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Isaiah 43:18 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאַֽל־ תִּזְכְּר֖וּ רִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹת וְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹת אַל־ תִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃

BSADo notʼal [never, under no circumstances] call to mindzâkar [remember, recall, or think about] the former thingsriʼshôwn [past events, previous experiences, or what has been] pay noʼal attentionbîyn [do not consider, or give thought to] to the things of oldqadmôwnîy [ancient times, bygone eras, or what has been forgotten]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 43
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 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 (tit.bo.Na.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 43:18quick helps
In a sentenceGod instructs His people not to dwell on past events.
Who is speakingThe Lord, addressing Israel through the prophet Isaiah.
Where we areIn a passage that emphasizes God's new actions and promises.
The hard wordתִּזְכְּר֖וּ
Take awayThe past should not distract from what God is about to do.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbזָכַר 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 43:18

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

Context — God's Promise of New Thingsgenerated

17who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.
19Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
20The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.

Isaiah 43:18 is part of a larger message where God reassures His people that He is doing something new and transformative. The surrounding verses highlight God's power and intention to provide for His people, contrasting their past experiences with His future promises, as seen in Isaiah 43:19.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 46:9Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
2Isaiah 65:17For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
3Deuteronomy 7:18But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt:
4Deuteronomy 8:2Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.
51 Chronicles 16:12Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תִּזְכְּר֖וּ, tiz.ke.Rugenerated

The verb זָכַר (zakar) means 'to remember' and is derived from a root implying recognition. It is used here in the jussive form, indicating a command directed at the second person masculine plural, which is 'you remember.' This form emphasizes the imperative nature of the instruction: to refrain from recalling the past.

In this context, the command to 'remember not' underscores a significant shift in focus from previous experiences to the new things God is about to do. The verse encourages an active choice to not dwell on former events, which may hinder the perception of God's current work.


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

Two main clauses are present in this verse, with the first clause commanding the listener not to remember the former things, and the second clause instructing them not to pay attention to the things of old. This structure emphasizes the dual command of God to avoid both remembrance and consideration of the past.

The imperative verbs at the beginning of each clause drive the message forward, creating a strong directive that shapes the reader's understanding of God's intention in this passage.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תִּזְכְּר֖וּ as μνημονεύετε, which also means 'to remember.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the importance of the command to forget the past.

The Greek word μνημονεύετε carries similar implications of memory and recollection, reinforcing the significance of the instruction given in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 43:18 tells us that God instructs His people not to remember the past or pay attention to old things. This is part of a message where God emphasizes that He is about to do something new, which is a promise for His people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to not remember the former things?

It means to let go of past events and experiences that may hinder the recognition of what God is currently doing.

Why does God tell us not to pay attention to old things?

God wants His people to focus on His new works and promises, rather than being distracted by previous experiences.

How can I apply this instruction in my life?

You can apply this by choosing to focus on the present and future that God has for you, rather than being held back by past mistakes or disappointments.

What new things might God be doing in my life?

This can vary for each individual, but it often involves growth, healing, new opportunities, or a deeper relationship with Him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I tend to dwell on the past?
  2. How can I actively choose to focus on what God is doing now?
  3. What new things has God revealed to me recently?
  4. How can I encourage others to let go of their past and embrace God's new work?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 43:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Remember ye not the former things,.... Just now referred to, the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, and through the Red sea, and the drowning of Pharaoh and his army in it; for though these things were

Read John Gill on Isaiah 43 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 43 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

But although your former deliverance out of Egypt was in itself a most glorious work, which you ought always to remember and consider; yet this other work of your deliverance out of Babylon by Cyrus, and those blessings which shall follow upon it, and particularly that inestimable mercy of sending the Messiah, shall be so transcendent a layout, that, in comparison thereof, all your former deliverances are scarce worthy of your remembrance and consideration. Which exposition is confirmed by two parallel texts, ,15 23:7,8. From all which texts laid together, it appears that this latter deliverance, compared with that out of Egypt, is not to be confined to their freedom from the Babylonish…

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 43 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.Ver. 18. Remember ye not the former things,] sc., In comparison of those things I shall now do for you by Cyrus, but especially by Christ, who is that way in the wilderness, and that running rock.

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 43 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18, 19) Remember ye not . . .—All the wonders of the great historic past of Israel were to be as nothing compared with the new manifestation of the power of Jehovah, which Isaiah sees as already dawning in the future. Shall ye not know it?—Better, Will ye not give heed to it?I will even make a way in the wilderness . . .—The literal and the spiritual senses melt into each other. The very beasts of the field shall lose their ferocity in the presence of the saints of God. For “dragons and owls,” read jackals and ostriches.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 43 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. Great as the wonders of the exodus were they shall be far surpassed by that which Jehovah is about to do. The verse resumes the opening clause of Isa 43:16. Remember ye not …] Cf. Jeremiah 16:14 f., Isaiah 23:7 f. It is not meant of course that the exodus shall be actually forgotten (see ch. Isaiah 46:9), but only that it shall no longer be the supreme instance of Jehovah’s redeeming power. former things … things of old] Cf. ch. Isaiah 46:9. Obviously the expression “former things,” so often used of past events predicted, here includes the remote incidents of the deliverance from Egypt.

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 43 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Remember ye not ... - So great and wonderful shall be God’s future interpositions in your behalf, that what he has done, great as that was, shall be comparatively forgotten.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 43 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

18. Remember ye not — An exhortation not to “remember” the fleeing dwellers, or that event, marvellous as that was: a more marvellous one is to come.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 43 →

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

“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“Don’t remember the former things, and don’t consider the things of old.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“Don't remember these earlier events; don't recall these former events.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Remember yee not the former things, neither regard the things of olde.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

— Remember not the former things, neither consider the ancient things:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Remember not former things, And ancient things consider not.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not remember former things, || And do not consider ancient things.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Remember not the former things, and ancient events regard no more.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

“Do not think about these former things, nor consider the things of long ago.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Remember not former things, and look not on things of old.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But don't dwell on the past; don't concentrate on what happened back then.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give no thought to the things which are past; let the early times go out of your minds.

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.

clauseadverbialאַֽלdo.notverbתִּזְכְּר֖וּrememberobjectרִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹתformer.[things]וְandclauseobjectקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹתancient.[things]adverbialאַלdo.notverbתִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּconsider

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


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

The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls all agree on the wording of this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct translation of the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls also confirm the Hebrew text with minor variations in spelling.

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

אַֽל־ תִּזְכְּר֖וּ רִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹת וְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹת אַל־ תִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַֽל־μὴתִּזְכְּר֖וּμνημονεύετεרִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹתπρῶταוְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹתκαὶאַל־μὴתִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃συλλογίζεσθε

6 of the 6 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

אל תזכור רישונות וקדמוניות אל תתבוננו

6 words on the leather.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q61a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[אל] [תזכרו] [ראשנות] [וקדמניות] [אל] תתבננו

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 5 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 43:18אַלmay notmay notאַלזָכַרyou remembeyou rememberזָכַררִאשׁוֹןformer [thiformer [things]רִאשׁוֹןקַדְמֹנִיand ancientand ancient [thקַדְמֹנִיאַלmay notmay notאַלבִּיןyou consideyou considerבִּיןלֹאnotnotלֹאזָכָרmalemaleזָכָררִאשָׁהbeginningbeginningרִאשָׁהקַדְמוֹןeasterneasternקַדְמוֹןחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאעָוֹןiniquity: iniquity: crimeעָוֹןבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתאַחֲרוֹןlastlastאַחֲרוֹןלוּחַtablettabletלוּחַחֲצִיhalfhalfחֲצִייָם(Mt. Ephro(Mt. Ephron in יָםדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתחָכָםwisewiseחָכָם
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 43:18

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.

may not you remember former [things] and ancient [things] may not you consider
אַֽל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
never, under no circumstances
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you remember former [things] and ancient [things] may not you consider
תִּזְכְּר֖וּtiz.ke.Ru you remember H2142 Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine plural
232× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To remember means to recall or mark something, like God remembering his covenant with Abraham in Genesis 9:1 and Exodus 2:24.
Amplified meaning
remember, recall, or think about
Tyndale gloss
to remember
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word זָכַר (zakar) means 'to remember' and is built from a primitive root implying recognition. It covers a range of meanings, including recalling thoughts, commemorating days, and causing others to remember. The entries also note its use in various grammatical forms, such as being remembered or making a memorial.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָכַר vb. remember

Qal

Human subj.

remember, recall, call to mind, usu. as affecting present feeling, thought or action

remember persons (human subj.)

remember י׳

remember

think of or on, call to mind something present or future

remember a day, to observe, commemorate it

remember, with implied mention of, obj.

Subj. י׳ (אלהִם)

remember persons

remember the distress of his servants

their devotion

remember his own covenant (with them)

his mercy

extenuating circumstances

remember sins, idolatries

Niph.

be brought to remembrance, remembered, thought of, usu. c. neg.

neg. be not remembered = no longer exist, of name of Israel, as nation

be remembered, of particular days, in order to be observed, commemorated

Hiph.

cause to remember, remind

cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance

mention

record, only pt.

of sacrifice, make a memorial

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2142 זָכַר remember .. Human subj. . remember, recall, call to mind, usu. as affecting present feeling, thought or action

. remember persons (human subj.)

. remember י׳

. remember

. think of or on, call to mind something present or future

. remember a day, to observe, commemorate it

. remember, with implied mention of, obj.

. Subj. י׳ (אלהִם) . remember persons

. . remember the distress of his servants

. their devotion

. . remember his own covenant (with them)

. his mercy

. extenuating circumstances

. remember sins, idolatries

. . be brought to remembrance, remembered, thought of, usu. c. neg.

. neg. be not remembered = no longer exist, of name of Israel, as nation

. be remembered, of particular days, in order to be observed, commemorated

. . cause to remember, remind

. cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance

. mention

. record, only pt.

. of sacrifice, make a memorial

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2142 zakar zaw-kar'

a primitive root; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized),

i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; also (as

denominative from 2145) to be male:--X burn (incense), X

earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount,

record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call,

come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, X still, think on, X

well.

see HEBREW for 02145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָכַר (za.khar) — to remember.

1) to remember, recall, call to mind

1a) (Qal) to remember, recall

1b) (Niphal) to be brought to remembrance, be remembered, be thought of, be brought to mind

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to remember, remind

1c2) to cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance

1c3) to mention

1c4) to record

1c5) to make a memorial, make remembrance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-2mp — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine plural
HVqj2mp
may not you remember former [things] and ancient [things] may not you consider
רִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹתri.sho.Not former [things] H7223 Adj
182× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means 'first' or 'primary', referring to something that comes before others in time, place, or rank. It is used to describe the first or most important thing in a series or list.
Amplified meaning
past events, previous experiences, or what has been
Tyndale gloss
first
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word רִאשׁוֹן (*ri'shown*) means 'first' and can refer to something that is primary, former, or chief. It encompasses meanings related to time, rank, and location, indicating ancestors or previous things. The entries consistently emphasize its use as an adjective and adverb, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רִאשׁוֹן 182 adj. former, first, chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7223 רִאשׁוֹן former, first, chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7223 ri'shown ree-shone'

or riishon {ree-shone'}; from 7221; first, in place, time or

rank (as adjective or noun):--ancestor, (that were)

before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father)

(-most), former (thing), of old time, past.

see HEBREW for 07221

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רִאשׁוֹן (ri.shon) — first.

: first

adj

1) first, primary, former

1a) former (of time)

1a1) ancestors

1a2) former things

1b) foremost (of location)

1c) first (in time)

1d) first, chief (in degree)

adv

2) first, before, formerly, at first

רִאשׁוֹן (ri.shon) — first: previous.

: previous

adj

1) first, primary, former

1a) former (of time)

1a1) ancestors

1a2) former things

1b) foremost (of location)

1c) first (in time)

1d) first, chief (in degree)

adv

2) first, before, formerly, at first

רִאשׁוֹן (ri.shon) — first: chief.

: chief

adj

1) first, primary, former

1a) former (of time)

1a1) ancestors

1a2) former things

1b) foremost (of location)

1c) first (in time)

1d) first, chief (in degree)

adv

2) first, before, formerly, at first

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAofpa
may not you remember former [things] and ancient [things] may not you consider
וְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹתve.kad.mo.ni.Yot and ancient [things] H6931 Conjunction
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean something that is old or from an earlier time, or it can describe something that is located in the east. It is used in the Bible to talk about ancient things or people who lived before. The word can also mean 'eastern' or 'older'.
Amplified meaning
ancient times, bygone eras, or what has been forgotten
Tyndale gloss
eastern
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קַדְמֹנִי (qadmowniy) means 'former' or 'eastern,' indicating something that is ancient or anterior in time or place. It is derived from the root word for 'east' and can refer to things of old or those that went before. The entries consistently highlight its meanings related to age and direction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קַדְמֹנִי adj. former, eastern

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6931 קַדְמֹנִי former, eastern

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6931 qadmowniy kad-mo-nee'

or qadmoniy {kad-mo-nee'}; from 6930; (of time) anterior or

(of place) oriental:--ancient, they that went before, east,

(thing of) old.

see HEBREW for 06930

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קַדְמֹנִי (qad.mo.ni) — eastern.

: eastern

1) former, ancient, eastern

1a) former, ancient

1b) eastern

Also means: qad.mo.ni (קַדְמֹנִי ": older" H6931H)

קַדְמֹנִי (qad.mo.ni) — eastern: older.

: older

1) former, ancient, eastern

1a) former, ancient

1b) eastern

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Aafpa
may not you remember former [things] and ancient [things] may not you consider
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you remember former [things] and ancient [things] may not you consider
תִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃tit.bo.Na.nu you consider H995 Verb · Hithpael · jussive second person masculine plural
170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To understand or discern, this verb means to separate mentally and know something with your mind, as seen in Proverbs where it talks about gaining insight.
Amplified meaning
do not consider, or give thought to
Tyndale gloss
to understand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּין vb. discern

Qal

perceive

understand, know (with mind)

observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

have discernment, insight, understanding

Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

Po. he attentively considereth him

Hiph.

understand

give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

give understanding, make understand, teach

Hithp.

shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

get understanding, understand

shew oneself to have understanding

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H995 בִּין discern .. perceive

. understand, know (with mind)

. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

. have discernment, insight, understanding

. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

. he attentively considereth him

. . understand

. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

. give understanding, make understand, teach

. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

. get understanding, understand

. shew oneself to have understanding

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

995 biyn bene

a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),

i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,

diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,

have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be

prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,

make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)

wise(-ly, man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּין (bin) — to understand.

1) to discern, understand, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to perceive, discern

1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)

1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider

1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding

1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to understand

1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach

1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently

1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct

2) (TWOT) prudent, regard

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-r-Juss-2mp — Verb · Hithpael · jussive second person masculine plural
HVtj2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kon-sid'-er: In the New Testament the force of the word is brought out most vividly in Mt 6:26 (katamanthano), where it means to "examine closely," as though the observer had to bend down for this purpose, and in Lu 12:27; Heb 10:24 (katanoeo, to "observe well"), while in Heb 13:7 the anatheoreo, "look up toward" or "look again at" is consistent with the reverential regard commended in the context. Used in the Old Testament for a variety of Hebrew terms, signifying inspecting (Pr 31:16), examining (Le 13:13), giving serious thoughts to (

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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