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Isaiah 40:20 — Word Study

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WLCהַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן תְּרוּמָ֔ה עֵ֥ץ לֹֽא־ יִרְקַ֖ב יִבְחָ֑ר חָרָ֤שׁ חָכָם֙ יְבַקֶּשׁ־ ל֔וֹ לְהָכִ֥ין פֶּ֖סֶל לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט׃

BSAOne lackingçâkan such an offeringtᵉrûwmâh [lacking a contribution, impoverished] choosesbâchar woodʻêts [a tree, strong and firm] that will notlôʼ rotrâqab [decay, fall apart] He seeksbâqash [searches for, looks to] a skilledchâkâm craftsmanchârâsh [wise, cunning artificer] to set upkûwn an idolpeçel [carved image, false god] that will notlôʼ topplemôwṭ [be moved, shaken]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 40
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (yi.Mot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 40:20quick helps
In a sentenceIsaiah questions the wisdom of those who, lacking offerings, choose materials for idols that will ultimately fail.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, addressing the people.
Where we areIn a passage that critiques idol worship and emphasizes God's sovereignty.
The hard wordחָרָשׁ
Take awayIdols made by human hands are ultimately powerless.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbרָקֵב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Isaiah 40:20

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 — Critique of Idolatrygenerated

19To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?
20To one bereft of an offering who chooses wood that will not rot, who seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple?
21Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the foundation of the earth?
22He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Isaiah 40:20 presents a rhetorical question that highlights the futility of idol-making. The prophet Isaiah challenges the practice of creating idols from materials that are subject to decay and instability. This verse is part of a broader theme in Isaiah that contrasts the greatness of God with the impotence of idols, emphasizing that true worship should be directed to the Creator rather than to crafted images.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 2:8–9Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.
2Isaiah 44:13–19The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.
3Jeremiah 10:3–4For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.
4Daniel 5:23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.
5Isaiah 41:7The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, saying of the welding, “It is good.” He nails it down so it will not be toppled.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חָרָשׁ, cha.Rashgenerated

The word חָרָשׁ (cha.rash) refers to a skilled craftsman or artisan, someone who works with materials to create objects. This term encompasses various roles, including carpenters and engravers, indicating a high level of skill and artistry.

In this verse, the craftsman is depicted as someone who prepares an idol. The use of this word emphasizes the effort and skill involved in creating something that ultimately has no power, underscoring the absurdity of worshiping idols made by human hands.


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 finite verb יִבְחָ֑ר, he chooses, governs the main clause, with several phrases detailing the subject and actions. The structure highlights the contrast between the one who is impoverished and the skilled craftsman, emphasizing the futility of their efforts.

The sentence structure involves a series of clauses and phrases that elaborate on the actions of the impoverished person and the craftsman, creating a flow that underscores the critique of idol worship.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָרָשׁ as τέκτων, which means 'builder' or 'craftsman.' This choice reflects a broader interpretation, suggesting not just skill but also the act of constructing something intended for worship.

This choice indicates a slight widening of the original Hebrew meaning, focusing on the act of construction rather than solely on the skill involved.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 40:20 questions the wisdom of those who, lacking offerings, choose wood to make idols that will not last. The verse highlights the futility of creating something that cannot stand and contrasts it with the greatness of God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be 'bereft of an offering'?

Being 'bereft of an offering' indicates a lack of resources or contributions to give, highlighting a state of poverty.

Why does Isaiah emphasize the choice of wood that will not rot?

Isaiah emphasizes this choice to illustrate the foolishness of relying on material things that are inherently unstable and temporary.

What is the significance of a skilled craftsman in this verse?

The skilled craftsman represents human effort and artistry, yet Isaiah points out that even the best craftsmanship cannot create something lasting or divine.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of idolatry in Isaiah?

This verse critiques idol worship by contrasting the powerlessness of idols with the sovereignty of God, urging the people to recognize the futility of their practices.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see people today creating 'idols' in their lives that cannot stand?
  2. How can I recognize and avoid investing in things that are ultimately unstable or temporary?
  3. What does this passage teach me about the importance of true worship versus false idols?
  4. How can I apply the message of this verse to my own life and choices?

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

Theodoret of Cyrus comments on Isaiah's critique of idol worship, highlighting the futility of relying on crafted images.

Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON Isaiah 12:40.20 c. 393–460
On the subject of the God of the universe, [Isaiah] has expressed himself in the following manner: “Lebanon is not enough to burn,” while here, to mock the feebleness of idols,
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 40 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 40:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation,.... Who is so poor that he cannot bring an offering to his God, yet he will have one; and though he cannot purchase a golden or silver one, or one

Read John Gill on Isaiah 40 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 40 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

That he hath no oblation; that he can hardly procure money sufficient to buy the meanest sacrifice for his God. He seeketh unto him a cunning workman; he is so mad upon his idols, that he will one way or other find money to procure the choicest materials, and the help of the best artist, to make his idol. That shall not be moved; which after all this cost and art cannot stir one step out of its place to give you any help.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 40 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 40:20 He that [is] so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree [that] will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, [that] shall not be moved. Ver. 20. He that is so impoverished - chooseth a tree.] Which therehence may well say, - “ Olim truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum, Cum faber incertus scamnum, faceretne Priapum, Maluit esse Deum; Deus inde ego: ” -- He chooseth a tree that will not rot.] Which yet is hard to do; the cypress tree is most likely. But what goodly gods were those that could not keep themselves from rotting. A cunning workman.] Somewhat better than he who made the ugly rood of Cockram, whereof when they complained…

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 40 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) He that is so impoverished . . .—The transition is abrupt, but the intention apparently is to represent idolatry at its opposite extremes of the elaborate art in which kings and princes delighted, and the rude rough image, hardly more than a fetiche, the inutile lignum of Horace, “which cannot be moved,” standing on its own wide base, so as not to fall.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 40 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 20. Chooseth a tree that will not rot] For what? To make a god out of it! The rich we find made theirs of gold and silver; the poor man was obliged to put up with a wooden god! From the words "he that hath no oblation chooseth a tree," we may learn that the gold and silver necessary to make the graven image was first dedicated, and then formed into a god! How stupid is idolatry! Strange that these people did not perceive that there could be no help in these molten and wooden idols!

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 40 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. He that is so … oblation] R.V. He that is too impoverished for such an oblation (lit. impoverished with respect to an oblation). If the text be sound this seems the only possible interpretation, although the whole sense turns on the word “such” which is in no way expressed. Moreover the technical tμrϋmβh (temple-oblation) has no appropriateness here. The LXX. appear to have read tμmϋnβh (ὁμοίωμα), which looks more promising, but leaves the word for “impoverished” (ξְ ?ρֻ ?λָּ ?ο) more unintelligible than ever. Jerome gives the information that mμṣ ?ukkβn is a durable kind of wood (see Vulg. “lignum imputribile”); and this has led some to connect it with an Assyrian word, musukkβnu (=…

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 40 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He that is so impoverished - So poor. So it is generally supposed that the word used here is to be understood, though interpreters have not been entirely agreed in regard to its signification.

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

To one bereft of an offering who chooses wood that will not rot, who seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot. He seeks a skillful workman to set up a carved image for him that will not be moved.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot. He seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.

NETBNew English Translation2006

To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He that is too impoverished for such an oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilful workman to set up a graven image, that shall not be moved.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He that is too impoverished for such an oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to set up a graven image, that shall not be moved.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh for himself a skillful workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Doeth not the poore chuse out a tree that will not rot, for an oblation? he seeketh also vnto him a cunning workeman, to prepare an image, that shall not be moued.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He that is impoverished, so that he hath no offering, chooseth a tree that doth not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilled workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

He who is poor [by] heave-offerings, A tree not rotten doth choose, A skilful artisan he seeketh for it, To establish a graven image — not moved.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He who is poor [by] raised-offerings, || Chooses a tree [that is] not rotten, || He seeks a skillful artisan for it, || To establish a carved image—not moved.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He that is skilled in the choice chooseth a wood that will not rot; he seeketh unto himself a skilful workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

To make an offering one chooses a wood that will not rot; he seeks a skillful artisan to make an idol that will not fall over.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He hath chosen strong wood, and that will not rot: the skillful workman seeketh how he may set up an idol that may not be moved.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those who are too poor to pay for that choose wood that won't rot, then they look for a skilled wood-carver to make an idol that won't fall over.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The wise workman makes selection of the mulberry-tree of the offering, a wood which will not become soft; so that the image may be fixed to it and not be moved.

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectהַֽthe.impoverishedמְסֻכָּ֣ן[person]second objectתְּרוּמָ֔הa.contributionnoun phrase · objectעֵ֥ץwoodclauseadverbialלֹֽא[which].notverbיִרְקַ֖בit.will.rotverbיִבְחָ֑רhe.choosesclausenoun phrase · objectחָרָ֤שׁa.craftsmanחָכָם֙skillfulverbיְבַקֶּשׁhe.seeksprepositional phrase · prepositionalל֔forוֹhimselfprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהָכִ֥יןpreparenoun phrase · objectפֶּ֖סֶלan.idolclauseadverbialלֹ֥א[which].notverbיִמּֽוֹטit.will.be.shaken

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 — 1Qisaa agree closely, with 14 words matching exactly. The Septuagint, while differing in word order, retains much of the same vocabulary, indicating a strong consistency across the texts.

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

הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן תְּרוּמָ֔ה עֵ֥ץ לֹֽא־ יִרְקַ֖ב יִבְחָ֑ר חָרָ֤שׁ חָכָם֙ יְבַקֶּשׁ־ ל֔וֹ לְהָכִ֥ין פֶּ֖סֶל לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עֵ֥ץχύλονיִרְקַ֖בἄσηπτονיִבְחָ֑רἐκλέγεταιחָרָ֤שׁτέκτωνיְבַקֶּשׁ־ζητεῖלְהָכִ֥יןστήσειפֶּ֖סֶלεἰκόναלֹ֥אμὴיִמּֽוֹט׃σαλεύηται

9 of the 14 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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

המסכן תרומה עץ לוא ירבק ובחר חרש חכם ובשק ל׳ו להוכין פסל לוא ימוט

14 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.

Isaiah 40:20סָכַןthe impoverthe impoverisheסָכַןתְּרוּמָהa contributa contributionתְּרוּמָהעֵץwoodwoodעֵץלֹא[which] not[which] notלֹארָקֵבit will rotit will rotרָקֵבבָּחַרhe chooseshe choosesבָּחַרחָרָשׁa craftsmana craftsmanחָרָשׁחָכָםskillfulskillfulחָכָםבָּקַשׁhe seekshe seeksבָּקַשׁוֹfor himselffor himselfוֹכּוּןto prepareto prepareכּוּןפֶּ֫סֶלan idolan idolפֶּ֫סֶללֹא[which] not[which] notלֹאמוֹטit will be it will be shakמוֹטשַׂכִּיןknifeknifeשַׂכִּיןרוּםto exaltto exaltרוּםעָצָהto shutto shutעָצָהחָרַשׁto plow/plto plow/plotחָרַשׁחָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםפָּסַלto hewto hewפָּסַליָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשׁוֹקleglegשׁוֹקמַעֲשֵׂרtithetitheמַעֲשֵׂרשִׁטָּהacaciaacaciaשִׁטָּהאֶ֫רֶזcedarcedarאֶ֫רֶזמָאַסto rejectto rejectמָאַסמָקוֹםplaceplaceמָקוֹםמַסְגֵּרlocksmithlocksmithמַסְגֵּרכְּסִילfoolfoolכְּסִילדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתנֶ֫פֶשׁsoulsoulנֶ֫פֶשׁ
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 40:20

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 impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ןham.su.Kan the impoverished [person] H5533 Particle · verb pual participle (passive) masculine singular
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to cause someone to become poor or impoverished, often by damaging or cutting something. It is used to describe a loss of wealth or resources, like in a time of famine or war.
Tyndale gloss
to endanger
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word סָכַן (sa.khan) has meanings related to danger and poverty. It can mean to incur danger or to be poor, with specific forms indicating self-endangerment or being impoverished. The entries reference Ecclesiastes 10:9 and Isaiah 40:20, where these meanings are applied.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָכַן vb. incur danger (late);—Niph. Ec 10:9

ref

[סָכַן] vb. (so most) be poor, but v. infr.;—Pu. Is 40:20

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5533a סָכַן incur danger (late) H5533b סָכַן (so most) be poor

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5533 cakan saw-kan'

probably a denominative from 7915; properly, to cut, i.e.

damage; also to grow (causatively, make) poor:--endanger,

impoverish.

see HEBREW for 07915

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָכַן (sa.khan) — to endanger.

1) to incur danger

1a) (Niphal) to endanger oneself

סָכַן (sa.khan) — to impoverish.

1) to be poor

1a) (Pual) to be impoverished

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Pual-Inf-c — Particle · verb pual participle (passive) masculine singular
HTd/VPsmsa
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
תְּרוּמָ֔הte.ru.Mah a contribution H8641 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
76× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a contribution or offering given to God, often as part of a sacrifice or tribute. It appears in Leviticus and Numbers, where it describes the gifts the Israelites gave to God. This word highlights the importance of giving to God.
Amplified meaning
lacking a contribution, impoverished
Tyndale gloss
contribution
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תְּרוּמָה (terumah) refers to a contribution or offering, particularly for sacred purposes. It denotes something that is lifted or separated, often associated with sacrifices or tributes to God. The term appears primarily in later texts, with a notable reference in Deuteronomy 12:11. It encompasses various forms of offerings, including grain and monetary gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּרוּמָה n.f. contribution, offering, for sacred uses (not certain before Dt.; chiefly EzP and late) (prop. something lifted off, separated)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8641 תְּרוּמָה contribution, offering, for sacred uses (not certain before Dt.; chiefly EzP and late) (prop. something lifted off, separated)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8641 truwmah ter-oo-maw'

or trumah (Deut. 12:11) {ter-oo-maw'}; from 7311; a present

(as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute:--

gift, heave offering ((shoulder)), oblation, offered(-ing).

see HEBREW for 07311

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּרוּמָה (te.ru.mah) — contribution.

1) contribution, offering

1a) a heave offering

1b) any offering

1c) an offering to God

1d) an offering (of grain, money, etc)

1e) contribution

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kon-tri-bu'-shun (koinonia, "communion" or "fellowship," Ro 15:26; 2Co 9:13): The meaning "contribution" is drawn from the context, rather than from the Greek word. The phrase in the passage cited, literally rendered, would be "to exercise" or "put fellowship into activity." The koinonia subsisting among believers because of their inner communion with Christ places them and their gifts and possessions at the service of one another (see COMMUNION). They are enjoined. not to forget to communicate (Heb 13:16). To be "communicative" (koinonikoi) is to be a habit of their lives, the Christian principle being that of the holding of all property as a trust, to be distributed as there is need (

the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
עֵ֥ץ'etz wood H6086 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
330× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word for tree or wood refers to a strong and firm object, like a tree or a wooden plank, as seen in the carpentry work of Jesus' earthly father Joseph in Matthew 13:55.
Amplified meaning
a tree, strong and firm
Tyndale gloss
tree: wood
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵץ (ets) refers to a tree or wood, encompassing various forms such as timber, sticks, and planks. It can denote both singular and plural trees, as well as specific uses like gallows and firewood. The word is derived from a root meaning firmness, indicating its solid nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood

(c. 150 t.)

a standing tree

coll. trees

(c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6086 עֵץ tree, trees, wood . (c. 150 t.) . a standing tree

. coll. trees

. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6086 `ets ates

from 6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural

sticks):--+ carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff,

stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.

see HEBREW for 06095

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵץ (ets) — tree: wood.

: wood

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree.

: tree

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: stick.

: stick/log

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: stake.

: stake/shaft

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: carpenter.

: carpenter/wood(worker)

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wood.

See BOTANY; FOREST; TREES.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wood

See FOREST.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[FOREST]

the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
לֹֽא־lo'- [which] not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
יִרְקַ֖בyir.Kav it will rot H7537 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to rot or decay, often used to describe something falling apart, like in Proverbs 10:28 where the hopes of the wicked will rot. It's a strong image of something being destroyed.
Amplified meaning
decay, fall apart
Tyndale gloss
to rot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָקֵב (raqab) is a primitive root meaning to decay or rot, particularly as caused by worm-eating. The entries consistently emphasize this notion of decay without any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7537 [רָקֵב] rot

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7537 raqab raw-kab'

a primitive root; to decay (as by worm-eating):--rot.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָקֵב (ra.qav) — to rot.

(Qal) to rot

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
יִבְחָ֑רyiv.Char he chooses H977 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
171× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To choose or select is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which appears in Deuteronomy. It can also mean to be chosen or elected. The KJV translates it as 'choose' or 'acceptable'.
Tyndale gloss
to choose
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּחַר (bachar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to choose or select. It encompasses actions like examining and trying, indicating both divine and human choices. The word can appear in various forms, such as being chosen or selected. It is used in contexts of making decisions, often with specific prepositions indicating the nature of the choice.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּחַר vb. choose

Qal

with בְּ,

divine choice

man’s choice

with אֲשֶׁר:

divine choice

man’s choice

with acc. & לְ, choose some one or something for

with acc. and מִן, choose, select from

acc.

divine choice

man’s choice

with עַל, for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction

with לְ of acc. chosen

test, try

Niph. to be chosen

Pu. chosen, selected

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H977 בָּחַר examine, try .. examine, scrutinize, try

. prove, test, try

. to be tried, proved

. the trial has been made

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

977 bachar baw-khar'

a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication)

select:--acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent,

join, be rather, require.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּחַר (ba.char) — to choose.

1) to choose, elect, decide for

1a) (Qal) to choose

1b) (Niphal) to be chosen

1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
חָרָ֤שׁcha.Rash a craftsman H2796 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A chârâsh was a skilled craftsman or artisan, able to work with various materials like wood or metal. This term is used in the Bible to describe carpenters, engravers, and other skilled workers.
Amplified meaning
wise, cunning artificer
Tyndale gloss
artificer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרָשׁ (charash) refers to a craftsman or artificer, encompassing roles such as engraver, carpenter, and worker in various materials. The word is derived from a root meaning to fabricate or work skillfully. It can also figuratively describe someone skilled in destruction, like warriors. The entries consistently highlight its connection to craftsmanship without notable disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָרָשׁ n.m. graver, artificer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2796 חָרָשׁ graver, artificer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2796 charash khaw-rawsh'

from 2790; a fabricator or any material:--artificer, (+)

carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, + mason, skilful, (+)

smith, worker, workman, such as wrought.

see HEBREW for 02790

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁים (cha.rash) — artificer.

1) craftsman, artisan, engraver, graver, artificer

1a) graver, artificer

1b) skilful to destroy (warriors) (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See ART

→ See MASTER WORKMAN

the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
חָכָם֙cha.Kham skillful H2450 Adj
138× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means wise or skilled, describing someone intelligent or crafty, like a cunning man or a prudent leader.
Tyndale gloss
wise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכָם adj. wise

skilful in technical work

wise in the administration of affairs

shrewd, crafty, cunning

pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like

prudent

wise, ethically and religiously

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work

. wise in the administration of affairs

. shrewd, crafty, cunning

. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like

. prudent

. wise, ethically and religiously

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2450 chakam khaw-kawm'

from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or

artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),

man).

see HEBREW for 02449

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.

1) wise, wise (man)

1a) skilful (in technical work)

1b) wise (in administration)

1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle

1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)

1e) prudent

1f) wise (ethically and religiously)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
יְבַקֶּשׁ־ye.va.kesh- he seeks H1245 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
225× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to seek or search for something. In Psalm 105:4, it's used to encourage seeking God's face. It's also used in 1 Samuel 28:8 where Saul seeks a medium.
Amplified meaning
searches for, looks to
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek

Pi.

seek to find

seek to secure

seek the face

desire, demand

require, exact

exact equivalent or penalty for

(late) ask, request

Pu. be sought

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1245 baqash baw-kash'

a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically

in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,

beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,

(make) request, require, seek (for).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.

1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to seek to find

1a2) to seek to secure

1a3) to seek the face

1a4) to desire, demand

1a5) to require, exact

1a6) to ask, request

1b) (Pual) to be sought

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVpi3ms
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
ל֔וֹlo for himself H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
לְהָכִ֥יןle.ha.Khin to prepare H3559 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
217× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Tyndale gloss
to establish: prepare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.

Niph.

be set up, established, fixed

in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

prepare, be ready

pass. be prepared, of judgments

Hiph.

establish, set up

fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

provide for, provide, furnish

direct one's face toward

arrange, order

Hoph.

be established, of throne

be prepared for

Po‛lēl.

set up, establish

constitute, make, a man (in womb)

fix, so as to be ready

direct

Po‛lal. be established

Hithpo‛l. be established

base

נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed

. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

. prepare, be ready

. pass. be prepared, of judgments

. . establish, set up

. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

. provide for, provide, furnish

. direct one's face toward

. arrange, order

. . be established, of throne

. be prepared for

. . set up, establish

. constitute, make, a man (in womb)

. fix, so as to be ready

. direct

. be established

. be established

H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3559 kuwn koon

a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand

perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great

variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper

or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,

fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,

ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),

provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,

fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very

deed.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.

: prepare/direct

1) to be firm, be stable, be established

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed

1a1a) to be firmly established

1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring

1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined

1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)

1a3) to prepare, be ready

1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm

1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish

1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)

1b4) to arrange, order

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be established, be fastened

1c2) to be prepared, be ready

1d) (Polel)

1d1) to set up, establish

1d2) to constitute, make

1d3) to fix

1d4) to direct

1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared

1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored

נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
פֶּ֖סֶלPe.sel an idol H6459 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to an idol or carved image, often used to describe false gods or objects of worship. It is sometimes translated as graven image, emphasizing the act of carving or shaping the idol. This concept is seen in the Bible as a form of rebellion against God.
Amplified meaning
carved image, false god
Tyndale gloss
idol
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫סֶל (pecel) means 'idol' or 'image.' It is derived from the root word for 'carved' or 'graven' and is used to refer to physical representations of deities. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as an idol, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫סֶל 31 n.m. idol, image

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6459 פֶּ֫סֶל idol, image

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6459 pecel peh'-sel

from 6458; an idol:--carved (graven) image.

see HEBREW for 06458

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫סֶל (pe.sel) — idol.

idol, image

Also means: pe.sil (פָּסִיל "idol" H6456)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Idol

(1.) Heb. aven, “nothingness;” “vanity” (Isa. 66:3; 41:29; Deut. 32:21; 1 Kings 16:13; Ps. 31:6; Jer. 8:19, etc.).

(2.) ‘Elil, “a thing of naught” (Ps. 97:7; Isa. 19:3); a word of contempt, used of the gods of Noph (Ezek. 30:13).

(3.) ‘Emah, “terror,” in allusion to the hideous form of idols (Jer. 50:38).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

An image or anything used as an object of worship in place of the true God. Among the earliest objects of worship, regarded as symbols of deity, were the meteoric stones,which the ancients believed to have been images of the Gods sent down from heaven. From these they transferred their regard to rough unhewn blocks, to stone columns or pillars of wood, in which the divinity worshipped was supposed to dwell, and which were connected, like the sacred stone at Delphi, by being anointed with oil and crowned with wool on solemn days. Of the forms assumed by the idolatrous images we have not many traces in the Bible. Dagon, the fish-god of the Philistines, was a human figure terminating in a fish; and that the Syrian deities were represented in later times in a symbolical human shape we know for certainty. When the process of adorning the image was completed, it was placed in a temple or…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Manufacture of Ex 20:4; 32:4,20; De 4:23; Isa 40:19,20; 44:9-12,17; Hab 2:18; Ac 19:24,25

→ Manufacture of, forbidden Ex 20:4; 34:17

→ Made of

Gold Ex 32:3,4; Ps 115:4-7; 135:15-17; Isa 2:20; 30:22; 31:7; Ho 8:4

Silver Isa 2:20; 30:22; 31:7; Ho…

the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
לֹ֥אlo' [which] not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
the impoverished [person] a contribution wood [which] not it will rot he chooses a craftsman skillful he seeks for himself to prepare an idol [which] not it will be shaken
יִמּֽוֹט׃yi.Mot it will be shaken H4131 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to shake or waver, like something that's unstable. It appears in books like Psalms and Proverbs, to describe things that are falling apart or unstable. The KJV translates it as 'be carried' or 'fall'.
Amplified meaning
be moved, shaken
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹט (mot) is a Hebrew verb meaning to totter, shake, or slip. It has various forms, including Qal (to totter), Niphal (to be shaken), Hiphil (to dislodge), and Hithpael (to be greatly shaken). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to instability and movement, but do not specify any particular Old Testament verses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מוֹט] vb. totter, shake, slip

Qal totter, slip

Niph. be shaken, moved, overthrown

Hiph. dislodge, let fall, drop

Hithpo‛l. be greatly shaken

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4131 [מוֹט] totter, shake, slip

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4131 mowt mote

a primitive root; to waver; by implication , to slip, shake,

fall:--be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in

decay, X exceedingly, fall(-ing down), be (re-)moved, be

ready, shake, slide, slip.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹט (mot) — to shake.

1) to totter, shake, slip

1a) (Qal) to totter, shake, slip

1b) (Niphal) to be shaken, be moved, be overthrown

1c) (Hiphil) to dislodge, let fall, drop

1d) (Hithpael) to be greatly shaken

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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