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Job 24:23 — Word Study

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WLCיִתֶּן־ ל֣וֹ לָ֭בֶטַח וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ן וְ֝עֵינֵ֗יהוּ עַל־ דַּרְכֵיהֶֽם׃

BSAHe givesnâthan [allows, grants] a sense of securitybeṭach [feeling, assurance, safety, refuge, trust] but His eyesʻayin [watchful care, observation] are onʻal [over, above] their waysderek [path, journey, manner of life]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 24
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (dar.khei.Hem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 24:23quick helps
In a sentenceGod grants a false sense of security to the wicked, while He observes their actions.
Who is speakingThe speaker is Job, reflecting on God's justice.
Where we areIn a discourse on the fate of the wicked and the seeming prosperity they enjoy.
The hard wordבֶּטַח
Take awayGod's watchful care contrasts with the false security of the wicked.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָתַן 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 24:23

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 Reflection on the Wickedgenerated

22Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.
23He gives them a sense of security, but His eyes are on their ways.
24They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.
25If this is not so, then who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?”

Job 24:23 reflects on the nature of God's oversight of the wicked. Job observes that while God allows them a false sense of security, He is fully aware of their actions and paths. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job contemplates the justice of God in relation to the apparent prosperity of the wicked, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 73:3–12For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
2Jeremiah 12:1–3Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
3Ecclesiastes 8:11When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.
4Isaiah 10:8–11“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.
5Isaiah 56:12“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

The Key Word בֶּטַח, La.ve.tachgenerated

The noun בֶּטַח (betach) refers to a state of security or safety. It conveys the idea of a refuge or a place where one feels protected. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to trust,' linking it to feelings of assurance and hope.

In this verse, it emphasizes the false sense of security that God grants to the wicked, highlighting the contrast between their perception and God's watchful observation of their ways.


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 verse is built around two finite verbs: יִתֶּן (he gives) and יִשָּׁעֵ֑ן (he may support himself), with their respective phrases elaborating on the subjects and objects of these actions.

The structure emphasizes God's action of granting security, followed by the observation of His eyes on the ways of the wicked, creating a contrast between perceived safety and divine scrutiny.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִתֶּן as μαλακισθεὶς, which suggests a nuance of being softened or made weak, indicating a more interpretive rendering of the sense of security granted by God.

This choice reflects a broader understanding of the term, suggesting that the security given is not genuine but rather a deceptive comfort.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 24:23 describes how God gives the wicked a false sense of security while He watches over their actions. This verse is part of Job's reflections on the justice of God and the fate of the wicked, emphasizing the contrast between their perceived safety and God's awareness of their ways.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God gives a sense of security?

It suggests that the wicked may feel safe and secure in their actions, but this feeling is deceptive, as God is fully aware of their conduct.

How does this verse relate to God's justice?

It highlights the apparent contradiction in the prosperity of the wicked and God's oversight, suggesting that their security is temporary and ultimately illusory.

What can we learn from this verse about our own lives?

It encourages self-reflection on whether we are relying on false securities instead of trusting in God.

Why does Job emphasize God's observation of the wicked?

Job emphasizes this to illustrate that God's justice is not blind; He sees all actions and will ultimately hold the wicked accountable.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I feel a false sense of security, and how can I seek God's guidance instead?
  2. How does understanding God's watchful care change my perspective on justice and fairness in the world?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure that I am living in a way that aligns with God's paths?
  4. How can I support others in recognizing the importance of trusting in God rather than relying on their own understanding?

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

Early commentary on this verse discusses God's justice and the false security of the wicked, as seen in the writings of Gregory the Dialogist.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XVII c. 540–604
God hath given unto him room for repentance, and he abuseth it in pride. Whosoever commits sin and lives, such a person Divine Appointment for this reason bears with in iniquity, that it may withhold him from iniquity.
Early Church Fathers on Job 24 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 24:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[Though] it be given him [to be] in safety,.... Or "he gives him" (g), that is, it is God gives the wicked man to be in safety, notwithstanding all his wickedness; for Job, having described the

Read John Gill on Job 24 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. Reply of Job to the opinions of the friends. Experience proves the contrary.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 24 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Heb. He giveth to him to be in safety, or all things necessary for his safety, &c. This verse is understood either, 1. Of the oppressor; if the oppressor give a man his hand or promise that he shall live in safety by him, or if the oppressed give gifts to the oppressor to purchase his quiet and safety, and, as it follows, he resteth upon that assurance given him; yet his, i.e. the oppressor’ s, eyes are upon their ways; he watcheth for their halting, and seeks for all occasions to quarrel with them, and to destroy them. Or rather, 2. Of God; and so the words are fitly rendered thus, He, i.e. God, giveth or granteth to him, i.e. to the oppressor, to be in safety, i.e. to live a quiet and…

Read Matthew Poole on Job 24 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 24:23 [Though] it be given him [to be] in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes [are] upon their ways.Ver. 23. Though it be given him to be in safety] Heb. It is given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth. His safety and prosperity was given him for a better purpose; but (as if God had hired him to be wicked) he abuseth it to creature confidence, leaning too hard upon the arm of flesh. Yet his eyes are upon their ways] Nevertheless God prospereth them (according to Psalms 34:11). Or, as others sense it, God eyeth their wicked ways, and designeth them to destruction. And the next verse seemeth to make for this interpretation.

Read John Trapp on Job 24 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Though it be given.—“Yea, he, that is each of them, giveth him tribute, &c., that he may be secure and stable.” Yet his eyes—that is, the great tyrant’s eyes—are upon their ways.—They are exalted for a little while, but are soon gone, and are taken out of the way like all others. Some understand the subject of the first verb, “he giveth him to be in security,” to be God, and that also makes very good sense, for while God so allows him to be secure, His eyes are on their ways, the ways of all of them. In this case, however, Job 24:24 does not correspond so well with what Job has already said of the impunity with which the wicked are wicked, unless indeed the suddenness of their fate is…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 24 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 23. Though it be given him to be in safety] The Vulgate gives this verse a singular turn: Dedit ei Deus locum paenitentiae, et ille abutitur eo in superbiam, "God gave him space for repentance, but he has abused it through pride." This is by no means conformable to the original. I think the words should be translated thus: "He gives them (i.e., the guards) to him for security, and he leans upon them; yet his eyes are upon their ways." Though he have taken the guards, mentioned in the preceding verse, for his personal defence, and for this purpose he uses them; yet he is full of diffidence, and he is continually watching them lest they should be plotting his destruction. The true…

Read AdamClarke on Job 24 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. though it be given] Rather, he giveth them to be in safety. God makes the tents of the violent men to be secure, ch. Job 12:6; He watches over them, His eyes being upon their ways; comp. ch. Job 10:3, “He shines upon the counsel of the wicked.”

Read Cambridge on Job 24 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Though it be given him to be in safety - That is, God gives him safety. The name God is often understood, or not expressed. The meaning is, that God gives this wicked man, or oppressor, safety.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 24 →

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

He gives them a sense of security, but His eyes are on their ways.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

God gives them security, and they rest in it. His eyes are on their ways.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He gives them a sense of security, but His eyes are on their ways.

NETBNew English Translation2006

God may let them rest in a feeling of security, but he is constantly watching all their ways.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

God giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.

RVARevised Version, American1894

God giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; and his eyes are upon their ways.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Though it is given him to be in safety, on which he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Though men giue him assurance to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

[God] setteth him in safety, and he resteth thereon; but his eyes are upon their ways.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

He giveth to him confidence, and he is supported, And his eyes [are] on their ways.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He gives to him confidence, and he is supported, || And His eyes [are] on their ways.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

God allows them to think they are secure, and they are happy about that, but his eyes are on their ways.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He supports them and gives them security, but he is always watching what they're doing.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He takes away his fear of danger and gives him support; and his eyes are on his ways.

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.

clauseverbיִתֶּןhe.givesprepositional phrase · prepositionalל֣toוֹhimprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֭toבֶטַחsecurityוְandclauseverbיִשָּׁעֵ֑ןhe.supports.himselfוְ֝andclausenoun phrase · subjectעֵינֵ֗יeyesהוּhisprepositional phrase · predicateעַל[are].onnoun phraseדַּרְכֵיwaysהֶֽםtheir

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads יִתֶּן־ ל֣וֹ לָ֭בֶטַח וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ן וְ֝עֵינֵ֗יהוּ עַל־ דַּרְכֵיהֶֽם׃, while the Septuagint matches 5 of the 7 words, indicating a close correspondence in meaning, though the word order and specific articles differ.

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

יִתֶּן־ ל֣וֹ לָ֭בֶטַח וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ן וְ֝עֵינֵ֗יהוּ עַל־ דַּרְכֵיהֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יִתֶּן־μαλακισθεὶςל֣וֹμὴלָ֭בֶטַחἐλπιζέτωוְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ןὑγιασθῆναιוְ֝עֵינֵ֗יהוּνόσῳ

5 of the 7 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 24:23נָתַןhe giveshe givesנָתַןוֹto himto himוֹבֶּ֫טַחto securityto securityבֶּ֫טַחשָׁעַןso he may sso he may suppoשָׁעַןעַ֫יִןand eyes hiand eyes hisעַ֫יִןעַל[are] on[are] onעַלדֶּ֫רֶךְways theirways theirדֶּ֫רֶךְבָּטַחto trustto trustבָּטַחדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְעַלheightheightעַלנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהזֶ֫רַעseedseedזֶ֫רַעחָרַדto trembleto trembleחָרַדשָׁקַטto quietto quietשָׁקַטחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹן
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 24:23

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.

he gives to him to security so he may support himself and eyes his [are] on ways their
יִתֶּן־yi.ten- he gives H5414 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
2,011× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Amplified meaning
allows, grants
Tyndale gloss
to give: give
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set

Qal 1917

give

Put, set

Make, constitute

Niph.

82be given

Be put, set

Hoph.

be given, bestowed

= be given to one for wife

be put upon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give

. Put, set

. Make, constitute

. . be given

. Be put, set

. . . be given, bestowed

. = be given to one for wife

. be put upon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5414 nathan naw-than'

a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of

application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,

assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,

hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +

cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X

without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),

grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),

(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,

occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X

pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send

(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,

strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,

turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)

God, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.

: give/deliver/send/produce

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend

1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate

1a3) to make, constitute

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned

1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up

1c2) to be put upon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.

: put/set/apppoint

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
he gives to him to security so he may support himself and eyes his [are] on ways their
ל֣וֹlo to 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
he gives to him to security so he may support himself and eyes his [are] on ways their
לָ֭בֶטַחLa.ve.tach to security H983 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Security refers to a feeling of safety or refuge, like a place where one can feel protected, as the Bible describes God as a rock or fortress, providing assurance and hope to those who trust in Him.
Amplified meaning
feeling, assurance, safety, refuge, trust
Tyndale gloss
security
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֶּ֫טַח (betach) refers to security or safety, encompassing both the concept of a secure place and the feelings of trust and assurance. It can also be used adverbially to mean 'safely' or 'securely.' The word is derived from a root meaning 'to trust' and is linked to the idea of refuge.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֶּ֫טַח n.[m.] security

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H983 בֶּ֫טַח security

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

983 betach beh'takh

from 982; properly, a place of refuge; abstract, safety, both

the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverb

with or without preposition) safely:--assurance, boldly,

(without) care(- less), confidence, hope, safe(-ly, -ty),

secure, surely.

see HEBREW for 0982

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּ֫טַח (be.tach) — security.

1) security, safety

adv

2) securely

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

→ FOR DEBT

See DEBT

→ See SURETY

→ FALSE

From the evils of sin; promises peace and a long life Job 29:18

Is ignorant of God and truth Ps 10:4; 50:21

Trusts in lies Isa 28:15; Re 3:17

Is inconsiderate and forgetful Isa 47:7

Relies on earthly treasures Jer 49:4,16

Is deceived by pride Ob 1:3; Re 18:7

Puts off the evil day Am 6:3

Leads to increased guilt Ec 8:11

he gives to him to security so he may support himself and eyes his [are] on ways their
וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ןve.yi.sha.'En so he may support himself H8172 Conjunction · verb niphal third person masculine singular
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To lean means to support oneself or trust in something, like God. In Psalm 37:7, it means to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. This concept is central to the biblical idea of trust and faith.
Tyndale gloss
to lean
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁעַן (sha`an) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to lean or support oneself. It is noted in the Niphal form, indicating a reflexive action of relying or trusting, particularly in a figurative sense of trusting in God. The entries consistently emphasize the themes of leaning and support.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁעַן] vb. Niph. lean, support oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8172 שָׁעַן Niph. lean, support oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8172 sha`an shaw-an'

a primitive root; to support one's self:--lean, lie, rely,

rest (on, self), stay.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁעַן (sha.an) — to lean.

1) to lean on, trust in, support

1a) (Niphal) to lean, lean upon, support oneself

1a1) of trust in God (fig)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/VNu3ms — Conjunction · verb niphal third person masculine singular
HC/VNu3ms
he gives to him to security so he may support himself and eyes his [are] on ways their
וְ֝עֵינֵ֗יהוּve.'ei.Nei.hu and eyes his H5869 Conjunction · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
watchful care, observation
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-cd | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HC/Ncfdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

he gives to him to security so he may support himself and eyes his [are] on ways their
עַל־'al- [are] 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.
Amplified meaning
over, above
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)

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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)

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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

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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
he gives to him to security so he may support himself and eyes his [are] on ways their
דַּרְכֵיהֶֽם׃dar.khei.Hem ways their H1870 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
path, journey, manner of life
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3mp
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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