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Job 34:11 — Word Study

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WLCכִּ֤י פֹ֣עַל אָ֭דָם יְשַׁלֶּם־ ל֑וֹ וּֽכְאֹ֥רַח אִ֝֗ישׁ יַמְצִאֶֽנּוּ׃

BSAForkîy [because of this reason] according to a man’s deedspôʻal [the individual, Adam, work, actions, or accomplishments] He repaysshâlam [rewards, settles accounts with] according to a man’sʼîysh [his] waysʼôrach [path, journey, or conduct] He brings consequencesmâtsâʼ [causes to happen, renders, results, punishment, or reward]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 34
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 (yam.tzi.'E.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 34:11quick helps
In a sentenceJob states that God repays individuals based on their actions and paths.
Who is speakingJob, addressing those with understanding.
Where we areIn the context of God's justice and righteousness.
The hard wordיְשַׁלֶּם
Take awayGod's justice is directly linked to human actions.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁלֵם 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 34:11

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

10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?

Job 34:11 emphasizes the principle that God responds to human behavior with appropriate consequences. Job argues that God's actions are just, reinforcing the idea that individuals are accountable for their deeds and paths. This reflects a broader theme in the book of Job, where the nature of divine justice is explored in the context of human suffering and righteousness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 33:26He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.
2Psalm 62:12and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.
3Proverbs 24:12If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
4Jeremiah 32:19the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.
5Ezekiel 33:17–20Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְשַׁלֶּם, ye.sha.lem-generated

The verb שָׁלֵם (shalam) means 'to repay' or 'to make complete.' It conveys the idea of recompense, suggesting that God rewards or punishes individuals based on their actions. The parsing indicates it is in the Piel stem, which often emphasizes the intensity of the action, here implying a direct response to human deeds.

This word also carries connotations of peace and restoration, indicating that God's repayment is not merely transactional but also relational, aiming to restore balance and justice.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses repays for יְשַׁלֶּם.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יְשַׁלֶּם governs the main clause, indicating that God actively repays individuals based on their deeds. The structure includes two prepositional phrases that clarify the basis of God's repayment: one concerning deeds and the other concerning ways.

The sentence is built around this central verb, with the phrases elaborating on the nature of human actions and their consequences, emphasizing the direct correlation between behavior and divine response.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, יְשַׁלֶּם is rendered with the Greek word ἀποδίδωμι, which means 'to give back' or 'to render.' This choice suggests a strong emphasis on the idea of returning or recompensing based on actions, aligning closely with the Hebrew intent.

The Septuagint's translation reflects a similar understanding of divine justice, reinforcing the concept that God responds to human behavior with appropriate consequences.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 34:11 states that God repays individuals according to their deeds and ways. This means that what people do and how they live will determine the consequences they face from God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God repays according to deeds?

It means that God responds to the actions of individuals, rewarding or punishing them based on their behavior.

How does this verse relate to the concept of justice?

This verse illustrates the principle of divine justice, where God ensures that individuals receive consequences that align with their actions.

What are examples of deeds that might be repaid?

Deeds can include acts of kindness, honesty, or wrongdoing, all of which can lead to corresponding rewards or consequences from God.

Why is it important to consider our ways?

Considering our ways is crucial because they reflect our choices and character, which ultimately influence the consequences we face from God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I see the principle of reaping what I sow in my own life?
  2. What are some actions I can take to ensure that my deeds align with a righteous path?
  3. In what ways can I reflect on my conduct to better understand the consequences I may face?
  4. How can I encourage others to consider their actions in light of divine justice?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 34:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For the work of a man will he render unto him,.... The reward of his work, as Ben Gersom interprets it, whether the work of a wicked man or of a good man: and cause every man to find according to [his] ways.

Read John Gill on Job 34 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. Partly here; fully hereafter (Jeremiah 32:19; Romans 2:6; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 22:12).

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 34 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The work, i.e. the reward of his work, or according to his work. Job’ s afflictions, though great and sharp, are not undeserved, but justly inflicted upon him, both for his original corruption, and for many actual transgressions, which are manifest to God, though Job, through his partiality, may not see them. And Job’ s piety shall be recompensed, it may be, in this life, but undoubtedly in the next. And therefore piety is not unprofitable, as Job saith.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 34 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 34:11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways.Ver. 11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him] This is both his covenant and his custom; so far is he from doing wrong to any, that every man shall be sure to reap as he sows, to drink as he brews, to receive according to that he hath done in the flesh, whether good or evil, 2 Corinthians 5:10. And albeit this is not done forthwith, yet we may write upon it, and reckon that nondum onmium dierum soles occiderunt; as sure as the night followeth the day, a day of account will come, and God will render unto each man reward or punishment according to his works. And cause every…

Read John Trapp on Job 34 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. For the work of a man shall he render] God ever will do justice; the righteous shall never be forsaken, nor shall the wicked ultimately prosper.

Read AdamClarke on Job 34 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10–19. This charge of injustice Elihu rebuts, first, on the general ground of its impiety: God cannot be thought of as acting in the way Job asserted—He rewardeth every man according to his works (Job 34:10-12); and second, he then resolves the general idea into two distinct thoughts, Job 34:13-15, and Job 34:16-19.

Read Cambridge on Job 34 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the work of a man shall he render unto him - He shall treat each man as he deserves - and this is the essence of justice. Of the truth of this, also, there could have been no question.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 34 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

11. The work of a man — ôòì. The same as in Job 7:2, (which see,) and, like the Sanscrit karman, involves the ideas of deed and desert.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 34 →

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

For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For the work of a man he will give to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For the work of a man he shall render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For he will render vnto man according to his worke, and cause euery one to finde according to his way.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For He repays the work of man to him, || And according to the path of each He causes him to find.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For the work of a son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For he pays back a person's work; he makes every man come upon the reward of his own ways.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For he will render to a man his work, and according to the ways of every one he will reward them.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For he gives to every man the reward of his work, and sees that he gets the fruit of 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.

כִּ֤י(dm)clausenoun phrase · objectפֹ֣עַל[the].workאָ֭דָםof.a.personverbיְשַׁלֶּםhe.will.repayprepositional phrase · prepositionalל֑toוֹhimוּֽandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְaccordingnoun phraseאֹ֥רַחto.[the].wayאִ֝֗ישׁof.a.personverbיַמְצִאֶֽheobjectנּוּwill.make.him.find

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show agreement in the core message of the verse, although the Septuagint's wording differs in structure and order. The majority of words match up, indicating a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these traditions.

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

כִּ֤י פֹ֣עַל אָ֭דָם יְשַׁלֶּם־ ל֑וֹ וּֽכְאֹ֥רַח אִ֝֗ישׁ יַמְצִאֶֽנּוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּ֤יἀλλὰאָ֭דָםἀνθρώπῳל֑וֹαὐτῶνוּֽכְאֹ֥רַחτρίβῳאִ֝֗ישׁἀνδρὸςיַמְצִאֶֽנּוּ׃αὐτόν

6 of the 8 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 34:11כִּיforforכִּיפֹּ֫עַל[the] work [the] work ofפֹּ֫עַלאָדָםa persona personאָדָםשָׁלֵםhe will rephe will repayשָׁלֵםוֹto himto himוֹאֹ֫רַחand accordiand according tאֹ֫רַחאִישׁa persona personאִישׁמָצָאhe will makhe will make fiמָצָאפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלאָדֹםto reddento reddenאָדֹםאָרַחto journeyto journeyאָרַחאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעזַךְpurepureזַךְשָׁלֵםto completto completeשָׁלֵםדְּמוּתlikenesslikenessדְּמוּתבְּהֵמָהanimalanimalבְּהֵמָהנֶ֫דֶרvowvowנֶ֫דֶריָשַׁרto smoothto smoothיָשַׁררֶ֫גֶלfootfootרֶ֫גֶלרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַחֵןfavorfavorחֵןבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁ
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 34:11

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.

for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
כִּ֤יki for 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'.
Amplified meaning
because of this reason
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
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
פֹ֣עַלFo.'al [the] work of H6467 Noun common · masculine singular construct
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A work or deed is what this word refers to, describing something that has been done or made. It can also mean wages or the result of an action.
Amplified meaning
the individual, Adam, work, actions, or accomplishments
Tyndale gloss
work
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֹּ֫עַל (po'al) refers to an act or work, encompassing meanings like deed, thing done, and wages of work. It is noted as poetic and late in usage. The word is built from the root associated with action, and it can also imply acquisition, particularly of treasures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֹּ֫עַל 37 n.m. doing, deed, work (poet. and late)

deed, thing done

work, thing made

wages of work

acquisition of treasures

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6467 פֹּ֫עַל doing, deed, work (poet. and late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6467 po`al po'-al

from 6466; an act or work (concretely):--act, deed, do,

getting, maker, work.

see HEBREW for 06466

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֹּ֫עַל (po.al) — work.

1) work, deed, doing

1a) deed, thing done

1b) work, thing made

1c) wages of work

1d) acquisition (of treasure)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
אָ֭דָם'A.dom a person H120 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
551× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.
Tyndale gloss
the man (Adam)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָדָם (adam) refers to 'man' or 'mankind,' encompassing both individual humans and the species as a whole. It is also the name of the first man in the Bible, Adam, who is mentioned in various verses, including Genesis 2:19. The term can denote a city in the Jordan valley as well. The entries indicate a range of meanings, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָדָם 560 n.m. Gn 1:27 man, mankind

a man = human being

coll. man, mankind

n.pr.m. Adam, first man (without art.)

n.pr.loc. city in Jordan valley (as built?)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H120 אָדָם man, mankind . a man = human being

. coll. man, mankind

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

120 'adam aw-dawm'

from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the

species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common

sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.

see HEBREW for 0119

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָדָם (a.dam) — man.

1) man, mankind

1a) man, human being

1b) man, mankind (much more frequently intended sense in OT)

1c) Adam, first man

1d) city in Jordan valley

אָדָם (a.dam) — the man (Adam).

The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19;

married to Eve (H2332);

father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33;

Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121)

man, human being

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
יְשַׁלֶּם־ye.sha.lem- he will repay H7999 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
116× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to be at peace or to make peace with someone. It is used in the Bible to describe a state of safety or friendship. In the KJV, it is translated as 'make amends' or 'be at peace'.
Amplified meaning
rewards, settles accounts with
Tyndale gloss
to complete
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלֵם (shalam) is a Hebrew root meaning to be complete or sound, covering a range of meanings from finishing or restoring to making peace. It can refer to being uninjured, completing a task, or making recompense. The verb also has a denominative form indicating a covenant of peace, suggesting relationships of harmony and safety.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁלֵם] 103 vb. be complete, sound

Qal

be complete, finished, ended

be sound, uninjured

Pi.

complete, finish, temple

make safe

make whole or good, restore

make good, i.e. pay, vows

requite, recompense, reward

Pu.

be performed, of vow

be repaid, requited

Hiph.

complete, perform

make an end of

base

[שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace

Qal be at peace

Pu. Pt. one in covt. of peace

Hiph.

make peace with

cause to be at peace

Hoph. live at peace with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7999a שָׁלֵם be complete, sound .. be complete, finished, ended

. be sound, uninjured

. . complete, finish, temple

. make safe

. make whole or good, restore

. make good, i.e. pay, vows

. requite, recompense, reward

. . be performed, of vow

. be repaid, requited

. . complete, perform

. make an end of

H7999b [שָׁלַם] vb. denom. be in covenant of peace .be at peace

. Pt. one in covt. of peace

. . make peace with

. cause to be at peace

. live at peace with

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7999 shalam shaw-lam'

a primitive root; to be safe (in mind, body or estate);

figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by

implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in

various applications):--make amends, (make an) end, finish,

full, give again, make good, (re-)pay (again), (make) (to) (be

at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make)

prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution,

restore, reward, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלֵם (sa.lem) — to complete.

1) to be complete, be sound

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be complete, be finished, be ended

1a2) to be sound, be uninjured

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to complete, finish

1b2) to make safe

1b3) to make whole or good, restore, make compensation

1b4) to make good, pay

1b5) to requite, recompense, reward

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be performed

1c2) to be repaid, be requited

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to complete, perform

1d2) to make an end of

Aramaic equivalent: she.lam (שְׁלֵם "be complete" H8000)

שָׁלַם (sha.lam) — to ally.

1) to be in a covenant of peace, be at peace

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be at peace

1a2) peaceful one (participle)

1b) (Pual) one in covenant of peace (participle)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make peace with

1c2) to cause to be at peace

1d) (Hophal) to live in peace

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVpi3ms
for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
ל֑וֹlo 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
for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
וּֽכְאֹ֥רַחu.khe.'O.rach and according to [the] way of H734 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A way or path, describing a road or journey, whether physical or metaphorical. This term is used to talk about travel, direction, and life's journey, often in wisdom literature and prophetic writings. It is found in books like Proverbs and Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
path, journey, or conduct
Tyndale gloss
way
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹ֫רַח (orach) means 'way' or 'path,' and can refer to both literal and figurative routes in life, including one's manner of living or character. It also denotes a traveler or wayfarer. The word is derived from a root meaning a well-trodden road, and it encompasses various aspects of life’s journey.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫רַח n.m. way, path

lit.

fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life

fig. way, of mode of living, or character

by meton. traveller, wayfarer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H734 אֹ֫רַח way, path . lit.

. fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life

. fig. way, of mode of living, or character

. by meton. traveller, wayfarer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

734 'orach o'-rakh

from 732; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively);

also a caravan:--manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop,

(by-, high-)way.

see HEBREW for 0732

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫רַח (o.rach) — way.

1) way, path

1a) path, road

1b) the path, way, passing of life (fig.)

1c) way of living (fig.)

1d) traveller, wayfarer (meton)

Aramaic equivalent: o.rach (אֹ֫רַח "way" H0735)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-cs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/R/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
אִ֝֗ישׁ'Ish a person H376 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Amplified meaning
his
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for [the] work of a person he will repay to him and according to [the] way of a person he will make find him
יַמְצִאֶֽנּוּ׃yam.tzi.'E.nu he will make find him H4672 Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
455× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
causes to happen, renders, results, punishment, or reward
Tyndale gloss
to find
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find

Qal

find

find out

= come upon, light upon

noteworthy phrases

Niph. pass. of Qal, be found

Hiph.

cause to find, attain

cause to light upon, come upon, come

cause to encounter

present unto

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4672 מָצָא attain to, find

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'

a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or

exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;

figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,

befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to

hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,

out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,

light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,

ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.

1) to find, attain to

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to find

1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)

1a1b) to find (what is lost)

1a1c) to meet, encounter

1a1d) to find (a condition)

1a1e) to learn, devise

1a2) to find out

1a2a) to find out

1a2b) to detect

1a2c) to guess

1a3) to come upon, light upon

1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with

1a3b) to hit

1a3c) to befall

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be found

1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered

1b1b) to appear, be recognised

1b1c) to be discovered, be detected

1b1d) to be gained, be secured

1b2) to be, be found

1b2a) to be found in

1b2b) to be in the possession of

1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be

1b2d) to be left (after war)

1b2e) to be present

1b2f) to prove to be

1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to find, attain

1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come

1c3) to cause to encounter

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVhi3ms/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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