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Isaiah 43:25 — Word Study

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WLCאָנֹכִ֨י אָנֹכִ֥י ה֛וּא מֹחֶ֥ה פְשָׁעֶ֖יךָ לְמַעֲנִ֑י וְחַטֹּאתֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶזְכֹּֽר׃

BSAIʼânôkîy yes Iʼânôkîy [the one true God] am Hehûwʼ who blots outmâchâh [wipes away, erases] your transgressionspeshaʻ [rebellions, sins] for My own sakemaʻan [because of who I am, for My own purpose] and rememberszâkar [recalls, brings to mind] your sinschaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, punishment] no morelôʼ [not at all, never again]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 43
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 25 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 ('ez.Kor) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 43:25quick helps
In a sentenceGod declares He is the one who forgives transgressions and chooses to forget sins.
Who is speakingGod, emphasizing His unique role in forgiveness.
Where we areIn a passage addressing Israel's sins and God's mercy.
The hard wordמֹחֶ֥ה
Take awayGod's forgiveness is complete and final.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאָנֹכִי verbמָחָה 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 43:25

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 Forgivenessgenerated

24You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver, nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.
25I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
26Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated.
27Your first father sinned, and your spokesmen rebelled against Me.

Isaiah 43:25 speaks of God's promise to forgive Israel's transgressions and to forget their sins, highlighting His mercy and grace. This assurance comes in the context of Israel's failure to honor God, as seen in the preceding and following verses, where He contrasts their burdensome sins with His willingness to wipe the slate clean.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 43:11I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me.
2Isaiah 1:18“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
3Isaiah 44:22I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
4Psalm 51:9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
5Jeremiah 50:20In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, a search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for Judah’s sins, but they will not be found; for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.

The Key Word מֹחֶ֥ה, mo.Chehgenerated

The word מָחָה (*machah*) is a verb meaning to wipe away or erase. It conveys the idea of complete removal, as in obliterating something from existence. The parsing as a participle indicates an ongoing action, emphasizing God's active role in forgiveness.

This verb is used in various contexts, often relating to the erasure of sins or wrongdoings. It highlights God's power to remove guilt and the consequences of sin, reflecting His desire for reconciliation with His people.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations of this verse generally agree on the core message of God's forgiveness.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb מֹחֶ֥ה, [who is] wiping out, governs the sentence, indicating the action of forgiveness. The structure includes a subject pronoun, a direct object, and a negation that emphasizes the completeness of God's forgiveness.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on God's identity as the subject, followed by His action and the objects of that action, illustrating the relationship between God and His people.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew מָחָה is rendered as ἐξαλεῖψα (exaleipsa), meaning 'to wipe out' or 'to erase.' This choice reflects a similar understanding of God's action of removing sins.

The use of this Greek term aligns with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the thoroughness of God's forgiveness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 43:25 reveals God's promise to forgive Israel's sins completely. He states that He blots out their transgressions for His own sake and chooses not to remember their sins anymore, emphasizing His mercy and commitment to His people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God blots out transgressions?

It means that God completely removes the guilt and consequences of sin, offering forgiveness.

Why does God choose to forget our sins?

God's decision to forget sins is based on His nature and desire for a restored relationship with His people.

How can we apply this verse in our lives?

We can find comfort in knowing that God forgives us and encourages us to forgive others.

What is the significance of God acting for His own sake?

It highlights that God's actions are rooted in His nature and purpose, not merely our merit.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does understanding God's forgiveness impact my view of my own sins?
  2. In what ways can I extend forgiveness to others as God has forgiven me?
  3. What does it mean for God to act for His own sake in terms of our relationship?
  4. How can I remind myself of God's promise to forget my sins when I struggle with guilt?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss God's forgiveness and the nature of sin, illustrating its theological significance.

Origen of AlexandriaHOMILIES ON Leviticus 3:4.5 c. 185–253
For now the devil urges us to sin and also accuses us when we do sin. If, therefore, in this life we anticipate him and are ourselves our own accusers, we escape the wickedness of the devil,
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 43 →
Ambrose of MilanOn the Holy Spirit 3.10.61 c. 339–397
You have blotted it out, indeed, in your hearts and minds, but the Word of God is not blotted out, the Holy Spirit is not blotted out but turns away from impious minds.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 43 →
JeromeVerse 25, 26 and following c. 347–420
I am, I am myself, who blots out your iniquities for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Bring me to remembrance, let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 43 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 43:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake,.... The same with "sins" in the next clause; original sin, and actual sins; which are transgressions of the law of God, of

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

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. I, (even) I - The God against whom your sin is committed, and who alone can and will pardon.

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

I, even I; I whom thou hast thus despised, and wearied, and provoked to destroy thee. That blotteth out thy transgressions out of my book, in which they were all written, and to be lead unto thee and charged upon thee another day. See . Sins are oft compared to debts, ,14, &c., which are written in the Creditor’ s book; and crossed or blotted out when they are paid. For mine own sake; being moved thereunto not by thy merits, but by my own mere goodness and free mercy. Will not remember thy sins; so as to punish them, and destroy thee for them, as thou deservest.

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

Isaiah 43:25 I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.Ver. 25. I, even I, am he.] Gratuitam misericordiam diligentissime exprimit. God diligently setteth forth his own free grace, and greatly glorieth in it, showing how it is that he freeth himself from trouble and them from destruction, viz., for his own sake alone. That blotteth out thy transgressions.] Heb., Am blotting out, constantly and continually I am doing it. As thou multipliest sins, so do I "multiply pardons." So John 1:29, "He taketh away the sins of the world"; it is a perpetual act, like as the sun shineth, the spring runneth. Men gladly blot out that which…

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

(25) I, even I . . .—As in Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 1:18, the analogy with which may be noted as evidence of identity of authorship, the incisive words that prove the guilt of Israel are followed by the fullest offer of pardon on repentance. And this he does “for His own sake,” to manifest the everlasting righteousness which is also the everlasting love. The “blotting out” finds an echo in Colossians 2:14.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 43 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 25. I, even I, am he] The original is extremely abrupt: אנכי אנכי הוא anochi anochi hu, "I, I, He." Is there any mystery in this form? Does it refer to a plurality of persons in the Godhead? For mine own sake] In the pardon of sin God can draw no reason but from his own infinite goodness.

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 43 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

25. Since Israel has neither brought sacrifices, nor even offered prayer acceptable to Jehovah, He himself must take the initiative in the work of redemption, blotting out its transgressions “for his own sake.” In accordance with O.T. analogies, the act of forgiveness is described simply as “not remembering” sin; but the actual working out of forgiveness in history calls into exercise the resources of Omnipotence; it includes all Jehovah’s dealings with His people, His handing them over to the dominion of the heathen (Isaiah 43:28), and saving them again in His marvellous providence. The verse, moreover, contains only one half of the prophet’s teaching about forgiveness; the other half is…

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

I, even I, am he - This verse contains a gracious assurance that their sins would be blotted out, and the reason why it would be done. The pronoun ‘I’ is repeated to make it emphatic, as in Isaiah 43:11.

Read Albert Barnes 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

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake; your sins I do not remember.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I, euen I am he that putteth away thine iniquities for mine owne sake, and will not remember thy sinnes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

— I, I [am] He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and I will not remember thy sins.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

I — I [am] He who is blotting out Thy transgressions for Mine own sake, And thy sins I do not remember.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I [am] He who is blotting out Your transgressions for My own sake, || And I do not remember your sins.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

I, it is I that blot out thy transgressions for my own sake, and thy sins I will not remember.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I, yes, I, am he who blots out your offenses for my own sake; and I will not call to mind your sins any longer.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

I am, I am he that blot out thy iniquities for my own sake, and I will not remember thy sins.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I, yes I am the God who wipes out your sins because of who I am, and who doesn't remember your sins any more.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I, even I, am he who takes away your sins; and I will no longer keep your evil doings in mind.

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.

clauseclauseאָנֹכִ֨יIclausesubjectאָנֹכִ֥יInoun phrase · predicateה֛וּא[am].henoun phraseclauseverbמֹחֶ֥ה[who.is].wiping.outnoun phrase · objectפְשָׁעֶ֖יtransgressionsךָyourprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְמַעֲנִ֑forיmy.own.sakeוְandclausenoun phrase · objectחַטֹּאתֶ֖יsinsךָyouradverbialלֹ֥אnotverbאֶזְכֹּֽרI.will.remember

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 closely with the Dead Sea Scrolls, with both confirming the essential reading of the verse. The Septuagint shows some variation in word order but retains the core message of God's forgiveness.

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

אָנֹכִ֨י אָנֹכִ֥י ה֛וּא מֹחֶ֥ה פְשָׁעֶ֖יךָ לְמַעֲנִ֑י וְחַטֹּאתֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶזְכֹּֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אָנֹכִ֨יἐγώאָנֹכִ֥יἐγώה֛וּאεἰμιפְשָׁעֶ֖יךָσουלֹ֥אοὐאֶזְכֹּֽר׃μνησθήσομαι

6 of the 9 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

אנוכי אנוכי הואה מוחה פשע׳כה למענ׳י וחטאתי׳כה לוא אזכור עוד

10 words on the leather.

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

[אנכי] [אנכי] [הוא] [מחה] [פשעי׳ך] [למענ׳י] [וחטאתי׳ך] לא אזכר

1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 7 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 43:25אָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יהוּא[am] he[am] heהוּאמָחָה[who is] wi[who is] wipingמָחָהפֶּ֫שַׁעtransgressitransgressions פֶּ֫שַׁעמַ֫עַןfor own sakfor own sake myמַ֫עַןחַטָּאָהand sins yoand sins yourחַטָּאָהלֹאnotnotלֹאזָכַרI will remeI will rememberזָכַרפָּשַׁעto transgrto transgressפָּשַׁעעוּןto dwellto dwellעוּןחָטָאto sinto sinחָטָאזָכָרmalemaleזָכָרצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהמִצְוָהcommandmencommandmentמִצְוָהעָוֹןiniquity: iniquity: crimeעָוֹןטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתזֵ֫כֶרmemorialmemorialזֵ֫כֶרחַטָּאָהsinsinחַטָּאָהאָרַךְto prolongto prolongאָרַךְיָטַבbe goodbe goodיָטַבשָׂעִרhairyhairyשָׂעִרעֵזgoatgoatעֵזיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִית
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 43:25

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.

I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
אָנֹכִ֨י'a.no.Khi I H595 Pronoun
359× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This simple Hebrew word just means 'I', referring to the speaker, like in Genesis 27 where Esau says 'I' when talking to his father Isaac.
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָֽנֹכִ֫י (*anokiy*) is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is a variant spelling of אֲנִי (*ani*), which also means 'I.' The entries confirm its use as a personal pronoun without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H595 אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

595 'anokiy aw-no-kee'

sometimes {aw-no'-kee}; a primitive pro.; I:--I, me, X

which.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָֽנֹכִ֫י (a.no.khi) — I.

I (first pers. sing.)

Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp1bs
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.Khi I H595 Pronoun
359× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This simple Hebrew word just means 'I', referring to the speaker, like in Genesis 27 where Esau says 'I' when talking to his father Isaac.
Amplified meaning
the one true God
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָֽנֹכִ֫י (*anokiy*) is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is a variant spelling of אֲנִי (*ani*), which also means 'I.' The entries confirm its use as a personal pronoun without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H595 אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

595 'anokiy aw-no-kee'

sometimes {aw-no'-kee}; a primitive pro.; I:--I, me, X

which.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָֽנֹכִ֫י (a.no.khi) — I.

I (first pers. sing.)

Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp1bs
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
ה֛וּאhu' [am] he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
מֹחֶ֥הmo.Cheh [who is] wiping out H4229 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to erase or wipe something away. In Psalm 51:1, David asks God to blot out his sins. It can also mean to reach out or touch something.
Amplified meaning
wipes away, erases
Tyndale gloss
to wipe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מָחָה (machah) primarily means to wipe or erase, with implications of obliteration or destruction. It can denote actions like striking or smoothing, and has various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as being wiped out or blotted from memory. Notably, it appears in Numbers 34:11 and Isaiah 25:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָחָה vb. wipe, wipe out

Qal

wipe

blot out = obliterate from the memory

blot out = exterminate

Niph.

be wiped out

be blotted out

be exterminated

Hiph. blot out, from the memory

base

מָחָה vb. strike;—Nu 34:11 (P)

ref

מָחָה vb. denom. only Pu. Pt. in Is 25:6 fat pieces full of marrow

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4229a מָחָה wipe, wipe out H4229b מָחָה strike H4229c מָחָה vb. denom. only Pu. Pt. fat pieces full of marrow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4229 machah maw-khaw'

a primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub; by implication,

to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or make

fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to:--abolish, blot out,

destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, X utterly, wipe

(away, out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָחָה (ma.chah) — to wipe.

1) to wipe, wipe out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to wipe

1a2) to blot out, obliterate

1a3) to blot out, exterminate

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be wiped out

1b2) to be blotted out

1b3) to be exterminated

1c) (Hiphil) to blot out (from memory)

מָחָה (ma.chah) — to strike.

(Qal) to strike

מָחָה (ma.chah) — be marrow.

(Pual) full of marrow (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
פְשָׁעֶ֖יךָfe.sha.'Ei.kha transgressions your H6588 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
93× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Transgression refers to a revolt or rebellion against God or others, resulting in guilt and punishment, as in Genesis 3:6-7. It involves intentional disobedience.
Amplified meaning
rebellions, sins
Tyndale gloss
transgression
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫שַׁע (pesha`) means transgression and is derived from a root that implies revolt, whether national, moral, or religious. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including offenses against individuals, nations, and God, as well as the associated guilt and punishment. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫שַׁע n.m. transgression

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6588 פֶּ֫שַׁע transgression

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6588 pesha` peh'-shah

from 6586; a revolt (national, moral or

religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.

see HEBREW for 06586

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫שַׁע (pe.sah) — transgression.

1) transgression, rebellion

1a1) transgression (against individuals)

1a2) transgression (nation against nation)

1a3) transgression (against God)

1a3a) in general

1a3b) as recognised by sinner

1a3c) as God deals with it

1a3d) as God forgives

1a4) guilt of transgression

1a5) punishment for transgression

1a6) offering for transgression

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2ms
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
לְמַעֲנִ֑יle.ma.'a.Ni for own sake my H4616 Particle · suffix
272× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means because of something or for a specific purpose. It is used to explain why something happens or is done. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's intentions or purposes.
Amplified meaning
because of who I am, for My own purpose
Tyndale gloss
because
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַ֫עַן (ma`an) is a preposition and conjunction meaning 'for the sake of' or 'on account of.' It conveys purpose or intent, indicating a motive or aim, and is used adverbially. The word is derived from a root meaning 'heed' or 'purpose' and appears in contexts that express reasons or intentions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַ֫עַן] subst. purpose, intent, only with לְ, in לְמַ֫עַן 271 prep. and conj. for the sake of, on account of, to the intent or in order that

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4616 מַ֫עַן prep. and conj. for the sake of, on account of, to the intent or in order that

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4616 ma`an mah'-an

from 6030; properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only

adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim),

teleologically, in order that:--because of, to the end

(intent) that, for (to,... 's sake), + lest, that, to.

see HEBREW for 06030

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַ֫עַן (ma.an) — because.

1) purpose, intent prep

1a) for the sake of

1b) in view of, on account of

1c) for the purpose of, to the intent that, in order to conj

1d) to the end that

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Particle · suffix
HTc/Sp1bs
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
וְחַטֹּאתֶ֖יךָve.cha.to.Tei.kha and sins your H2403 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
295× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes sin, guilt, or punishment for sin, and also the sacrifice or purification made to atone for it. It is used in the Bible to describe the consequences and solutions for sin. The KJV translates it as 'punishment' or 'sin'.
Amplified meaning
guilt, punishment
Tyndale gloss
sin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַטָּאָה n.f. sinful thing, sin, Ex 34:7 (J E) Is 5:18.

done

חַטָּאת n.f. sin, sin-offering

sin

condition of sin, guilt of sin

punishment for sin

sin-offering

purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin

. sin-offering

H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin

. condition of sin, guilt of sin

. punishment for sin

. sin-offering

. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'

or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes

habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or

expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of

sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).

see HEBREW for 02398

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.

sin, sinful thing

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.

: sin

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.

: sin_offering

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.

: punishment/purification

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
לֹ֥אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
not at all, never again
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
I I [am] he [who is] wiping out transgressions your for own sake my and sins your not I will remember
אֶזְכֹּֽר׃'ez.Kor I will remember H2142 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
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
recalls, brings to mind
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-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
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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