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Isaiah 40:4 — Word Study

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WLCכָּל־ גֶּיא֙ יִנָּשֵׂ֔א וְכָל־ הַ֥ר וְגִבְעָ֖ה יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ וְהָיָ֤ה הֶֽעָקֹב֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר וְהָרְכָסִ֖ים לְבִקְעָֽה׃

BSAEverykôl [all, everything] valleygayʼ [low area, geological depression] shall be lifted upnâsâʼ [exalted, raised] and everykôl mountainhar [hill] and hillgibʻâh [small hill] made lowshâphêl [abased, humbled] the uneven [ground]ʻâqôb [insidious, crooked] will becomehâyâh smoothmîyshôwr [level, plain] and the rugged landrekeç [rough, difficult] a plainbiqʻâh [level area, valley]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 40
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (le.vik.'Ah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 40:4quick helps
In a sentenceIsaiah declares that the low will be raised and the high will be brought low, preparing a way for the Lord.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, relaying a message of transformation.
Where we areA prophetic declaration about the coming of the Lord, situated in a larger passage of comfort and hope.
The hard wordיִנָּשֵׂ֔א
Take awayGod's power will level the ground, making way for His presence.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָשָׂא The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 12 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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

Deep Study — Isaiah 40:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Preparation for the Lordgenerated

3A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.
5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field.

Isaiah 40:4 speaks of a time when the Lord will come, and the landscape will be transformed to welcome Him. This passage emphasizes the reversal of fortunes, where valleys are exalted and mountains humbled, symbolizing the preparation of hearts and minds for divine intervention. This theme of God making a way is echoed in other prophetic texts, highlighting His sovereignty in the midst of human affairs.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 42:11–15Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.
21 Samuel 2:8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.
3Psalm 113:7–8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump
4Ezekiel 17:24Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”
5Ezekiel 21:26This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יִנָּשֵׂ֔א, yi.na.Se'generated

The verb נָשָׂא (nasa') means to lift or raise, indicating an action of elevation. It is used in various contexts, from lifting burdens to raising status, and carries a sense of divine action in this verse.

In the Niphal form, it suggests that the valleys will be acted upon, emphasizing that the lifting is not self-initiated but a result of God's will. This transformation prepares the way for the Lord, symbolizing hope and renewal.


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 יִנָּשֵׂ֔א governs the sentence, indicating that valleys will be lifted. The structure includes additional clauses that describe what will happen to mountains and uneven ground, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the transformation.

The sequence of actions — lifting valleys, lowering mountains, and smoothing rough places — creates a rhythm that underscores the totality of the preparation for the Lord's arrival.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִנָּשֵׂ֔א as πληρωθήσεται, which implies a fulfillment or completion. This choice reflects a broader understanding of the lifting, suggesting not just a physical elevation but a fulfilling of God's promises.

Similarly, יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ is rendered as ταπεινωθήσεται, emphasizing the humbling aspect, which aligns with the theme of divine intervention and the reversal of human conditions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 40:4 tells us that every valley will be lifted up and every mountain made low. The rough ground will become smooth, and the rugged land will be a plain. This transformation prepares the way for the Lord, emphasizing His power to change circumstances.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for valleys to be lifted up?

It symbolizes the elevation of the lowly and the humble, indicating God's intention to bring hope and restoration.

Why are mountains and hills made low?

This represents the humbling of the proud and powerful, showing that no one can stand against God's will.

What is the significance of the uneven ground becoming smooth?

It signifies the removal of obstacles, making a clear path for the Lord's coming, both physically and spiritually.

How does this verse relate to God's promises?

This verse illustrates God's commitment to fulfill His promises by transforming the landscape, which serves as a metaphor for His work in the world.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to experience elevation or lifting?
  2. How can I prepare my heart to welcome God's presence?
  3. What mountains in my life need to be humbled to make way for God's work?
  4. How can I help others see the smooth path God is creating for them?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this passage to discuss God's transformative power and the preparation of the way for Christ. Their insights are presented here.

Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON Isaiah 40:4 c. 306–373
It is said that the valleys are filled, because the Lord has entered the world, and has redeemed all the peoples from the bondage of the devil,
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 40 →
John CassianCONFERENCE 24:25 c. 360–435
According to the plain teaching of the Lord, the king’s highway is easy and smooth, though it may be felt as hard and rough.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 40 →
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON Isaiah 12:40.4 c. 393–460
He has clearly shown by these terms the facility of the evangelical proclamation: thanks to this facility, in a short time it filled the whole world.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 40 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 40:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,.... Which is not to be understood literally, but, as Kimchi says, parabolically and mystically: the meaning is, that in

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

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: Every valley shall be exalted ... Eastern monarchs

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

This is only a more particular explication of that which was generally expressed . The sense is, All obstructions shall be removed, and the way made in all respects convenient and easy for the passenger.

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

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:Ver. 4. Every valley shall be exalted.] Terms taken from the custom of princes coming into a place - viz., to have their way cleared, and passages facilitated. See on Matthew 3:3.

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

(4) Every valley shall be exalted.—The figure is drawn from the titanic engineering operations of the kingly road-makers of the East, but the parable is hardly veiled. The meek exalted, the proud brought low, wrong ways set right, rough natures smoothed: that is the true preparation for the coming of the Lord, and therefore the true work of every follower of the Baptist in preparing the way. (Comp. Matthew 3:5-7; Luke 3:3-9.)

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

Verse 4. Crooked] The word עקב akob is very generally rendered crooked: but this sense of the word seems not to be supported by any good authority. Ludolphus, Comment. ad Hist. AEthiop. p. 206, says "that in the Ethiopia language it signifies clivus, locus editus:" and so the Syriac Version renders it in this place, ערמא arama: Hebrew, ערמה aramah, tumulus, acervus. Thus the parallelism would be more perfect: "the hilly country shall be made level, and the precipices a smooth plain."

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

4. and the crooked … plain] More literally: and the uneven shall become a plain, and the rugged places a valley. rough places is a word of somewhat uncertain sense, which does not occur elsewhere. straight and plain are nouns in the original.

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

Every valley shall be exalted - That is, every valley, or low piece of ground, shall be filled up so as to make a level highway, as was done in order to facilitate the march of armies.

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

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain:

RVARevised Version, American1894

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Euery valley shall be exalted, and euery mountaine and hill shall be made lowe: and the crooked shalbe streight, and the rough places plaine.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Every valley shall be raised up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places a plain.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Every valley is raised up, And every mountain and hill become low, And the crooked place hath become a plain, And the entangled places a valley.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Every valley is raised up, || And every mountain and hill become low, || And the crooked place has become a plain, || And the entangled places a valley.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Every valley shall be raised, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made a straight path, and the rough places a plain:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; and the rugged land will be made level, and the rough places a plain;

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Fill in all the valleys; level all the mountains and hills; smooth out the uneven ground; make the rough places flat.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and let the rough places become level, and the hilltops become a valley,

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 · subjectכָּלeveryגֶּיא֙valleyverbיִנָּשֵׂ֔אit.will.be.lifted.upוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectכָלeverynoun phraseהַ֥רmountainוְandגִבְעָ֖הhillverbיִשְׁפָּ֑לוּthey.will.become.lowוְandclauseclauseverbהָיָ֤הit.will.becomenoun phrase · subjectהֶֽthe.steepעָקֹב֙[place]prepositional phrase · prepositionalלְ(into).levelמִישׁ֔וֹרgroundוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectהָthe.roughרְכָסִ֖יםplacesprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְ(into).aבִקְעָֽהplain

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls, showing consistency across these ancient witnesses. The scrolls confirm the wording of the verse, with minor editorial additions in some instances, but the core message remains intact.

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

כָּל־ גֶּיא֙ יִנָּשֵׂ֔א וְכָל־ הַ֥ר וְגִבְעָ֖ה יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ וְהָיָ֤ה הֶֽעָקֹב֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר וְהָרְכָסִ֖ים לְבִקְעָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כָּל־πᾶσαגֶּיא֙φάραγχיִנָּשֵׂ֔אπληρωθήσεταιוְכָל־πᾶνהַ֥רὄροςוְגִבְעָ֖הβουνὸςיִשְׁפָּ֑לוּταπεινωθήσεταιוְהָיָ֤הἔσταιהֶֽעָקֹב֙πάνταלְמִישׁ֔וֹרεὐθεῖανוְהָרְכָסִ֖יםτραξεῖαלְבִקְעָֽה׃πεδία

12 of the 12 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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

כול גי ינשא וכול הר וגבעה ישפלו והיה העקב למישור והרוכסים לבקעה

12 words on the leather.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Q8a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[כל] [גיא] [ינשא] [וכל] [הר] [וגבעה] [ישפלו] [והיה] [העקב] [למישור] [והרכסים] [לבקעה]

nothing on the leather here — 12 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q56a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

כל גיא [ינשא] [וכל] [הר]

5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 3 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Isaiah 40:4כֹּלeveryeveryכֹּלגַּיְאvalleyvalleyגַּיְאנָשָׂאit will be it will be liftנָשָׂאכֹּלand everyand everyכֹּלהַרmountainmountainהַרגִּבְעָהand hilland hillגִּבְעָהשָׁפֵלthey will bthey will becomשָׁפֵלהָיָהand it willand it will becהָיָהעָקֹבthe steep [the steep [placעָקֹבמִישׁוֹרlevel grounlevel groundמִישׁוֹררֶ֫כֶסand the rouand the rough pרֶ֫כֶסבִּקְעָהa plaina plainבִּקְעָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלעָקַבto assailto assailעָקַביָשַׁרto smoothto smoothיָשַׁררָכַסto bindto bindרָכַסבָּקַעto break uto break up/opeבָּקַעגֵּוָהprideprideגֵּוָהאֵבfruitfruitאֵבאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדהַרmountainmountainהַרגֶּ֫בַעGebaGebaגֶּ֫בַעהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָההִנֹּם(Topheth o(Topheth of) Hiהִנֹּםיִפְתַּח־אֵליִפְתַּח־אֵלכְּלִמָּהshameshameכְּלִמָּהמָשָׁלproverbproverbמָשָׁלגִּבְעָהGibeatGibeatגִּבְעָה
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 40:4

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.

every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
כָּל־kol- every H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
all, everything
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
גֶּיא֙gei' valley H1516 Noun common · both singular absolute
60× 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 a deep, narrow valley or gorge. It is also another name for Topheth, a place of child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom. The word describes a steep and dramatic landscape.
Amplified meaning
low area, geological depression
Tyndale gloss
Valley
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּיְא (gay) means 'valley' and specifically refers to a steep, narrow gorge. It is likely derived from a root meaning related to height. The term appears in various combinations with names of locations, indicating specific valleys, such as Topheth and Zeboim. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּיְא n.m. valley

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1516 גַּיְא valley

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1516 gay' gah'-ee

or (shortened) gay {gah'-ee}; probably (by transmutation)

from the same root as 1466 (abbreviated); a gorge (from its

lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or

winter-torrent):--valley.

see HEBREW for 01466

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּיְא (gay) — Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Another name of to.phet (תֹּ֫פֶת "Topheth" H8612)

גַּיְא (gay) — (Iphtahel) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with yiph.tach-el (יִפְתַּח־אֵל " of Iphtahel" H3317)

גַּיְא (gay) — (Zeboim) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with tse.vo.im (צְבֹעִים " of Zeboim" H6650H)

גַּיְא (gay) — (Salt) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with me.lach (מֶ֫לַח " of Salt" H4417H)

גַּיְא (gay) — Ge.

§ valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

גַּיְא (gay) — (Zephathah) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

Combined with tse.pha.tah (צְפַ֫תָה "Zephathah" H6859)

גַּיְא (gay) — Valley (Gate).

§ valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

גַּיְא (gay) — (Hamon-gog) Valley.

valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge

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

val'-i.

See VALE; VALLEY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Valley

(1.) Heb. bik’ah, a “cleft” of the mountains (Deut. 8:7; 11:11; Ps. 104:8; Isa. 41:18); also a low plain bounded by mountains, as the plain of Lebanon at the foot of Hermon around the sources of the Jordan (Josh. 11:17; 12:7), and the valley of Megiddo (2 Chr. 35:22).

(2.) ‘Emek, “deep;” “a long, low plain” (Job 39:10, 21; Ps. 65:13; Cant. 2:1), such as the plain of Esdraelon; the “valley of giants” (

With respect to the general features of the Holy Land, see CANAAN; and for descriptions of some of its numerous valleys, see JERUSALEM, JEZREEL, JORDAN, REPHAIM, SHECHIEM, and SODOM. "The valley of the shadow of death," is an expression denoting an extremely perilous and cheerless condition of the soul, Ps 23:4, and may have been suggested by the psalmist’s experience with his flock in some of the deep, narrow, and dark ravines of Syria.

Thus the entrance to Petra is by long winding defile, between rugged precipices in some spots not more than twelve or fourteen feet apart and two or three hundred feet high, and almost excluding the light of day. See view in SELA. A similar pass south of mount Carmel is now known as the "Valley of Death-shade."

every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
יִנָּשֵׂ֔אyi.na.Se' it will be lifted up H5375 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
656× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to lift or raise something, and it's used in many ways, like lifting a burden or raising someone's status. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often talking about God lifting people up. It's about supporting or carrying something or someone.
Amplified meaning
exalted, raised
Tyndale gloss
to lift: raise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
וְכָל־ve.khol and every H3605 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
הַ֥רhar mountain H2022 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
546× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Amplified meaning
hill
Tyndale gloss
mountain: mount
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הַר (har) means 'mountain' or 'hill,' and can refer to a range of hills or hill-country. It is derived from a root that suggests elevation and can be used figuratively. The entries consistently highlight its geographical connotations without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country

mountain, hill

hill-country, mountain-region

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2022 har har

a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills

(sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X

promotion.

see HEBREW for 02042

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הַר (har) — mountain: mount.

: mount/hill

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.

: hill_country

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

A sub-meaning of har (הַר ": mount" H2022)

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

→ Melted Ps 97:5; De 4:11; 5:23; Jud 5:5; Isa 64:1-3; Mic 1:4; Na 1:5

→ Overturning and removing of Job 9:5; 14:18; 28:9; Eze 38:20

→ Abraham offers Isaac upon Mount Moriah, afterward called Mount Zion, the site of the temple (later in the time of Solomon) Ge 22:2

→ See ZION

→ Mount Horeb appointed as a place for the Israelites to worship Ex 3:12

every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
וְגִבְעָ֖הve.giv.'Ah and hill H1389 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
68× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gibeat refers to a small hill, with the name meaning hill, and is another spelling of Gibeah. It appears in various KJV translations as hill or little hill.
Amplified meaning
small hill
Tyndale gloss
Gibeat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּבְעָה (gib'ah) means 'hill' and refers to a small elevation of land. It can denote a place of worship or be used in place names, often associated with illicit worship. The word is feminine and is derived from a related term for a hillock. It appears in various contexts, including poetic uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גִּבְעָה n.f. hill

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1389 גִּבְעָה hill

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1389 gib`ah ghib-aw'

feminine from the same as 1387; a hillock:--hill, little

hill.

see HEBREW for 01387

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeath-(elohim).

Gibeath - a place or worship

This name means hill

1a) hill

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeath-(haaraloth).

This name means hill

Another name of gil.gal (גִּלְגָּל "Gilgal" H1537G)

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — hill.

1) hill

1a) hill (lower than a mountain)

1b) as a place of illicit worship

1c) poetic for mountain

1d) used in place names

גִּבְעָה (giv.ah) — Gibeat.

This name means hill

Another spelling of giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeah" H1390H)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hill

(1.) Heb. gib’eah, a curved or rounded hill, such as are common to Palestine (Ps. 65:12; 72:3; 114:4, 6).

(2.) Heb. har, properly a mountain range rather than an individual eminence (Ex. 24:4, 12, 13, 18; Num. 14:40, 44, 45). In Deut. 1:7, Josh. 9:1; 10:40; 11:16, it denotes the elevated district of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, which forms the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.

(3.) Heb. ma’aleh in 1 Sam. 9:11. Authorized Version “hill” is correctly rendered in the Revised Version “ascent.”

every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּyish.Pa.lu they will become low H8213 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To humble or abase oneself, to lower one's expectations or pride. In the Bible, it can mean to bring someone or something down, like in Proverbs 29:23, where a person's pride is humbled.
Amplified meaning
abased, humbled
Tyndale gloss
to abase
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁפֵל (shaphel) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become low or abased. It can refer to both a physical lowering and a figurative humbling, with usages in different forms indicating actions like laying low or humbling oneself. The entries emphasize its application in contexts of humiliation and lowering one's status.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁפֵל vb. be or become low, be abased

Qal

all Is: become (be brought, laid) low

to be lowly of spirit

of sound

Hiph.

usu. fig., lay low

hum. subj. set one in a lower place

as helping vb.: make low, sit down = take low seat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8213 שָׁפֵל be or become low, be abased

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8213 shaphel shaw-fale'

a primitive root; to depress or sink (expec. figuratively, to

humiliate, intransitive or transitive):--abase, bring (cast,

put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put)

low(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁפֵל (sha.phel) — to abase.

1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased

1a) (Qal) to be or become low

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate

1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement

1b3) to make low, sit down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
וְהָיָ֤הve.ha.Yah and it will become H1961 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-kum':

(1) Greek ginomai, used in New Testament for a change of state, corresponding to Hebrew hayah of Old Testament. Compare Mt 18:3 with De 27:9.

(2) For what is fitting, suitable, proper, in New Testament: "prepei" (Mt 3:15; Eph 5:3; 1Ti 2:10); in Old Testament, na'awah, na'ah, Ps 93:5: "Holiness becometh thy house." in this sense, the adverb "becomingly" must be interpreted: "Walk becomingly toward them that are without" (1Th 4:12), i.e. in a way that is consistent with your profession.

every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
הֶֽעָקֹב֙he.'a.Ko the steep [place] H6121 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means something is not straight or honest, like a crooked path or a deceitful action, often used to describe unfair or polluted things. It appears in various books, including the prophets. This concept is important in understanding God's desire for integrity.
Amplified meaning
insidious, crooked
Tyndale gloss
insidious
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָקֹב (ʿāqōb) has meanings related to deceitfulness and steepness. It is built from the root associated with tracking or being crooked. The entries indicate it can describe something insidious or hilly, with a specific reference in Isaiah 40:4. There is some variation in the emphasis on its meanings across lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָקֹב adj.

insidious, deceitful

foot-tracked

base

עָקֹב adj. steep, hilly;—Is 40:4

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6121a עָקֹב . insidious, deceitful

. foot-tracked

H6121b עָקֹב steep

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6121 `aqob aw-kobe'

from 6117; in the original sense, a knoll (as swelling up);

in the denominative sense (transitive) fraudulent or

(intransitive) tracked:--crooked, deceitful, polluted.

see HEBREW for 06117

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָקֹב (a.qov) — insidious.

1) deceitful, sly, insidious

1a) deceitful, sly, insidious, slippery

1b) foot-tracked

עָקֹב (a.qov) — steep.

steep, hilly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

plas: Normally for maqom, Old Testament, and topos, New Testament, but in the King James Version "place" represents a great number of Hebrew and Greek words, often used with no difference in force (e.g. 2Ch 35:10,15). the Revised Version (British and American) has made few changes, but occasionally has attempted to specialize the meaning (Ge 40:13; Job 37:8; Ac 8:32; Jas 3:11, etc.).

every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
לְמִישׁ֔וֹרle.mi.Shor level ground H4334 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a level or plain area, often used to describe a geographical region. It can also mean uprightness or justice, and is sometimes used to describe a place of equity or fairness. In the Bible, it appears in various translations, including plain and straight.
Amplified meaning
level, plain
Tyndale gloss
plain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִישׁוֹר (miyshowr) refers to a level place or plain, often associated with uprightness and justice. It can denote a physical flat area, like a table-land, or be used figuratively to mean equity and righteousness. The word is derived from a root meaning to be straight, emphasizing its connections to fairness and moral integrity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִישׁוֹר n.m. level place, uprightness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4334 מִישׁוֹר level-place, uprightness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4334 miyshowr mee-shore'

or miyshor {mee-shore'}; from 3474; a level, i.e. a plain

(often used (with the article prefix) as a properly, name of

certain districts); figuratively, concord; also straightness,

i.e. (figuratively) justice (sometimes adverbially,

justly):--equity, even place, plain, right(-eously), (made)

straight, uprightness.

see HEBREW for 03474

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִישׁוֹר (mi.shor) — plain.

1) level place, uprightness

1a) level country, table-land, plain

1b) level place

1c) uprightness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Man made from Ge 2:7; 3:19,23; Job 4:19; 33:6

→ Animals made from Ge 2:19

→ Vegetables come from Ge 2:9

→ Cursed Ge 3:17; 5:29

every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
וְהָרְכָסִ֖יםve.ha.re.kha.Sim and the rough places H7406 Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Roughness or a rough place refers to a difficult or hard area, like a mountain ridge. This term is used to describe a challenging location. It can be a barrier or obstacle.
Amplified meaning
rough, difficult
Tyndale gloss
roughness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫כֶס (rekec) is a noun that may refer to roughness of ground, something bound up or impeded, or a mountain chain. The term's meaning is uncertain, with suggestions of it being an impassable area or a rough place. It appears in Isaiah 40:4.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רֶ֫כֶס] n.[m.] dub.; perh. roughness (of ground; ? lit. binding, know); or bound up, impeded, i.e. impassable; or mountain-chain;—pl. Is 40:4

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7406 [רֶ֫כֶס] dub.; perh. roughness (of ground; ? lit. binding, know); or bound up, impeded, i.e. impassable; or mountain-chain

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7406 rekec reh'-kes

from 7405; a mountain ridge (as of tied summits):--rough

place.

see HEBREW for 07405

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫כֶס (re.khes) — roughness.

1) roughness or bound up, impeded, the impassable or mountain chain, rough place

1a) meaning uncertain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Art | N-mp — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Td/Ncmpa
every valley it will be lifted up and every mountain and hill they will become low and it will become the steep [place] level ground and the rough places a plain
לְבִקְעָֽה׃le.vik.'Ah a plain H1237 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, and in the Bible, it can also mean a plain or level area, as seen in Ezekiel 3:22-23.
Amplified meaning
level area, valley
Tyndale gloss
valley
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּקְעָה (biq'ah) refers to a valley or plain, specifically a wide, level area between mountains. It is derived from a root meaning 'to split.' The term is associated with various valleys, including those in Jericho and Lebanon. The Aramaic equivalent is בִּקְעָא (biq.a), meaning 'plain.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּקְעָה n.f. valley (cleft), plain

valley

plain

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1237 בִּקְעָה valley (cleft), plain

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1237 biq`ah bik-aw'

from 1234; properly, a split, i.e. a wide level valley

between mountains:--plain, valley.

see HEBREW for 01234

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּקְעָה (biq.ah) — Valley (of Jericho).

This name means plain, level valley

Another name of kik.kar (כִּכָּר "Plain" H3603G)

בִּקְעָה (biq.ah) — (Mizpah) Valley.

This name means plain, level valley

Combined with mits.pah (מִצְפָּה "Mizpah" H4709I)

בִּקְעָה (biq.ah) — (Lebanon) Valley.

This name means plain, level valley

Combined with le.va.non (לְבָנוֹן " of Lebanon" H3844I)

בִּקְעָה (biq.ah) — (Aven) Valley.

This name means plain, level valley

Combined with a.ven (אָ֫וֶן " of Aven" H0206)

בִּקְעָה (biq.ah) — valley.

1) valley

2) plain, level valley

Aramaic equivalent: biq.a (בִּקְעָא "plain" H1236)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

plan

(1) kikkar, "circle" "talent," or "round loaf";

(2) mishor, from yashar, "to be level"; compare Arabic maisur, "that which is easy";

(3) biqah; compare Arabic baq`at, "a plot of ground" or "a wet meadow";

(4) `arabhah;

(5) shephelah;

(6) topos pedinos (Lu 6:17);

(7) 'elon; compare elah, and 'allon "oak" (Ge 35:4,8, etc.); also 'elah, "Elah" (1Sa 17:2);

(8) 'abhel):

See NATURAL FEATURES.

(1) Kikkar, when meaning "plain" usually refers to the alluvial plain about Jericho near the north end of the Dead Sea: "Plain (the Revised Version margin "circle") of the Jordan" (Ge 13:10,11; 1Ki 7:46;

Plain

(1.) Heb. ‘abel (Judg. 11:33), a “grassy plain” or “meadow.” Instead of “plains of the vineyards,” as in the Authorized Version, the Revised Version has “Abel-cheramim” (q.v.), comp. Judg. 11:22; 2 Chr. 16:4.

(2.) Heb. ‘elon (Gen. 12:6; 13:18; 14:13; 18:1; Deut. 11:30; Judg. 9:6), more correctly “oak,” as in the Revised Version; margin, “terebinth.”

(3.) Heb. bik’ah (Gen. 11:2; Neh. 6:2;

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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