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Judges 15:4 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד שְׁלֹשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת שׁוּעָלִ֑ים וַיִּקַּ֣ח לַפִּדִ֗ים וַיֶּ֤פֶן זָנָב֙ אֶל־ זָנָ֔ב וַיָּ֨שֶׂם לַפִּ֥יד אֶחָ֛ד בֵּין־ שְׁנֵ֥י הַזְּנָב֖וֹת בַּתָּֽוֶךְ׃

BSAThen SamsonShimshôwn [the strong judge, like the sun] and caughtlâkad threeshâlôwsh hundredmêʼâh [a multitude of] foxesshûwʻâl [burrowers, possibly jackals] And he tooklâqach torcheslappîyd [firebrands, burning flames] turnedpânâh the foxes tail-to-tailzânâb [facing each other, in pairs] and fastenedsûwm aʼechâd torchlappîyd [a lamp] betweenbêyn each pairshᵉnayim of tailszânâb [in the midst, between two]

Word
Listen & take awayJudges 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ba.Ta.vekh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Judges 15:4quick helps
In a sentenceSamson captures three hundred foxes and uses them to create chaos among the Philistines.
Who is speakingSamson, a judge of Israel known for his strength.
Where we areThe narrative of Samson's exploits, specifically his conflict with the Philistines.
The hard wordשׁוּעָלִים
Take awaySamson's actions lead to destruction for his enemies.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectשִׁמְשׁוֹן verbהלך 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 15:4

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

Context — The Exploits of Samsongenerated

3Samson said to them, “This time I will be blameless in doing harm to the Philistines.”
4Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. And he took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails.
5Then he lit the torches and released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines, burning up the piles of grain and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves.
6“Who did this?” the Philistines demanded. “It was Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite,” they were told. “For his wife was given to his companion.” So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.

Judges 15:4 describes Samson's cunning strategy against the Philistines, where he captures a large number of foxes to create chaos. This act is part of his ongoing conflict with the Philistines, showcasing his resourcefulness and strength as a judge of Israel. The surrounding verses highlight the escalating tensions between Samson and the Philistines, leading to further conflict and destruction.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 63:10They will fall to the power of the sword; they will become a portion for foxes.
2Song of Solomon 2:15
3Lamentations 5:18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שׁוּעָלִים, shu.'a.Limgenerated

The word שׁוּעָל (shu'al) means 'fox' and can also refer to jackals. It describes a small to medium-sized mammal known for burrowing. The use of this term in the context of capturing three hundred foxes suggests a large-scale operation, indicative of Samson's strength and cunning.

This particular word appears in the Bible to symbolize cleverness and adaptability, traits that are essential in the narrative of Samson's confrontations with his enemies.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the term foxes for שׁוּעָלִים.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (vai.Ye.lekh), meaning 'and he went.' This governs the actions that follow, with multiple clauses detailing Samson's actions of capturing, taking, turning, and fastening.

The structure of the verse emphasizes the sequence of Samson's actions, illustrating a clear progression from capturing the foxes to preparing them for his plan.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שׁוּעָלִים as ἀλώπεκας (alōpekas), which also means 'foxes.' This choice maintains the original meaning while adapting to the Greek audience's understanding.

The LXX reflects a consistent interpretation of the Hebrew text, preserving the narrative's intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Judges 15:4 tells us that Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. He took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails. This clever strategy shows Samson's resourcefulness in his conflict with the Philistines.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Samson's action of catching foxes signify?

It demonstrates his cleverness and strength in devising a plan against the Philistines.

Why did Samson use foxes for his plan?

Foxes, being burrowers, symbolize cunning and adaptability, traits that Samson employs against his enemies.

What was the outcome of Samson's actions with the foxes?

Samson's actions led to destruction of the Philistines' grain and crops, escalating the conflict between them.

How does this verse fit into the larger narrative of Samson's story?

It highlights Samson's ongoing struggle against the Philistines and his use of unconventional tactics to assert his strength.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this passage teach us about resourcefulness in challenging situations?
  2. How can we apply Samson's cleverness in our own lives when facing obstacles?
  3. What are some modern-day examples of using creativity to solve problems?
  4. How does this narrative reflect the themes of conflict and resolution in our lives?

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

Early church fathers have commented on Samson's actions, often drawing moral lessons from his exploits and the consequences of his decisions.

Ephrem the SyrianON Genesis 42.9 c. 306–373
Just as those who travel about in the pathless desert tremble at serpents on the ground, and those who travel on the pathways are also terrified of vipers that hide on the paths, so were the Philistines,
Early Church Fathers on Judges 15 →
PrudentiusSCENES FROM SACRED HISTORY 17.18 348–413
Samson resistless because of his hair is attacked by a lion; When he killed the wild beast, from its mouth there flowed streams of honey,
Early Church Fathers on Judges 15 →
Maximus of TurinSERMON 41.5 c. 380–465
Let us avoid, then, brothers, let us avoid the pestilential deceits of the insidious foxes [heretics]. Let us avoid the deadly frauds of wicked persons lest,
Early Church Fathers on Judges 15 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Judges 15:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes,.... Nor should this be thought at all incredible, since Canaan and Palestine abounded with foxes; hence several places therein had their names of

Read John Gill on Judges 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.

Read Robert Jamieson on Judges 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

There were great numbers of foxes in Canaan, as appears from . So that divers places there have their names from the foxes which abounded there; as 19:42 . Add to this, that some learned men conceive that the Hebrew name schual is more general, and contains not only the foxes, but another sort of creature very like to them, called thoes, whereof there were so many, there, that sometimes two hundred of them have been met together in one company, its some who have lived in those parts have left upon record. But infidels are much scandalized at this history, and pretend it incredible that Samson should catch so many foxes together; so nice and delicate is the faith of these men in things…

Read Matthew Poole on Judges 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Judges 15:4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.Ver. 4. And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes.] Whereof that country was full, and he might herein use the help of his friends. The Philistines vulpinando had got away his wife from him, as Herod that fox had done his brother Philip’ s: by foxes therefore they are fitly plagued. And put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.] Putting something else also between them, saith Lyra, which might not burn asunder; and which might keep the fire from burning the foxes, through the space betwixt tail and tail; heretics and…

Read John Trapp on Judges 15 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Caught three hundred foxes.—Rather, three hundred jackals. The word Shualim is used for both; but it would be difficult to catch three hundred foxes, whereas the jackals are still heard howling in herds about these very regions at night. They must have been still more common in Palestine in ancient days, and hence we find such names as “the land of Shual” (1 Samuel 13:17), Hazar-shual (“jackal’s enclosure,” Joshua 15:28), Shalim (1 Samuel 11:4), Shaalabbin (“place of foxes or jackals,” Joshua 19:42). There would be no difficulty in trapping them; nor is it said that they were all let loose at once. Turned tail to tail.—This implies that he tied the tails together (LXX., sunedçsen…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Judges 15 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Went and caught three hundred foxes] There has been much controversy concerning the meaning of the term שועלים shualim, some supposing it to mean foxes or jackals, and others handfuls or sheaves of corn. Much of the force of the objections against the common version will be diminished by the following considerations: - 1. Foxes, or jackals, are common and gregarious in that country. 2. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone; he might have employed several hands in this work. 3. It is not said he collected them all in one day; he might have employed several days, as well as many persons, to furnish him with these means of vengeance. 4. In other countries, where ferocious…

Read AdamClarke on Judges 15 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. three hundred foxes] The fox is a solitary animal, and to catch 300 would be impossible for any one but Samson. It seems a pity to lessen the marvel in the interests of prosaic probability by translating jackals, animals which roam in packs, though the word can mean this, Psalms 63:10, Nehemiah 4:3 RVm. etc. The grotesque trick was thoroughly relished by the story-tellers. Curious parallels to it are quoted from different quarters. Among the heathen Arabs in time of drought cattle, with lighted torches tied to their tails, were driven to the mountains in the hope of bringing down rain (Wellhausen, Reste Arab. Heidentums2, 167). At Rome foxes, treated in the same way, were let loose into…

Read Cambridge on Judges 15 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Foxes - Rather, “jackals,” which are still very common in Palestine, especially about Joppa and Gaza.

Read Albert Barnes on Judges 15 →

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

Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. And he took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the middle between every two tails.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. And he took torches, turned the foxes tail-to-tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Samson went and captured three hundred jackals and got some torches. He tied the jackals in pairs by their tails and then tied a torch to each pair.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took fire-brands, and turned tail to tail, and put a fire-brand in the midst between two tails.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And Samson went out, and tooke three hundreth foxes, and tooke firebrands, and turned them taile to taile, and put a firebrand in ye middes betweene two tailes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Samson went and caught three hundred jackals, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the midst between the two tails.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Samson goeth and catcheth three hundred foxes, and taketh torches, and turneth tail unto tail, and putteth a torch between the two tails, in the midst,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Samson goes and catches three hundred foxes, and takes torches, and turns tail to tail, and puts a torch between the two tails, in the midst,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put one torch between two tails in the midst;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Samson went and caught three hundred foxes and he tied together each pair, tail to tail. Then he took torches and tied them in the middle of each pair of tails.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And he went and caught three hundred foxes, and coupled them tail to tail, and fastened torches between the tails.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He went and caught three hundred foxes and tied their tails together, two by two.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So Samson went and got three hundred foxes and some sticks of fire-wood; and he put the foxes tail to tail with a stick between every two tails;

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.

וַandclauseverbיֵּ֣לֶךְhe.wentsubjectשִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןSamsonוַandclauseverbיִּלְכֹּ֖דhe.capturednoun phrase · objectnumeral phraseשְׁלֹשׁthreeמֵא֣וֹתhundred(s)שׁוּעָלִ֑יםfoxesוַandclauseverbיִּקַּ֣חhe.tookobjectלַפִּדִ֗יםtorchesוַandclauseverbיֶּ֤פֶןhe.turnedobjectזָנָב֙tailprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtoזָנָ֔בtailוַandclauseverbיָּ֨שֶׂםhe.putnoun phrase · objectלַפִּ֥ידa.torchאֶחָ֛דoneprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֵּיןbetweennoun phraseשְׁנֵ֥יthe.twonoun phraseהַtheזְּנָב֖וֹתtailsprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrasetheתָּֽוֶךְmiddle

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 largely agree in their wording for this verse, with only minor differences in structure. The Septuagint's word order differs from the Hebrew but retains the essential elements of the narrative.

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

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד שְׁלֹשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת שׁוּעָלִ֑ים וַיִּקַּ֣ח לַפִּדִ֗ים וַיֶּ֤פֶן זָנָב֙ אֶל־ זָנָ֔ב וַיָּ֨שֶׂם לַפִּ֥יד אֶחָ֛ד בֵּין־ שְׁנֵ֥י הַזְּנָב֖וֹת בַּתָּֽוֶךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְἐπορεύθηשִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןσαμψωνוַיִּלְכֹּ֖דσυνέλαβενמֵא֣וֹתτριακοσίαςשׁוּעָלִ֑יםἀλώπεκαςוַיִּקַּ֣חἔλαβενלַפִּדִ֗יםλαμπάδαςוַיֶּ֤פֶןἐπέστρεψενזָנָב֙κέρκονאֶל־πρὸςזָנָ֔בκέρκονוַיָּ֨שֶׂםἔθηκενלַפִּ֥ידλαμπάδαאֶחָ֛דμίανבֵּין־μέσονשְׁנֵ֥יδύοהַזְּנָב֖וֹתκέρκων

17 of the 19 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 15:4הָלַךְand he wentand he wentהָלַךְשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonSamsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןלָכַדand he captand he capturedלָכַדשָׁלֹשׁthreethreeשָׁלֹשׁמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהשׁוּעָלfoxesfoxesשׁוּעָללָקַחand he tookand he tookלָקַחלַפִּידtorchestorchesלַפִּידפָּנָהand he turnand he turnedפָּנָהזָנָבtailtailזָנָבאֶלtotoאֶלזָנָבtailtailזָנָבשׂוּםand he putand he putשׂוּםלַפִּידa torcha torchלַפִּידאֶחָדoneoneאֶחָדבַּ֫יִןbetweenbetweenבַּ֫יִןשְׁנַ֫יִם[the] two[the] twoשְׁנַ֫יִםזָנָבthe tailsthe tailsזָנָבתָּ֫וֶךְin the middin the middleתָּ֫וֶךְזִנֵּבto cut offto cut off the זִנֵּבשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁחָדַדto go eithto go either waחָדַדבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְשָׁלִthirdthirdשָׁלִשֹׁ֫עַלhandfulhandfulשֹׁ֫עַלשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיכִּפָּהbranchbranchכִּפָּהאַגְמֹןbulrushbulrushאַגְמֹןבָּרַקto use ligto use lightninבָּרַקבָּעַרto burn: bto burn: burnבָּעַראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהדְּלִילָהDelilahDelilahדְּלִילָהיָקַץto awaketo awakeיָקַץלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַם
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 15:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְvai.Ye.lekh and he went H1980 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןshim.Shon Samson H8123 Noun proper masculine
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Samson, meaning like the sun, was a Danite and a judge of Israel for 20 years. He was a Nazarite for life, and his story is first mentioned in Judges 13:24, where he is described as the son of Manoah.
Amplified meaning
the strong judge, like the sun
Tyndale gloss
Samson
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshown) refers to Samson, a significant figure in the Old Testament known as a judge of Israel. The name is derived from the Hebrew word for sunlight, suggesting a meaning of 'like the sun.' Samson, a Danite and Nazarite, is first mentioned in Judges 13:24 and is noted for his strength and tumultuous life.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁמְשׁוֹן 38 n.pr.m. Samson

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8123 שִׁמְשׁוֹן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8123 Shimshown shim-shone'

from 8121; sunlight; Shimshon, an Israelite:--Samson.

see HEBREW for 08121

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁמְשׁוֹן (shim.shon) — Samson.

A Judge living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.13.24;

son of: Manoah (H4495); married to Delilah (H1807)

Also named: Sampsōn (Σαμψών "Samson" G4546)

§ Samson = "like the sun"

a Danite, son of Manoah, a Nazarite for life, and a judge of Israel for 20 years

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sam'-sun (shimshon.

1. Name:

Derived probably from shemesh, "sun" with the diminutive ending -on, meaning "little sun" or "sunny," or perhaps "sun-man"; Sampson; Latin and English, Samson): His home was near Bethshemesh, which means "house of the sun." Compare the similar formation shimshay (Ezr 4:8,9,17,23).

2. Character:

Samson was a judge, perhaps the last before Samuel. He was a Nazirite of the tribe of Da (Jud 13:5); a man of prodigious strength, a giant and a gymnast--the Hebrew Hercules, a strange champion for Yahweh! He intensely hated the Philistines who had oppressed Israel some 40 years (Jud 13:1), and was willing to fight them alone. He seems to have been actuated by little less than personal vengeance, yet in the New…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Samson

Of the sun, the son of Manoah, born at Zorah. The narrative of his life is given in Judg. 13-16. He was a “Nazarite unto God” from his birth, the first Nazarite mentioned in Scripture (Judg. 13:3-5; comp. Num. 6:1-21). The first recorded event of his life was his marriage with a Philistine woman of Timnath (Judg. 14:1-5). Such a marriage was not forbidden by the law of Moses, as the Philistines did not form one of the seven doomed Canaanite nations (Ex. 34:11-16; Deut. 7:1-4). It was, however, an ill-assorted and unblessed marriage. His wife was soon taken from him and given “to his companion” (

(like the sun), son of Manoah, a man of the town of Zorah in the tribe of Dan, on the border of Judah. (Joshua 15:33; 19:41) (B.C. 1161). The miraculous circumstances of his birth are recorded in Judges 13; and the three following chapters are devoted to the history of his life and exploits. Samson takes his place in Scripture, (1) as a judge --an office which he filled for twenty years, (Judges 15:20; 16:31) (2) as a Nazarite, (Judges 13:5; 16:17) and (3) as one endowed with supernatural power by the Spirit of the Lord. (Judges 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14) As a judge his authority seems to have been limited to the district bordering upon the country of the Philistines. The…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son of Manoah, of the tribe of Dan, a deliverer and judge of the southern tribes of the Hebrews for twenty years, Jud 13:1; 16:31. His birth was miraculously foretold; he was a Nazarite from infancy and the strongest of men; and was equally celebrated for his fearless and wonderful exploits, for his moral infirmities, and for his tragical end. His exploits were not wrought without special divine aid; "the Spirit of God came mightily upon him," Jud 13:25 14:6,19 15:14 16:20,28. The providence of God was signally displayed in overruling for good the hasty passions of Samson, the cowardice of his friends, and the malice of his enemies. The sins of Samson brought him in great disgrace and misery; but grace and faith triumphed in the end,

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
וַיִּלְכֹּ֖דvai.yil.Kod and he captured H3920 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
121× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to capture or seize, often using a net or trap. In the Bible, it is used to describe taking control of something or someone, and is also used figuratively to describe being caught or stuck in a situation.
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָכַד (lakad) means to capture, seize, or take, often by lot. It can refer to catching in a net or trap, as well as figuratively to describe things sticking together. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to capture), Niphal (to be captured), and Hithpael (to grasp each other).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָכַד 121 vb. capture, seize, take (by lot)

Qal

capture, seize

fig. of entrapping men

of taking by lot

Niph.

be captured in war

of men, be caught

be taken by lot

Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3920 lakad law-kad'

a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit);

generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot);

figuratively, to cohere:--X at all, catch (self), be frozen,

be holden, stick together, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.

1) to capture, take, seize

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to capture, seize

1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.)

1a3) to take (by lot)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
שְׁלֹשׁ־she.losh- three H7969 Noun common · both singular construct
432× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means three or thrice, and is used to describe quantities or repetitions in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including three, third, and thirteen.
Tyndale gloss
three
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'

or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};

or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;

occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,

+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.

Compare 7991.

see HEBREW for 07991

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.

1) three, triad

1a) 3, 300, third

Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · both singular construct
HNcbsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(shalosh; treis).

See NUMBER.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
מֵא֣וֹתme.'ot hundred H3967 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
a multitude of
Tyndale gloss
hundred
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֵאָה (me'ah) means 'hundred' in Hebrew. It can refer to a simple number, a component of a larger number, or a fraction representing one one-hundredth. The entries consistently describe its use as a numeral without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֵאָה 583 n.f. hundred

as simple number

as part of larger number

a hundredth part

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3967 מֵאָה hundred . as simple number

. as part of larger number

. a hundredth part

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3967 me'ah may-aw'

or metyah {may-yaw'}; properly, a primitive numeral; a

hundred; also as a multiplicative and a

fraction:--hundred((-fold), -th), + sixscore.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֵאָה (me.ah) — hundred.

1) hundred

1a) as simple number

1b) as part of larger number

1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100)

Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).

See NUMBER.

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
שׁוּעָלִ֑יםshu.'a.Lim foxes H7776 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The word for fox refers to a burrower, possibly also a jackal. It describes a small to medium-sized mammal that digs holes. In the Bible, it is translated as fox.
Amplified meaning
burrowers, possibly jackals
Tyndale gloss
fox
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שׁוּעָל (shuw'al) refers to a fox, and may also denote a jackal. The word is derived from a root meaning to burrow, highlighting its association with digging or burrowing animals. The entries consistently emphasize its primary meaning as a fox, with some suggesting a possible connection to jackals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּעָל n.m. fox, perhaps also jackal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7776 שׁוּעָל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7776 shuw`al shoo-awl'

or shunal {shoo-awl'}; from the same as 8168; a jackal (as a

burrower):--fox.

see HEBREW for 08168

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּעָל (shu.al) — fox.

1) fox, a burrower

1a) fox

1b) perhaps also jackal

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
וַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.Kach and he took H3947 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
966× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Tyndale gloss
to take: take
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָקַח 965 vb. take

Qal

take, take in hand

take and carry along with oneself

take from, or out of

take, carry away

take away from, so as to deprive of

esp. take away life

take to or for a person

take up, upon = put upon

= fetch

take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

take = capture, seize

take = carry off

in phr. take vengeance

Niph.

be captured, of ark

be taken away, removed

be taken, brought unto

Pu.

be taken from, out of

= be stolen from

be taken captive

be taken away, removed

Hoph.

be taken, brought unto

be taken out of

be taken away from

Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand

. take and carry along with oneself

. . take from, or out of

. take, carry away

. take away from, so as to deprive of

. esp. take away life

. take to or for a person

. take up, upon = put upon

. = fetch

. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

. take = capture, seize

. take = carry off

. in phr. take vengeance

. . be captured, of ark

. be taken away, removed

. be taken, brought unto

. . be taken from, out of

. = be stolen from

. be taken captive

. be taken away, removed

. . be taken, brought unto

. be taken out of

. be taken away from

. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3947 laqach law-kakh'

a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of

applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,

get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,

seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.

: take

1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take, take in the hand

1a2) to take and carry along

1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away

1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept

1a5) to take up or upon, put upon

1a6) to fetch

1a7) to take, lead, conduct

1a8) to take, capture, seize

1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be taken away, be removed

1b3) to be taken, brought unto

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be taken from or out of

1c2) to be stolen from

1c3) to be taken captive

1c4) to be taken away, be removed

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto

1d2) to be taken out of

1d3) to be taken away

1e) (Hithpael)

1e1) to take hold of oneself

Read the full entry →
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 went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
לַפִּדִ֗יםla.pi.Dim torches H3940 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A torch or lamp, this word refers to a burning flame or fire. In the Bible, it describes a light source or a symbol of God's power.
Amplified meaning
firebrands, burning flames
Tyndale gloss
torch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לַפִּיד (lappiyd) means 'torch' and is derived from a root that likely means 'to shine.' It refers to a source of light such as a flambeau, lamp, or flame. The entries consistently define it as a torch without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לַפִּיד n.m. torch

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3940 לַפִּיד torch

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3940 lappiyd lap-peed'

or lappid {lap-peed'}; from an unused root probably meaning

to shine; a flambeau, lamp or flame:--(fire-)brand, (burning)

lamp, lightning, torch.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לַפִּיד (lap.pid) — torch.

torch

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Torches

On the night of his betrayal, when our Lord was in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas, “having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:1-3). Although it was the time of full moon, yet in the valley of the Kidron “there fell great, deep shadows from the declivity of the mountain and projecting rocks; there were there caverns and grottos, into which a fugitive might retreat; finally, there were probably a garden-house and tower, into whose gloom it might be necessary for a searcher to throw light around.” Lange’s Commentary. (Nahum 2:3, “torches,” Revised Version, “steel,” probably should be “scythes” for war-chariots.)

Thompson Chain Reference topics
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
וַיֶּ֤פֶןvai.Ye.fen and he turned H6437 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
135× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to turn or face something, like looking at a corner or a gate. It appears in descriptions of daily life and interactions, like in Genesis and Psalms. It's about changing direction or focus.
Tyndale gloss
Corner (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּנָה (panah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn, with various implications such as turning toward, away, or doing something. It can refer to both physical and figurative actions, like looking or regarding something. The entries indicate it can also mean to decline or approach, and it has different forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, each with specific nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּנָה 135 vb. turn

Qal 117

turn toward

turn from

turn and do a thing

turn, decline

turn toward, approach

turn and look, look

of inanimate things, face

esp. fig. look at, regard

look for = expect

fig. look at = consider

Hiph.

turn

make a turn, shew (signs of) turning

Hoph. be ye turned back!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6437 פָּנָה turn .. . turn toward

. turn from

. turn and do a thing

. turn, decline

. turn toward, approach

. . turn and look, look

. of inanimate things, face

. esp. fig. look at, regard

. look for = expect

. fig. look at = consider

. . turn

. make a turn, shew (signs of) turning

. be ye turned back!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6437 panah paw-naw'

a primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e.

appear, look, etc.:--appear, at (even-)tide, behold, cast

out, come on, X corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look,

mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to),

(re-)turn (aside, away, back, face, self), X right (early).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנָה (pa.nah) — to turn.

1) to turn

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn toward or from or away

1a2) to turn and do

1a3) to turn, decline (of day)

1a4) to turn toward, approach (of evening)

1a5) to turn and look, look, look back or at or after or for

1b) (Piel) to turn away, put out of the way, make clear, clear away

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to turn

1c2) to make a turn, show signs of turning, turn back

1d) (Hophal) to be turned back

פָּנָה (pa.nah) — Corner (Gate).

This name means corner, to turn, to turn back

Another spelling of pin.nah (פִּנָּה "Corner( Gate)" H6438)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhw3ms
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
זָנָב֙za.Nav tail H2180 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the tail of an animal, and can also mean the end or stump of something. It is used literally and figuratively in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
facing each other, in pairs
Tyndale gloss
tail
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָנָב (zanab) means 'tail' in Hebrew, and can also refer figuratively to an 'end' or 'stump.' It is derived from a root meaning to flap, indicating a literal or figurative tail. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to physical and metaphorical endings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָנָב n.m. tail, also (fig.), end, stump

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2180 זָנָב tail, also (fig.), end, stump

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2180 zanab zaw-nawb'

from 2179 (in the original sense of flapping); the tail

(literally or figuratively):--tail.

see HEBREW for 02179

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָנָב (za.nav) — tail.

tail, end, stump

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

tal ('alyah; zanabh; oura): The broad tail of the Syrian sheep, wrongly rendered "rump" (which see) in the King James Version, is mentioned as one of the portions of sacrifice which was burned on the altar as a sweet savor to God (Ex 29:22). The 2nd Hebrew word is used of the tails of serpents (Ex 4:4), of foxes, which Samson tied together in his cruel sport, in order to destroy the grainfields of the Philistines by means of attached firebrands (Jud 15:4, etc.). The following seems to be an allusion to this incident: "Fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah" (

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
זָנָ֔בza.Nav tail H2180 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the tail of an animal, and can also mean the end or stump of something. It is used literally and figuratively in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
in the midst, between two
Tyndale gloss
tail
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָנָב (zanab) means 'tail' in Hebrew, and can also refer figuratively to an 'end' or 'stump.' It is derived from a root meaning to flap, indicating a literal or figurative tail. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to physical and metaphorical endings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָנָב n.m. tail, also (fig.), end, stump

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2180 זָנָב tail, also (fig.), end, stump

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2180 zanab zaw-nawb'

from 2179 (in the original sense of flapping); the tail

(literally or figuratively):--tail.

see HEBREW for 02179

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָנָב (za.nav) — tail.

tail, end, stump

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tal ('alyah; zanabh; oura): The broad tail of the Syrian sheep, wrongly rendered "rump" (which see) in the King James Version, is mentioned as one of the portions of sacrifice which was burned on the altar as a sweet savor to God (Ex 29:22). The 2nd Hebrew word is used of the tails of serpents (Ex 4:4), of foxes, which Samson tied together in his cruel sport, in order to destroy the grainfields of the Philistines by means of attached firebrands (Jud 15:4, etc.). The following seems to be an allusion to this incident: "Fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah" (

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
וַיָּ֨שֶׂםvai.Ya.sem and he put H7760 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
585× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to put or place something, and is used in many different ways in the Bible, such as to appoint or determine something. It is first used in Genesis to describe God's creation. In the KJV, it is translated as 'appoint' or 'set' in various contexts.
Tyndale gloss
to set: make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׂוּם (sum) is a verb meaning to put, place, or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, establishing, and making. It can also refer to laying something upon or directing it. There is a related noun שׂוּמָה (sumah), which may denote a token of unluckiness. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set

Qal

put, set, in a place

put something upon

put, lay, set

put, c. בֵּין

set, direct

set, ordain, in a place

set, establish a law, statute

set, found a nation

set, appoint (as ruler, official)

set, constitute, make

set, determine, fix, bounds

set, station, at a post

put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars

set up altars

= plant, wheat

set, fix (countenance)

make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into

make, constitute

work, bring to pass

appoint, give

set, fix (countenance)

Hiph. I will make him for a sign

Hoph. there was set before him

base

שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl;—2 S 13:32

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7760a שׂוּם, שִׂים put, place, set .. . put, set, in a place

. put something upon

. put, lay, set

. put, c. בֵּין

. set, direct

. . set, ordain, in a place

. set, establish a law, statute

. set, found a nation

. set, appoint (as ruler, official)

. set, constitute, make

. set, determine, fix, bounds

. . set, station, at a post

. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars

. set up altars

. = plant, wheat

. set, fix (countenance)

. . make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into

. make, constitute

. work, bring to pass

. appoint, give

. set, fix (countenance)

. I will make him for a sign

. there was set before him

H7760b שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7760 suwm soom

or siym {seem}; a primitive root; to put (used in a great

variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially,

and elliptically):--X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a

name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider,

convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap

up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out),

mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve,

purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set

(on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down,

((over-))turn, X wholly, work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׂוּם (sum) — to set: make.

: make/establish

1) to put, place, set, appoint, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

1a2) to set, direct, direct toward

1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)

1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix

1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix

1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give

1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign

1c) (Hophal) to be set

שׂוּמָה (su.mah) — fate.

token of unluckiness, scowl

שׂוּם (sum) — to set: put.

: put/give

1) to put, place, set, appoint, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

1a2) to set, direct, direct toward

1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)

1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

put (puT; Phoud, in Genesis and Chronicles, variant for Genesis Phout, for Chronicles, Phouth):

1. Renderings:

In consequence of the identification at the time, the prophets have "Libya" (Libues), except Nab 3:9, where the Greek renders the word as phuge, "flight." The Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) has "Phut," "Phuth," and in the Prophets "Libyes" and "Libya"; the King James Version "Phut."

2. Son of Ham:

In the "Table of Nations" Put is the third son of Ham (Ge 10:6), the first and second being Cush and Misraim, and the fourth Canaan. Put is the only one of the sons of Ham who is not credited with descendants.

3. As Nationality:

In the Prophets, warriors from Put are referred to, principally in connection with the forces of Egypt. They appear as shield-bearers (Jer 46:9

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See PHUT

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
לַפִּ֥ידla.Pid a torch H3940 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A torch or lamp, this word refers to a burning flame or fire. In the Bible, it describes a light source or a symbol of God's power.
Amplified meaning
a lamp
Tyndale gloss
torch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לַפִּיד (lappiyd) means 'torch' and is derived from a root that likely means 'to shine.' It refers to a source of light such as a flambeau, lamp, or flame. The entries consistently define it as a torch without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לַפִּיד n.m. torch

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3940 לַפִּיד torch

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3940 lappiyd lap-peed'

or lappid {lap-peed'}; from an unused root probably meaning

to shine; a flambeau, lamp or flame:--(fire-)brand, (burning)

lamp, lightning, torch.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לַפִּיד (lap.pid) — torch.

torch

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

torch (lappidh; lampas; in the King James Version this word occurs only 4 times (Na 2:3,4 (Hebrew 4,5); Zec 12:6; Joh 18:3). In the Revised Version (British and American) it is found 10 times (Ge 15:17; Jud 7:16,20; Job 41:19 (Hebrew 11); Eze 1:13; Da 10:6; Na 2:4 (Hebrew 5); Zec 12:6; Joh 18:3;

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
אֶחָ֛ד'e.Chad one H259 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
971× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Tyndale gloss
one
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one

one

= each, every

= a certain

= indef. art.

only, & (fem.) once

one … another, one … the other

as ordinal first

in combin.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H259 אֶחָד one . one

. = each, every

. = a certain

. = indef. art.

. only, & (fem.) once

. one … another, one … the other

. as ordinal first

. in combin.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

259 'echad ekh-awd'

a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an

ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,

any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +

eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,

other, some, together,

see HEBREW for 0258

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.

1) one (number)

1a) one (number)

1b) each, every

1c) a certain

1d) an (indefinite article)

1e) only, once, once for all

1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one

1g) first

1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)

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

wun.

See NUMBER.

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
בֵּין־bein- between H996 Prep
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Between is the meaning of this preposition, used to show a location or a choice, like either or, as seen in Exodus where it describes the space between two objects.
Tyndale gloss
between
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between

always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

996 beyn bane

(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,

the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a

distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before

each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,

either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +

from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.

: between

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.

: among

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Prep
HAcmsc
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
שְׁנֵ֥יshe.Nei [the] two H8147 Noun common · both dual construct
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · both dual construct
HNcbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
הַזְּנָב֖וֹתha.ze.na.Vot the tails H2180 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the tail of an animal, and can also mean the end or stump of something. It is used literally and figuratively in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
tail
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָנָב (zanab) means 'tail' in Hebrew, and can also refer figuratively to an 'end' or 'stump.' It is derived from a root meaning to flap, indicating a literal or figurative tail. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to physical and metaphorical endings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָנָב n.m. tail, also (fig.), end, stump

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2180 זָנָב tail, also (fig.), end, stump

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2180 zanab zaw-nawb'

from 2179 (in the original sense of flapping); the tail

(literally or figuratively):--tail.

see HEBREW for 02179

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָנָב (za.nav) — tail.

tail, end, stump

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncfpa — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
and he went Samson and he captured three hundred foxes and he took torches and he turned tail to tail and he put a torch one between [the] two the tails in the middle
בַּתָּֽוֶךְ׃ba.Ta.vekh in the middle H8432 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
418× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the middle or center of something, such as a group of people or a physical space. It can also mean among or between things, as seen in various Bible translations.
Tyndale gloss
midst
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּ֫וֶךְ (tavek) means 'midst' or 'middle,' indicating a central position or location. It can also imply being 'among' or 'between' things, particularly in contexts involving separation or division. The term appears in various forms, such as 'into' or 'through,' especially after verbs of motion.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּ֫וֶךְ 416 subst. midst

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8432 תָּ֫וֶךְ subst. midst

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8432 tavek taw'-vek

from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by

implication) the centre:--among(-st), X between, half, X

(there- ,where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among),

X out (of), X through, X with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) — midst.

1) midst, middle

1a) midst, middle

1b) into, through (after verbs of motion)

1c) among (of a number of persons)

1d) between (of things arranged by twos)

1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
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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