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Job 28:4 — Word Study

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WLCפָּ֤רַץ נַ֨חַל׀ מֵֽעִם־ גָּ֗ר הַֽנִּשְׁכָּחִ֥ים מִנִּי־ רָ֑גֶל דַּ֖לּוּ מֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁ נָֽעוּ׃

BSAFar frommin human habitationgûwr [mortal, earthly] he cutspârats [breaks through, digs] a shaftnachal [mine, tunnel] in places forgottenshâkach [areas, regions, overlooked, neglected] by the foot of manregel [step, path, mankind, humanity] Far from menʼĕnôwsh [people, individuals] he danglesdâlal [hangs, swings] and swaysnûwaʻ [moves, oscillates]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 28
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (Na.'u) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 28:4quick helps
In a sentenceJob describes the mining process in remote places, emphasizing the isolation of these locations.
Who is speakingJob, reflecting on the human pursuit of resources.
Where we areIn a poetic exploration of wisdom and the depths of the earth.
The hard wordפָּ֤רַץ
Take awayThe work of mining occurs far from human presence.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbפָּרַץ 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 28:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Search for Wisdomgenerated

3Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.
4Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.
5Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.
6Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.

Job 28:4 reflects on the human endeavor to extract resources from the earth, highlighting the isolation of the places where this occurs. Job contrasts the industriousness of humanity with the hidden wisdom of God, suggesting that true understanding is found beyond mere physical labor. This passage is part of a larger discourse on the nature of wisdom and its inaccessibility, as seen throughout the chapter.


Cross References


The Key Word פָּ֤רַץ, Pa.ratzgenerated

The verb פָּרַץ (pa.ratz) means to break through or burst open, indicating a forceful action. It is often used in contexts that imply a significant effort to penetrate barriers, whether literal like mining or figurative like overcoming challenges.

In this verse, it describes the act of cutting a shaft for mining, emphasizing the labor involved in reaching resources hidden from common view. The parsing as a perfect tense indicates a completed action, suggesting the miner has successfully broken through to access what lies beneath.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses cuts for פָּ֤רַץ and shaft for נַ֨חַל.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb פָּ֤רַץ governs the structure of the verse, indicating the primary action of breaking through. The sentence includes a prepositional phrase that describes the location of the shaft being cut, and a series of clauses that elaborate on the conditions of these remote places.

The word order emphasizes the distance from humanity, placing the action of cutting a shaft first, followed by descriptors of the forgotten areas and the subsequent actions of dangling and swaying.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates פָּ֤רַץ as διακοπὴ, which conveys the idea of cutting or breaking through. This choice aligns with the mining imagery, suggesting a deliberate action to access hidden resources.

The translation reflects a similar understanding of the act of mining, indicating a continuity in the interpretation of the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 28:4 describes how a miner cuts a shaft in remote places where no one goes. It emphasizes the isolation of these areas and the effort required to find resources hidden from human sight.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to cut a shaft in forgotten places?

It refers to the act of mining in remote areas that are not frequented by people, highlighting the effort to access hidden resources.

Why does Job mention places forgotten by the foot of man?

This emphasizes the isolation and remoteness of the mining locations, suggesting that they are far removed from human activity.

What is the significance of the word 'dangles' in this verse?

It describes how the mined materials may hang or sway, indicating their precarious position once extracted.

How does this verse relate to the theme of wisdom in Job?

It illustrates the human pursuit of knowledge and resources, contrasting it with the deeper wisdom that is not easily accessible.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this verse teach us about the effort involved in pursuing knowledge or resources?
  2. How can we apply the concept of seeking out hidden wisdom in our own lives?
  3. In what ways do we overlook the 'forgotten places' in our own search for understanding?
  4. How does the imagery of mining resonate with the challenges we face in our daily lives?

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

Gregory the Dialogist references this verse to discuss the hidden aspects of wisdom and the human condition in his work.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XVIII c. 540–604
The stone likewise of darkness, and the shadow of death, the torrent divides from the people on travel. Those whom the foot of the needy man forgot, and the inaccessible ones.
Early Church Fathers on Job 28 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 28:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant,.... Or, "so that there is no inhabitant" (z); of the mine, as the miner may be said to be, who lives there continually; and, when a flood of water arises,

Read John Gill on Job 28 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 28 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

This verse speaks either, 1. Of another great and remarkable work of God, whereby in some places either new rivers break forth, or old rivers break in upon the inhabitants, and drive them away; and in other places rivers or other waters are dried up, or derived into other channels or grounds, by which means these lands are rendered more useful and fruitful. Or rather, 2. Of an accident which commonly happens in mines, where, whilst men are digging, a flood of waters breaks in suddenly and violently upon them, and disturbs them in their work. From the inhabitant, Heb. from with the inhabitant, i.e. out of that part of the earth which the miners in a manner inhabit, or where they have their…

Read Matthew Poole on Job 28 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 28:4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; [even the waters] forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.Ver. 4. The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant] Broughton rendereth it, from the spring. Others, Erumpit fluvius iuxta accolam, A river breaketh out near to the inhabitant; that is, to the miner, who is forced to leave the place, till by buckets, wheels, and other fit devices, the pits be cleared, so that they may start working again. Illae ergo utribus praegrandibus ex multis bovum coriis consutis indefesso labore exhauriuntur, adhibitis ad eam rem rotis et machinis idoneis (Merl.). Even the waters forgotten of the foot] Broughton, Unkenned of any…

Read John Trapp on Job 28 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) The flood breaketh out . . . is very uncertain. We may render, Man breaketh open a shaft where none sojourneth; they are forgotten where none passeth by: i.e., the labourers in these deserted places, they hang afar from the haunts of men, they flit to and fro. Or it may be, The flood breaketh out from the inhabitants, even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from man: that is, the very course of rivers is subject to the will and power of man. Those who walk over the place forget that it was once a river, so completely has man obliterated the marks of it.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 28 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant] This passage is very difficult. Some think it refers to mining; others to navigation. If it refer to the former, it may be intended to point out the waters that spring up when the miners have sunk down to a considerable depth, so that the mine is drowned, and they are obliged to give it up. Previously to the invention of the steam-engine this was generally the case: hence ancient mines may be reopened and worked to great advantage, because we have the means now to take off the water which the ancient workers had not. When, therefore, floods break out in those shafts, they are abandoned; and thus they are, Forgotten of the foot] No man…

Read AdamClarke on Job 28 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. This verse reads as a whole, They break a shaft away from man’s abode; They are forgotten of the foot; Far away from men they hang, and swing. The first clause, lit. away from the dweller or inhabitant, describes how the miners sink their shaft deep down below and away from the abode of men above. There they are forgotten by the foot of those overhead, who walk oblivious of them. And the last clause describes how they “hang and swing,” i.e. swing suspended in cages or from ropes as they pursue their unnatural operations— half way down Hangs one that gathers samphire—dreadful trade.

Read Cambridge on Job 28 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant - It would be difficult to tell what idea our translators affixed to this sentence, though it seems to be a literal version of the Hebrew.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 28 →

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

Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He breaks open a shaft away from where people live. They are forgotten by the foot. They hang far from men, they swing back and forth.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Far from where people live he sinks a shaft, in places travelers have long forgotten, far from other people he dangles and sways.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; They are forgotten of the foot; They hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the foot that passeth by; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant: even the waters forgotten by the foot: they are dried up, they have gone away from men.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The flood breaketh out against the inhabitant, and the waters forgotten of the foote, being higher then man, are gone away.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A stream has broken out from a sojourner, || Those forgotten of the foot, || They were low, they wandered from man.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He breaks open a shaft away from where people live, places that are forgotten by anyone's foot. He hangs far away from people; he swings to and fro.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They dig a mineshaft far from where people live or anyone ever goes. They swing from ropes that hang in the pits.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.

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.

clauseverbפָּ֤רַץhe.breaks.openobjectנַ֨חַלa.shaftprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseמֵֽawayעִםfrom.withגָּ֗ר[one.who].sojournsnoun phrase · adverbialהַֽ(the)noun phraseclauseverbנִּשְׁכָּחִ֥יםforgottenprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִנִּיfromרָ֑גֶלfootclauseverbדַּ֖לּוּthey.hang.downprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵawayאֱנ֣וֹשׁfrom.humankindclauseverbנָֽעוּthey.swing

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 align closely, with 9 of the 10 words matched. This indicates a strong consistency in the core message of the verse across these traditions.

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

פָּ֤רַץ נַ֨חַל׀ מֵֽעִם־ גָּ֗ר הַֽנִּשְׁכָּחִ֥ים מִנִּי־ רָ֑גֶל דַּ֖לּוּ מֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁ נָֽעוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
פָּ֤רַץδιακοπὴנַ֨חַל׀ξειμάρρουמֵֽעִם־ἀπὸגָּ֗רκονίαςהַֽנִּשְׁכָּחִ֥יםοἱמִנִּי־ὁδὸνרָ֑גֶלδικαίανדַּ֖לּוּἠσθένησανמֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁβροτῶν

9 of the 10 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 28:4פָּרַץhe breaks ohe breaks openפָּרַץנַ֫חַלa shafta shaftנַ֫חַלעִםaway from waway from withעִםגּוּרa sojournera sojournerגּוּרשָׁכַחforgottenforgottenשָׁכַחמִן־fromfromמִן־רֶ֫גֶלfootfootרֶ֫גֶלדָּלַלthey hang dthey hang downדָּלַלאֱנוֹשׁaway from haway from humanאֱנוֹשׁנוּעַthey swingthey swingנוּעַנָחַלto inheritto inheritנָחַלעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםרָגַלto spyto spyרָגַלאָנַשׁbe incurabbe incurableאָנַשׁמֵןstringstringמֵןדָּלָהto draw (uto draw (up/outדָּלָהגָּדֵרwallwallגָּדֵרפֶּ֫רֶץbreachbreachפֶּ֫רֶץקִדְרוֹןKidronKidronקִדְרוֹןאָרְנוֹןArnonArnonאָרְנוֹןשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרגֵּרsojournersojournerגֵּרתָּ֫וֶךְmidstmidstתָּ֫וֶךְנֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרבֹּ֫הֶןthumb/big thumb/big toeבֹּ֫הֶן
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 28:4

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 breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
פָּ֤רַץPa.ratz he breaks open H6555 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To break through means to burst out or force one's way, like when a baby is born or a wall is broken down. This word is used in many situations, like when God breaks through to help someone or when a crowd breaks out in violence.
Amplified meaning
breaks through, digs
Tyndale gloss
to break through
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּרַץ (parats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to break through or burst out, with applications that range from literal actions like breaking open to figurative uses such as increasing or spreading. It can describe violent actions, breaches, or the act of breaking away. The entries suggest a variety of contexts, including mining and the dispersion of visions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּרַץ vb. break through

Qal

break or burst out

break through, down (from without)

break into

break open, a mining shaft

break up, break in pieces

break out (violently) upon

use violence

break over [limits], increase

burst open, intrans., of wine vats

spread, i.e. become known

Niph. no vision spread abroad

Hithp. slaves who break away

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6555 פָּרַץ break through .. break or burst out

. break through, down (from without)

. break into

. break open, a mining shaft

. break up, break in pieces

. break out (violently) upon

. use violence

. break over [limits], increase

. burst open, intrans., of wine vats

. spread, i.e. become known

. no vision spread abroad

. slaves who break away

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6555 parats paw-rats'

a primitive root; to break out (in many applications, direct

and indirect, literal and figurative):--X abroad, (make a)

breach, break (away, down, -er, forth, in, up), burst out,

come (spread) abroad, compel, disperse, grow, increase, open,

press, scatter, urge.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַץ (pa.rats) — to break through.

1) to break through or down or over, burst, breach

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to break or burst out (from womb or enclosure)

1a2) to break through or down, make a breach in

1a3) to break into

1a4) to break open

1a5) to break up, break in pieces

1a6) to break out (violently) upon

1a7) to break over (limits), increase

1a8) to use violence

1a9) to burst open 1a10) to spread, distribute

1b) (Niphal) to be broken through

1c) (Pual) to be broken down

1d) (Hithpael) to break away

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Nu 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Ps 119:18; Jer 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A peculiar word, trachelizomai (literally, to have the neck bent back, to be laid bare), is used for "laid open" before God in Heb 4:13.

he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
נַ֨חַל׀Na.chal a shaft H5158 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a brook or stream, often referring to a small river or valley, is used in the Bible to describe natural landscapes, such as the Brook Kidron in 2 Samuel 15:23. It can also refer to a narrow valley or a shaft of a mine, emphasizing the idea of a flowing body of water.
Amplified meaning
mine, tunnel
Tyndale gloss
Brook
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נַ֫חַל (*nachal*) primarily refers to a torrent or stream, often associated with a valley or wadi where water flows, particularly in winter. It can also denote a shaft of a mine. Additionally, the term may relate to palm trees in certain contexts. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, including references in Psalms and Ezekiel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נַ֫חַל n.m. torrent, torrent-valley, wady

base

[נַ֫חַל] n.[m.] perh. palm-tree;—only pl. abs., Nu 24:6

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5158a נַ֫חַל torrent, torrent-valley, wady H5158b נַ֫חַל perh. palm-tree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5158 nachal nakh'-al

or (feminine) nachlah (Psalm 124:4) {nakh'-law}; or nachalah

(Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) {nakh-al-aw'}; from 5157 in its

original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by

implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a

shaft (of a mine):--brook, flood, river, stream, valley.

see HEBREW for 05157

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — torrent: river.

: river/bed

1) torrent, valley, wadi, torrent-valley

1a) torrent

1b) torrent-valley, wadi (as stream bed)

1c) shaft (of mine)

Also means: na.chal (נַ֫חַל ": valley" H5158N)

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — palm-tree.

palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Eshcol) Valley.

Combined with esh.kol (אֶשְׁכֹּל " of Eshcol" H0812H)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Shittim) Valley.

Combined with shit.tim (שִׁטִּים " of Shittim" H7851H)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — (Sorek) Valley.

Combined with s.vo.req (שֹׂרֵק " of Sorek" H7796)

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

§ palm-tree

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

palm-tree

Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)

נַ֫חַל (na.chal) — Brook.

palm-tree

Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

shaft: Isa 49:2 for chets, "an arrow"; also Ex 25:31; 37:17; Nu 8:4 the King James Version for a part of the candlestick of the tabernacle somewhat vaguely designated by the word yarekh, "thigh." The context in the first 2 verses shows that the upright stem or "shaft" is intended, but in Nu 8:4 a different context has caused the Revised Version (British and American) to substitute "base."

See also ARCHERY; ARMOR, ARMS.

he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
מֵֽעִם־me.'im- away from with H5973 Preposition · preposition
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/R — Preposition · preposition
HR/R
he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
גָּ֗רGar a sojourner H1481 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
97× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to fear or dread something, like the fear of God. It implies a sense of awe or reverence, like the fear that the disciples felt during the storm on the lake in Matthew 8:24. It can also mean to be a stranger or sojourner in a place.
Amplified meaning
mortal, earthly
Tyndale gloss
to sojourn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גּוּר (gur) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings including to sojourn, abide, and seek hospitality, as well as to stir up strife or quarrel, and to dread or fear. It is built from a primitive root that conveys the idea of turning aside from a path, often for lodging. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both positive and negative interactions, such as hospitality and conflict.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גּוּר vb. sojourn

Qal

sojourn

abide

Hithpol. seek hospitality with

base

[גּוּר] vb. stir up strife, quarrel

Qal.

stir up strife

quarrel

Hithpol. they excite themselves, but unlikely

base

[גּוּר] vb. dread

Qal

be afraid of

stand in awe of

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1481a גּוּר sojourn .. sojourn

. abide

. seek hospitality with

H1481b גּוּר stir up strife, quarrel H1481c גּוּר dread

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1481 guwr goor

a primitive root; properly, to turn aside from the road (for

a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest);

also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather

for hostility (as afraid):--abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell,

fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in

awe, (be) stranger, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גּוּר (gur) — to sojourn.

1) to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sojourn, dwell for a time

1a2) to abide, stay, temporarily dwell

1b) (Hithpolel)

1b1) to seek hospitality with

1b2) to assemble oneself

גּוּר (gur) — to quarrel.

1) to stir up trouble, strife, quarrel, gather together

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to stir up strife

1a2) to quarrel

1b) (Hithpolel) to excite oneself

גּוּר (gur) — to dread.

1) to dread, fear, stand in awe, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to be in awe, stand in awe

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

soj'-er-ner, so'-jur-ner, suj'-er-ner.

See STRANGER AND SOJOURNER.

he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
הַֽנִּשְׁכָּחִ֥יםha.nish.ka.Chim forgotten H7911 Particle · verb niphal participle (active) masculine plural
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Amplified meaning
areas, regions, overlooked, neglected
Tyndale gloss
to forget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget

Qal 86 forget

Niph. be forgotten

Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget

Hiph. to make my people forget my name

Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7911 שָׁכַח forget

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7911 shakach shaw-kakh'

or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,

i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X

at all, (cause to) forget.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.

1) to forget, ignore, wither

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to forget

1a2) to cease to care

1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten

1c) (Piel) to cause to forget

1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget

1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten

Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Niphal — Particle · verb niphal participle (active) masculine plural
HTd/VNrmpa
he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
מִנִּי־mi.ni- from H4480 Preposition
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
רָ֑גֶלRa.gel foot H7272 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a foot, like when God says he will tread on the wicked in Malachi 4:3. It's used to describe human and animal feet, as well as the base of objects like tables or idols.
Amplified meaning
step, path, mankind, humanity
Tyndale gloss
foot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot

foot

three times (feet, paces)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot

. three times (feet, paces)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7272 regel reh'-gel

from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a

step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X

according as, X after, X coming, X follow,

((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X

journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.

see HEBREW for 07270

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.

1) foot

1a) foot, leg

1b) of God (anthropomorphic)

1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table

1d) according to the pace of (with prep)

1e) three times (feet, paces)

Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)

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

foot (reghel, qarcol (only twice in parallel passages: 2Sa 22:37 = Ps 18:36, where it probably means ankle); pous): The dusty roads of Palestine and other eastern lands make a much greater care of the feet necessary than we are accustomed to bestow upon them. The absence of socks or stockings, the use of sandals and low shoes rather than boots and, to an even greater degree, the frequent habit of walking barefoot make it necessary to wash the feet repeatedly every day. This is always done when entering the house, especially the better upper rooms which are usually carpeted. It is a common dictate of good manners to perform this duty to a visitor, either personally or through a servant; at least water for washing has to be presented (

The expressions in De 32:35, "their foot shall slide in due time," and in the traveler’s song, Ps 121:3, "he will not suffer thy foot to be moved," Ps 66:9 Jer 13:16, have reference to the dangerous character of the narrow roads or paths of the East, over rocks and beside precipices where a sliding foot was often fatal. See also Isa 8:14 Lu 2:34. Nakedness of feet was a sign of mourning. God says to Ezekiel, "Make no mourning for the dead, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet," Eze 24:17. It was likewise a mark of…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Washing the feet of the disciples by Jesus Joh 13:4-6

→ By disciples 1Ti 5:10

→ See ABLUTIONS

→ See PURIFICATIONS

→ For footwear, see SHOE

→ FIGURATIVE Mt 18:8

he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
דַּ֖לּוּDa.lu they hang down H1809 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To languish means to feel weak or oppressed. It can describe something that is hanging low or being brought low. The word is used to convey a sense of distress or weakness.
Amplified meaning
hangs, swings
Tyndale gloss
to languish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּלַל (dalal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hang, be low, or languish. It conveys a sense of being slackened or feeble, often in a figurative context of distress or oppression. The word appears in various forms, including Qal and Niphal, indicating both active and passive states of being low or brought low.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָּלַל] vb. hang, be low, languish

Qal hang, ‘depend’

Niph. be brought low, laid low

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1809 [דָּלַל] hang, be low, languish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1809 dalal daw-lal'

a primitive root (compare 1802); to slacken or be feeble;

figuratively, to be oppressed:--bring low, dry up, be emptied,

be not equal, fail, be impoverished, be made thin.

see HEBREW for 01802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּלַל (da.lal) — to languish.

1) to hang, languish, hang down, be low

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hang low

1a2) to be low

1a3) of distress (fig.)

1a4) to languish, look weakly (of eyes)

1b) (Niphal) to be brought low, be laid low

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
מֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁme.'e.No.osh away from humankind 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
people, individuals
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
he breaks open a shaft away from with a sojourner forgotten from foot they hang down away from humankind they swing
נָֽעוּ׃Na.'u they swing H5128 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
40× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To shake means to move back and forth, like trembling with fear, as described in the book of Isaiah. It can also mean to be unstable or to wander, like the Israelites in the wilderness.
Amplified meaning
moves, oscillates
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נוּעַ (nuwa`) is a primitive root meaning to shake or waver, encompassing a wide range of actions such as quivering, trembling, and moving. It can describe both literal and figurative movements, including being tossed about or causing someone to wander. The entries highlight its various applications, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נוּעַ vb. quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter

Qal

wave

totter, go tottering

Niph. be tossed about

Hiph.

toss about

shake, cause to totter

(shake), disturb

cause to wander

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5128 נוּעַ quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5128 nuwa` noo'-ah

a primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of

applications, literally and figuratively (as

subjoined):--continually, fugitive, X make, to (go) up and

down, be gone away, (be) move(-able, -d), be promoted, reel,

remove, scatter, set, shake, sift, stagger, to and fro, be

vagabond, wag, (make) wander (up and down).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נוּעַ (nu.a) — to shake.

1) to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift, make move, wave, waver, tremble

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to wave, quiver, vibrate, swing, stagger, tremble, be unstable

1a2) to totter, go tottering

1a2a) vagabond (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be tossed about or around

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to toss about

1c2) to shake, cause to totter

1c3) to shake, disturb

1c4) to cause to wander

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
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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