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Job 13:9 — Word Study

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WLCהֲ֭טוֹב כִּֽי־ יַחְקֹ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֑ם אִם־ כְּהָתֵ֥ל בֶּ֝אֱנ֗וֹשׁ תְּהָתֵ֥לּוּ בֽוֹ׃

BSAWould it be wellṭôwb [pleasant, beneficial] whenkîy He examined youchâqar [God, the Supreme Examiner, searched, investigated] Could you deceivehâthal [mock, cheat] as you would deceivehâthal a manʼĕnôwsh [human, mortal, with frailties and limitations]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 13
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 9 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 (vo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 13:9quick helps
In a sentenceJob questions whether it would be good for God to examine a person, implying that deception is impossible.
Who is speakingJob, addressing his friends and emphasizing God's omniscience.
Where we areIn a discourse on God's justice and human integrity.
The hard wordטוֹב
Take awayDeception before God is futile; He knows the truth.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbחָקַר 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 — Job 13:9

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 — Job's Discourse on Divine Justicegenerated

8Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
9Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
10Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
11Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

Job 13:9 presents Job questioning whether it would be good for God to examine him, reflecting on the futility of trying to deceive the Almighty. This verse is part of Job's defense, where he argues against the accusations of his friends, asserting that God sees all and cannot be fooled. Job's words resonate with the themes of divine scrutiny and human integrity found throughout the book of Job.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 34:36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
2Psalm 44:21would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?
3Psalm 139:23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
4Jeremiah 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
5Job 17:2Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word טוֹב, Ha.tovgenerated

The Hebrew word טוֹב (tov) means good or pleasant, covering a range of meanings from agreeable to ethical goodness. In this context, it questions whether it would be beneficial or pleasing for God to examine a person.

The parsing as a particle indicates it functions to introduce the question of goodness in the examination by God. Job uses this word to challenge the idea that such an examination could yield a favorable outcome.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree that the verse questions the goodness of God's examination.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יַחְקֹ֣ר (yach.Kor), meaning 'he will examine', governs the sentence, with several phrases dependent on it. The structure emphasizes the conditional nature of Job's questioning.

The arrangement of clauses highlights the relationship between the examination by God and the potential for deception by man, illustrating the contrast between divine omniscience and human frailty.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates טוֹב as καλόν (kalon), which also means good. This choice maintains the essence of Job's questioning regarding the nature of God's examination.

The Greek rendering reflects a similar inquiry about the goodness of God's actions, aligning with the Hebrew text's intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 13:9 asks whether it would be good for God to examine a person and if anyone could deceive Him like a human. Job emphasizes that God sees everything, and no one can hide the truth from Him.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by questioning if it would be good for God to examine him?

Job is highlighting the seriousness of divine scrutiny, suggesting that no one can escape God's judgment.

Why does Job mention deceiving God like a man?

He contrasts human limitations with God's omniscience, implying that deception is futile before an all-knowing God.

How does this verse reflect Job's overall argument?

It underscores Job's defense of his integrity and his belief in God's justice, despite his suffering.

What can we learn from Job's question about God's examination?

It teaches us about the importance of honesty before God and the futility of trying to hide our true selves from Him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I perceive God's examination of my life — as a source of fear or as an opportunity for growth?
  2. In what ways do I try to hide my true self from God, and why?
  3. How can I cultivate a deeper sense of integrity in my relationship with God?
  4. What does it mean to me that God knows everything about me, including my weaknesses and failures?

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

Early commentators like Gregory the Dialogist reference this verse to argue about the nature of God's knowledge and human deception.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XI c. 540–604
Or shall it please Him, from Whom nothing can be concealed? Or like as a man will He be deceived by your deceits. Heretics shew God deceit in that they fabricate such things as cannot be pleasing to the very Being,
Early Church Fathers on Job 13 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 13:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Is it good that he should search you out?.... That is, God; searching is ascribed to him after the manner of men; not that he is ignorant of persons or things he searches after, or exercises that

Read John Gill on Job 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? Will the issue to you be good, when He searches out you (Maurer) and your arguments?

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Is it good? will it be to your credit and comfort? Search you out, i.e. narrowly examine your hearts and discourses, whether you have uttered truth or falsehood, and whether your speeches proceed from true zeal for God, or from your own prejudices and passions, and from a desire to curry favour with him. Do ye so mock him, to wit, by covering your uncharitableness and corrupt affections with pretences of piety, as if God could not discern your artifices; or by pleading his cause with weak and foolish arguments, which is a kind of mockery to him, and an injury to his cause; or by seeking to flatter him with false praises, as if he did distribute the things of this world with exact justice…

Read Matthew Poole on Job 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 13:9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye [so] mock him?Ver. 9. Is it good that he should search you out &c.] q.d. Could you have any joy from such a search? Will not all your warpings and partialities, your colloguing and sinisterity, be laid open to your loss and shame? Will not God reprove instead of approving you in that which ye have said for him, but all against me? The time will come when God will surely search out all controversies, that they all may be ashamed who, under a pretext of religion and right, have spoken false things, and subverted the faith of some. See 1 Corinthians 3:17. Or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?]…

Read John Trapp on Job 13 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) As one man mocketh another.—As one man, with mingled flattery and deception, seeks to impose upon another.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 13 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 9. Is it good that he should search you out?] Would it be to your credit if God should try your hearts, and uncover the motives of your conduct? Were you tried as I am, how would you appear? Do ye so mock him?] Do ye think that you can deceive him; and by flattering speeches bring him to your terms, as you would bring an undiscerning, empty mortal, like yourselves?

Read AdamClarke on Job 13 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9. Is it good] The words may mean, will it be well (for you) that He should search (or, when He shall search)? or as ch. Job 10:3, do you like that He should search you out? The second clause should read, Or as one deceiveth a man will ye deceive Him? When God searches you out and looks into the secret springs of your actions do you expect to be able to deceive Him by representations or demeanour or look as one imposes on a man, who cannot “read the mind’s construction in the face”?

Read Cambridge on Job 13 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Is it good that he should search you out? - Would it be well for you if he should go into an investigation of your character, and of the arguments which you adduce?

Read Albert Barnes on Job 13 →

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

Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?

NETBNew English Translation2006

Would it turn out well if he would examine you? Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Is it well that he shoulde seeke of you? will you make a lye for him, as one lyeth for a man?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Is [it] good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Is [it] good that He searches you, || If, as one mocks at a man, you mock at Him?

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one overreacheth another mortal, do ye expect to overreach him?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Will it be good for you when he searches you out? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Will you be found to be doing good when God examines you? Can you fool him as if he's a human being?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Will it be good for you to be searched out by him, or have you the thought that he may be guided into error like a man?

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.

clauseהֲ֭[willclausepredicateטוֹבit.be].good?clauseכִּֽי(dm)clauseverbיַחְקֹ֣רhe.will.examinenoun phrase · objectאֶתְכֶ֑םyouclauseאִםor?clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּasclauseverbהָתֵ֥לdeceivesprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֶּ֝(in).aאֱנ֗וֹשׁpersonverbתְּהָתֵ֥לּוּwill.you.deceiveprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֽ(in)וֹhim

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 7 out of 9 words matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the core message remains intact.

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

הֲ֭טוֹב כִּֽי־ יַחְקֹ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֑ם אִם־ כְּהָתֵ֥ל בֶּ֝אֱנ֗וֹשׁ תְּהָתֵ֥לּוּ בֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הֲ֭טוֹבκαλόνכִּֽי־ἐὰνיַחְקֹ֣רἐχιξνιάσῃאֶתְכֶ֑םὑμᾶςבֶּ֝אֱנ֗וֹשׁπάνταתְּהָתֵ֥לּוּπροστεθήσεσθεבֽוֹ׃αὐτῷ

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.

Job 13:9טוֹב¿ [will it ¿ [will it be] טוֹבכִּיififכִּיחָקַרhe will exahe will examineחָקַראֵתthe object the object markאֵתאִםor?or?אִםהָתַלas deceivesas deceivesהָתַלאֱנוֹשׁa persona personאֱנוֹשׁהָתַלwill you dewill you deceivהָתַלוֹhimhimוֹטוֹבbe pleasinbe pleasingטוֹבאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתאָנַשׁbe incurabbe incurableאָנַשׁכָּזָבlielieכָּזָביָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרמַרְאֶהappearanceappearanceמַרְאֶהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַערָגַלto spyto spyרָגַלמִשְׁקָלweightweightמִשְׁקָלמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁבְּלִיַּ֫עַלBelial: woBelial: worthleבְּלִיַּ֫עַלעַיAiAiעַי
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 Job 13:9

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.

¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
הֲ֭טוֹבHa.tov ¿ [will it be] good H2896 Particle
538× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Amplified meaning
pleasant, beneficial
Tyndale gloss
pleasant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good

pleasant, agreeable to the senses

pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

good, excellent, of its kind

good, rich, valuable in estimation

good, appropriate, becoming

c. מִן compar. = better

of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

good, kind, benign

good (ethical), right

base

טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

good = benefit

moral good

base

טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

bounty, good

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses

. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

. good, excellent, of its kind

. good, rich, valuable in estimation

. good, appropriate, becoming

. c. מִן compar. =better

. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

. good, kind, benign

. good (ethical), right

H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2896 towb tobe

from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used

likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,

the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a

good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or

women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,

bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,

fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),

graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,

merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,

prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well

((-favoured)).

see HEBREW for 02895

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.

adj

1) good, pleasant, agreeable

1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)

1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)

1c) good, excellent (of its kind)

1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation

1e) good, appropriate, becoming

1f) better (comparative)

1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)

1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)

1i) good, kind, benign

1j) good, right (ethical)

Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)

טוֹב (tov) — good.

1) a good thing, benefit, welfare

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) good, benefit

1d) moral good

טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.

1) welfare, benefit, good things

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) bounty

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

good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.

(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:

(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).

¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
כִּֽי־ki- if H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
יַחְקֹ֣רyach.Kor he will examine H2713 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to search or examine something closely, like trying to find out the truth. It is used in the Bible to describe seeking out knowledge or wisdom, and is often translated as search or seek out.
Amplified meaning
God, the Supreme Examiner, searched, investigated
Tyndale gloss
to search
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָקַר (chaqar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to search or examine. It encompasses actions like searching for, exploring, and thoroughly investigating. The word can also imply being found out or ascertained. It appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating different nuances of searching and examination.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָקַר] vb. search

Qal

search (for)

search through, explore

search a man, find out his sentiments

of י׳ searching man

of examining thoroughly

Niph. be searched out, found out, ascertained

Pi. he sought out many proverbs

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2713 [חָקַר] search .. search (for)

. . search through, explore

. search a man, find out his sentiments

. of י׳ searching man

. of examining thoroughly

. be searched out, found out, ascertained

. he sought out many proverbs

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2713 chaqar khaw-kar'

a primitive root; properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine

intimately:--find out, (make) search (out), seek (out), sound,

try.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָקַר (cha.qar) — to search.

1) to search, search for, search out, examine, investigate

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to search (for)

1a2) to search through, explore

1a3) to examine thoroughly

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be searched out, be found out, be ascertained, be examined

1c) (Piel) to search out, seek out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
אֶתְכֶ֑ם'et.Khem the object marker you H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo/Sp2mp — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp2mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
אִם־'im- or? H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTc — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

or: The word is used once for either (1Sa 26:10), and is still in poetic use in this sense; as in, "Without or wave or wind" (Coleridge); "Or the bakke or some bone he breketh in his dzouthe" (Piers Plowman (B), VII, 93; compare Merchant of Venice, III, ii, 65). It is also used with "ever" for before (Ps 90:2; Ecclesiasticus 18:19), which the American Standard Revised Version substitutes in Ec 12:6 (compare 12:1,2); So 6:12; Da 6:24.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
כְּהָתֵ֥לke.ha.Tel as deceives H2048 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hathal means to deceive or cheat someone, often by mocking or ridiculing them. This word is used to describe dishonest or deceitful behavior in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
mock, cheat
Tyndale gloss
to mock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָתַל (hathal) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to deceive or mock, found in the Piel form. It is closely related to תָּלַל (talal), which also means to deceive. The entries indicate that both forms share a common theme of deception, with הָתַל specifically noted in 1 Kings 18:27.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[הָתַל] vb. only Pi. deceive, mock, 1 K 18:27

ref

[תָּלַל] vb.

Hiph mock, deceive

Hoph a heart (which) is deceived

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2048a הָתַל only Pi. deceive, mock H2048b תָּלַל .mock, deceive

.a heart (which) is deceived

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2048 hathal haw-thal'

a primitive root; to deride; by implication, to cheat:--deal

deceitfully, deceive, mock.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָתַל (ha.tal) — to mock.

(Piel) to mock

תָּלַל (ta.lal) — to deceive.

1) (Hiph) to deceive

2) (Hoph) be deceived

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
בֶּ֝אֱנ֗וֹשׁbe.'e.No.osh a person H582 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
566× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Enosh refers to a human or mankind in general, used to describe individuals or people as a whole in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
human, mortal, with frailties and limitations
Tyndale gloss
human
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱנוֹשׁ (enowsh) refers to man or mankind, often used in a poetic context. It denotes a mortal individual, distinguishing humans from more dignified terms for man. The word encompasses both singular and collective meanings, indicating people or persons in general. Its Aramaic equivalent is אֱנָשׁ (e.nash), also meaning 'man'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱנוֹשׁ n.m. man, mankind, mostly poet.

of individ.

coll. men

man, mankind

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H582 אֱנוֹשׁ man, mankind, mostly poet.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

582 'enowsh en-oshe'

from 605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the

more dignified 120); hence, a man in general (singly or

collectively):--another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain,

chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age,

husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some

( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often

unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in

apposition with another word . Compare 376.

see HEBREW for 0605

see HEBREW for 0120

see HEBREW for 0376

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱנוֹשׁ (e.nosh) — human.

1) man, mortal man, person, mankind

1a) of an individual

1b) men (collective)

1c) man, mankind

Aramaic equivalent: e.nash (אֱנָשׁ "man" H0606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
תְּהָתֵ֥לּוּte.ha.Te.lu will you deceive H2048 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine plural
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hathal means to deceive or cheat someone, often by mocking or ridiculing them. This word is used to describe dishonest or deceitful behavior in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
to mock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָתַל (hathal) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to deceive or mock, found in the Piel form. It is closely related to תָּלַל (talal), which also means to deceive. The entries indicate that both forms share a common theme of deception, with הָתַל specifically noted in 1 Kings 18:27.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[הָתַל] vb. only Pi. deceive, mock, 1 K 18:27

ref

[תָּלַל] vb.

Hiph mock, deceive

Hoph a heart (which) is deceived

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2048a הָתַל only Pi. deceive, mock H2048b תָּלַל .mock, deceive

.a heart (which) is deceived

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2048 hathal haw-thal'

a primitive root; to deride; by implication, to cheat:--deal

deceitfully, deceive, mock.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָתַל (ha.tal) — to mock.

(Piel) to mock

תָּלַל (ta.lal) — to deceive.

1) (Hiph) to deceive

2) (Hoph) be deceived

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVhi2mp
¿ [will it be] good if he will examine the object marker you or? as deceives a person will you deceive him
בֽוֹ׃vo him H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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