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Judges 13:18 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לּוֹ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וְהוּא־ פֶ֛לִאי׃ ס

BSAWhymâh do you askshâʼal my nameshêm [what I am called, my identity] saidʼâmar the angelmălʼâk [messenger, representative] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] since ithûwʼ is beyond comprehensionpilʼîy [incomprehensible, wonderful, beyond human understanding, secret, wonderful, a wonder]

Word
Listen & take awayJudges 13
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 (Fe.li) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Judges 13:18quick helps
In a sentenceThe angel of the LORD responds to Manoah's inquiry about his name, indicating that it is beyond human understanding.
Who is speakingThe angel of the LORD, acting as a divine messenger.
Where we areIn the narrative of Manoah's encounter with the angel, which reveals the nature of divine communication.
The hard wordפֶ֛לִאי
Take awayThe name of the angel is not revealed; its nature is beyond comprehension.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbאָמַר 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 — Judges 13:18

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 — The Encounter with the Angel of the LORDgenerated

17Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes to pass?”
18“Why do you ask my name,” said the angel of the LORD, “since it is beyond comprehension?”
19Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the LORD. And as Manoah and his wife looked on, the LORD did a marvelous thing.
20When the flame went up from the altar to the sky, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground.

Judges 13:18 describes an encounter between Manoah and the angel of the LORD, where Manoah seeks to understand the identity of the angel. The angel's response highlights the mystery and majesty of divine beings, emphasizing that some aspects of God are beyond human comprehension. This moment is pivotal in the narrative, as it reveals the limitations of human understanding in the face of divine revelation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Judges 13:6So the woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me. His appearance was like the angel of God, exceedingly awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.
2Genesis 32:29And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word פֶ֛לִאי, Fe.ligenerated

The word פֶ֛לִאי (pil'iy) is an adjective that means 'incomprehensible' or 'wonderful.' It describes something that is extraordinary and hard to grasp, often used in contexts that convey awe or mystery.

In this verse, it emphasizes that the name of the angel is not just unknown but is also beyond human understanding, suggesting a deeper truth about the nature of God and His messengers.


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. The BSB uses beyond comprehension, which aligns with the original Hebrew meaning.

Where translations differ is in the rendering of פֶ֛לִאי. The KJV and GNV opt for secret, while the ASV and others choose wonderful. The LSV and WEB maintain the meaning with incomprehensible, while the BBE uses a wonder.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וַיֹּ֤אמֶר, and he said, governs the entire sentence, with a direct question following it. This structure emphasizes the angel's response to Manoah's inquiry.

The sentence is built around the angel's declaration, with a prepositional phrase explaining the subject and a predicate that elaborates on the nature of the name, highlighting the mystery surrounding it.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates the phrase with ἄγγελος (angelos), meaning 'angel' or 'messenger,' which aligns with the Hebrew term מַלְאַךְ. This choice maintains the role of the figure as a divine messenger.

The Greek word θαυμαστόν (thaumaston) for 'incomprehensible' reflects a similar sense of wonder and mystery, suggesting that the divine nature is indeed beyond human understanding.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Judges 13:18 shows Manoah asking the angel of the LORD for his name. The angel replies that his name is beyond comprehension, indicating that some aspects of God are too wonderful for humans to fully understand.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the angel mean by saying his name is beyond comprehension?

The angel indicates that his identity and the nature of his mission are too profound for human understanding, reflecting the mystery of divine beings.

Why does Manoah want to know the angel's name?

Manoah wishes to honor the angel when his words come to pass, showing respect for the divine messenger.

What does the term 'angel of the LORD' signify?

It refers to a divine messenger sent by God, often representing His will and purpose in human affairs.

How does this encounter relate to other biblical instances of divine communication?

This encounter parallels other instances in the Bible where God communicates through angels, emphasizing the theme of divine revelation and the limits of human understanding.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What aspects of God's nature do you find most difficult to comprehend?
  2. How can we approach God with humility in light of His incomprehensibility?
  3. In what ways does understanding the mystery of God impact your faith?
  4. How can we honor God in our lives, similar to how Manoah wanted to honor the angel?

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

The early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss the nature of God and the significance of His name, arguing from the text to illustrate the mystery of divine identity.

Pacian of BarcelonaLETTER 2.2 c. 310–391
Concerning the name Catholic I answered fully and in a conciliatory manner. For I said that it mattered to neither one of us what the other was called.
Early Church Fathers on Judges 13 →
Gregory of NyssaAGAINST EUNOMIUS 8.1 c. 335–395
And so, too, the word that was spoken to Manoah shows the fact that the Divinity is not comprehensible by the significance of his name, because, when Manoah asks to know his name, that when the promise has come actually to pass,
Early Church Fathers on Judges 13 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Judges 13:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the angel of the Lord said unto him,.... Being so importunate, and pressing upon him; why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

Read John Gill on Judges 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Judges 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Or, hidden from mortal men; or, wonderful, such as thou canst not comprehend; my nature or essence (which is oft signified by name in Scripture) is incomprehensible. This shows that this was the Angel of the covenant, the Son of God.

Read Matthew Poole on Judges 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Judges 13:18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it [is] secret?Ver. 18. Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?] Or, Wonderful, that is, incomprehensible. I am called as I am called; but such is thy weakness, that it surpasseth thy conception. So Bede, Victorinus, and others expound it. God, as he surmounteth all creatures, so he surpasseth all notion, all name. Afri vocant Deum ignotum Amon, idest, Heus tu quis es! Christ, not only as God, but as Mediator also, is called Wonderful. Plutarch, lib. De Iside et Osiride.

Read John Trapp on Judges 13 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Seeing it is secret.—The word is peli, which in Isaiah 9:5 is rendered “wonderful.” The word is an adjective, not the actual name of the angel. The only angel who names himself in Scripture is Gabriel.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Judges 13 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 18. Seeing it is secret?] It was because it was secret that they wished to know it. The angel does not say that it was secret, but הוא פלאי hu peli, it is WONDERFUL; the very character that is given to Jesus Christ, Isaiah 9:6: His name shall be called, פלא Wonderful; and it is supposed by some that the angel gives this as his name, and consequently that he was our blessed Lord.

Read AdamClarke on Judges 13 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. Wherefore … my name] The same words in Genesis 32:29. Manoah’s question is not answered, for to reveal the name is to reveal the essential nature and attributes, Exodus 3:15; Exodus 34:5-7; cf. Genesis 27:36, 1 Samuel 25:25, Rth 1:20. The secret was to be disclosed, but only after an act of obedient homage; cf. St John 7:17. wonderful] hard to be understood, not secret (marg.): prophets use the word to describe God’s dealings with His people, Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 25:1; Isaiah 29:14 etc. The divine Name is inscrutable, like the divine action, Psalms 139:6.

Read Cambridge on Judges 13 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Secret - Rather, “wonderful,” as in the margin. In Judges 13:19 the Angel “did wondrously,” probably as the Angel that Appeared to Gideon had done, bringing fire from the rock. See the marginal references and notes.

Read Albert Barnes on Judges 13 →

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

“Why do you ask my name,” said the angel of the LORD, “since it is beyond comprehension?”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why do you ask about my name, since it is incomprehensible ?”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

“Why do you ask my name,” said the angel of the LORD, “since it is beyond comprehension?”

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Lord’s messenger said to him, “You should not ask me my name, because you cannot comprehend it.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is wonderful?

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is wonderful?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the angel of the LORD said to him, why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the Angell of the Lord saide vnto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, which is secret?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, How is it that thou askest after my name, seeing it is wonderful?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the messenger of Jehovah saith to him, 'Why [is] this — thou dost ask for My name? — and it [is] Wonderful.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the Messenger of YHWH says to him, “Why do you ask this, My Name, since it [is] incomprehensible?”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why is it that thou wilt ask after my name, seeing it is secret?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why do you ask my name? It is wonderful!”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And he answered him: Why askest thou my name, which is wonderful?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

“Why do you ask this?” the angel of the Lord responded. “My name is beyond comprehension.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But the angel of the Lord said to him, Why are you questioning me about my name, seeing that it is a wonder?

Word by word, the decisions they made

פֶ֛לִאי׃ סFe.li [is] incomprehensible H6383 4 different renderings
wonderfulASV DBY DRA RVA ULB YLT
secretGNV ILT KJV NWB
incomprehensibleLSV WEB
a wonderBBE

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.

וַandclauseverbיֹּ֤אמֶרhe.saidprepositional phrase · prepositionalלּtoוֹ֙himnoun phrase · subjectמַלְאַ֣ךְthe.angelיְהוָ֔הof.Yahwehclauseprepositional phrase · predicateלָ֥מָּהwhy?noun phrase · subjectזֶּ֖הthisclauseverbתִּשְׁאַ֣לare.you.askingprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtonoun phraseשְׁמִ֑nameיmyוְandclausesubjectהוּאitpredicateפֶ֛לִאי[is].incomprehensible

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all words matched in the Hebrew and Greek. This consistency highlights the reliability of the transmission of this passage across different traditions.

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

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לּוֹ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וְהוּא־ פֶ֛לִאי׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרεἶπενלּוֹ֙αὐτῷמַלְאַ֣ךְἄγγελοςיְהוָ֔הκυρίουלָ֥מָּהτίזֶּ֖הτοῦτοתִּשְׁאַ֣לἐρωτᾷςלִשְׁמִ֑יμουוְהוּא־ἐστινפֶ֛לִאי׃ סθαυμαστόν

10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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.

Judges 13:18אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַרוֹto himto himוֹמַלְאָךְ[the] angel[the] angel ofמַלְאָךְיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהמָהwhy?why?מָהזֶהthisthisזֶהשָׁאַלare you askare you askingשָׁאַלשֵׁםto name myto name myשֵׁםהוּאand itand itהוּאפִּלְאִי[is] incomp[is] incompreheפִּלְאִיהָיָהto beto beהָיָהשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםזֶהthisthisזֶהזֹהthisthisזֹהפָּלָאto wonderto wonderפָּלָאכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/GodיהוהמָנוֹחַManoahManoahמָנוֹחַשָׁלַחto send: dto send: departשָׁלַחנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאכָּ֫כָהthusthusכָּ֫כָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלאַיwhere?where?אַיהֶ֫בֶלvanityvanityהֶ֫בֶלשְׁאֵלָהpetitionpetitionשְׁאֵלָהקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָה
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 Judges 13:18

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.

and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
לּוֹ֙lo to him H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
מַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'Akh [the] angel of H4397 Noun common · masculine singular construct
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A messenger or representative, often of God, like an angel, prophet, or priest, as seen in Isaiah 42:19 and Haggai 1:13, carrying out God's will.
Amplified meaning
messenger, representative
Tyndale gloss
messenger
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַלְאָךְ (mal'ak) means 'messenger' and can refer to an angel, particularly as a messenger of God. It is derived from a root meaning to dispatch as a deputy and encompasses roles such as ambassador, prophet, and teacher. The term is used in contexts that include divine communication.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְאָךְ 214 n.m. messenger

messenger

angel, as messenger of God

the theophanic angel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4397 מַלְאָךְ messenger . messenger

. angel, as messenger of God

. the theophanic angel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4397 mal'ak mal-awk'

from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a

messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a

prophet, priest or teacher):--ambassador, angel, king,

messenger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger.

: messenger

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger: angel.

: angel

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
יְהוָ֔הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the Lord God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
לָ֥מָּהLa.mah why? H4100 Preposition · pronoun
753× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Tyndale gloss
what?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught

interrog. what?

Used adverbially

Indef. pron.

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?

. Used adverbially

. Indef. pron.

. With preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4100 mah maw

or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a

primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including

how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including

how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even

relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various

adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-

soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),

whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָה (mah) — what?.

interr pron

1) what, how, of what kind

1a) (interrogative)

1a1) what?

1a2) of what kind

1a3) what? (rhetorical)

1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what

1b) (adverb)

1b1) how, how now

1b2) why

1b3) how! (exclamation)

1c) (with prep)

1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

1c2) because of what?

1c3) the like of what?

1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?

1c3b) for how long?

1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?

1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?

indef pron

2) anything, aught, what may

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Part — Preposition · pronoun
HR/Pi
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
זֶּ֖הzeh this H2088 Particle
1,180× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Tyndale gloss
this
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֶה (zeh) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone, be used appositively, or function as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns, adding emphasis and directness. In poetry, it may serve as a relative pronoun, though this usage is rare.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

standing alone

In appos. to subst.

More oft. as pred.

It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

With prefixes (in special senses)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2088 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone

. In appos. to subst.

. More oft. as pred.

. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

. With prefixes (in special senses)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2088 zeh zeh

a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this

or that:--he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the

one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same,

such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on

that side, X thus, very, which. Compare 2063, 2090, 2097,

2098.

see HEBREW for 02063

see HEBREW for 02090

see HEBREW for 02097

see HEBREW for 02098

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֶה (zeh) — this.

1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such

1a) (alone)

1a1) this one

1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another

1b) (appos to subst)

1b1) this

1c) (as predicate)

1c1) this, such

1d) (enclitically)

1d1) then

1d2) who, whom

1d3) how now, what now

1d4) what now

1d5) wherefore now

1d6) behold here

1d7) just now

1d8) now, now already

1e) (poetry)

1e1) wherein, which, those who

1f) (with prefixes)

1f1) in this (place) here, then

1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter

1f3) thus and thus

1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus

1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side

1f6) on this account

1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTm — Particle
HTm
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
תִּשְׁאַ֣לtish.'Al are you asking H7592 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
171× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ask or inquire, this Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe seeking information or requesting something. It can also mean to beg or borrow, and is used in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament. The KJV translates it as ask, beg, or borrow.
Tyndale gloss
to ask
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in the context of requesting a favor or borrowing. It covers a range of uses, including seeking counsel, consulting deities, and even begging. The verb can appear in different forms, such as asking for oneself or granting requests. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, שְׁאֵל (she.el), meaning 'to ask'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire

Qal

ask, ask for

specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

inquire of

inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

Niph. ask for oneself

Pi.

inquire carefully

beg, practise beggary

Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7592 שָׁאַל ask, inquire .. . ask, ask for

. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. . inquire of

. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. ask for oneself

. . inquire carefully

. beg, practise beggary

. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7592 sha'al shaw-al'

or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by

implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask

(counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand,

desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend,

pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאַל (sha.al) — to ask.

1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to ask, ask for

1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow

1a3) to enquire, enquire of

1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)

1a5) to seek

1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully

1c2) to beg, practise beggary

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to be given on request

1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to

Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
לִשְׁמִ֑יlish.Mi to name my H8034 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
what I am called, my identity
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
וְהוּא־ve.hu'- and it H1931 Conjunction · 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
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh why? this are you asking to name my and it [is] incomprehensible
פֶ֛לִאי׃ סFe.li [is] incomprehensible H6383 Adj
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means something is wonderful or hard to understand, like a miracle. It describes things that are extraordinary. In the Bible, it is used to talk about amazing events.
Amplified meaning
incomprehensible, wonderful, beyond human understanding, secret, wonderful, a wonder
Tyndale gloss
incomprehensible
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פִּלְאִי (pil'iy) is an adjective meaning wonderful or incomprehensible, derived from the root meaning remarkable. The term covers ideas of the extraordinary and secret. It appears in contexts that emphasize the awe-inspiring nature of something.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פִּלְאִי] adj. wonderful, incomprehensible

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6383 פִּלְאִי, פָלְִיא

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6383 pil'iy pil-ee'

or paliy1 {paw-lee'}; from 6381; remarkable:--secret,

wonderful.

see HEBREW for 0paliy1

see HEBREW for 06381

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פִּלְאִי (pil.i) — incomprehensible.

wonderful, incomprehensible, extraordinary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
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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