתְרָה (sit.rah), specifically means shelter or protection, with a reference to Deuteronomy 32:38.
ref
H5643a סֵ֫תֶר covering, hiding-place, secrecy H5643b סִתְרָה shelter, protection
5643 cether say'-ther
or (feminine) cithrah (Deut. 32:38), {sith-raw'}; from 5641;
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative
sense):--backbiting, covering, covert, X disguise(-th),
hiding place, privily, protection, secret(-ly, place).
see HEBREW for 05641
סֵ֫תֶר (se.ter) — secrecy.
1) covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy
1a) covering, cover
1b) hiding place, shelter, secret place
1c) secrecy
1c1) secrecy (of tongue being slanderous)
סִתְרָה (sit.rah) — shelter.
shelter, protection
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.
[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
base
H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water
4325 mayim mah'-yim
dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+
piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
מַי (ma.yim) — water.
1) water, waters
1a) water
1b) water of the feet, urine
1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)
מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).
This name means water, refreshment
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
wo'-terz (mayim, plural of may, "water"; in the New Testament hudor, "water"; kindunois potamon (2Co 11:26), the King James Version "perils of waters," is in the Revised Version (British and American) "perils of rivers"): In the New Testament there is frequent reference to the water of baptism. Pilate washes his hands with water to signify his guiltlessness. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman of the living water. The Lamb shall guide the redeemed unto fountains of waters of life.
The uses of mayim are well classified in BDB, especially the figurative references, as follows: a symbol of distress, "when thou passest through the waters" (Isa 43:2); of force, "like the breach of waters" (2Sa 5:20); of that which is overwhelming, "a…
The Hebrew word שָׁטַף (shataph) is a primitive root meaning to overflow or wash off. It encompasses actions such as gushing, inundating, and cleansing, with various forms indicating different nuances like being swept away or rinsed out. The entries consistently highlight its connection to flowing and washing, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
שָׁטַף vb. overflow, rinse or wash off
Qal
overflow
flow, run
lit., rinse or wash off
Niph. be rinsed out, off
Pu. it shall be scoured and rinsed.
base
H7857 שָׁטַף overflow, rinse or wash off
7857 shataph shaw-taf'
a primitive root; to gush; by implication, to inundate,
cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer:--drown,
(over-)flow(- whelm, rinse, run, rush, (throughly) wash
(away).
שָׁטַף (sha.taph) — to overflow.
1) to wash, rinse, overflow, engulf, rinse or wash off
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to overflow
1a2) to flow, run
1a3) to rinse or wash off
1b) (Niphal) to be swept away, be rinsed out
1c) (Pual) to be rinsed, be scoured and rinsed
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp