Isaiah 34:13 — Word Study
WLCוְעָלְתָ֤ה אַרְמְנֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ סִירִ֔ים קִמּ֥וֹשׂ וָח֖וֹחַ בְּמִבְצָרֶ֑יהָ וְהָיְתָה֙ נְוֵ֣ה תַנִּ֔ים חָצִ֖יר לִבְנ֥וֹת יַעֲנָֽה׃
BSAHer towersʼarmôwn [citadels, strong fortresses] will be overgrownʻâlâh with thornsçîyr [prickly plants, unwanted growth] her fortressesmibtsâr [strongholds, fortified places] with thistlesqimmôwsh [thorny weeds] and brierschôwach [wild, nuisance plants] She will becomehâyâh a hauntnâveh [dwelling place, home] for jackalstannîyn [wild, predatory animals] an abodechâtsîyr△ [courtyard, resting place] for ostrichesyaʻănâh [large, unclean birds]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְעָלְתָ֤ה | and it will grow up | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person feminine singular |
| אַרְמְנֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ | fortresses its | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| סִירִ֔ים | thorns | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| קִמּ֥וֹשׂ | nettle[s] | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וָח֖וֹחַ | and thornbush[es] | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| בְּמִבְצָרֶ֑יהָ | [will be] on fortifications its | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְהָיְתָה֙ | and it will be | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person feminine singular |
| נְוֵ֣ה | a habitation of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| תַנִּ֔ים | jackals | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| חָצִ֖יר | grass | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לִבְנ֥וֹת | for daughters of | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct |
| יַעֲנָֽה׃ | an ostrich | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches. |
| KJV | And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. |
| ASV | And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches. |
| YLT | And gone up her palaces have thorns, Nettle and bramble [are] in her fortresses, And it hath been a habitation of dragons, A court for daughters of an ostrich. |
| WEB | Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it will be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches. |
| BBE | And thorns will come up in her fair houses, and waste plants in her strong towers: and foxes will make their holes there, and it will be a meeting-place for ostriches. |
The translations agree on the imagery of desolation without significant variation in wording.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by descriptive phrases, emphasizing the transformation of the city.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectסִירָה
verbעָלָה
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 34:13
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 on Edomgenerated
Isaiah 34:13 presents a vivid image of destruction, where the once-proud towers and fortresses of Edom will be overgrown, symbolizing its abandonment and ruin. The surrounding verses illustrate the totality of this desolation, as noble figures and leaders are reduced to nothing, leaving the land to wild beasts and unclean birds, as seen in the broader context of Isaiah 34:12 and Isaiah 34:14.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 32:13–14 | and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers— even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry. |
| 2 | Hosea 9:6 | For even if they flee destruction, Egypt will gather them and Memphis will bury them. Their precious silver will be taken over by thistles, and thorns will overrun their tents. |
| 3 | Zephaniah 2:9 | Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah— a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.” |
| 4 | Isaiah 13:21–22 | But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. |
| 5 | Isaiah 35:7 | The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עָלָה, ve.'al.Tahgenerated
The verb עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' or 'to grow up', indicating a rising or increase. In this verse, it describes how thorns will grow up over the towers, signifying neglect and abandonment.
This verb is in the sequential perfect tense, third person feminine singular, indicating a completed action that has ongoing implications. The imagery of growth here suggests a transformation from strength to desolation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the phrase reflects the idea of towers being overgrown, which is consistent across translations like the KJV and ASV, both using 'overgrown' for עָלָה.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb עָלְתָה governs the sentence, indicating what will happen to the towers and fortresses. The structure is straightforward, with the verb followed by the subjects and objects that describe the state of the city.
The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the towers and fortresses, showing how they are the focus of the transformation into a desolate place.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עָלָה as ἀναφύσει, meaning 'will grow up', which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning of growth or increase. This choice reflects the same imagery of abandonment as the Hebrew text.
The Greek rendering captures the essence of the transformation from a stronghold to a wild place, emphasizing the desolation prophesied.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 34:13 describes how the towers of Edom will be overgrown with thorns and its fortresses with thistles, turning the once strong city into a home for wild animals like jackals and ostriches. This imagery illustrates the complete desolation and abandonment of the city.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This indicates that the city will be neglected and left to ruin, symbolizing its downfall.
These animals signify desolation and abandonment, as they thrive in deserted places.
They represent unwanted growth, highlighting the transformation from a place of strength to one of neglect.
It illustrates the consequences of turning away from God, leading to desolation and ruin.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the imagery of overgrown towers and fortresses suggest about the state of a person's life without God?
- How can we apply the lessons of desolation and neglect to our own spiritual lives?
- In what ways can we ensure that our lives do not become like the abandoned city described in this passage?
- What does this passage teach us about the nature of God's judgment and the consequences of sin?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, using it to illustrate God's judgment against Babylon.
Which conduct the Lord by the Prophet well reproves, under the character of Babylon, saying; "Thorns and nettles shall spring up in her houses,Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 34 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 34:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd thorns shall come up in her palaces,.... Where their kings and princes dwelt, and kept their courts, popes and cardinals; here will be the tokens of God's curse, as thorns are, these being the
Read John Gill on Isaiah 34 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 34 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThis is another mark and evidence of extreme desolation, as it is also, .
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 34 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 34:13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, [and] a court for owls.Ver. 13. A court for owls.] Or, Ostriches. See on Isaiah 34:11.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 34 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) An habitation of dragons, and a court for owls . . .—The wild creatures named are identified, as elsewhere, with “jackals” (“wild dogs,” Delitzsch) and “ostriches.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 34 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. And thorns shall come up in her palaces] ועלו בארמנותיה vealu bearmenotheyha; so read all the ancient versions. A court for owls.] יענה yaanah, the ostrich, from ענה anah, to cry, because of the noise it makes. "They roar," says Dr. Shaw, "sometimes like a lion-sometimes like a bull. I have often heard them groan as if in the utmost distress."
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 34 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. The mention of nobles and princes naturally leads to the palaces and castles. dragons … owls] jackals … ostriches (R.V.). See on ch. Isaiah 13:21 f.
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 34 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd thorns ... - (see the note at Isaiah 5:6) It shall be an habitation of dragons - On the meaning of the word ‘dragons,’ see the note at Isaiah 13:22. Court for owls - A place of resort, a residence of owls.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 34 →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
Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it will be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns; thickets and weeds will grow in her fortified cities. Jackals will settle there; ostriches will live there.
Tyndale line
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in her fortresses, and it shall be a habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
And it shall bring foorth thornes in the palaces thereof, nettles and thistles in the strong holdes thereof, and it shall be an habitation for dragons, and a court for ostriches.
Strictly literal
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in her fortresses; and it shall be a dwelling-place of wild dogs, a court for ostriches.
And gone up her palaces have thorns, Nettle and bramble [are] in her fortresses, And it hath been a habitation of dragons, A court for daughters of an ostrich.
And thorns have gone up her palaces, || Nettle and bramble [are] in her fortresses, || And it has been a habitation of dragons, || A court for daughters of an ostrich.
And thorns shall spring up in its palaces, nettles and brambles in its fortresses: and it shall be a habitation of monsters, and a court for ostriches.
Thorns will overgrow her palaces, nettles and thistles her fortresses. It will be a habitation of jackals, a place for ostriches.
From the Latin
And thorns and nettles shall grow up in its houses, and the thistle in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be the habitation of dragons, and the pasture of ostriches.
Simplified
Thorns will grow over its palaces; weeds and thistles will take over its fortresses. It will be a place where jackals live, a home for owls.
And thorns will come up in her fair houses, and waste plants in her strong towers: and foxes will make their holes there, and it will be a meeting-place for ostriches.
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 and the Dead Sea Scrolls agree closely, with the scrolls preserving a nearly identical text to the MT, indicating consistency in the prophecy's wording across traditions.
וְעָלְתָ֤ה אַרְמְנֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ סִירִ֔ים קִמּ֥וֹשׂ וָח֖וֹחַ בְּמִבְצָרֶ֑יהָ וְהָיְתָה֙ נְוֵ֣ה תַנִּ֔ים חָצִ֖יר לִבְנ֥וֹת יַעֲנָֽה׃
6 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.
ועלתה ארמונותי׳ה סירים קמוש וחוח במבצרי׳הא והייתה נוה תנים חצר לבנות יענה
12 words on the leather.
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 34:13
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 עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including going up, climbing, and rising in various contexts such as personal, natural, and spiritual. It can refer to actions involving people, animals, vegetation, and even thoughts, and includes nuances of being exalted or offering sacrifices. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various grammatical forms, indicating different aspects of ascent or elevation.
עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb
Qal
of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations
go up, in personal relations
of animals, go or come up
of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth
of natural phenom., go up, rise
of inanimate things, instead of passive construction
of thoughts
come up before God, arrogance
go up, extend, of boundary
excel
Niph.
be brought up
be taken up
pass., be taken up, away
reflex., take oneself away from, get up from
reflex.: take oneself away
be exalted, of God
Hiph.
bring up persons
in personal relations
bring up animals
cause to ascend
mentally
offer a present; bring up tithe to
exalt
cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice
Hoph.
be carried away
be taken up into, inserted in
be offered
Hithp. lift oneself
base
H5927 עָלָה go up, ascend, climb .. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations
. go up, in personal relations
. of animals, go or come up
. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth
. of natural phenom., go up, rise
. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction
. of thoughts
. come up before God, arrogance
. go up, extend, of boundary
. excel
. . . be brought up
. be taken up
. . pass., be taken up, away
. reflex., take oneself away from, get up from
. reflex.: take oneself away
. be exalted, of God
. . bring up persons
. in personal relations
. bring up animals
. cause to ascend
. mentally
. offer a present; bring up tithe to
. exalt
. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice
. . be carried away
. be taken up into, inserted in
. be offered
. lift oneself
5927 `alah aw-law'
a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or
actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary
and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise
(up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up),
bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb
(up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart,
exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up);
grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,
(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect,
prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise
(up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring
(up), stir up, take away (up), work.
עָלָה (a.lah) — to ascend: rise.
: rise/go
1) to go up, ascend, climb
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go up, ascend
1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat
1a3) to go up, come up (of animals)
1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)
1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)
1a6) to come up (before God)
1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)
1a8) to excel, be superior to
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away
1b2) to take oneself away
1b3) to be exalted
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up
1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away
1c3) to bring up, draw up, train
1c4) to cause to ascend
1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)
1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)
1c7) to exalt
1c8) to cause to ascend, offer
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be carried away, be led up
1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in
1d3) to be offered
Conj | V-Qal-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqq3fs
אַרְמוֹן (armown) refers to a citadel, castle, or palace, indicating a structure that is elevated or fortified. This term is primarily found in the prophetic books of the Old Testament, particularly in Amos and Jeremiah, and it is noted that it was not used before the royal period. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to fortifications and royal residences.
אַרְמוֹן n.m. citadel—citadel, castle, palace, not used before royal period, mostly in prophets, esp. common in Am & Je
base
H759 אַרְמוֹן citadel—citadel, castle, palace, not used before royal period, mostly in prophets, esp. common in Am & Je
759 'armown ar-mone'
from an unused root (meaning to be elevated); a citadel (from
its height):--castle, palace. Compare 2038.
see HEBREW for 02038
אַרְמוֹן (ar.mon) — citadel: palace.
: palace
citadel, palace, fortress
Also means: ar.mon (אַרְמוֹן ": fortress" H0759H)
אַרְמוֹן (ar.mon) — citadel: fortress.
: palace
citadel, palace, fortress
A sub-meaning of ar.mon (אַרְמוֹן ": palace" H0759)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3fs
סִיר (sir) has meanings related to both cooking and nature, referring to a 'pot' or 'caldron' as well as a 'thorn' or 'hook.' It is derived from a root meaning to boil up, indicating its connection to cooking utensils. The word appears in contexts like Jeremiah 52:18, where it is used in reference to a pot.
סִיר n.m. et f. pot
base
[סִיר] n.[m.] thorn, hook
base
H5518a סִיר pot H5518b סִיר thorn, hook
5518 ciyr seer
or (feminine) ciyrah {see-raw'}; or cirah (Jeremiah 52:18)
{see-raw'}; from a primitive root meaning to boil up; a pot;
also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a
hook:--caldron, fishhook, pan, ((wash-))pot, thorn.
סִיר (sir) — pot.
1) pot
1a) pot (household utensil)
1b) pot (of temple)
סִיר (sir) — thorn.
1) thorn, hook, brier
1a) thorns
1b) hooks
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
and Thistles. There appear to be eighteen or twenty Hebrew words which point to different kinds of prickly or thorny shrubs. These words are variously rendered in the Authorized Version By "thorns," "briers," "thistles," etc. Palestine abounded in a great variety of such plants. ("Travellers call the holy land ’a land of thorns.’ Giant thistles, growing to the height of a man on horseback, frequently spread over regions once rich and fruitful, as they do on the pampas of South America; and many of the most interesting historic spats and ruins are rendered almost inaccessible by thickets of fiercely-armed buckthorns. Entire fields are covered with the troublesome creeping stems of the spinous ononis , while the bare hillsides are studded with the dangerous capsules of the puliuris and tribulus . Roses of the most prickly kinds abound on the lower slopes of Hermon; while the sub-tropical…
See THISTLES.
קִמּוֹשׂ (qimmowsh) refers to thistles or nettles, described as prickly or thorny plants. The term is derived from an unused root that means to sting. It is associated with the word for thorn, קִמָּשׂוֹן (qim.ma.shon), which is noted in the entries.
קִמּוֹשׂ n.m. coll. thistles or nettles
base
H7057 קִמּוֹשׂ thistles or nettles
7057 qimmowsh kim-moshe'
or qiymowsh {kee-moshe'}; from an unused root meaning to
sting; a prickly plant:--nettle. Compare 7063.
see HEBREW for 07063
קִמּוֹשׂ (qim.mosh) — nettle.
thistles or nettles, a thorny or useless plant
Also means: qim.ma.shon (קִמָּשׂוֹן "thorn" H7063)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
חוֹחַ (chowach) refers to a thorny plant, such as a brier or bramble, and can also denote a hook or fetter. The word is built from a root meaning to pierce, suggesting its association with thorns. It is linked to the concept of a thicket through a related term. There is a slight variation in emphasis across entries, with some focusing more on the plant aspect and others on the hook or fetter.
חוֹחַ n.m. 1. brier, bramble. 2. hook, ring, fetter
base
H2336 חוֹחַ 1. brier, bramble. 2. hook, ring, fetter
2336 chowach kho'-akh
from an unused root apparently meaning to pierce; a thorn; by
analogy, a ring for the nose:--bramble, thistle, thorn.
חוֹחַ (cho.ach) — thistle.
1) thorn, brier, bramble, thornbush, thicket
2) hook, ring, fetter
Also means: cha.vach (חָוָח "thicket" H2337)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word מִבְצָר (mibtsar) means 'fortification' and can refer to a castle or fortified city. It is derived from a root meaning to 'fence' or 'fortify.' The entries indicate its use in contexts related to strongholds and defense, including a reference in Daniel 11:15.
מִבְצָר n.m. fortification
base
H4013 מִבְצָר fortification
4013 mibtsar mib-tsawr'
also (in plural) feminine (Dan. 11:l5) mibtsarah
{mib-tsaw-raw'}; from 1219; a fortification, castle, or
fortified city; figuratively, a defender:--(de-, most)
fenced, fortress, (most) strong (hold).
see HEBREW for 0l5
see HEBREW for 01219
מִבְצָר (miv.tsar) — fortification.
fortification, fortress, fortified city, stronghold
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3fs
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqq3fs
נָוֶה (naveh) refers to a place of dwelling, often associated with shepherds and flocks, such as a pasture or meadow. It can denote a home or habitation, including divine spaces like temples. The term conveys a sense of comfort and beauty, suggesting a pleasant living environment. There is some overlap in the definitions provided, but all entries emphasize its pastoral and residential qualities.
נָוֶה n.m. abode of shepherd, or flocks, poet. habitation
abode, of sheep
abode of shepherds
= meadow
habitation, usu. of country, or of domains in the country (chiefly poet.)
base
[נָוֶה] adj. dwelling, abiding
base
H5116a נָוֶה abode of shepherd, or flocks, poet. habitation . . abode, of sheep
. abode of shepherds
. = meadow
. habitation, usu. of country, or of domains in the country (chiefly poet.)
H5116b נָוֶה dwelling, abiding
5116 naveh naw-veh'
or (feminine) navah {naw-vaw'}; from 5115; (adjectively) at
home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also
(noun) a home, of God (temple), men (residence), flocks
(pasture), or wild animals (den):--comely, dwelling (place),
fold, habitation, pleasant place, sheepcote, stable, tarried.
see HEBREW for 05115
נָוֶה (na.veh) — pasture.
1) abode, habitation, abode of shepherds or flocks, pasture
1a) abode (of sheep)
1b) abode (of shepherds)
1c) meadow
1d) habitation
נָוֶה (na.veh) — dwelling.
adj
dwelling, abiding
N-cs — 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…
תַּן (tan) means jackal, while תַּנִּין (tan.nin) refers to a serpent, dragon, or sea monster. The entries suggest that the word can denote both land and marine creatures, including dragons and venomous snakes. Ezekiel 29:3 is specifically mentioned in relation to the term.
[תַּן] n.[m. et] f. jackal
base
תַּנִּין (erron. תַּנִּים) n.m. serpent, dragon, sea-monster
base
H8577a [תַּן] jackal H8577b תַּנִּין (erron. תַּנִּים) serpent, dragon, sea-monster
8577 tanniyn tan-neen'
or tanniym (Ezek. 29:3) {tan-neem'}; intensive from the same
as 8565; a marine or land monster, i.e. sea-serpent or
jackal:--dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale.
see HEBREW for 08565
תַּן (tan) — jackal.
jackal
Also means: tan.nah (תַּנָּה "dragon" H8568)
תַּנִּין (tan.nin) — Dragon.
This name means dragon, serpent, sea monster
תַּנִּין (tan.nin) — serpent: snake.
1) dragon, serpent, sea monster
1a) dragon or dinosaur
1b) sea or river monster
1c) serpent, venomous snake
Also means: tan.nin (תַּנִּין ": monster" H8577N)
תַּנִּין (tan.nin) — serpent: monster.
1) dragon, serpent, sea monster
1a) dragon or dinosaur
1b) sea or river monster
1c) serpent, venomous snake
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
חָצִיר (chatsiyr) refers to a settled abode or haunt, indicating a place where one resides. It is noted as a collateral form of another word, suggesting a connection to the concept of a court or dwelling. The term is consistently understood across lexicons as relating to a dwelling or habitation.
חָצִיר n.[m.] settled abode or haunt
base
H2681 חָצִיר settled abode or haunt
2681 chatsiyr khaw-tseer'
a collateral form of 2691; a court or abode:--court.
see HEBREW for 02691
חָצִיר (cha.tsir) — abode.
a dwelling, an abode, settled abode, haunt
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
gras:
(1) chatsir, from a root meaning "greenness"; compare Arabic Khudra, which includes grasses and green vegetables (1Ki 18:5; 2Ki 19:26; Job 40:15; Ps 104:14, etc.). Isa 15:6 is translated in the King James Version "have," the Revised Version (British and American) "grass"; Pr 27:25, English Versions of the Bible "hay," margin "Hebrew grass"; Nu 11:5 English Versions of the Bible translates "leeks." It is a term for herbage in general.
Grass
(1.) Heb. hatsir, ripe grass fit for mowing (1 Kings 18:5; Job 40:15; Ps. 104:14). As the herbage rapidly fades under the scorching sun, it is used as an image of the brevity of human life (Isa. 40:6, 7; Ps. 90:5). In Num. 11:5 this word is rendered “leeks.”
(2.) Heb. deshe’, green grass (Gen. 1:11, 12; Isa. 66:14; Deut. 32:2). “The sickly and forced blades of grass which spring up on the flat…
Sometimes means any green herbage, Isa 15:6, and sometimes the usual food of cattle, Ps 104:14. The quick growth of grass, its tenderness, and its rapid combustion when dry, have furnished the sacred writers with some of their most appropriate illustrations, Ps 90:5,6 92:7 103:15,16 Isa 40:6-8 51:12 Jas 1:10 1Pe 1:24. All sorts of grass and small shrubs are still used in Syria for fuel, on account of the scarcity of wood, Mt 6:28-30. Travelers in that country often see grass growing on the housetops, the roofs…
בַּת (bat) means 'daughter' and encompasses a range of meanings including female child, young women, and even personifications of cities or inhabitants. It can also refer to villages in certain contexts. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and is used in various figurative senses, such as 'branch' or 'apple of the eye.'
בַּת 587 n.f. daughter
daughter, female child
young women, women
with name of city, land, or people, poet. personif. of that city or inhabitants
pl. = villages, after name of city
in phrases denoting character, quality, etc.
ostrich
fig.
of vine = branch
as n. relat.
base
H1323 בַּת daughter . daughter, female child
. young women, women
. with name of city, land, or people, poet. personif. of that city or inhabitants
. pl. = villages, after name of city
. in phrases denoting character, quality, etc.
. ostrich
. fig.
. of vine = branch
. as n. relat.
1323 bath bath
from 1129 (as feminine of 1121); a daughter (used in the same
wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and
figuratively):--apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter,
X first, X old, + owl, town, village.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01121
בַּת (bat) — daughter.
: daughter
1) daughter
1a) daughter, girl, adopted daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, granddaughters, female child, cousin
1a1) as polite address
1a2) as designation of women of a particular place
2) young women, women
1a3) as personification
1a4) daughter-villages
1a5) description of character
Also means: bat (בַּת ": village" H1323H)
בַּת (bat) — daughter: village.
: village
1) daughter
1a) daughter, girl, adopted daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, granddaughters, female child, cousin
1a1) as polite address
1a2) as designation of women of a particular place
2) young women, women
1a3) as personification
1a4) daughter-villages
1a5) description of character
בַּת (bat) — Bath (Shua).
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2;
daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063);
mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956)
HR/Ncfpc — Preposition · noun common feminine plural constructHR/Ncfpc
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…
יַעֲנָה (ya`anah) refers to an ostrich, and is noted as an unclean bird. It may also imply an owl, with some sources suggesting it could represent an extinct bird, though its exact meaning is uncertain. The word is derived from יַעֲנָה’s root, יַעֲנָה (ya`anah), which carries similar meanings.
יַעֲנָה n.f. greed (?);—ostrich
base
H3284 יַעֲנָה greed (?);—ostrich
3284 ya`anah yah-an-aw'
feminine of 3283, and meaning the same:--+ owl.
see HEBREW for 03283
יַעֲנָה (ya.a.nah) — ostrich.
1) an unclean bird
1a) owl, ostrich, literally translated as "daughters of the owl"
1b) perhaps an extinct bird, exact meaning unknown
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
os'-trich (ya`anah; strouthos; Latin Struthio camelus): The largest bird now living. The Hebrew words ya`anah, which means "greediness," and bath ha-ya`anah, "daughter of greediness," are made to refer to the indiscriminate diet of the ostrich, to which bird they apply; and again to the owl, with no applicability. The owl at times has a struggle to swallow whole prey it has taken, but the mere fact that it is a night hunter forever shuts it from the class of greedy and promiscuous feeders. The bodies of owls are proverbially lean like eagles. Neither did the owl frequent several places where older versions of Jer and Isa place it; so the translations are now correctly rendered "ostrich." These birds came into the Bible because of their desert life, the companions they lived among there, and because of their night cries that were guttural, terrifying groans, like the roaring of lions.…
Ostrich
(Lam. 4:3), the rendering of Hebrew pl. enim; so called from its greediness and gluttony. The allusion here is to the habit of the ostrich with reference to its eggs, which is thus described: “The outer layer of eggs is generally so ill covered that they are destroyed in quantities by jackals, wild-cats, etc., and that the natives carry them away, only taking care not to leave the marks of their footsteps, since, when the ostrich comes and finds that her nest is discovered, she crushes the whole brood, and builds a nest elsewhere.” In Job 39:13 this word in the Authorized Version is the rendering of a Hebrew word (notsah) which means “feathers,” as in the Revised Version. In the same verse the word “peacocks” of the Authorized Version is the rendering of the Hebrew pl.…
a large bird, native of African and Arabia, nearly ten feet high, having s long neck and short wings. It seeks retired places, (Job 30:29; Lamentations 4:13) and has a peculiar mournful cry that is sometimes mistaken by the Arabs for that of the lion. (Micah 1:8) In (Job 39:13-18) will be found a description of the bird’s habits. Ostriches are polygamous; the hens lay their eggs promiscuously in one nest, which is merely a hole scratched in the sand; the eggs are then covered over to the depth of about a foot, and are, in the case of those birds which are found within the tropics, generally left for the greater part of the day to the heat of the sun, the parent-birds taking…
The largest of birds, and a sort of connecting link between fowls and quadrupeds, termed by the Persians, Arabs, and by Greeks, the "camel-bird." It is a native of the dry and torrid regions of Africa and western Asia. The gray ostrich is seven feet high and its neck three feet long; it weighs nearly eighty pounds, and is strong enough to carry two men. The other species, with glossy black wings and white tail, is sometimes ten feet high. The beautiful plumes so highly valued are found on the wings, about twenty on each, those of the tail being usually broken and worn. There are no feathers on the thighs, or under the wings; and the neck is but scantily clothed with thin whitish hairs. The weight of the body and the size and structure of the wings show that the animal is formed for running rather than flying.