Menu

Job 35:5 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהַבֵּ֣ט שָׁמַ֣יִם וּרְאֵ֑ה וְשׁ֥וּר שְׁ֝חָקִ֗ים גָּבְה֥וּ מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

BSALooknâbaṭ [gaze attentively, behold] to the heavensshâmayim [the visible universe, sky] and seerâʼâh [observe, regard carefully] gazeshûwr [to see, to behold] at the cloudsshachaq [thin vapor, lofty skies] highgâbahh [exalted, lofty] above youmin [from your position, in comparison to you]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 35
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (mi.Me.ka) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 35:5quick helps
In a sentenceJob urges the listener to look up to the heavens and observe the clouds above.
Who is speakingJob, responding to his friends.
Where we areThis verse is part of Job's discourse on God's greatness and human limitations.
The hard wordהַבֵּ֣ט
Take awayThe call to observe the heavens highlights God's transcendence.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָבַט 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 35:5

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 Response to His Friendsgenerated

4I will reply to you and to your friends as well.
5Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.
6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?
7If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?

Job 35:5 is part of Job's reply to his friends, emphasizing the vastness of God compared to human actions. Job encourages them to reflect on the heavens and clouds, illustrating the idea that human behavior cannot impact God in any meaningful way. This passage reveals Job's understanding of God's sovereignty and the limitations of human perspective.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 22:12Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
2Job 25:5–6If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight,
3Job 36:26–33Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
4Job 37:1–5“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.
51 Kings 8:27But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הַבֵּ֣ט, ha.Betgenerated

The verb נָבַט (nabat) is a Hiphil imperative, meaning to look or regard something carefully. It carries a sense of attentiveness, as if inviting the listener to focus intently on what is being observed. This word is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe God's attentive gaze upon His people, as seen in Psalm 138:6.

The choice of this verb underscores the importance of not just looking, but truly seeing and understanding the grandeur of the heavens, which serves as a reminder of God's majesty.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of a series of commands, with the main verb הַבֵּ֣ט (look) leading the call to action. It is followed by two additional verbs וּרְאֵ֑ה (and see) and וְשׁ֥וּר (and observe), creating a rhythmic structure that emphasizes the act of looking up.

The commands are directed towards the heavens and clouds, establishing a clear focus on the objects of observation, which enhances the overall message about God's greatness compared to human limitations.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הַבֵּ֣ט as ἀνάβλεψον (anablepson), which means 'look up' or 'gaze upward.' This choice reflects a similar emphasis on the act of looking attentively at the heavens.

The other words are matched closely, indicating a consistent interpretation of the original Hebrew text, while the Greek wording may suggest a more direct call to elevate one's gaze.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 35:5 tells us to look at the heavens and observe the clouds above us. Job is reminding his friends that God is greater than anything they can imagine, and our actions cannot change His nature.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'look to the heavens'?

Job is urging his friends to consider the vastness and majesty of God's creation, which serves as a reminder of God's greatness.

Why does Job mention the clouds?

The clouds symbolize the greatness and majesty of God, illustrating that His presence is exalted above human concerns.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Job?

This verse emphasizes the theme of God's sovereignty and the idea that human actions do not affect God's nature.

What can we learn from Job's perspective on God's greatness?

We can learn to recognize our limitations and the importance of humility in the face of God's vastness and power.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I cultivate a greater awareness of God's greatness in my life?
  2. What are some ways I can remind myself of my limitations compared to God's sovereignty?
  3. In what situations do I find it difficult to trust in God's plans?
  4. How can observing nature help me reflect on God's character and power?

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

Early commentators have reflected on this verse to illustrate the relationship between God and humanity, emphasizing the need for humility in recognizing God's greatness.

Origen of AlexandriaFRAGMENTS ON Job 24.11-12 c. 185–253
The one who looks at the heavens is not he who raises his physical eyes and observes the heavens. Indeed, also dogs and donkeys look at the heavens in this manner.
Early Church Fathers on Job 35 →
Julian of EclanumEXPOSITION ON THE BOOK OF Job 35:5 c. 386–455
The immensity itself of the unbounded separation [between God and humanity] can teach you that God may neither be offended by your evil actions, nor be benefited by your good deeds.
Early Church Fathers on Job 35 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXVI c. 540–604
Look unto the heaven, and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thou. If thou hast sinned, what wilt thou hurt Him? If thine iniquities have been multiplied, what wilt thou do against Him? If, moreover, thou hast acted justly,
Early Church Fathers on Job 35 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 35:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Look unto the heavens, and see,.... The firmament of heaven, in which are the sun and moon and stars: and behold the clouds [which] are higher than thou; the clouds of the air or sky, which are lower

Read John Gill on Job 35 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 35 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

How much more is God, who is far above all heavens, higher than thou! And therefore God is out of the reach of all profit or loss by thy actions. If thy goodness do not profit thee, it is certain it doth not profit him; and therefore doth not lay any obligation upon him to indulge or recompense thee for it, save only so far as he hath graciously obliged himself; and therefore thou canst not accuse him of injustice for afflicting thee, nor pretend that thou hast deserved better usage from him. And this infinite distance between God and thee should cause thee to think and speak more modestly and reverently of that glorious majesty.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 35 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 35:5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds [which] are higher than thou.Ver. 5. Look unto the heavens and see] Yea, look into them, if thou couldst, as did Stephen the proto-martyr, Acts 7:56, and as our Saviour Christ, as man, could do (say some) with his bodily eyes; and as a believer by the eye of his faith, through the perspective glass of the promises, may do, doubtless. The further we can look unto heaven (or into it) the better shall we conceive of that infinite distance that is between God in heaven and men on earth. God is far above the highest heavens, therefore higher than any mortal can attain to him, much less contribute anything unto him by his…

Read John Trapp on Job 35 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. Look unto the heavens] These heavens, and their host, God has created: the bare sight of them is sufficient to show thee that God is infinitely beyond thee in wisdom and excellence. Behold the clouds] שחקים shechakim, the ethers, (Vulgate, aethera,) from שחק shachak, to contend, fight together: the agitated or conflicting air and light; the strong agitation of these producing both light and heat. Look upon these, consider them deeply, and see and acknowledge the perfections of the Maker.

Read AdamClarke on Job 35 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5–8. The reply of Elihu to Job’s complaint. A glance at heaven, the infinitely exalted abode of God, must tell us that our conduct whether good or bad cannot affect Him. Our righteousness confers no profit on Him, neither does our wickedness entail any loss. It is men themselves that their conduct affects. It is in human life that the influence of righteousness or evil-doing is seen. And being so eternally unlike they cannot have the same effect. Elihu does not contemplate any one going so far as to maintain that godliness and unrighteousness do not differ in themselves. Job assumes and most strongly asserts their difference. He even rises to the sublime height of resolving to adhere to…

Read Cambridge on Job 35 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Look unto the heavens, and see - This is the commencement of the reply which Elihu makes to the sentiment which he had understood Job to advance, and which Eliphaz had proposed formerly to examine.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 35 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

b. God is self-sufficient in his infinite exaltation, and consequently cannot be benefited or injured by the moral acts of men: the consequences of our actions are confined to ourselves or our fellows.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 35 →

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

Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Look to the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Looke vnto the heauen, and see and behold the cloudes which are hyer then thou.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Look unto the heavens and see; and survey the skies: they are higher than thou.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Behold attentively the heavens — and see, And behold the clouds, They have been higher than thou.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Behold attentively the heavens—and see, || And behold the clouds, || They have been higher than you.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Look unto the heavens, and see; and gaze on the skies which are higher than thou.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Look up at the sky, and see it; see the sky, which is higher than you.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Look up to heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thee.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Just look up at the sky and see. Observe the clouds high above you.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let your eyes be turned to the heavens, and lifted up to see the skies; they are higher than you.

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.

clauseverbהַבֵּ֣טlook.atobjectשָׁמַ֣יִם[the].heavensוּandclauseverbרְאֵ֑הseeוְandclauseverbשׁ֥וּרobserveobjectשְׁ֝חָקִ֗ים[the].cloudsclauseverbגָּבְה֥וּthey.are.highprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּֽmoreךָּthan.you

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 agree closely in their wording, with six of the seven words matching directly. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this verse across different textual traditions.

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

הַבֵּ֣ט שָׁמַ֣יִם וּרְאֵ֑ה וְשׁ֥וּר שְׁ֝חָקִ֗ים גָּבְה֥וּ מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הַבֵּ֣טἀνάβλεψονשָׁמַ֣יִםοὐρανὸνוּרְאֵ֑הἰδέוְשׁ֥וּרκατάμαθεשְׁ֝חָקִ֗יםνέφηמִמֶּֽךָּ׃σοῦ

6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Job 35:5נָבַטlook atlook atנָבַטשָׁמַי[the] heave[the] heavensשָׁמַירָאָהand seeand seeרָאָהשׁוּרand observeand observeשׁוּרשַׁ֫חַק[the] cloud[the] cloudsשַׁ֫חַקגָּבַהּthey are hithey are highגָּבַהּמִן־more than ymore than youמִן־שָׁחַקto beatto beatשָׁחַקשׁוּרto travelto travelשׁוּרמֵןstringstringמֵןעָמָלtroubletroubleעָמָלשָׁמַיheavenheavenשָׁמַיעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףכּוֹכָבstarstarכּוֹכָבעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהאֵלgodgodאֵלרָעַףto dripto dripרָעַףנָזַלto flowto flowנָזַלנֶשֶׁרeagleeagleנֶשֶׁרקוֹמָהheightheightקוֹמָהרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַר
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 35:5

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.

look at [the] heavens and see and observe [the] clouds they are high more than you
הַבֵּ֣טha.Bet look at H5027 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singular
69× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to look or regard something carefully. It can also mean to show favor or care for someone. In the Bible, it is used to describe how God looks at his people with favor and care, as seen in Psalm 138:6.
Amplified meaning
gaze attentively, behold
Tyndale gloss
to look
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָבַט (nabat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to look or regard. It encompasses various nuances, such as looking intently, considering, and showing favor or care. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, specifically the Piel and Hiphil stems, which emphasize the act of looking or regarding. No significant disagreements among lexicons are noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָבַט] vb. Pi., Hiph. look

Pi. look

Hiph. look

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5027 נָבַט look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5027 nabat naw-bat'

a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by

implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care:--(cause

to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָבַט (na.vat) — to look.

1) to look, regard

1a) (Piel) to look

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) tolook

1b2) to regard, show regard to, pay attention to, consider

1b3) to look upon, regard, show regard to

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singular
HVhv2ms
look at [the] heavens and see and observe [the] clouds they are high more than you
שָׁמַ֣יִםsha.Ma.yim [the] heavens H8064 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
421× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Amplified meaning
the visible universe, sky
Tyndale gloss
heaven
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַיִם (*shamayim*) is a dual noun meaning 'heavens' or 'sky.' It refers to the visible heavens where celestial bodies are found, as well as the abode of God. The dual form may suggest both the arch of the sky and the higher ether. It is noted in contexts such as Elijah's ascent in a whirlwind.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁמַי] n.m. only pl. שָׁמַיִם 421 heavens, sky

visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are

phrases

as abode of God

Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8064 שָׁמַי only pl. שָׁמַיִם heavens, sky . . visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are

. phrases

. . as abode of God

. Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

. הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim

dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused

root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps

alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well

as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies

revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) — heaven.

1) heaven, heavens, sky

1a) visible heavens, sky

1a1) as abode of the stars

1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc

1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)

Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens see ASTRONOMY; WORLD. Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Ps 11:4; 103:19-21; Isa 66:1; Re 4:2; 5:11; compare Da 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki 8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co 12:2).

See HEAVENLY.

look at [the] heavens and see and observe [the] clouds they are high more than you
וּרְאֵ֑הu.re.'Eh and see H7200 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
observe, regard carefully
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se: In addition to the ordinary sense of perceiving by the eye, we have

(1) chazah, "to see" (in vision): "Words of Amos .... which he saw concerning Israel" (Am 1:1). The revelation was made to his inward eye. "The word of Yahweh .... which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria" (Mic 1:1), describing what he saw in prophetic vision (compare Hab 1:1); see REVELATION, III, 4;

(2) horao, "to take heed": "See thou say nothing" (Mr 1:44);

(3) eidon, "to know," "to note with the mind": "Jesus saw that he answered discreetly" (Mr 12:34);

look at [the] heavens and see and observe [the] clouds they are high more than you
וְשׁ֥וּרve.Shur and observe H7789 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To see or observe something, like a spy watching from a distance, as in the story of Moses sending scouts to Canaan. It can also mean to care for or regard someone, showing concern for their well-being. This word is used in many biblical stories.
Amplified meaning
to see, to behold
Tyndale gloss
to see
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שׁוּר (shuwr) is a primitive root meaning to see or observe. It encompasses a range of actions from simply seeing and regarding to more active forms like spying or lying in wait. The entries suggest a dual focus on both positive observation and negative lurking. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שׁוּר] vb. behold, regard

behold

regard with watchful care

watch stealthily, lie in wait

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7789 שׁוּר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7789 shuwr shoor

a primitive root (identical with 7788 through the idea of

going round for inspection); to spy out, i.e. (generally)

survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for:--behold,

lay wait, look, observe, perceive, regard, see.

see HEBREW for 07788

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּר (shur) — to see.

1) to see, behold, observe, regard

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to behold, observe

1a2) to regard

1a3) to watch, watch (stealthily), lie in wait

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ob-zurv' (representing various words, but chiefly shamar, "to keep," "to watch" etc.): Properly means "to take heed to," as in Isa 42:20, "Thou seest many things, but thou observest not" and from this sense all the usages of the word in English Versions of the Bible can be understood. Most of them, indeed are quite good modern usage (as "observe a feast," Ex 12:17, etc.; "observe a law" Le 19:37, etc.), but a few are archaic. So Ge 37:11, the King James Version "His father observed the saying" (the Revised Version (British and American) "kept the saying in mind"); Ho 13:7, "As a leopard .... will I observe them" (the…

look at [the] heavens and see and observe [the] clouds they are high more than you
שְׁ֝חָקִ֗יםShe.cha.Kim [the] clouds H7834 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This noun refers to a cloud or a thin vapor in the sky, as in Psalm 36:5 where God's faithfulness reaches to the clouds. It can also mean the firmament or heaven, like in Genesis 1:20 where birds fly across the sky. The word appears about 20 times in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
thin vapor, lofty skies
Tyndale gloss
cloud
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׁ֫חַק (shachaq) refers to fine dust or a thin cloud. It is derived from a root meaning to beat small, and its range includes both physical dust and vaporous clouds, extending to concepts of the firmament or sky. The entries consistently emphasize its qualities of fineness and thinness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁ֫חַק n.m. dust, cloud (as fine, thin)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7834 שַׁ֫חַק dust, cloud (as fine, thin)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7834 shachaq shakh'-ak

from 7833; a powder (as beaten small): by analogy, a thin

vapor; by extension, the firmament:--cloud, small dust,

heaven, sky.

see HEBREW for 07833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁ֫חַק (sha.chaq) — cloud.

1) dust, cloud

1a) fine dust

1b) (thin) cloud

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the summer season of Palestine, were an unlooked-for phenomenon, 1Sa 12:17,18, and rising from off the Mediterranean, betokened rain, 1Ki 18:44 Lu 12:54. Clouds are the symbol of armies and multitudes, probably by their grand and majestic movements, Isa 60:8 Jer 4:13 Heb 12:1. They betokened the presence of Jehovah, as on mount Sinai,

Ex 19:9 24:12-18; in the temple, Ex 40:34 1Ki 8:10; in the cloudy…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Formed from the sea

1Ki 18:44; Am 9:6

- Are garment of the sea

Job 38:9

- GOD

. Established

Pr 8:28

. Balanced in the air

Job 37:16

. Disposed in order

Job 37:15

. Brings over the earth

Ge 9:14

. Binds up

Job 26:8

. Spreads out

Job 26:9

. Scatters

Job 37:11

- Power and wisdom of God exhibited in forming

look at [the] heavens and see and observe [the] clouds they are high more than you
גָּבְה֥וּga.ve.Hu they are high H1361 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
34× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To exult means to feel proud or haughty, like being lofty or high, as described in Psalms where God's ways are lofty and good.
Amplified meaning
exalted, lofty
Tyndale gloss
to exult
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּבַהּ (gabahh) is a Hebrew root meaning to be high or exalted. It can refer to physical height or a figurative sense of arrogance and pride. The word appears in various forms, including Qal, indicating a state of being lofty, and Hiphil, which means to elevate or exalt. There is a distinction in connotation, as it can imply both positive exaltation and negative haughtiness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּבַהּ vb. be high, exalted

Qal

be high, lofty, tall

be exalted

lofty

Hiph. make high, exalt

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1361 גָּבַהּ be high, exalted

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1361 gabahh gaw-bah'

a primitive root; to soar, i.e. be lofty; figuratively, to be

haughty:--exalt, be haughty, be (make) high(-er), lift up,

mount up, be proud, raise up great height, upward.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּבַהּ (ga.vah) — to exult.

1) to be high, be exalted

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be high, lofty, tall

1a2) to be exalted

1a3) to be lofty

1a3a) to be lofty (of Jehovah's ways-good sense)

1a3b) to be haughty, be arrogant (bad sense)

1b) (Hiphil) to make high, exalt

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
look at [the] heavens and see and observe [the] clouds they are high more than you
מִמֶּֽךָּ׃mi.Me.ka more than you H4480 Preposition · suffix
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.
Amplified meaning
from your position, in comparison to you
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 | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate