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Jeremiah 15:18 — Word Study

Depth

WLCלָ֣מָּה הָיָ֤ה כְאֵבִי֙ נֶ֔צַח וּמַכָּתִ֖י אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה֙ מֵֽאֲנָה֙ הֵֽרָפֵ֔א הָי֨וֹ תִֽהְיֶ֥ה לִי֙ כְּמ֣וֹ אַכְזָ֔ב מַ֖יִם לֹ֥א נֶאֱמָֽנוּ׃ ס

BSAWhymâh ishâyâh my painkᵉʼêb [perpetual, unending] unendingnetsach and my woundmakkâh incurableʼânash [desperate] refusingmâʼên [to say no, to reject] to be healedrâphâʼ [to mend, to cure] You have indeed becomehâyâh likekᵉmôw [as, similar to] a mirageʼakzâb [a deception, an illusion] watermayim [a source of refreshment, a symbol of life] that is notlôʼ [absent, nonexistent] thereʼâman [present, available]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 15
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 (ne.'e.Ma.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 15:18quick helps
In a sentenceJeremiah expresses deep anguish over persistent pain and a sense of abandonment by God.
Who is speakingJeremiah, lamenting his suffering and God's perceived absence.
Where we areA moment of personal despair in the midst of prophetic ministry.
The hard wordאֲנוּשָׁ֑ה
Take awayThe pain feels endless, and the hope for healing seems lost.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה 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 — Jeremiah 15:18

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 — Jeremiah's Lamentgenerated

17I never sat with the band of revelers, nor did I celebrate with them. Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone, for You have filled me with indignation.
18Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me— water that is not there.
19Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak words that are noble instead of worthless, you will be My spokesman. It is they who must turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
20Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 15:18 captures a moment of profound sorrow as the prophet questions the unending nature of his pain and the incurability of his wound. This verse reflects Jeremiah's feelings of isolation and despair, highlighting the struggle between faith and suffering. The surrounding verses (17-20) provide context for his lament, revealing his commitment to God amidst personal anguish and the hope for restoration.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 14:19Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror.
2Psalm 6:3My soul is deeply distressed. How long, O LORD, how long?
3Psalm 13:1–3How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
4Lamentations 3:1–18I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath.
5Jeremiah 30:12–15For this is what the LORD says: “Your injury is incurable; your wound is grievous.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה, 'a.nu.Shahgenerated

The word אֲנוּשָׁה ('a.nu.Shah) is a passive participle that conveys the sense of being weak or incurable. It describes a state of desperation, often associated with physical or emotional affliction. The parsing as a feminine singular participle indicates a specific condition of the subject, which in this case is the wound Jeremiah refers to.

This term appears in contexts that emphasize hopelessness or frailty, suggesting that Jeremiah feels his suffering is beyond healing. The use of this word here underscores the depth of his despair and the urgency of his plea for relief.


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 has incurable, which is consistent with the KJV and several other translations.

Where others part company with the BSB they part company over the rendering of אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה. Desperate (DRA, GNV) captures a different nuance, reflecting a sense of urgency rather than a clinical description of the wound.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse features multiple clauses, with the first clause posing a rhetorical question about pain and incurability — לָ֣מָּה La.mah — followed by a series of descriptive clauses that elaborate on the speaker's feelings and observations. The finite verb הָיָ֤ה (ha.Yah, 'is it') anchors the sentence, linking the pain to the speaker's existential crisis.

The arrangement emphasizes the emotional weight of Jeremiah's lament, with the questions and declarations building upon one another to convey a deep sense of despair and longing for healing.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates the key term אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה as στερεά (stereá), which suggests a sense of being firmly established or fixed. This choice may indicate an interpretation that emphasizes the unyielding nature of Jeremiah's condition, aligning with the overall theme of hopelessness in the passage.

This translation choice reflects a different nuance from the Hebrew, focusing on the severity of the situation rather than the potential for healing.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 15:18 expresses deep sorrow over persistent pain and a wound that seems impossible to heal. Jeremiah feels abandoned, comparing God to a mirage, suggesting a lack of hope and refreshment in his life.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Jeremiah mean by 'my pain unending'?

Jeremiah is expressing a sense of continuous suffering that feels overwhelming and without relief.

How does the imagery of a mirage relate to Jeremiah's feelings?

The mirage symbolizes something that appears to offer hope or refreshment but is ultimately unattainable, reflecting Jeremiah's feelings of abandonment.

What does 'incurable' imply about Jeremiah's condition?

The term suggests that Jeremiah feels his suffering is beyond healing, emphasizing his desperation and hopelessness.

Why does Jeremiah question God's presence?

Jeremiah's questioning arises from his deep anguish and the feeling that God is not providing the healing and support he desperately seeks.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced feelings of abandonment or despair, similar to Jeremiah?
  2. How can I find hope in the midst of my struggles, as Jeremiah seeks healing?
  3. What does it mean to me that God is compared to a mirage in this verse?
  4. How can I support others who may be feeling hopeless or in pain?

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

Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, often discussing themes of suffering and divine presence, as seen in their writings.

CyprianEpistle LXXII:5-6 c. 200–258
How then can one who is baptized among them seem to have obtained remission of sins and the grace of the divine mercy by his faith, when he has not the truth of the faith itself? For if, as some suppose,
Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 15 →
Athanasius of AlexandriaDiscourses Against the Arians 2.14.10 c. 296–373
Now the so-called gods of the Greeks, unworthy of the name, are faithful neither in their essence nor in their promises, because they are not everywhere.
Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 15 →
JeromeSIX BOOKS ON Jeremiah 3:58.2-5 c. 347–420
This the Hebrews believe to be said in the person of Jerusalem, which sat alone and was filled with bitterness and whose pain was unending and the word of whose prophets passed through it deceitfully, like flowing water.
Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 15 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 15:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Why is my pain perpetual,.... The pain of his mind; his uneasiness for the good of his people, which was likely to last, having no hope of a change for the better: or it may design the pain which

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

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? Why is my wound incurable?

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

The words are judged to be the words of Jeremiah, and that with relation unto himself, complaining of the hard task which God had put upon him, continually filling his mouth With such bitter words of evil against the people, as exposed him to their most implacable rage against him, and persecution of him, so as his misery seemed like a pain and a wound, for which was no remedy but patience. Jeremiah, though a great prophet of the Lord, was (as Elijah) a man subject to like passions with other men; he here chargeth God with unfaithfulness, as if he had deceived his expectations, and had been to him as a pit of waters that promised fair, but failed a man when he had most need of them. The…

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

Jeremiah 15:18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which] refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail?Ver. 18. Why is my pain perpetual? &c.] Here the prophet too freely expostulates with God, as less faithful, or less mindful at least, of the promised preservation. This was in a fit of diffidence and discontent, as the best have their outbursts, and the greatest lamps have needed snuffers. The Milesians, saith the philosopher, are not fools; yet they do the things that fools use to do. So the saints do oft as wicked ones, but not in the same manner and degree.

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

(18) Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar . . .?—The words express a bitter sense of failure and disappointment. God had not prospered the mission of His servant as He had promised. The Hebrew, however, is not so startlingly bold as the English, and is satisfied by the rendering, wilt thou be unto me as a winter torrent, i.e., as in Job 6:15, like one which flows only in that season, and is dried up and parched in summer. See the play upon the word achzib (= a lie) in Micah 1:14.

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

Verse 18. Wilt thou be altogether unto me as - waters that fail?] Meaning either springs, which in the height of summer grow dry; or, like that phenomenon in the sandy desert, where, by a peculiar action of the air on the rising vapours, the resemblance of water is produced, so that the traveller, deceived, rejoices that he is come, in the sandy desert, to the verge of a beautiful lake; but the farther he travels, it is still at the same distance, and at last vanishes; and he finds the whole was an illusion, for the waters have failed. Nothing can exceed the disappointment of the farmer whose subsistence absolutely depends on the periodical rains, when these fail, or fall short of their…

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

18. a deceitful brook] The dried-up watercourse belies the anticipations of the thirsty traveller. Cp. Job 6:15. fail] lit. as mg. are not sure.

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 15 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

18. Pain perpetual — Implying that he had been long in the prophetical office. A liar — Rather, a deceptive torrent, that dries up in the season of drought and so disappoints hope. See Job 6:15; Micah 1:16.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Jeremiah 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

Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me— water that is not there.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me—water that is not there.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish? Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound? Will you let me down when I need you like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether to me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Why is mine heauines continuall? and my plague desperate and cannot be healed? why art thou vnto me as a lyar, and as waters that faile?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable? It refuseth to be healed. Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a treacherous [spring], [as] waters that fail?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Why hath my pain been perpetual? And my wound incurable? It hath refused to be healed, Thou art surely to me as a failing stream, Waters not stedfast.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Why has my pain been continuous? And my wound incurable? It has refused to be healed, || You are surely as a failing stream to me, || Waters [that are] not steadfast.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable? it refuseth to be healed; it is truly become unto me as a deceptive spring, as waters that are not reliable.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Why is my pain ongoing and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be like deceitful waters to me, waters that dry up?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Why is my sorrow become perpetual, and my wound desperate so as to refuse to be healed? it is become to me as the falsehood of deceitful waters that cannot be trusted.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Why doesn't my pain ever stop? Why is my wound incurable? Why can't it be healed? You've really become like a seasonal stream to me, an unreliable source of water.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Why is my pain unending and my wound without hope of being made well? Sorrow is mine, for you are to me as a stream offering false hope and as waters which are not certain.

Word by word, the decisions they made

אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה֙'a.nu.Shah incurable H605 2 different renderings
incurableASV BSB DBY FBV ILT KJV LSV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
desperateDRA GNV

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.

clauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֣מָּהwhy?verbהָיָ֤הis.itnoun phrase · subjectכְאֵבִpainי֙myobjectנֶ֔צַחperpetuityוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectמַכָּתִ֖woundיmyobjectאֲנוּשָׁ֑ה֙incurableclauseverbמֵֽאֲנָה֙it.has.refusedobjectהֵֽרָפֵ֔אto.be.healedclauseadverbialהָי֨וֹsurely.(be)verbתִֽהְיֶ֥הyou.areprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtoי֙meprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּמ֣וֹlikenoun phraseאַכְזָ֔בa.deceitful.thingnoun phraseמַ֖יִםwatersclauseadverbialלֹ֥א[which].notverbנֶאֱמָֽנוּthey.are.reliable

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


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

The Masoretic Text presents the verse as consistent with the Septuagint, with 12 of the 16 words matched. The Septuagint's word order differs, but the core message remains intact, showcasing Jeremiah's lament and the perception of unhealed wounds.

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

לָ֣מָּה הָיָ֤ה כְאֵבִי֙ נֶ֔צַח וּמַכָּתִ֖י אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה֙ מֵֽאֲנָה֙ הֵֽרָפֵ֔א הָי֨וֹ תִֽהְיֶ֥ה לִי֙ כְּמ֣וֹ אַכְזָ֔ב מַ֖יִם לֹ֥א נֶאֱמָֽנוּ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לָ֣מָּהτίכְאֵבִי֙μεוּמַכָּתִ֖יμουאֲנוּשָׁ֑ה֙στερεάמֵֽאֲנָה֙πόθενהֵֽרָפֵ֔אἰαθήσομαιהָי֨וֹγινομένηתִֽהְיֶ֥הἐγενήθηלִי֙μοιכְּמ֣וֹὡςאַכְזָ֔בψευδὲςלֹ֥אοὐκ

12 of the 16 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.

Jeremiah 15:18מָהwhy?why?מָההָיָהis itis itהָיָהכְּאֵבpain mypain myכְּאֵבנֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחמַכָּהand wound mand wound myמַכָּהאָנַשׁincurableincurableאָנַשׁמָאֵןit has refuit has refusedמָאֵןרָפָאto be healeto be healedרָפָאהָיָהcertainlycertainlyהָיָההָיָהyou areyou areהָיָהנִיto meto meנִיכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹאַכְזָבa deceitfula deceitful thiאַכְזָבמַיwaterswatersמַילֹא[which] not[which] notלֹאאָמַןthey are rethey are reliabאָמַןהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאכָּאַבto painto painכָּאַבנָצַחto conductto conductנָצַחנָכָהto smiteto smiteנָכָהכָּזַבto lieto lieכָּזַברָפָהto slackento slackenרָפָהכֵּןrightrightכֵּןיָמַןto turn rito turn rightיָמַןמַכָּהwoundwoundמַכָּהכָּ֫כָהthusthusכָּ֫כָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלאָנַשׁbe incurabbe incurableאָנַשׁלֵבheartheartלֵבשָׁכַחto forgetto forgetשָׁכַחבַּלnotnotבַּלרָפָאto healto healרָפָאשֶׁ֫בֶרbreakingbreakingשֶׁ֫בֶרכְּאֵבpainpainכְּאֵב
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 Jeremiah 15:18

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.

why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
לָ֣מָּהLa.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
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
הָיָ֤הha.Yah is it H1961 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

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

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

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

Come into being, become

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

sq. prep.

become

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

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

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

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

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

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

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

. sq. prep.

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

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

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

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

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

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

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

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

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

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

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

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

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

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

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

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
כְאֵבִי֙khe.'e.Vi pain my H3511 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, and is used to describe grief, sorrow, or hardship in the Bible, such as in the book of Job.
Amplified meaning
perpetual, unending
Tyndale gloss
pain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּאֵב (k'eb) refers to pain, encompassing both physical and mental suffering, as well as sorrow and grief. It is derived from the root word for suffering. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts of adversity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּאֵב n.m. pain

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3511 כְּאֵב pain

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3511 k'eb keh-abe'

from 3510; suffering (physical or mental), adversity:--grief,

pain, sorrow.

see HEBREW for 03510

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּאֵב (ke.ev) — pain.

pain (mental and physical), sorrow

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
נֶ֔צַחNe.tzach perpetuity H5331 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for perpetuity or everlastingness, often used to describe God's nature. It appears in Psalm 9:7, where the psalmist praises God's enduring presence. This word conveys the idea of something lasting forever.
Tyndale gloss
perpetuity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֵ֫צַח (netsach) encompasses concepts of eminence, enduring strength, and perpetuity. It is derived from a root meaning 'goal' or 'bright object' and conveys ideas of splendor, truthfulness, and confidence. The term is used to express notions of victory and continual existence, often implying an everlasting quality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵ֫צַח n.m. eminence, enduring, everlasting, perpetuity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5331 נֵ֫צַח eminence, enduring, everlasting, perpetuity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5331 netsach neh'-tsakh

or netsach {nay'-tsakh}; from 5329; properly, a goal, i.e.

the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence

(figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or

(objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially),

continually (i.e. to the most distant point of

view); --alway(-s), constantly, end, (+ n-)ever(more),

perpetual, strength, victory.

see HEBREW for 05329

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵ֫צַח (ne.tsach) — perpetuity.

1) eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness

1a) eminence

1b) enduring of life

1c) endurance in time, perpetual, continual, unto the end

1d) everlastingness, ever

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
וּמַכָּתִ֖יu.ma.ka.Ti and wound my H4347 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
48× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A wound or blow, also referring to carnage, pestilence, or defeat. It can describe physical harm, like a beating, or widespread suffering, like a plague.
Tyndale gloss
wound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַכָּה (makkah) refers to a blow or wound, encompassing meanings such as slaughter and pestilence. It is derived from a root meaning to strike and can imply defeat or conquest. The term appears in contexts like 2 Chronicles 2:10, where it relates to a physical blow, and can also refer to figurative concepts like carnage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַכָּה n.f. blow, wound, slaughter

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4347 מַכָּה blow, wound, slaughter

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4347 makkah mak-kaw'

or (masculine) makkeh {muk-keh'}; (plural only) from 5221; a

blow (in 2 Chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a

wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence:--beaten, blow,

plague, slaughter, smote, X sore, stripe, stroke,

wound((-ed)).

see HEBREW for 05221

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַכָּה (mak.kah) — wound.

1) blow, wound, slaughter

1a) blow, stripe

1b) beating, scourging

1c) wound

1d) slaughter

1e) defeat, conquest

1f) plague

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
אֲנוּשָׁ֑ה֙'a.nu.Shah incurable H605 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to be weak or sick, and is used to describe someone who is incurable or desperately wicked. It appears in the Bible to describe people who are hopeless or frail. In the KJV, it is translated as desperate or woeful.
Amplified meaning
desperate
Tyndale gloss
be incurable
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָנַשׁ (anash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be weak or sick. It encompasses a range of conditions, including being frail, incurable, or even metaphorically desperate. The word appears in various forms, such as in the Qal and Niphal stems, indicating both physical and figurative states of illness or weakness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָנַשׁ] vb. be weak, sick

Qal as adj. incurable, of wound, but metaph.

Niph. be sick, of child

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H605 [אָנַשׁ] be weak, sick

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

605 'anash aw-nash'

a primitive root; to be frail, feeble, or (figuratively)

melancholy:--desperate(-ly wicked), incurable, sick, woeful.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָנַשׁ (a.nash) — be incurable.

1) to be weak, sick, frail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be incurable

1a2) to be sick

1a3) desperate, incurable, desperately wicked, woeful, very sick (pass participle) (metaph.)

1b) (Niphal) to be sick

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
HVqsfsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
מֵֽאֲנָה֙me.'a.Nah it has refused H3985 Verb · Piel · perfect third person feminine singular
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to say no or reject something. It is used in Exodus 23:5 to describe refusing to help someone in need. God commands people to not refuse help.
Amplified meaning
to say no, to reject
Tyndale gloss
to refuse
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָאֵן (ma'en) is a primitive root meaning to refuse. It is primarily used in the Piel form, indicating a strong refusal or rejection. The entries consistently emphasize this meaning without notable disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָאֵן] vb. Pi. refuse

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3985 מָאֵן refuse

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3985 ma'en maw-ane'

a primitive root; to refuse:--refuse, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָאֵן (ma.en) — to refuse.

(Piel) to refuse

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-3fs — Verb · Piel · perfect third person feminine singular
HVpp3fs
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
הֵֽרָפֵ֔אhe.ra.Fe' to be healed H7495 Verb · Niphal · infinitive construct common
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to heal or mend, often referring to God's power to cure physical or emotional hurts, as seen in Psalm 103:3.
Amplified meaning
to mend, to cure
Tyndale gloss
to heal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָפָא (rapha') is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to heal' or 'to mend.' It covers various forms, including healing by God, physicians, and figurative healing of nations or individuals. The verb has different stems indicating active healing, being healed, and healing in order to be healed. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָפָא vb. heal

Qal heal

Niph. be healed

Pi. have healed, heal

Hithp. in order to get healed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7495 רָפָא heal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7495 rapha' raw-faw'

or raphah {raw-faw'}; a primitive root; properly, to mend (by

stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure:--cure, (cause to)

heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole. See 7503.

see HEBREW for 07503

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָפָא (ra.pah) — to heal.

1) to heal, make healthful

1a) (Qal) to heal

1a1) of God

1a2) healer, physician (of men)

1a3) of hurts of nations involving restored favour (fig)

1a4) of individual distresses (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be healed

1b1) literal (of persons)

1b2) of water, pottery

1b3) of national hurts (fig)

1b4) of personal distress (fig)

1c) (Piel) to heal

1c1) literal

1c2) of national defects or hurts (fig)

1d) (Hithpael) in order to get healed (infinitive)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Inf-a — Verb · Niphal · infinitive construct common
HVNcc
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
הָי֨וֹha.Yo certainly H1961 Verb · Qal · infinitive absolute
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

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

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

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

Come into being, become

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

sq. prep.

become

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

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

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

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

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

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

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

. sq. prep.

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

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

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

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

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

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

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

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

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

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

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

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

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

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

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

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absolute
HVqaa
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
תִֽהְיֶ֥הtih.Yeh you are H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

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

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

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

Come into being, become

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

sq. prep.

become

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

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

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

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

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

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

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

. sq. prep.

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

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

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

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

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

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

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

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

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

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

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

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

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

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

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

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
לִי֙li to me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
כְּמ֣וֹke.Mo like H3644 Preposition
143× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means like or as, used to compare things. It appears in the Bible to describe similarities or to make comparisons, such as in the book of Psalms.
Amplified meaning
as, similar to
Tyndale gloss
like
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּמוֹ (kemo) is an adverb and conjunction meaning 'like' or 'as,' often used to draw comparisons or indicate similarity. It can also mean 'when' or 'according to.' The word is derived from a pleonastic form of the prefix כְּ (k-) and is related to the word מוֹ (mo). There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּמוֹ adv. and conj. like, as, when (lit. the like of what (viz.) …, a pleon. form of כְּ (v. מוֹ), and, like it, prop. a subst.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3644 כְּמוֹ adv. and conj. like, as, when (lit. the like of what (viz.) …, a pleon. form of כְּ (v. מוֹ), and, like it, prop. a subst.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3644 kmow kem-o'

or kamow {kaw-mo'}; a form of the prefix "k-", but used

separately (compare 3651); as, thus, so:--according to, (such)

as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto),

thus, when, worth.

see HEBREW for 03651

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּמוֹ (ke.mo) — like.

adv

1) like, as, the like of which

conj

2) when, according as, as it were

כְּמוֹ (ke.mo) — (Geruth) Chimham.

Combined with ge.rut (גֵּרוּת "Geruth" H1628)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
אַכְזָ֔ב'akh.Zav a deceitful thing H391 Adj
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes something false or deceitful, implying treachery or a lie. It can refer to a person who lies or a situation that is deceptive. In the Bible, it often translates to liar, lie, or deceit.
Amplified meaning
a deception, an illusion
Tyndale gloss
deceptive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַכְזָב (*akzab*) is derived from the root meaning 'to deceive' and encompasses concepts of falsehood, treachery, and disappointment. It is used to describe something or someone that is deceitful or treacherous. The entries consistently highlight its negative connotations related to lying and deception.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַכְזָב adj. deceptive, disappointing

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H391 אַכְזָב

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

391 'akzab ak-zawb'

from 3576; falsehood; by implication treachery:--liar, lie.

see HEBREW for 03576

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַכְזָב (akh.zav) — deceptive.

deceitful, treacherous, deception, lie, deceptive, disappointing

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
מַ֖יִםMa.yim waters H4325 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
a source of refreshment, a symbol of life
Tyndale gloss
Water (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4325 mayim mah'-yim

dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+

piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַי (ma.yim) — water.

1) water, waters

1a) water

1b) water of the feet, urine

1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).

This name means water, refreshment

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wo'-terz (mayim, plural of may, "water"; in the New Testament hudor, "water"; kindunois potamon (2Co 11:26), the King James Version "perils of waters," is in the Revised Version (British and American) "perils of rivers"): In the New Testament there is frequent reference to the water of baptism. Pilate washes his hands with water to signify his guiltlessness. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman of the living water. The Lamb shall guide the redeemed unto fountains of waters of life.

The uses of mayim are well classified in BDB, especially the figurative references, as follows: a symbol of distress, "when thou passest through the waters" (Isa 43:2); of force, "like the breach of waters" (2Sa 5:20); of that which is overwhelming, "a…

why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
לֹ֥אlo' [which] not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
absent, nonexistent
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
why? is it pain my perpetuity and wound my incurable it has refused to be healed certainly you are to me like a deceitful thing waters [which] not they are reliable
נֶאֱמָֽנוּ׃ סne.'e.Ma.nu they are reliable H539 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common plural
106× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be faithful or trustworthy, as seen in the KJV translations. It can also mean to support or confirm something, and is used in passages like Psalm 37:3 to describe trusting in God. The concept of faithfulness is central to the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
present, available
Tyndale gloss
be faithful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַן (aman) is a Hebrew root meaning to support or confirm, with applications ranging from nurturing (as a foster parent or nurse) to establishing trust and reliability. It encompasses concepts of faithfulness, permanence, and assurance. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including verbs and nouns, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָמַן] vb. confirm, support

Qal

as vb. support, nourish

as subst. foster-father

foster-mother, nurse

pillars, supporters of the door

Niph.

carried by nurse

made firm, sure, lasting

confirmed, established, sure

verified, confirmed

reliable, faithful, trusty

Hiph.

stand firm

trust, believe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H539 אָמַן confirm, support .. as vb. support, nourish

. as subst. foster-father

. foster-mother, nurse

. pillars, supporters of the door

. . carried by nurse

. made firm, sure, lasting

. confirmed, established, sure

. verified, confirmed

. reliable, faithful, trusty

. . stand firm

. trust, believe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

539 'aman aw-man'

a primitive root; properly, to build up or support; to foster

as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or

faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet;

morally to be true or certain; once (Isa. 30:21;

interchangeable with 541) to go to the right hand:--hence,

assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful

(of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty,

verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the

right.

see HEBREW for 0541

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַן (a.man) — be faithful.

1) to support, confirm, be faithful

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish

1a1a) foster-father (subst.)

1a1b) foster-mother, nurse

1a1c) pillars, supporters of the door

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm

1b1a) to be carried by a nurse

1b1b) made firm, sure, lasting

1b1c) confirmed, established, sure

1b1d) verified, confirmed

1b1e) reliable, faithful, trusty

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in

1c1a) stand firm

1c1b) trust, believe

Aramaic equivalent: a.man (אֲמַן "to trust" H0540)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person common plural
HVNp3cp
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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