Menu

Jeremiah 7:8 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהִנֵּ֤ה אַתֶּם֙ בֹּטְחִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם עַל־ דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר לְבִלְתִּ֖י הוֹעִֽיל׃

BSABut lookhinnêh [behold, see] youʼattâh keep trustingbâṭach [having faith, relying] inʻal deceptivesheqer [lying, false] wordsdâbâr [utterances, messages] to nobiltîy availyaʻal [without profit, of no benefit]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 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 (ho.'Il) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 7:8quick helps
In a sentenceJeremiah warns the people against relying on false words that bring no benefit.
Who is speakingThe prophet Jeremiah, addressing the people of Judah.
Where we areIn a prophetic warning about the futility of misplaced trust.
The hard wordבֹּטְחִ֣ים
Take awayTrusting in falsehoods yields no real advantage.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאַתֶּם verbבָּטַח 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 7:8

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 — A Warning Against Deceptiongenerated

7then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.
8But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.
9Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known,
10and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?

Jeremiah 7:8 serves as a critical reminder that trusting in deceptive words leads to no benefit. The surrounding verses emphasize the consequences of such misplaced faith, urging the people to reconsider their reliance on falsehoods as they seek to maintain their standing before God. This warning is part of a larger discourse where Jeremiah addresses the moral and spiritual failures of Judah, encouraging them to turn back to genuine faithfulness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 7:4Do not trust in deceptive words, chanting: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
2Jeremiah 4:10Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, how completely You have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”
3Jeremiah 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
4Jeremiah 8:10Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.
5Jeremiah 14:13–14“Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word בֹּטְחִ֣ים, bo.te.Chimgenerated

The word בָּטַח (batach) means to trust or rely on something. In this verse, it is used in the participle form, indicating an ongoing action — you are relying. This highlights a continuous state of trust in something that is ultimately deceptive.

The context shows that this reliance is misplaced, as the people trust in false words that do not lead to any real advantage or benefit. The participle form emphasizes the habitual nature of their trust, which Jeremiah critiques.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations of this verse generally agree in conveying the idea that the people are trusting in deceptive words.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse is structured around the finite verb בֹּטְחִ֣ים, you are relying, which serves as the main action. The subject אַתֶּם֙ (you) is directly addressed, emphasizing the people’s role in this action.

The sentence includes a prepositional phrase עַל־ דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר (on the words of deception), which clarifies what they are relying on. The structure highlights the futility of their reliance on falsehoods.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word בֹּטְחִ֣ים is rendered as πεποίθατε (you have trusted), indicating a similar ongoing action of trust. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the Hebrew verb's meaning.

The Greek translation emphasizes the people's misplaced trust in falsehoods, aligning with the original Hebrew intent while adapting to the Greek linguistic context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 7:8 warns the people that they are trusting in deceptive words that provide no benefit. This verse highlights the futility of relying on falsehoods instead of turning to genuine faithfulness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to trust in deceptive words?

Trusting in deceptive words means placing faith in lies or falsehoods that do not lead to any real advantage or truth.

Why is this warning important?

This warning is crucial because it addresses the consequences of misplaced trust, urging the people to seek truth rather than relying on falsehoods.

How can we identify deceptive words today?

Identifying deceptive words involves discerning the truth through careful examination of messages against reliable sources and teachings.

What should we rely on instead?

We should rely on truth, integrity, and the teachings that align with God's word, rather than on misleading or false messages.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some examples of deceptive words we encounter in our lives today?
  2. How can we ensure that our trust is placed in truth rather than falsehood?
  3. What steps can we take to discern the messages we hear?
  4. In what ways can we encourage others to seek truth instead of deception?

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

Early commentators reference this verse to illustrate the consequences of false trust, highlighting its relevance to moral integrity and faithfulness.

Pseudo-Clement2 CLEMENT 14:1 3rd–4th c.
Brothers, by doing the will of God our Father, we shall belong to the first church, the spiritual one established before the sun and the moon.
Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 7 →
JeromeVerse 8 and following c. 347–420
Behold, you trust in yourselves with words of falsehood (or lies) which have not benefited you. To steal, to kill, to commit adultery, to swear falsely, to offer sacrifices to Baal, and to follow foreign gods that you do not know.
Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 7 →
JeromeSIX BOOKS ON Jeremiah 2:34.1-3 c. 347–420
“Has not this house, in which my name is invoked, been made a den of thieves before your eyes? I who am, I have seen it, says the Lord.” I believe that it was from here that the Gospel took: “It is written,
Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 7 →

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 7:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Behold, ye trust in lying words,.... What they are dissuaded from, Jeremiah 7:4, is here affirmed they did, and which is introduced with a note of asseveration, attention, and admiration; it being a

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Lying words that cannot profit. Maurer translates. 'so that you profit nothing' (see Jeremiah 7:4, "lying words;" Jeremiah 5:31).

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 7 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Behold; take notice of it, and think of it seriously. Ye trust in lying words; either flattering yourselves with your own conceits, whereby, in your discourses, you strengthen one another; or depending upon the delusions of your false prophets, 23:26,27; or rather, bolstering yourselves up upon your privileges or bare ceremonies, which you so much boast of, as ; all which he tells them will profit them nothing.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 7:8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.Ver. 8. Behold, ye trust, &c.] See on Jeremiah 7:4.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Lying words.—With special reference to those already cited in Jeremiah 7:4.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 7 →

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 look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Behold, you trust in lying words that can’t profit.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But look, you keep trusting in deceptive words to no avail.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“‘But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Beholde, you trust in lying woordes, that can not profite.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Behold, ye confide in words of falsehood that cannot profit.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Lo, ye are trusting for yourselves On the words of falsehood, so as not to profit.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Behold, you are trusting for yourselves || On the words of falsehood, so as not to profit.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Behold, ye rely on the words of falsehood, that cannot profit.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Behold! You are trusting in deceitful words that do not help you.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Behold you put your trust in lying words, which shall not profit you:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But look at you! You go on believing in these deceptions, these worthless words.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

See, you put your faith in false words which are of no profit.

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.

clauseclauseהִנֵּ֤הhere!clausesubjectאַתֶּם֙youverbבֹּטְחִ֣ים[are].relyingprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ(forכֶ֔םyourselvesprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseדִּבְרֵ֖י(the).wordsnoun phraseהַof.(the)שָּׁ֑קֶרdeceptionprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseadverbialבִלְתִּ֖יnotverbהוֹעִֽילto.profit

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 seven of the nine Hebrew words matching the Greek translation. This correspondence demonstrates a shared understanding of the warning against deceptive reliance, though the word order differs.

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

הִנֵּ֤ה אַתֶּם֙ בֹּטְחִ֣ים לָכֶ֔ם עַל־ דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשָּׁ֑קֶר לְבִלְתִּ֖י הוֹעִֽיל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַתֶּם֙ὑμεῖςבֹּטְחִ֣יםπεποίθατεעַל־ἐπὶדִּבְרֵ֖יλόγοιςהַשָּׁ֑קֶרψευδέσινלְבִלְתִּ֖יοὐκהוֹעִֽיל׃ὠφεληθήσεσθε

7 of the 9 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 7:8הִנֵּהhere!here!הִנֵּהאַתָּ֫הyouyouאַתָּ֫הבָּטַח[are] relyi[are] relyingבָּטַחכֶםfor yourselfor yourselvesכֶםעַלononעַלדָּבָרwords ofwords ofדָּבָרשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרבֵ֫לֶתto notto notבֵ֫לֶתיָעַלto profitto profitיָעַלדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרשָׁקַרto dealto dealשָׁקַרהֵןlook!look!הֵןחָסָהto seek reto seek refugeחָסָהעַלheightheightעַלבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהבְּלִיwithoutwithoutבְּלִינֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםיָרַשׁto possessto possess: posיָרַשׁמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאיֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶרסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדנָבָאto prophesto prophesyנָבָא
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 7:8

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.

here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
הִנֵּ֤הhi.Neh here! H2009 Particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
behold, see
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

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

her, in composition:

here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
אַתֶּם֙'a.Tem you H859 Pronoun
1,094× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Tyndale gloss
you(m.s.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou

base

אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)

base

אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)

base

אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)

base

אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

859 'attah at-taw'

or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine

(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem

{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah

{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun

of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and

you:--thee, thou, ye, you.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).

you (second pers. sing. masc.)

אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).

you (second pers. pl. masc.)

Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)

אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).

you (second pers. pl. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp2mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
בֹּטְחִ֣יםbo.te.Chim [are] relying H982 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
120× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To trust means to have confidence or faith in something or someone, like the Israelites trusting in God to lead them through the desert, as seen in Psalm 23.
Amplified meaning
having faith, relying
Tyndale gloss
to trust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּטַח vb. trust

Qal

trust

be confident

Hiph. cause to trust, make secure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H982 בָּטַח trust . trust

. be confident

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

982 batach baw-takh'

a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so

precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident

or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,

woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

see HEBREW for 02620

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.

1) to trust

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to trust, trust in

1a2) to have confidence, be confident

1a3) to be bold

1a4) to be secure

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to trust, make secure

2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVqrmpa
here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
לָכֶ֔םla.Khem for yourselves H9036 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶם (khem) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2mp
here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
דִּבְרֵ֖יdiv.Rei words of H1697 Noun common · masculine plural construct
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Amplified meaning
utterances, messages
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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…

here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
הַשָּׁ֑קֶרha.Sha.ker deception H8267 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to deception or falsehood, often implying a sense of betrayal or disappointment. It's used in the Bible to describe lies, false testimony, or deceitful behavior, like in Psalm 116:11, where the psalmist says all men are liars.
Amplified meaning
lying, false
Tyndale gloss
deception
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) refers to deception, falsehood, and disappointment. It encompasses various forms of deceit, including fraud and wrongful testimony. The word is built from the root associated with untruths and can imply sham or lying. It is used in contexts involving false prophets and general dishonesty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood

deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

deceit, fraud, wrong

injurious falsehood, in testimony

falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

lie, falsehood, in gen.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8267 שֶׁ֫קֶר deception, disappointment, falsehood . deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

. deceit, fraud, wrong

. injurious falsehood, in testimony

. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

. lie, falsehood, in gen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8267 sheqer sheh'-ker

from 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often

adverbial):--without a cause, deceit(-ful),

false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, + lie, lying, vain

(thing), wrongfully.

see HEBREW for 08266

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) — deception.

1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood

1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)

1b) deceit, fraud, wrong

1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)

1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)

1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely

1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)

1e) lie, falsehood (in general)

1e1) false tongue

1f) in vain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ INSTANCES OF

By Satan Ge 3:4

Abraham, in stating that Sarah was his sister Ge 12:13; 20:2

Isaac, in stating that his wife was his sister Ge 26:7

Jacob and Rebekah, in imposing Jacob on his father, and Jacob's impersonating Esau Ge 27:6-23

Jacob's sons, in entrapping the Shechemites Ge 34:13-31

In representing to their father that Joseph had been destroyed by wild beasts Ge 37:29-35

Joseph, in his ruse with his brothers Ge 42; 43; 44

The Gibeonites, in misrepresenting their habitat Jos 9:3-15

here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
לְבִלְתִּ֖יle.vil.Ti to not H1115 Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
112× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means not or except, and is often used with a prepositional prefix. It appears in various forms, such as not, except, or unless, and is used in many biblical passages.
Tyndale gloss
lest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּלְתִּי (bilti) is a Hebrew word primarily functioning as a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'except.' It can also convey meanings like 'without' or 'until not,' and is often used with prepositional prefixes. The word is derived from the concept of failure, and its usage is consistent across various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵ֫לֶת subst. prop. failure, hence used as particle of negation, not, except

adv. not

after a preceding negation, not = except

conj. (likewise after a neg., expressed or implied)

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1115 בֵ֫לֶת subst. prop. failure, hence used as particle of negation, not, except

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1115 biltiy bil-tee'

constructive feminine of 1086 (equivalent to 1097); properly,

a failure of, i.e. (used only as a negative particle, usually

with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless,

besides, because not, until, etc.:--because un(satiable),

beside, but, + continual, except, from, lest, neither, no

more, none, not, nothing, save, that no, without.

see HEBREW for 01086

see HEBREW for 01097

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּלְתִּי (bil.ti) — lest.

subst

1) not, except

adv

2) not

3) except (after preceding negation)

conj

4) except (after an implied or expressed negation)

with prep

5) so as not, in order not

6) an account of not, because...not

7) until not

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Conj — Preposition · noun common both singular absolute
HR/Ncbsa
here! you [are] relying for yourselves on words of deception to not to profit
הוֹעִֽיל׃ho.'Il to profit H3276 Verb · Hiphil · infinitive construct common
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to gain or ascend, and can also mean to be valuable or beneficial. It is used in various forms in the Bible to convey the idea of profit or advantage.
Amplified meaning
without profit, of no benefit
Tyndale gloss
to gain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָעַל (ya'al) is a Hebrew verb that primarily appears in the Hiphil form, meaning to profit, benefit, or avail. It is built from a root that suggests the idea of ascending or being valuable. The lexicons emphasize its use in contexts related to gaining or being useful.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָעַל] vb. only Hiph. profit, avail, benefit

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3276 יָעַל only Hiph. profit, avail, benefit

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3276 ya`al yaw-al'

a primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be

valuable (objectively: useful, subjectively: benefited):--X at

all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָעַל (ya.al) — to gain.

(Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Verb · Hiphil · infinitive construct common
HVhcc
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