Isaiah 40:11 — Word Study
WLCכְּרֹעֶה֙ עֶדְר֣וֹ יִרְעֶ֔ה בִּזְרֹעוֹ֙ יְקַבֵּ֣ץ טְלָאִ֔ים וּבְחֵיק֖וֹ יִשָּׂ֑א עָל֖וֹת יְנַהֵֽל׃ ס
BSAHe tendsrâʻâh [cares for, feeds, and guides] His flockʻêder [a group of people or sheep under His care] like a shepherdrâʻâh▸ [one who watches over and protects] He gathersqâbats▸ [collects, assembles] the lambsṭᵉlâʼ△ [young, innocent ones] in His armszᵉrôwaʻ and carries themnâsâʼ▸ close to His heartchêyq [bosom, a place of intimacy and love] He gently leadsnâhal▸ [with kindness and compassion] ◂the nursing [ewes]ʻûwl [those who are nurturing and caring for others]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כְּרֹעֶה֙ | like a shepherd | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine singular |
| עֶדְר֣וֹ | flock his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יִרְעֶ֔ה | he will shepherd | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בִּזְרֹעוֹ֙ | in arm[s] his | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יְקַבֵּ֣ץ | he will gather | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| טְלָאִ֔ים | lambs | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וּבְחֵיק֖וֹ | and in bosom his | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| יִשָּׂ֑א | he will carry [them] | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עָל֖וֹת | nursing [ewes] | Verb, Qal, participle (active) feminine plural |
| יְנַהֵֽל׃ ס | he will lead | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes. |
| KJV | He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. |
| ASV | He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young. |
| YLT | As a shepherd His flock He feedeth, With His arm He gathereth lambs, And in His bosom He carrieth [them]: Suckling ones He leadeth. |
| WEB | He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young. |
| BBE | He will give food to his flock like a keeper of sheep; with his arm he will get it together, and will take up the lambs on his breast, gently guiding those which are with young. |
Where they part company is רָעָה — see How Translations Differ.
The structure of the verse includes multiple main clauses that describe God's actions, emphasizing His nurturing role.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbרָעָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 10 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 40:11
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 Care for His Peoplegenerated
Isaiah 40:11 illustrates God's nurturing role as a shepherd, emphasizing His care for His people. The surrounding verses highlight God's might and authority, contrasting His powerful nature with His gentle guidance. This duality presents a God who is both sovereign and intimately involved in the lives of His followers, similar to how a shepherd tends to his flock.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 49:9–10 | to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They will feed along the pathways, and find pasture on every barren hill. |
| 2 | Isaiah 63:11 | Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, |
| 3 | Genesis 49:24 | Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, |
| 4 | Psalm 23:1–6 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. |
| 5 | Psalm 78:71–72 | from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 20 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רָעָה, ke.ro.'Ehgenerated
The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is a verb that means to tend or care for, particularly in the context of shepherding. It is built from a root that conveys the idea of pasturing a flock, and it encompasses meanings such as grazing, ruling, and befriending. The parsing as a qal participle indicates an ongoing action, highlighting God's continuous care.
In this verse, it emphasizes God's role as a protector and caregiver, illustrating the close relationship between God and His people. The word suggests not just oversight but also a deep, personal connection, akin to that of a shepherd with his sheep.
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 יִרְעֶ֔ה, he will shepherd, which governs several phrases: a prepositional phrase indicating how He shepherds, a noun phrase identifying His flock, and participial phrases describing the actions He takes. The structure emphasizes God's active role in caring for His people.
The order of the elements in Hebrew places emphasis on God's nurturing actions first, followed by the objects of His care, which underscores the intimate relationship He has with His flock.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates רָעָה as ποιμὴν (poimen), meaning 'shepherd.' This choice aligns closely with the original Hebrew, maintaining the imagery of guidance and care inherent in the shepherd metaphor.
This translation reflects a consistent understanding of God's role as a protector and guide, resonating with the pastoral themes found throughout the Scriptures.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 40:11 describes how God cares for His people like a shepherd cares for his sheep. He gathers the young lambs in His arms, showing tenderness and love. This verse highlights God's gentle leadership, as He leads those who are nurturing with kindness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This means that God actively cares for, guides, and protects His people, just as a shepherd does for his sheep.
Gathering the lambs symbolizes God's intimate care and protection, holding them close to His heart, indicating love and safety.
Nursing ewes represent those who are nurturing and caring for others, illustrating God's gentle guidance for those who are in a nurturing role.
We can understand that just as God shepherds His people, we are called to care for and guide others with kindness and compassion.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's shepherding care in my life?
- How can I reflect God's nurturing nature in my relationships with others?
- What does it mean to me that God carries me close to His heart?
- How can I be a source of guidance and support for those around me?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers reference this verse to illustrate God's shepherding role, arguing from it to show His care and guidance.
And that He also calls us lambs, the Spirit by the mouth of Isaiah is an unimpeachable witness: "He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs with His arm,"—using the figurative appellation of lambs,Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 40 →
Of this prophecy also let us observe the fulfillment in the exact way and in truth in the holy Gospels. In the first place, the Lord has said, “I am the good shepherd,Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 40 →
I say that these [lambs] are the souls of those who are truly made heavenly philosophers, rejecting the world with its delights and false show and who prefer to dwell in the desert rather than in royal palaces.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 40 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 40:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe shall feed his flock like a shepherd,.... Christ has a flock, a flock of men, a distinct and peculiar people, and it is but one, and that a little one, and yet a beautiful one, though often a
Read John Gill on Isaiah 40 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 40 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe shall perform all the offices of a tender and faithful shepherd towards his people, carrying himself with great wisdom, and condescension, and compassion to every one of them, according to their several capacities and infirmities.
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 40 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.Ver. 11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd.] That good Shepherd shall, the Lord Jesus. See Psalms 23:1, He shall gather the lambs with his arm.] The Lord hath a great care of his little ones, like as he had of the weaker tribes. In their march through the wilderness, in their several companies or brigades, he put a strong tribe to two weak tribes; as Judah to Issachar and Zebulon, lest they should faint or fail.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 40 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) He shall feed his flock . . .—Psalms 23 is the great embodiment of the thought in the Old Testament, as John 10 is in the New, but the thought itself is everywhere (Psalms 77:20; Psalms 80:1; Jeremiah 13:17; Jeremiah 31:10; Jeremiah 1:19; Ezekiel 34:11-16; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 18:12; Luke 15:4, &c). The tender care of the shepherd for the ewes and lambs finds a parallel in Jacob’s pleas (Genesis 33:13).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 40 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. Shall gently lead those that are with young - "The nursing ewes shall he gently lead."] A beautiful image, expressing, with the utmost propriety as well as elegance, the tender attention of the shepherd to his flock. That the greatest care in driving the cattle in regard to the dams and their young was necessary, appears clearly from Jacob's apology to his brother Esau, Genesis 33:13: "The flocks and the herds giving suck to their young are with me; and if they should be overdriven, all the flock will die." Which is set in a still stronger light by the following remark of Sir John Chardin: "Their flocks," says he, speaking of those who now live in the east after the patriarchal…
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 40 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. Jehovah as the Good Shepherd: an ideal picture of the homeward journey of the exiles, hardly of the permanent relations of Jehovah to His people in the final dispensation. The same image is used of the Restoration in Jeremiah 23:1 ff; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:11 ff.; Isaiah 49:9; cf. Isaiah 63:11. those that are with young] Render, with R.V., those that give suck. cf. Genesis 33:13. Ch. Isaiah 40:12-31. Jehovah, God of Israel, the Incomparable, is the title suggested by Dr Davidson[76] for this great passage. It is a meditation or homily on the immeasurable greatness and power and wisdom of Jehovah, the Creator, as displayed in the works of nature and in the government of the world…
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 40 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe shall feed his flock - In the previous verse, the fact had been asserted that God would come to subdue his foes, and to reward his people.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 40 →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
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.
Tyndale line
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that give suck.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd: he will gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that are with young.
He shall feede his flocke like a shepheard: he shall gather the lambes with his arme, and cary them in his bosome, and shall guide them with young.
Strictly literal
He will feed his flock like a shepherd: he will gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom; he will gently lead those that give suck.
As a shepherd His flock He feedeth, With His arm He gathereth lambs, And in His bosom He carrieth [them]: Suckling ones He leadeth.
He feeds His flock as a shepherd, || He gathers lambs with His arm, || And He carries [them] in His bosom: He leads suckling ones.
Like a shepherd will he feed his flock: with his arm will he gather the lambs, and in his bosom will he carry them, will he lead gently those that suckle their young.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather in his arm the lambs, and carry them close to his heart, and will gently lead the ewes nursing their young.
From the Latin
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.
Simplified
He looks after his flock like a shepherd. He picks up the lambs in his arms and holds them close to his chest. He leads those that are nursing young.
He will give food to his flock like a keeper of sheep; with his arm he will get it together, and will take up the lambs on his breast, gently guiding those which are with young.
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 both agree closely on the wording of this verse, with minor variations in spelling but no significant differences in meaning. The Septuagint matches six of the ten words in a different order, indicating a similar understanding of the text.
כְּרֹעֶה֙ עֶדְר֣וֹ יִרְעֶ֔ה בִּזְרֹעוֹ֙ יְקַבֵּ֣ץ טְלָאִ֔ים וּבְחֵיק֖וֹ יִשָּׂ֑א עָל֖וֹת יְנַהֵֽל׃ ס
6 of the 10 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.
כרועה עדר׳ו ירעה בזרוע׳ו יקבצ טלים ובחיק׳וה ישא עולות ינהל
10 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 40:11
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 רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12
base
רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze
Qal
trans.
intrans.
Niph. poss.
Hiph. v.
base
[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with
Qal cherish faithfulness
Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man
base
[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20
ref
H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend
7462 ra`ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;
intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);
generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a
friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat
up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,
herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,
shepherd, wander, waste.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.
Ra'ah = "pasturing"
perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tend, pasture
1a1a) to shepherd
1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
1a1c) of people as flock (fig)
1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
1a2) to feed, graze
1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.
1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
1a) (Qal) to associate with
1b) (Hithpael) to be companions
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.
(Piel) to be a special friend
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine singularHR/Vqrmsa
shep'-erd (ro`eh, ro`i; poimen, "a feeder"): The sheep owner frequently tends the flocks himself (Ge 4:4; 30:40; compare Eze 34:12), but more often he delegates the work to his children (Ge 29:9; 1Sa 16:19; 17:15) or relatives (Ge 31:6). In such cases the sheep have good care because the keepers have a personal interest in the well-being of the animals, but when they are attended by a hireling (1Sa 17:20) the flocks may be neglected or abused (Isa 56:10,11; Eze…
Shepherd
A word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes the word “pastor” is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4).
In a nomadic state of society every man, from the sheikh down to the slave, is more or less a shepherd. The progenitors of the Jews in the patriarchal age were nomads, and their history is rich in scenes of pastoral life. The occupation of tending the flocks was undertaken,not only by the sons of wealthy chiefs, (Genesis 30:29) ff.; Genesis37:12 ff., but even by their daughters. (Genesis 29:6,8; Exodus 2:10) The Egyptian captivity did march to implant a love of settled abode, and consequently we find the tribes which still retained a taste for shepherd life selecting their own quarters apart from their brethren in the transjordanic district. (
Or PASTOR.
Abel was a keeper of sheep, Ge 4:2, as were the greater number of the ancient patriarchs. When men began to multiply, and to follow different employments, Jabal son of Lamech was acknowledged as father, that is, founder of shepherd and nomads, Ge 4:20. A large part of the wealth of ancient patriarchs consisted in flocks and herds, the care of which was shared by their sons, daughters, and servants. Rachel the bride of Jacob was a shepherdess, Ge 29:6; his sons, the fathers of the tribes of Israel were shepherds, and so was David their king, Ps 78:70-72. The employment is highly honored in the Bible, Lu 2:8-20. In…
עֵ֫דֶר (eder) refers to a flock or herd of animals. It is derived from a root meaning to arrange or muster, indicating a gathering of livestock. The term encompasses both flocks and herds, highlighting its use in contexts related to groups of animals.
עֵ֫דֶר n.m. flock, herd
base
H5739 עֵ֫דֶר flock, herd
5739 `eder ay'-der
from 5737; an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals):--drove,
flock, herd.
see HEBREW for 05737
עֵ֫דֶר (e.der) — flock.
1) flock, herd
1a) flock
1b) herds, flocks and herds
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12
base
רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze
Qal
trans.
intrans.
Niph. poss.
Hiph. v.
base
[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with
Qal cherish faithfulness
Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man
base
[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20
ref
H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend
7462 ra`ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;
intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);
generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a
friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat
up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,
herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,
shepherd, wander, waste.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.
Ra'ah = "pasturing"
perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tend, pasture
1a1a) to shepherd
1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
1a1c) of people as flock (fig)
1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
1a2) to feed, graze
1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.
1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
1a) (Qal) to associate with
1b) (Hithpael) to be companions
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.
(Piel) to be a special friend
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
shep'-erd (ro`eh, ro`i; poimen, "a feeder"): The sheep owner frequently tends the flocks himself (Ge 4:4; 30:40; compare Eze 34:12), but more often he delegates the work to his children (Ge 29:9; 1Sa 16:19; 17:15) or relatives (Ge 31:6). In such cases the sheep have good care because the keepers have a personal interest in the well-being of the animals, but when they are attended by a hireling (1Sa 17:20) the flocks may be neglected or abused (Isa 56:10,11; Eze…
Shepherd
A word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes the word “pastor” is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4).
In a nomadic state of society every man, from the sheikh down to the slave, is more or less a shepherd. The progenitors of the Jews in the patriarchal age were nomads, and their history is rich in scenes of pastoral life. The occupation of tending the flocks was undertaken,not only by the sons of wealthy chiefs, (Genesis 30:29) ff.; Genesis37:12 ff., but even by their daughters. (Genesis 29:6,8; Exodus 2:10) The Egyptian captivity did march to implant a love of settled abode, and consequently we find the tribes which still retained a taste for shepherd life selecting their own quarters apart from their brethren in the transjordanic district. (
Or PASTOR.
Abel was a keeper of sheep, Ge 4:2, as were the greater number of the ancient patriarchs. When men began to multiply, and to follow different employments, Jabal son of Lamech was acknowledged as father, that is, founder of shepherd and nomads, Ge 4:20. A large part of the wealth of ancient patriarchs consisted in flocks and herds, the care of which was shared by their sons, daughters, and servants. Rachel the bride of Jacob was a shepherdess, Ge 29:6; his sons, the fathers of the tribes of Israel were shepherds, and so was David their king, Ps 78:70-72. The employment is highly honored in the Bible, Lu 2:8-20. In…
זְרוֹעַ (z'roa) refers to an arm or shoulder, often symbolizing strength. It can denote the physical arm, the shoulder of a sacrificed animal, or military and political forces. The word is derived from a root meaning to stretch out, indicating both physical and metaphorical strength.
זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ n.f. and (rare) m. arm, shoulder, strength
arm
arm, as symbol of strength
Pl. forces, political and military
Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest
base
H2220 זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ arm, shoulder, strength . arm
. arm, as symbol of strength
. Pl. forces, political and military
. Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest
2220 zrowa` zer-o'-ah
or (shortened) zroao {zer-o'-ah}; and (feminine) zrowpah
{zer-o-aw'}; or zrowah {zer-o-aw'}; from 2232; the arm (as
stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively,
force:--arm, + help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength.
see HEBREW for 02232
זְרוֹעַ (ze.ro.a) — arm.
1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength
1a) arm
1b) arm (as symbol of strength)
1c) forces (political and military)
1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
קָבַץ (qabats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or collect. It encompasses various forms, including assembling, being gathered, and taking away. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, and Hithpael, which reflect nuances in meaning and action.
קָבַץ 127 vb. gather, collect
Qal gather, collect
Niph.
intrans. assemble, gather
pass. be gathered
Pi. 51 gather together
Pu. of land
Hithp. gather together (intrans.), be gathered together
base
H6908 קָבַץ gather, collect
6908 qabats kaw-bats'
a primitive root; to grasp, i.e. collect:--assemble
(selves), gather (bring) (together, selves together, up),
heap, resort, X surely, take up.
קָבַץ (qa.vats) — to gather.
1) to gather, assemble
1a) (Qal) to gather, collect, assemble
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to assemble, gather
1b2) to be gathered
1c) (Piel) to gather, gather together, take away
1d) (Pual) to be gathered together
1e) (Hithpael) to gather together, be gathered together
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singularHVpi3ms
gath'-er ('acaph, qabhats; sullego, sunago):
"Gather," transitive "to bring together," "collect," etc., and intransitive "to come together," "assemble," etc., occurs frequently and represents many Hebrew and Greek words. It is the translation of 'acaph, "to bring together," in Jos 6:9, the King James Version margin "gathering host"; Ps 27:10, the King James Version margin "The Lord will gather me"; compare Nu 12:14,15; Isa 52:12 King James Version margin. The phrases "gather thee unto thy fathers," "gathered unto his fathers," "gathered into the grave," etc., are frequently used for "to die" and "death" (Ge 25:8,17…
טָלֶה (taleh) means 'lamb' and is derived from a root suggesting covering for protection. It is closely related to another form, טְלָא (te.la), which is also defined as 'lamb.' The entries indicate that this word is used in contexts involving young sheep.
H2922 טָלֶה lamb
2922 tla' tel-aw'
apparently from 2921 in the (orig.) sense of covering (for
protection); a lamb (compare 2924):--lamb.
see HEBREW for 02921
see HEBREW for 02924
טְלָא (te.la) — lamb.
lamb
Another spelling of ta.leh (טָלֶה "lamb" H2924)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
are the young of sheep, but originally included also the young of goats. They formed an important part of almost every sacrifice. (Exodus 29:38-41; Numbers 28:9,11; 29:2,13-40) etc. [On the paschal lamb see PASSOVER]
חֵיק (cheq) means 'bosom' and can refer to the literal or figurative sense of being enclosed, such as in the body or in garments. It encompasses meanings like embrace, lap, and secret, indicating a sense of intimacy or closeness. The entries suggest a range of uses, including physical and metaphorical contexts.
חֵיק, חֵק n.[m.] bosom
of fold of garment, at breast
carry in bosom
bosom as part of body
base
H2436 חֵיק, חֵק bosom
2436 cheyq khake
or cheq {khake}; and chowq {khoke}; from an unused root,
apparently meaning to inclose; the bosom (literally or
figuratively):--bosom, bottom, lap, midst, within.
חֵיק (cheq) — bosom: embrace.
: embrace/chest
bosom, hollow, bottom, midst
חֵיק (cheq) — bosom: garment.
: garment
bosom, hollow, bottom, midst
A sub-meaning of cheq (חֵיק ": embrace" H2436)
חֵיק (cheq) — bosom: lap.
: lap/base
bosom, hollow, bottom, midst
A sub-meaning of cheq (חֵיק ": embrace" H2436)
חֵיק (cheq) — bosom: secret.
: secret
bosom, hollow, bottom, midst
A sub-meaning of cheq (חֵיק ": embrace" H2436)
Conj | Prep | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word נָשָׂא (nasa') means to lift, carry, or take, encompassing a wide range of applications both literal and figurative. It can refer to actions like bearing burdens, taking away, or being exalted. The entries indicate various forms and uses, including the ability to lift oneself up or cause others to bear iniquity. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
נָשָׂא 656 vb. lift, carry, take
Qal
lift, lift up
Bear, carry
Take, take away
Niph.
be lifted up
refl. lift oneself up = rise up, of י׳, to display power in judgment
be borne, carried
be taken away, carried off
Pi.
lift up = exalt
fig. = desire, long
carry, bear continuously
take, take away
Hithp. lift oneself up
Hiph.
cause one to bear iniquity
appar. cause to bring, have brought
base
H5375 נָשָׂא lift, carry, take .. lift, lift up
. Bear, carry
. Take, take away
. . be lifted up
. refl. lift oneself up = rise up, of י׳, to display power in judgment
. be borne, carried
. be taken away, carried off
. . lift up = exalt
. fig. = desire, long
. carry, bear continuously
. take, take away
. lift oneself up
. . cause one to bear iniquity
. appar. cause to bring, have brought
5375 nasa' naw-saw'
or nacah (Psalm 4 : 6 (7)) {naw-saw'}; a primitive root; to
lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and
figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows):--accept, advance,
arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring
(forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease,
exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further,
give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (+ man), lade,
lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, X needs, obtain,
pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare,
stir up, + swear, take (away, up), X utterly, wear, yield.
see HEBREW for 04
see HEBREW for 06
see HEBREW for 07
נָשָׂא (na.sa) — to lift: raise.
: raise/take_up
1) to lift, bear up, carry, take
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lift, lift up
1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure
1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted
1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up
1b3) to be borne, be carried
1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist
1c2) to desire, long (fig.)
1c3) to carry, bear continuously
1c4) to take, take away
1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity)
1e2) to cause to bring, have brought
נָשָׂא (na.sa) — to lift: bear.
: look/lift(eyes)
1) to lift, bear up, carry, take
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to lift, lift up
1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure
1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
עוּל (uwl) is a primitive root meaning to suckle or give milk. The entries indicate it primarily refers to nursing, particularly in the context of animals, such as an ewe with young. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.
[עוּל] vb. give suck
base
H5763 [עוּל] give suck
5763 `uwl ool
a primitive root; to suckle, i.e. give milk:--milch, (ewe
great) with young.
עוּל (ul) — to nurse.
1) to give suck, suckle, nurse
1a) (Qal) giving suck (participle)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine pluralHVqrfpa
נָהַל (nahal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lead or guide, particularly to a watering place or station where one can rest. It encompasses ideas of refreshing and sustaining, as well as conducting someone gently. The word can also imply a journey by stages. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[נָהַל] vb. Pi. lead, guide to a watering-place or station, and cuase to rest there; bring to a station or place of rest; lead, guide; refresh
Pi.
lead to a watering-place (or station), and cause to rest there
lead or bring to a station, a goal
lead, guide
give rest to
refresh with food
Hithp. journey by stations, stages
base
H5095 נָהַל Pi. lead, guide to a watering-place or station, and cuase to rest there; bring to a station or place of rest; lead, guide; refresh . . lead to a watering-place (or station), and cause to rest there
. lead or bring to a station, a goal
. lead, guide
. give rest to
. refresh with food
. journey by stations, stages
5095 nahal naw-hal'
a primitive root; properly, to run with a sparkle, i.e. flow;
hence (transitively), to conduct, and (by inference) to
protect, sustain:--carry, feed, guide, lead (gently, on).
נָהַל (na.hal) — to guide.
1) to lead, give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place or station, cause to rest, bring to a station or place of rest, guide, refresh
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to lead to a watering-place or station and cause to rest there
1a2) to lead or bring to a station or goal
1a3) to lead, guide
1a4) to give rest to
1a5) to refresh (with food)
1b) (Hithpael)
1b1) to lead on
1b2) to journey by stations or stages
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singularHVpi3ms
led (`ophereth): Lead was one of the first metals to be used in the free state, probably because it was so easily obtained from its ores. Lead was found in ancient times in Egypt and the Sinaitic peninsula. There is no lead found in Palestine proper, but in Northern Syria and Asia Minor it occurs in considerable quantities, usually associated with silver. These sources no doubt furnished an important supply in Bible times. It was also brought by the Phoenicians from Spain (Tarshish) (Eze 27:12) and the British Isles.
Lead was used, as it still is, all along the Mediterranean shores for sinkers. Pieces of Egyptian fishnets probably dating from 1200 BC are now preserved in the British Museum, with their lead sinkers still attached. Since lead was the heaviest metal known to the ancients, gold excepted, it was generally used for…
This is one of the most common of metals, found generally in veins of rocks, though seldom in a metallic state, and most commonly in combination with sulphur. It was early known to the ancients, and the allusions to it in Scripture indicate that the Hebrews were well acquainted with its uses. The rocks in the neighborhood of Sinai yielded it in large quantities, and it was found in Egypt. In (Job 19:24) the allusion is supposed to be to the practice of carving inscriptions upon stone and pouring molten lead into the cavities of the letters, to render them legible and at the same time preserve them from the action of the air.
There are early allusions to this well-known metal in Scripture. The Egyptians "sank as lead" in the Red Sea, Ex 15:10; Nu 31:22; Eze 27:12. Job refers to its use in preserving a permanent record of events, by being melted and poured into letters deeply cut in a rock, Job 19:24. Leaden tablets also were used by the ancients for similar records. This metal was employed, before the use of quicksilver was known, in purifying silver; and the process by which these metals are purged from their dross, illustrates God’s discipline of his people, Jer 6:29,30; Eze…