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Jeremiah 34:11 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ אַחֲרֵי־ כֵ֔ן וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּ אֶת־ הָֽעֲבָדִים֙ וְאֶת־ הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר שִׁלְּח֖וּ חָפְשִׁ֑ים וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּם לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ ס

BSAbut laterʼachar [afterward, afterwards] they changed their mindsshûwb [repented, turned] and took backshûwb the menservantsʻebed [servants, male slaves] andʼêth maidservantsshiphchâh [handmaids, female slaves] they had freedshâlach [let go free, sent forth as free] and they forced themkâbash to become slavesʻebed [servants, bondslaves] againshiphchâh [once more, into subjection]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 34
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 (ve.lish.fa.Chot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 34:11quick helps
In a sentenceThe people initially freed their servants but later reversed their decision and forced them back into slavery.
Who is speakingThe prophet Jeremiah, recounting the actions of the officials and people.
Where we areThis verse is part of a narrative about a covenant made and then broken regarding the treatment of servants.
The hard wordשׁוּב
Take awayThe cycle of freedom and oppression is highlighted.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשׁוּב 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 34:11

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 Covenant and Its Breachgenerated

10So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them,
11but later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed, and they forced them to become slaves again.
12Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
13“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your forefathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying:

Jeremiah 34:11 describes a situation where the people had made a covenant to free their servants but later changed their minds. This action illustrates a failure to uphold their promise, reflecting a deeper issue of commitment and integrity within the community. The surrounding verses provide context on the covenant made and the consequences of breaking it, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness in agreements.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 34:21And I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon that had withdrawn from you.
2Jeremiah 37:5Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
3Exodus 8:8–15Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.”
4Exodus 9:28–34Pray to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you do not need to stay any longer.”
5Exodus 10:17–20Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 20 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.Jeremiah 34:21 Jeremiah 37:5 Exodus 8:8–15 Exodus 9:28–34 Exodus 10:17–20 Exodus 14:3–9 1 Samuel 19:6–11 1 Samuel 24:19 1 Samuel 26:21 Psalm 36:3 Psalm 78:34–36 Psalm 125:5 Proverbs 26:11 Ecclesiastes 8:11 and 6 more

The Key Word שׁוּב, vai.ya.Shu.vugenerated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return. It can be used in various contexts, including physical, spiritual, and relational returns. In this verse, it indicates a reversal of a previous decision, highlighting the theme of repentance and change of heart.

The parsing as a sequential imperfect verb in the third person masculine plural shows that the action was performed by a group, indicating a collective decision to revert to a previous state.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses changed their minds for the Hebrew term שׁוּב, while the KJV and ASV use turned again, reflecting a similar meaning.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ (and they turned back) governs the sentence, with several clauses detailing the actions taken afterward. The structure shows a sequence of actions: first, the decision to free, followed by the reversal of that decision.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of the people, highlighting their collective decision to return to a state of bondage.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint does not provide a direct translation for this verse, but it does match 11 of the 14 words from the Hebrew text. This indicates a close correspondence in meaning, though the Greek text may present the ideas in a different order.

The absence of a specific Greek term for שׁוּב in the Septuagint suggests a potential interpretive choice by the translators, focusing on the broader narrative rather than a literal word-for-word translation.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 34:11 tells us that the people initially agreed to free their servants but later changed their minds and forced them back into slavery. This reflects a failure to keep their promise and highlights the importance of commitment.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that they changed their minds?

It indicates a reversal of their earlier decision to free their servants, showing a lack of commitment to their covenant.

Why is this verse significant?

It illustrates the consequences of breaking a promise and the importance of integrity in relationships and agreements.

How does this relate to the broader theme of servitude in the Bible?

This verse highlights the struggle between freedom and oppression, a recurring theme throughout the biblical narrative.

What can we learn from their actions?

We can learn the importance of keeping our promises and the impact of our decisions on others.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen commitments broken in my own life?
  2. How can I ensure that I remain faithful to my promises?
  3. What does true freedom mean to me, and how can I uphold it in my relationships?
  4. How can I support others in their struggles for freedom and integrity?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 34:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But afterwards they turned,.... From the law of God, and their own agreement, and returned to their former usage of their servants; they changed their minds and measures.

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 34 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 34 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Like a company of wretched hypocrites, they reformed this abuse only to serve a turn, which when it was served they returned again to their old oppression; and in this thing not the people alone, but the government, was to be blamed, for their judges in the courts of justice ought to have executed the law of the Lord, and to have restrained the covetous and oppressive humour of the people. The learned author of the English Annotations thinketh that that which altered their minds was a little alteration of their state, during the siege; for, , we read that the Babylonians and Chaldeans hearing of an army coming out of Egypt, to relieve the city, left the siege for a time, and that the…

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 34 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 34:11 But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.Ver. 11. But afterwards they turned, and caused their servants.] Stimulante avaritia. Covetousness prompting and pricking them on thereunto for that is the root of all evil. The Chaldeans had drawn off, to go, belike, to fight with the relief that was coming out of Egypt; and now these silly Jews thought themselves out of the reach of God’ s rod perfidiously repealed their vows, re-embondaged their servants, and are therefore worthily threatened with a more cruel servitude to the Chaldeans for this their…

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 34 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. But afterward they turned] They had agreed to manumit them at the end of the seventh year; but when the seventh year was ended, they recalled their engagement, and detained their servants. This, I believe, is what is here meant.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 34 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8–22. Condemnation of the perjury involved in the treatment of the Hebrew slaves The subsection may be summarized as follows. (i) Jeremiah 34:8-11. Zedekiah induces the people solemnly to bind themselves to release their slaves. They do so, but presently cancel their agreement. (ii) Jeremiah 34:12-16. Jeremiah is bidden to remind the people of the terms of the Law on the subject, and to charge them with perjury in the violation of the covenant they had recently made under solemn sanctions. (iii) Jeremiah 34:17-22. They shall in consequence fall victims to the sword. Their bodies after death shall suffer indignities. The king and his princes shall be taken captive, Jerusalem captured and…

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 34 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

11. But afterwards, etc. — This reformation in the presence of impending danger, was no more genuine than deathbed repentances frequently are. So soon as the danger seemed over-past the wrong was resumed.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Jeremiah 34 →

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

but later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed, and they forced them to become slaves again.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids whom they had let go free to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

but later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed, and they forced them to become slaves again.

NETBNew English Translation2006

But later they had changed their minds. They had taken back their male and female slaves that they had freed and forced them to be slaves again.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

RVARevised Version, American1894

but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had liberated, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But afterwarde they repented and caused the seruants and the handmayds, whom they had let go free, to returne, and helde them in subiection as seruants and handmayds.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But afterwards they turned, and caused the bondmen and the bondmaids whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for bondmen and for bondmaids.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and they turn afterwards, and cause the men-servants and the maid-servants to return, whom they had sent forth free, and they subdue them for men-servants and for maid-servants.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and they turn afterward, and cause the menservants and the maidservants to return, whom they had sent forth free, and they subdue them for menservants and for maidservants.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But they had turned afterward, and they had brought back the men-servants and the maid-servants whom they had dismissed as free, and had subjected them to become men-servants and maid-servants.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

But after this they changed their minds. They brought back the slaves whom they had freed. They forced them to become slaves again.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But afterwards they turned: and brought back again their servants and their handmaids, whom they had let go free, and brought them into subjection as menservants and maidservants.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

However, later on they changed their minds and took back the male and female slaves they'd freed, forcing them back into slavery.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But later, they took back again the servants and the servant-girls whom they had let go free, and put them again under the yoke as servants and servant-girls.

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.

וַandclauseverbיָּשׁ֨וּבוּ֙they.turned.backprepositional phrase · prepositionalאַחֲרֵיafterכֵ֔ןthusוַandclauseverbיָּשִׁ֗בוּthey.took.backnoun phrase · objectnoun phrasenoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseהָֽthe.[male]עֲבָדִים֙slavesוְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseהַthe.femaleשְּׁפָח֔וֹתslavesrelpאֲשֶׁ֥רwhomclauseverbשִׁלְּח֖וּthey.had.let.gosecond objectחָפְשִׁ֑יםfree.[people]וַֽandclauseverbיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּtheyobjectםforced.them.into.slaveryprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseלַto.[male]עֲבָדִ֖יםslavesוְandprepositional phraseלִtoשְׁפָחֽוֹתfemale.slaves

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 content, with the Hebrew text providing a direct account of the events. The Septuagint's lack of a full translation indicates a different approach to the narrative, but the core message remains consistent.

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

וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ אַחֲרֵי־ כֵ֔ן וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּ אֶת־ הָֽעֲבָדִים֙ וְאֶת־ הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר שִׁלְּח֖וּ חָפְשִׁ֑ים וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּם לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙’’אַחֲרֵי־’’כֵ֔ן’’וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּ’’הָֽעֲבָדִים֙’’אֲשֶׁ֥ר’’שִׁלְּח֖וּ’’חָפְשִׁ֑ים’’וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּםαὐτοὺςלַעֲבָדִ֖יםπαῖδαςוְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ סπαιδίσκας

11 of the 14 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 34:11שׁוּבand they tuand they turnedשׁוּבאַחַרafterafterאַחַרכֵּןthusthusכֵּןשׁוּבand they toand they took bשׁוּבאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעֶ֫בֶדthe [male] the [male] slavעֶ֫בֶדאֵתand the objand the object אֵתשִׁפְחָהthe female the female slavשִׁפְחָהאֲשֶׁרwhomwhomאֲשֶׁרשָׁלַחthey had lethey had let goשָׁלַחחָפְשִׁיfree [peoplfree [people]חָפְשִׁיכָּבַשׁand they suand they subjugכָּבַשׁעֶ֫בֶדfor [male] for [male] slavעֶ֫בֶדשִׁפְחָהand for femand for female שִׁפְחָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעָבַדto serveto serveעָבַדאָחַרto delayto delayאָחַרכּוּןto establito establish: pכּוּןמִשְׁפָּחָהfamilyfamilyמִשְׁפָּחָהחָפַשׁחָפַשׁשִׁפְחָהmaidservanmaidservantשִׁפְחָהשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁאָמָהmaidservanmaidservantאָמָהזִלְפָּהZilpahZilpahזִלְפָּהבִּלְהָהBilhahBilhahבִּלְהָהחָפְשִׁיfreefreeחָפְשִׁירָדַףto pursueto pursueרָדַףזָנָהto fornicato fornicateזָנָהכֹּהthusthusכֹּהאָדוֹןLordLordאָדוֹן
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 34:11

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 they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙vai.ya.Shu.vu and they turned back H7725 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
repented, turned
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
אַחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei- after H310 Prep
716× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Achar means backwards or after, used to describe something that happens later or in the rear. It is used in various senses in the Bible, including in 1 Kings 12:18.
Amplified meaning
afterward, afterwards
Tyndale gloss
after
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַחַר (*achar*) primarily denotes the concept of 'after' or 'behind' in both spatial and temporal contexts. It functions as a substantive, adverb, preposition, and conjunction, indicating a following part or time. The related form אַחֲרַי (*acharai*) refers to a person who turns backwards. There is a reference to Proverbs 28:23 in relation to the latter.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part

adv.

of place, behind

of time, afterwards

prep.

of place, behind, after

of time, after

conj. after that.

base

אַחֲרַי adj. Pr 28:23 a man that turneth backwards.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H310a אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part . adv. . of place, behind

. of time, afterwards

. prep. . of place, behind, after

. of time, after

. conj. after that.

H310b אַחֲרַי a man that turneth backwards.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

310 'achar akh-ar'

from 309; properly, the hind part; generally used as an

adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses):--after

(that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side),

behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from,

hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute,

posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth),

when, with.

see HEBREW for 0309

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַחַר (a.char) — after.

1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time)

1a) as an adverb

1a1) behind (of place)

1a2) afterwards (of time)

1b) as a preposition

1b1) behind, after (of place)

1b2) after (of time)

1b3) besides

1c) as a conjunction

1c) after that

1d) as a substantive

1d1) hinder part

1e) with other prepositions

1e1) from behind

1e2) from following after

אַחֲרַי (a.cha.ray) — backwards.

backwards (of a man that turns backwards)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Prep
HAcmpc
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
כֵ֔ןKhen thus H3651 Adverb
771× 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 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
right
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest

right

veritable, true

pl. concr. honest (men)

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

כֵּן adv. so

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3651 ken kane

from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as

adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)

rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and

relation; often with other particles):--+ after that

(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be

(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like

(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,

straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,

thus, true, well, X you.

see HEBREW for 03559

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֵּן (ken) — right.

adv

adj

1) right, just, honest, true, veritable

1a) right, just, honest

1b) correct

1c) true, veritable

[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.

adv

forasmuch as, since

כֵּן (ken) — so.

adv

1) so, therefore, thus

1a) thus, so

1b) just so

1c) therefore

1d) so...as (paired with adv)

1e) then

1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)

1g) (with prep)

1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)

1g2) hitherto

1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)

1g4) afterwards

1g5) in such case

Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HD — Adverb
HD
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּvai.ya.Shi.vu and they took back H7725 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vhw3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | DirObjM — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
הָֽעֲבָדִים֙ha.'a.va.Dim the [male] slaves H5650 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
801× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Amplified meaning
servants, male slaves
Tyndale gloss
servant/slave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant

slave, servant of household

Subjects, of chief

Servants, worshippers of God

Servant of י׳, in a special sense

Israel as a people is servant of י׳

In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household

. Subjects, of chief

. Servants, worshippers of God

. Servant of י׳, in a special sense

. Israel as a people is servant of י׳

. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5650 `ebed eh'-bed

from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,

(man-)servant.

see HEBREW for 05647

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.

1) slave, servant

1a) slave, servant, man-servant

1b) subjects

1c) servants, worshippers (of God)

1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)

1e) servant (of Israel)

1f) servant (as form of address between equals)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹתha.she.fa.Chot the female slaves H8198 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A shiphchah was a female slave or servant in a household, often belonging to a mistress. This term is used to describe a lowly position, and is sometimes used as a term of humility or respect.
Amplified meaning
handmaids, female slaves
Tyndale gloss
maidservant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah) refers to a maid or maid-servant, often indicating a female slave within a household. It derives from a root meaning to spread out, suggesting a role in family or domestic settings. The term can also imply humility in certain contexts, but the primary focus remains on servitude.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁפְחָה n.f. maid, maid-servant

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8198 שִׁפְחָה maid, maid-servant

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8198 shiphchah shif-khaw'

feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a

family; see 4940); a female slave (as a member of the

household):--(bond-, hand-)maid(-en, -servant), wench,

bondwoman, womanservant.

see HEBREW for 04940

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁפְחָה (shiph.chah) — maidservant.

1) maid, maid-servant, slavegirl

1a) maid, maid-servant (as belonging to a mistress)

1b) of address, speaker, humility (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sher whom H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTr — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
שִׁלְּח֖וּshi.le.Chu they had let go H7971 Verb · Piel · perfect third person common plural
847× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Amplified meaning
let go free, sent forth as free
Tyndale gloss
to send: depart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלַח 814 vb. send

Qal

send: human subj.

send: subj. י׳ (God)

stretch out, esp. acc. hand

rarely send away: human subj.

let loose

Niph. letters were sent

Pi.

send off, away, human subj.

send away, subj. י׳

give over

cast out

send out, forth

let go, set free

shoot forth branches

let down

shoot

Phrases

Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)

Hiph. and I (י׳) will send

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.

. send: subj. י׳ (God)

. stretch out, esp. acc. hand

. rarely send away: human subj.

. let loose

. letters were sent

. . send off, away, human subj.

. . send away, subj. י׳

. give over

. cast out

. send out, forth

. let go, set free

. shoot forth branches

. let down

. shoot

. Phrases

. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)

. and I (י׳) will send

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7971 shalach shaw-lakh'

a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great

variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the

way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give

(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),

push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send

(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,

stretch forth (out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.

: depart/send

1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to send

1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct

1a3) to send away

1a4) to let loose

1b) (Niphal) to be sent

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out

1c2) to let go, set free

1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)

1c4) to let down

1c5) to shoot

1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled

1e) (Hiphil) to send

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.

: let_go/free

1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to send

1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct

1a3) to send away

1a4) to let loose

1b) (Niphal) to be sent

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out

1c2) to let go, set free

1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)

1c4) to let down

1c5) to shoot

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-3cp — Verb · Piel · perfect third person common plural
HVpp3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(halakh, yalakh, bo', yatsa'; ago, hupago, anabaino, erchomi, aperchomai, poreuomai): "Go" ("went," etc.) occurs very frequently in the English Bible, and is the translation of a great many different Hebrew and Greek terms. As the word implies movement of all kinds, physical and mental, it has naturally many applications.

1. In the Old Testament:

In the Old Testament halakh and yalakh are among the commonest words, meaning "to go" in its original sense of "to walk," but also in the most varied senses, according to the verbal conjugations, etc., the preposition attached, and the words in connection with which the terms stand; halakh and yalakh are often used figuratively (translated "to walk," etc.) for to live, to pursue a way of life, e.g. "to walk ever in his ways" (De 19:9; compare

Mt 9:13; 21:28; 28:7; Lu 10:37; Joh 8:11

--SEE Divine Direction, GUIDANCE

and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
חָפְשִׁ֑יםcha.fe.Shim free [people] H2670
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, being free means being exempt from slavery, taxes, or other obligations, as seen in the book of Exodus. This concept is central to the Israelites' journey. Freedom is a gift from God.
Tyndale gloss
free
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָפְשִׁי (chophshiy) means 'free,' indicating a state of exemption from bondage, taxes, or obligations. It is derived from the root word for freedom (H2666). The term is used in contexts relating to liberty, particularly in reference to freedom from slavery or financial burdens.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָפְשִׁי adj. free

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2670 חָפְשִׁי free

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2670 chophshiy khof-shee'

from 2666; exempt (from bondage, tax or care):--free,

liberty.

see HEBREW for 02666

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חׇפְשִׁי (choph.shi) — free.

1) free

1a) free (from slavery)

1b) free (from taxes or obligations)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAampa
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּםvai.yakh.bi.shum and they subjugated them H3533 Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To subdue means to conquer or force someone or something into submission. In the Bible, this word is used to describe the act of dominating or oppressing others, and is often used in the context of war or conflict.
Tyndale gloss
to subdue
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּבַשׁ (kabash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to subdue or bring into bondage. It encompasses a range of actions including conquering, dominating, and forcing others into subjection. The verb appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of subjugation, such as being subdued or actively subduing. The entries do not present any significant disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּבַשׁ] vb. subdue, bring into bondage

Qal

bring into bondage

(late) subdue, force, a woman

subdue, dominate, the earth

Niph. pass.

Pi. (of conquest)

Hiph. bring into bondage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3533 כָּבַשׁ subdue, bring into bondage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3533 kabash kaw-bash'

a primitive root; to tread down; hence, negatively, to

disregard; positively, to conquer, subjugate, violate:--bring

into bondage, force, keep under, subdue, bring into

subjection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבַשׁ (ka.vash) — to subdue.

1) to subject, subdue, force, keep under, bring into bondage

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bring into bondage, make subservient

1a2) to subdue, force, violate

1a3) to subdue, dominate, tread down

1b) (Niphal) to be subdued

1c) (Piel) to subdue

1d) (Hiphil) to bring into bondage

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
Hc/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
לַעֲבָדִ֖יםla.'a.va.Dim for [male] slaves H5650 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
801× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a servant or slave, often in the context of serving God or a human master. It can also describe a prophet or Levite. The KJV translates it as bondage, bondman, or servant.
Amplified meaning
servants, bondslaves
Tyndale gloss
servant/slave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant

slave, servant of household

Subjects, of chief

Servants, worshippers of God

Servant of י׳, in a special sense

Israel as a people is servant of י׳

In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household

. Subjects, of chief

. Servants, worshippers of God

. Servant of י׳, in a special sense

. Israel as a people is servant of י׳

. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5650 `ebed eh'-bed

from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,

(man-)servant.

see HEBREW for 05647

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.

1) slave, servant

1a) slave, servant, man-servant

1b) subjects

1c) servants, worshippers (of God)

1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)

1e) servant (of Israel)

1f) servant (as form of address between equals)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
and they turned back after thus and they took back the object marker the [male] slaves and the object marker the female slaves whom they had let go free [people] and they subjugated them for [male] slaves and for female slaves
וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ סve.lish.fa.Chot and for female slaves H8198 Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A shiphchah was a female slave or servant in a household, often belonging to a mistress. This term is used to describe a lowly position, and is sometimes used as a term of humility or respect.
Amplified meaning
once more, into subjection
Tyndale gloss
maidservant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah) refers to a maid or maid-servant, often indicating a female slave within a household. It derives from a root meaning to spread out, suggesting a role in family or domestic settings. The term can also imply humility in certain contexts, but the primary focus remains on servitude.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁפְחָה n.f. maid, maid-servant

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8198 שִׁפְחָה maid, maid-servant

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8198 shiphchah shif-khaw'

feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a

family; see 4940); a female slave (as a member of the

household):--(bond-, hand-)maid(-en, -servant), wench,

bondwoman, womanservant.

see HEBREW for 04940

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁפְחָה (shiph.chah) — maidservant.

1) maid, maid-servant, slavegirl

1a) maid, maid-servant (as belonging to a mistress)

1b) of address, speaker, humility (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-fp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HC/R/Ncfpa
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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