Menu

Jeremiah 51:41 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאֵ֚יךְ נִלְכְּדָ֣ה שֵׁשַׁ֔ךְ וַתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂ תְּהִלַּ֣ת כָּל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ אֵ֣יךְ הָיְתָ֧ה לְשַׁמָּ֛ה בָּבֶ֖ל בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃

BSAHowʼêyk [in what manner, to what extent] SheshachShêshak [Babylon, a major city] has been capturedlâkad [seized, taken control of] The praisetᵉhillâh [a song of praise] of allkôl [every part of] the earthʼerets [land, world] has been seizedtâphas [captured, taken hold of] Whatʼêyk a horrorshammâh [shammah, a state of ruin] BabylonBâbel [Babel, a city of confusion] has becomehâyâh [existed as, been made] among the nationsgôwy [in the midst of, Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 51
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 41 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ba.go.Yim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 51:41quick helps
In a sentenceJeremiah laments the capture of Babylon, symbolized as Sheshach, and describes its transformation into a desolate state.
Who is speakingThe prophet Jeremiah, expressing sorrow over Babylon's downfall.
Where we areA prophetic declaration concerning the fate of Babylon among the nations.
The hard wordשֵׁשַׁךְ
Take awayBabylon, once a place of praise, has become a horror among the nations.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectשֵׁשַׁךְ verbלָכַד 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 51:41

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 Prophecy Against Babylongenerated

40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats.
41How Sheshach has been captured! The praise of all the earth has been seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
42The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves.
43Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no son of man passes through.

Jeremiah 51:41 reflects on the downfall of Babylon, referred to as Sheshach, highlighting how its glory has turned into horror. This verse is part of a broader prophecy concerning Babylon's impending destruction, which is echoed throughout the book of Jeremiah. The surrounding verses illustrate the totality of Babylon's ruin, emphasizing the extent of its desolation among the nations.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 25:26all the kings of the north, both near and far, one after another—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too.
2Daniel 5:1–3Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
3Jeremiah 49:25How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?
4Jeremiah 50:23How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
5Isaiah 13:19And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Key Word שֵׁשַׁךְ, she.Shakhgenerated

The name שֵׁשַׁךְ (*Sheshach*) serves as a symbolic reference to Babylon, a major city known for its grandeur. The choice of this name may imply a deeper meaning, possibly linked to confusion or chaos, as seen in the context of Babylon's history.

As a proper noun, it signifies not just a geographical location but also the cultural and political implications of Babylon's influence and its eventual downfall. The use of Sheshach in this context underscores the prophetic nature of Jeremiah's message regarding the city's fate.


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.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb נִלְכְּדָ֣ה (*nilke.dah*) governs the sentence, indicating the capture of Sheshach. The structure consists of two main clauses, with the first clause focusing on the capture and the second describing the resultant horror.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the verbs and subjects, highlighting the dramatic transformation of Babylon from a place of praise to one of desolation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, שֵׁשַׁךְ is translated to a Greek term that reflects the same symbolic meaning, indicating the translators recognized its significance as a representation of Babylon.

The choice of words in the Septuagint suggests a continuity in the understanding of Babylon's fate, emphasizing its downfall and the horror it has become.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 51:41 expresses the prophet's lament over Babylon's capture, symbolized by Sheshach. The verse highlights how the city's praise has turned into horror, illustrating its desolation among the nations.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Sheshach represent?

Sheshach is a symbolic name for Babylon, indicating its identity and significance in the context of the prophecy.

Why is Babylon described as a horror?

Babylon is described as a horror due to its transformation from a place of glory and praise to one of desolation and ruin, reflecting the consequences of its actions.

What is the significance of the praise of the earth being seized?

The praise of the earth being seized signifies the loss of Babylon's former glory and the impact of its downfall on the surrounding nations.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Jeremiah?

This verse encapsulates the broader theme of Jeremiah's prophecies regarding judgment and the fate of nations, particularly Babylon, emphasizing the consequences of pride and sin.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I recognize the consequences of pride in my own life, similar to Babylon's downfall?
  2. How does understanding the fate of Babylon shape my view of justice and accountability?
  3. What lessons can I draw from the transformation of Babylon from glory to horror?
  4. How can I apply the themes of this verse to my interactions with others in my community?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 51:41 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

How is Sheshach taken!.... Not the city Shushan, as Sir John Marsham thinks (e); but Babylon, as is plain from a following clause; and so the Targum, "how is Babylon subdued!'' called Sheshach, by a

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 51 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! Sheshach - Babylon (cf. note, Jeremiah 25:20).

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 51 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

We meet with this term Sheshach only here, and ; both places leave it doubtful whether it be to be taken for an idol, which they called by the name of Shach, or a name given to the city of Babylon, which worshipped that idol, to the honour of which the Babylonians kept a yearly festival for several days; in the time of which festival they say it was that Cyrus took the city of Babylon. The praise of the whole earth; Babylon, that was so famous over all the world for her splendour. And so it is interpreted in the next words, wherein Babylon, for the punishment brought upon it, is said to be an astonishment to all nations; which makes it probable that Babylon is what was called Sheshach, by…

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 51 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 51:41 How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!Ver. 41. How is Sheshach taken?] i.e., How is Babylon destroyed beyond all expectation? See Jeremiah 25:26.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 51 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(41) How is Sheshach taken!—“Sheshach,” it will be remembered, is the cypher which, as explained in the Note on Jeremiah 25:26, stands for Babylon. Here, in the parallelism of Hebrew poetry, it balances the actual name of the city in the second clause of the verse. The word “surprised” is the same as that rendered “stopped” in Jeremiah 51:32.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 51 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 41. How is Sheshach taken!] Perhaps the city is here called by the name of its idol. The praise of the whole earth] One of the seven wonders of the world; superexcellent for the height, breadth, and compass of its walls, its hanging gardens, the temple of Belus, &c., &c.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 51 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

41. Sheshach] i.e. Babylon. See on Jeremiah 25:26. a desolation] mg. an astonishment. Cp. Jeremiah 51:43.

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 51 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Sheshach - Babylon: see the Jeremiah 51:1 note. Surprised - i. e., seized, captured.

Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 51 →

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

How Sheshach has been captured! The praise of all the earth has been seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“How Sheshach is taken! How the praise of the whole earth is seized! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

How Sheshach has been captured! The praise of all the earth has been seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!

NETBNew English Translation2006

“See how Babylon has been captured! See how the pride of the whole earth has been taken! See what an object of horror Babylon has become among the nations!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

RVARevised Version, American1894

How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

NWBWebster's Bible1833

How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

GNVGeneva Bible1599

How is Sheshach taken! and howe is the glory of the whole earth taken! how is Babel become an astonishment among the nations!

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth seized! How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

How hath Sheshach been captured, Yea, caught is the praise of the whole earth, How hath Babylon been for an astonishment among nations.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

How Sheshach has been captured, || Indeed, the praise of the whole earth is caught, || How Babylon has been for an astonishment among nations.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

How is Sheshach captured! and how is conquered the praise of the whole earth! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

How Babylon has been captured! So the praise of all the earth is seized. How Babylon has become a ruined place among the nations.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

How is Sesach taken, and the renowned one of all the earth surprised? How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

How could it be? Babylon has fallen! The most famous city in the world has been conquered! What a horrible sight Babylon has become to everyone watching!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

How is Babylon taken! and the praise of all the earth surprised! how has Babylon become a cause of wonder among the nations!

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.

clauseadverbialאֵ֚יךְhow!verbנִלְכְּדָ֣הit.will.be.capturedsubjectשֵׁשַׁ֔ךְSheshachוַandclauseverbתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂit.has.been.seizednoun phrase · subjectתְּהִלַּ֣תthe.praisenoun phraseכָּלof.allnoun phraseהָtheאָ֑רֶץearthclauseadverbialאֵ֣יךְhow!verbהָיְתָ֧הit.will.becomeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְ(into).aשַׁמָּ֛הhorrorsubjectבָּבֶ֖לBabylonprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּamongnoun phrasetheגּוֹיִֽםnations

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 show agreement in the overall message, with the Septuagint capturing most of the original Hebrew words. The differences in word order reflect the translators' stylistic choices rather than a fundamental disagreement on the content.

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

אֵ֚יךְ נִלְכְּדָ֣ה שֵׁשַׁ֔ךְ וַתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂ תְּהִלַּ֣ת כָּל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ אֵ֣יךְ הָיְתָ֧ה לְשַׁמָּ֛ה בָּבֶ֖ל בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֵ֚יךְπῶςנִלְכְּדָ֣הἑάλωוַתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂἐθηρεύθηכָּל־πάσηςהָאָ֑רֶץγῆςאֵ֣יךְπῶςהָיְתָ֧הἐγένετοלְשַׁמָּ֛הβαβυλὼνבַּגּוֹיִֽם׃ἔθνεσιν

9 of the 12 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 51:41אֵיךְhow!how!אֵיךְלָכַדit will be it will be captלָכַדשֵׁשַׁךְSheshachSheshachשֵׁשַׁךְתָּפַשׂand it has and it has beenתָּפַשׂתְּהִלָּה[the] prais[the] praise ofתְּהִלָּהכֹּלallallכֹּלאֶ֫רֶץthe earththe earthאֶ֫רֶץאֵיךְhow!how!אֵיךְהָיָהit will becit will becomeהָיָהשַׁמָּהa horrora horrorשַׁמָּהבָּבֶ֫לBabylonBabylonבָּבֶ֫לגּוֹיamong the namong the natioגּוֹיאַיwhere?where?אַיהָלַלto shineto shineהָלַלכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלשָׁמֵםbe desolatbe desolate: deשָׁמֵםבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאגֵּוָהbackbackגֵּוָהשַׁמָּהhorror: dehorror: destroyשַׁמָּהלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַםמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןתִּפְאָרָהbeautybeautyתִּפְאָרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁירעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםשְׁרֵקָהhissinghissingשְׁרֵקָהקְלָלָהcursecurseקְלָלָה
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 51:41

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.

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
אֵ֚יךְ'eikh how! H349 Particle
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means 'how' or 'where', like in Genesis when God asks Adam 'where are you'. It's also used to express surprise or excitement.
Amplified meaning
in what manner, to what extent
Tyndale gloss
how?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵיךְ (*'eyk*) and its variants express the concept of 'how?' in various contexts, functioning as both interrogative and exclamatory forms. The entries indicate that it can also imply 'where' and is used in expressions of lamentation or satisfaction. The word appears in different spellings, reflecting its usage in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵיךְ 69 adv.

interrog. How?

as an exclam. How!

base

אֵיכָה adv.

interrog. In what manner?

exclam. How!

Where?

base

אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H349a אֵיךְ . interrog. How?

. as an exclam. How!

H349b אֵיכָה . interrog. In what manner?

. as an exclam. How!

H349c אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

349 'eyk ake

also eykah {ay-kaw'}; and teykakah {ay-kaw'-kah}; prolonged

from 335; how? or how!; also where:--how, what.

see HEBREW for 0335

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵיךְ (ekh) — how?.

interrog adv

how?

אֵיכָה (e.khah) — how?.

interrog adv

1) how?

interj

2) how! (in lamentation)

3) expression of satisfaction

אֵיכָ֫כָה (e.kha.khah) — how?.

how?

Another spelling of ekh (אֵיךְ "how?" H0349A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTi
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to

(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";

(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
נִלְכְּדָ֣הnil.ke.Dah it will be captured H3920 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
121× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to capture or seize, often using a net or trap. In the Bible, it is used to describe taking control of something or someone, and is also used figuratively to describe being caught or stuck in a situation.
Amplified meaning
seized, taken control of
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

capture, seize

fig. of entrapping men

of taking by lot

Niph.

be captured in war

of men, be caught

be taken by lot

Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3920 lakad law-kad'

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

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

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

be holden, stick together, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.

1) to capture, take, seize

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to capture, seize

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

1a3) to take (by lot)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

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

1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVNp3fs
how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
שֵׁשַׁ֔ךְshe.Shakh Sheshach H8347 Noun proper
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Sheshak is a symbolic name for Babylon, a major city in the ancient world. It appears in the book of Jeremiah, where the prophet writes about the city's destruction, as seen in Jeremiah 25:26.
Amplified meaning
Babylon, a major city
Tyndale gloss
Babylon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁשַׁךְ (Sheshak) is a name associated with Babylon, possibly derived from a goddess named 'Shach.' It is noted as a symbol or representation of Babylon in the Old Testament. The entries suggest that it may also mean 'thy fine linen,' indicating a connection to wealth or prosperity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁשַׁךְ n.pr.terr. 

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8347 שֵׁשַׁךְ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8347 Sheshak shay-shak'

of foreign derivation; Sheshak, a symbol. name of

Babylon:--Sheshach.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁשַׁךְ (she.shakh) — Babylon.

Sheshach = "thy fine linen"

another name for Babylon apparently taken from the goddess 'Shach'

Another name of ba.vel (בָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל "Babylon" H0894)

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

she'-shak (sheshakh, as if "humiliation"; compare shakhakh, "to crouch"): The general explanation is that this is "a cypherform of `Babel' (Babylon)" which is the word given as equivalent to "Sheshach" by the Targum (Jer 25:26; 51:41; the Septuagint omits in both passages). By the device known as Atbas 'atbas, i.e. disguising a name by substituting the last letter of the alphabet for the first, the letter next to the last for the second, etc., sh-sh-k is substituted for babhel. This theory has not failed of opposition. Delitzsch holds that "Sheshach" represents Sis-ku-KI of an old Babylonian regal register, which may have stood for a part of the city of Babylon. (For a refutation of this interpretation see Schrader, KAT2, 415; COT, II, 108 f.) Lauth, too, takes "Sheshach" to be a Hebraization of Siska, a Babylonian district.…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sheshach

(Jer. 25:26), supposed to be equivalent to Babel (Babylon), according to a secret (cabalistic) mode of writing among the Jews of unknown antiquity, which consisted in substituting the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet for the first, the last but one for the second, and so on. Thus the letters sh, sh, ch become b, b, l, i.e., Babel. This is supposed to be confirmed by a reference to Jer. 51:41, where Sheshach and Babylon are in parallel clauses. There seems to be no reason to doubt that Babylon is here intended by this name. (See Streane’s Jeremiah, l.c.)

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(from the goddess Shach , reduplicated) is a term which occurs only in (Jeremiah 25:26; 51:41) where it is evidently used as a synonym for either Babylon or Babylonia.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A poetical name for Babylon, signifying, as some judge, house or court of the prince, Jer 25:26; 51:41.

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
וַתִּתָּפֵ֖שׂva.ti.ta.Fes and it has been seized H8610 Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To capture or seize something, like in 1 Kings 13:4, where a prophet grabs the king's altar. It means to take hold of or grasp something firmly.
Amplified meaning
captured, taken hold of
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּפַשׂ (taphas) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lay hold of or seize. It encompasses actions like capturing, wielding, and handling, with nuances in different forms such as being seized or caught. The entries suggest a range of physical and figurative uses, including the idea of manipulation or unwarranted use.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּפַשׂ vb. lay hold of, wield

Qal

lay hold of, seize

grasp in order to wield, wield, use skilfully

Niph. be seized, arrested, caught

Pi. a lizard thou mayest grasp with the hands

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8610 תָּפַשׂ lay hold of, wield

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8610 taphas taw-fas'

a primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to

capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use

unwarrantably:--catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over),

stop, X surely, surprise, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּפַשׂ (ta.pha.s) — to capture.

1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch

1a2) to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully

1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured

1c) (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/VNw3fs
how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
תְּהִלַּ֣תte.hi.Lat [the] praise of H8416 Noun common · feminine singular construct
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tehillah means praise or a song of praise, often directed towards God. It can also refer to a hymn or an act of public praise, acknowledging God's qualities or deeds.
Amplified meaning
a song of praise
Tyndale gloss
praise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word תְּהִלָּה (*tehillah*) means praise, specifically in the form of a song or hymn. It encompasses acts of adoration and thanksgiving directed towards God, as well as general public praise and the qualities of God that warrant such praise. The word is derived from a root meaning to laud.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּהִלָּה n.f. praise, song of praise

praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳

the act of general, public, praise

praise-song, as title

qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise

renown, fame, glory

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8416 תְּהִלָּה praise, song of praise . praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳

. the act of general, public, praise

. praise-song, as title

. qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise

. renown, fame, glory

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8416 thillah teh-hil-law'

from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a

hymn:--praise.

see HEBREW for 01984

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּהִלָּה (te.hil.lah) — praise.

1) praise, song or hymn of praise

1a) praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God)

1b) act of general or public praise

1c) praise-song (as title)

1d) praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God)

1e) renown, fame, glory

1e1) of Damascus, God

1e2) object of praise, possessor of renown (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
every part of
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

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

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
הָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retz the earth H776 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
land, world
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):

In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.

'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Earth

(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.

(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.

Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
אֵ֣יךְ'eikh how! H349 Particle
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means 'how' or 'where', like in Genesis when God asks Adam 'where are you'. It's also used to express surprise or excitement.
Tyndale gloss
how?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵיךְ (*'eyk*) and its variants express the concept of 'how?' in various contexts, functioning as both interrogative and exclamatory forms. The entries indicate that it can also imply 'where' and is used in expressions of lamentation or satisfaction. The word appears in different spellings, reflecting its usage in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵיךְ 69 adv.

interrog. How?

as an exclam. How!

base

אֵיכָה adv.

interrog. In what manner?

exclam. How!

Where?

base

אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H349a אֵיךְ . interrog. How?

. as an exclam. How!

H349b אֵיכָה . interrog. In what manner?

. as an exclam. How!

H349c אֵיכָ֫כָה (Ct) אֵֽיכָכָ֫ה (Est) How?

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

349 'eyk ake

also eykah {ay-kaw'}; and teykakah {ay-kaw'-kah}; prolonged

from 335; how? or how!; also where:--how, what.

see HEBREW for 0335

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵיךְ (ekh) — how?.

interrog adv

how?

אֵיכָה (e.khah) — how?.

interrog adv

1) how?

interj

2) how! (in lamentation)

3) expression of satisfaction

אֵיכָ֫כָה (e.kha.khah) — how?.

how?

Another spelling of ekh (אֵיךְ "how?" H0349A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTi
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to

(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";

(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
הָיְתָ֧הha.ye.Tah it will become H1961 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine 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.
Amplified meaning
existed as, been made
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-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-kum':

(1) Greek ginomai, used in New Testament for a change of state, corresponding to Hebrew hayah of Old Testament. Compare Mt 18:3 with De 27:9.

(2) For what is fitting, suitable, proper, in New Testament: "prepei" (Mt 3:15; Eph 5:3; 1Ti 2:10); in Old Testament, na'awah, na'ah, Ps 93:5: "Holiness becometh thy house." in this sense, the adverb "becomingly" must be interpreted: "Walk becomingly toward them that are without" (1Th 4:12), i.e. in a way that is consistent with your profession.

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
לְשַׁמָּ֛הle.sha.Mah a horror H8047 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shammâh refers to a state of horror or ruin, often describing a waste or desolate land. It can also mean consternation or appalment, and is used in the Bible to describe the aftermath of war or disaster.
Amplified meaning
shammah, a state of ruin
Tyndale gloss
horror: destroyed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׁמָּה (shammah) refers to concepts of waste and horror, indicating destruction or desolation. It encompasses meanings such as appalment and ruin, often related to land or cities. The word is derived from another Hebrew root, שָׁמַם (shamam), which also conveys similar themes of devastation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁמָּה n.f. waste, appalment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8047 שַׁמָּה waste, appalment

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8047 shammah sham-maw'

from 8074; ruin; by implication,

consternation:--astonishment, desolate(-ion), waste,

wonderful thing.

see HEBREW for 08074

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁמָּה (sham.mah) — horror: destroyed.

: destroyed/waste

1) waste, horror, appalment

1a) a waste (of land, city, etc)

1b) appalment, horror

Also means: sham.mah (שַׁמָּה ": appalled" H8047H)

שַׁמָּה (sham.mah) — horror: appalled.

: appalled

1) waste, horror, appalment

1a) a waste (of land, city, etc)

1b) appalment, horror

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hor'-er ('emah, pallatsuth): In Ge 15:12 'emah (often rendered "terror") is translated "horror," "a horror of great darkness"; pallatsuth, "trembling," "horror" (Ps 55:5; Eze 7:18); zal`aphah, "glow," "heat" (Ps 119:53, the Revised Version (British and American) "hot indignation," margin "horror"); compare Ps 11:6; La 5:10. For "trembling" (Job 21:6) and for "fearfulness" (Isa 21:4) the Revised Version (British and American) has "horror." "Horror" does not…

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
בָּבֶ֖לba.Vel Babylon H894 Noun proper
262× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Babel refers to Babylon, a city and empire in the Bible, meaning confusion or mixing. It appears in Genesis 11:9 and is associated with the tower of Babel. The city was situated on the Euphrates River.
Amplified meaning
Babel, a city of confusion
Tyndale gloss
Babylon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּבֶ֫ל (Babel) refers to Babylon, an ancient city and capital of Babylonia, associated with the idea of confusion. It is derived from a root meaning 'confusion' and is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. The lexicons agree on its meaning and significance, with no noted disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּבֶ֫ל 262 n.pr.loc. Babel, Babylon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H894 בָּבֶ֫ל Babel, Babylon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

894 Babel baw-bel'

from 1101; confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including

Babylonia and the Babylonian empire:--Babel, Babylon.

see HEBREW for 01101

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל (ba.vel) — Babylon.

§ Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)"

Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Babylon

The Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning “The Gate of God.” In the Assyrian tablets it means “The city of the dispersion of the tribes.” The monumental list of its kings reaches back to B.C. 2300, and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (B.C. 606) it threw off…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

in the Apocalypse, is the symbolical name by which Rome is denoted. (Revelation 14:8; 17:18) The power of Rome was regarded by the later Jews as was that of Babylon by their forefathers. Comp. (Jeremiah 51:7) with Reve 14:8 The occurrence of this name in (1 Peter 5:13) has given rise to a variety of conjectures, many giving it the same meaning as in the Apocalypse; others refer it to Babylon in Asia, and others still to Babylon in Egypt. The most natural supposition of all is that by Babylon is intended the old Babylon of Assyria, which was largely inhabited by Jews at the time in question.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A celebrated city situated on the Euphrates, the original foundation of which is described under the word Babel. Wit this coincide many ancient traditions, while some speak of Semiramis as the founder, and others of Nebuchadnezzar. These accounts may all be reconciled, by supposing that Semiramis rebuilt the ancient city, and the Nebuchadnezzar. These accounts may all be reconciled, by supposing that Semiramis rebuilt the ancient city, and that Nebuchadnezzar afterwards greatly enlarged and adorned it.

Babylon lay in a vast and fertile plain watered by the Euphrates, with flowed through the city. Its walls are described as 60 miles in circumference, 300 feet high, and 75 feet wide, Jer 51:44- 58. A deep trench ran parallel with the walls. In each of the four sides were 25 brazen gates, from which roads crossed to the opposite…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

same as Babel

how! it will be captured Sheshach and it has been seized [the] praise of all the earth how! it will become a horror Babylon among the nations
בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃ba.go.Yim among the nations H1471 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
561× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Amplified meaning
in the midst of, Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples
Tyndale gloss
Gentile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גּוֹי (goy) refers to a nation or people, often indicating non-Hebrew groups, but can also encompass descendants of Abraham and Israel. It may figuratively describe a swarm of locusts or animals. The plural form, גּוֹיִם (goyim), is noted as a proper noun referring to the people of Goim, specifically mentioned in Genesis 14:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גּוֹי 661 n.m. nation, people

base

גּוֹיִם n.pr.gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1471a גּוֹי nation, people H1471b גּוֹיִם n. pr. gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1471 gowy go'-ee

rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same

root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation;

hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a

flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

see HEBREW for 01465

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גּוֹי (goy) — nation.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

גּוֹיִם (go.yim) — Goiim.

People descended from Goy(?), first mentioned at Gen.14.1

§ Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

גּוֹי (goy) — Gentile.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

1c) Goyim? = "nations"

Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)

גּוֹי (goy) — (Harosheth)-hagoyim.

Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

Combined with cha.ro.shet (חֲרֹ֫שֶׁת "Harosheth" H2800)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HRd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

na'-shunz.

See GENTILES; GOIIM; HEATHEN; TABLE OF NATIONS.

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate