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Job 36:26 — Word Study

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WLCהֶן־ אֵ֣ל שַׂ֭גִּיא וְלֹ֣א נֵדָ֑ע מִסְפַּ֖ר שָׁנָ֣יו וְלֹא־ חֵֽקֶר׃

BSAIndeedhên God [is]ʼêl [the supreme Being, Almighty] greatsaggîyʼ [mighty, powerful] beyondlôʼ our knowledgeyâdaʻ [understanding, comprehension] the numbermiçpâr [quantity, amount] of His yearsshâneh [time, eternity] is unsearchablelôʼ [cannot be found out, incomprehensible]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 36
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 26 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 (Che.ker) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 36:26quick helps
In a sentenceJob asserts the greatness of God, which surpasses human understanding and is beyond measure.
Who is speakingJob, reflecting on God's nature and attributes.
Where we areJob 36:26 is part of a discourse on God's majesty and the limits of human knowledge.
The hard wordחֵֽקֶר
Take awayGod's greatness is acknowledged, yet His essence remains beyond human comprehension.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאֵל verbיָדַע 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 36:26

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 — God's Greatness and Human Understandinggenerated

25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
27For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,
28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.

Job 36:26 highlights the profound nature of God, emphasizing that while He is indeed great and powerful, His essence and the extent of His existence are beyond human understanding. This verse is situated within a broader reflection on the majesty of God, as Job contemplates the limits of human knowledge in contrast to divine wisdom, similar to themes found in Psalm 145:3 and Job 37:5.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 37:5God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.
2Psalm 145:3Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.
3Job 11:7–9Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
4Job 26:14Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”
5Job 37:23The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֵל, 'elgenerated

The Hebrew word אֵל ('el) translates as 'God' and conveys the idea of strength or power. Its usage often refers to the one true God of Israel, emphasizing His might and supremacy over all creation.

In this verse, אֵל underscores the greatness of God, setting the stage for the subsequent assertion that His nature is beyond human knowledge. The parsing as a masculine singular noun indicates a singular focus on the divine.


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 main verb in this verse is נֵדָ֑ע, we know, which governs the clause about God's nature. The structure emphasizes the subject, God, and the predicates that describe His greatness and the limitations of human understanding.

The Hebrew word order places אֵל at the beginning, underscoring the focus on God as the subject of the statement about greatness and knowledge.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֵל as ἰσξυρὸς, meaning 'mighty' or 'strong.' This choice aligns with the emphasis on God's power and authority, while also reflecting a broader understanding of divinity in the Greek context.

The translation of שַׂגִּיא as πολύς, meaning 'many' or 'great,' further highlights the vastness of God's attributes, suggesting an expansive view of His greatness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 36:26 tells us that God is great and beyond our understanding. It emphasizes that while we may know some things about God, the full extent of His greatness and the number of His years are unsearchable.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God is beyond our knowledge?

It means that God's nature and existence surpass human understanding and comprehension, indicating that there are aspects of God that we cannot fully grasp.

Why is God's greatness emphasized in this verse?

God's greatness is emphasized to remind us of His supreme power and authority, which is far beyond human limitations.

What does the phrase 'the number of His years is unsearchable' imply?

It implies that God's existence is eternal and infinite, and we cannot quantify or fully comprehend the duration of His being.

How can we relate to a God who is beyond our knowledge?

We can relate to God through faith and trust, recognizing that while we may not understand everything about Him, we can still experience His presence and power in our lives.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's greatness in my life?
  2. How can I cultivate a deeper understanding of God's nature despite its limits?
  3. What does it mean for me personally that God's years are unsearchable?
  4. How can I express my awe of God's greatness in my daily life?

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

The early church father Gregory the Dialogist quotes this verse to illustrate God's greatness, emphasizing that it surpasses human knowledge.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXVII c. 540–604
Behold, God is great, surpassing our knowledge. The number of His years cannot be reckoned. He had said above, Behold, God is lofty. [ver. 22] He now says again, Behold, God is great.
Early Church Fathers on Job 36 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 36:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Behold, God [is] great,.... In his power and might, in his wisdom and knowledge, in his truth and faithfulness, in his love, grace, and mercy, and that to admiration; and it is worthy of notice and

Read John Gill on Job 36 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. God's greatness in heaven and earth: a reason why Job should bow under His afflicting hand.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 36 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

God is great; infinite in majesty, and power, and wisdom, and all perfections, and therefore just in all his ways. We know him not, to wit, perfectly. Though we see something of him in his works, as was now said, yet we see and know but little of him in comparison of that which is in him. He is incomprehensibly great in his essence and in his works, and therefore be not so rash, O Job, as to censure those ways of God which thou canst not fully understand. He is from everlasting to everlasting, eternal, as in his being, so in all his counsels; which therefore must be infinitely wise, and above the comprehension of short-lived men.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 36 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 36:26 Behold, God [is] great, and we know [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.Ver. 26. Behold, God is great] Yea, he is maximus in minimis, greatest and most of all seen in the meanest creatures; as in ants more than in elephants, &c. God showeth in his works of all sorts, se aliquantum esse; sed quantus sit rursus operibus involvit; that he is very great, but how great he is that appears not (Brent.). Neither can the number of his years be searched out] How should they say, when as his countenance is beyond all count, Psalms 102:24; Psalms 102:27. Years are here ascribed unto him, and he is elsewhere called "Ancient of days," Daniel 7:9, and the hairs of his…

Read John Trapp on Job 36 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 26. God is great] He is omnipotent. We know him not] He is unsearchable. Neither can the number of his years be searched out.] He is eternal. These three propositions are an ample foundation for endless disquisition. As to paraphrase and comment, they need none in this place; they are too profound, comprehensive, and sublime.

Read AdamClarke on Job 36 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Chap. Job 36:26-33. The greatness and unsearchableness of God, seen in His marvellous operations in the skies; and exhortation to Job to allow these wonders duly to impress him, and to bow beneath the greatness of God, who surpasses all comprehension The passage has two sections: First, ch. Job 36:26 to Job 37:13, the incomprehensible greatness of God, seen in the phenomena of the atmosphere: in the formation of the rain-drops (ch. Job 36:26-28); in the thunder-storm (ch. Job 36:29 to Job 37:5); in snow and ice, which seals up the hand of man and makes him powerless before the mighty power of God (Job 36:6-10); in His lading the cloud with moisture, and guiding it to the fulfilment of His…

Read Cambridge on Job 36 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Behold, God is great, and we know him not - That is, we cannot fully comprehend him; see the notes at Job 11:7-9. Neither can the number of his years be searched out - That is, he is eternal.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 36 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

Strophe b — The infinitely exalted and eternal God displays his beneficence in the subtle elaboration of rain, a work which blends together wisdom and power, providence and love, and which can be

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 36 →

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

Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“Yes, God is great – beyond our knowledge! The number of his years is unsearchable.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Beholde, God is excellent, and we knowe him not, neither can the nomber of his yeres bee searched out.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Lo, God is great, and we comprehend [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Lo, God [is] high, And we know not the number of His years, Yea, there [is] no searching.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Behold, God [is] high, || And we do not know the number of His years, || Indeed, there [is] no searching.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Behold, God is great, and we comprehend him not, the number of his years can truly not be searched out.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

See, God is great, but we do not understand him well; the number of his years is incalculable.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Behold, God is great, exceeding our knowledge: the number of his years is inestimable.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

See how great God is—more than we can understand! No one can count his years.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Truly, God is great, greater than all our knowledge; the number of his years may not be searched out.

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.

clauseclauseהֶןthere!clauseclausesubjectאֵ֣לGodpredicateשַׂ֭גִּיא[is].exaltedוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbנֵדָ֑עwe.know.[him]noun phrase · objectמִסְפַּ֖רthe.numbernoun phraseשָׁנָ֣יhis.yearsוhisוְandclausepredicateלֹאnotsubjectחֵֽקֶרsearching

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with the Septuagint providing a Greek rendering that captures the essence of the Hebrew text. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration in the text, but the key elements align with the Masoretic Text.

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

הֶן־ אֵ֣ל שַׂ֭גִּיא וְלֹ֣א נֵדָ֑ע מִסְפַּ֖ר שָׁנָ֣יו וְלֹא־ חֵֽקֶר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הֶן־ἰδοὺאֵ֣לἰσξυρὸςשַׂ֭גִּיאπολύςוְלֹ֣אοὐנֵדָ֑עγνωσόμεθαמִסְפַּ֖רἀριθμὸςשָׁנָ֣יוαὐτοῦוְלֹא־καὶחֵֽקֶר׃ἀπέραντος

9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q99a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[הן] אל שגיא ולוא נידע [מספר] [שני׳ו] [ולא] [חקר]

2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.

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 36:26הֵןthere!there!הֵןאֵלGodGodאֵלשַׂגִּיא[is] exalte[is] exaltedשַׂגִּיאלֹאand notand notלֹאיָדַעwe know [hiwe know [him]יָדַעמִסְפָּר[the] numbe[the] number ofמִסְפָּרשָׁנָהyears hisyears hisשָׁנָהלֹאand notand notלֹאחֵ֫קֶרinquiryinquiryחֵ֫קֶראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלשָׂגָאto grow grto grow greatשָׂגָאסָפַרto recountto recountסָפַרשָׁנָהto changeto changeשָׁנָהחָקַרto searchto searchחָקַריָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדעֶשְׂרִיםtwentytwentyעֶשְׂרִיםיָפֶהbeautifulbeautifulיָפֶהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/GodיהוהקַנָּאjealousjealousקַנָּאשַׁדַּיAlmightyAlmightyשַׁדַּיאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןפַּרbullockbullockפַּרמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְפָּלָאto wonderto wonderפָּלָאכָּבוֹדglorygloryכָּבוֹד
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 36:26

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.

there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
הֶן־hen- there! H2005 Particle
316× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An expression meaning look or behold, used to get someone's attention, like in the prophet Isaiah's writings. It can also express surprise or introduce a hypothetical situation.
Tyndale gloss
look!
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵן (hen) is a demonstrative adverb or interjection meaning 'lo!' or 'behold!'. It is primarily used to draw attention to a fact that prompts action or leads to a conclusion. The word can also express surprise and is less common than its counterpart הִנֵּה (hinneh). Additionally, it can function hypothetically as 'if'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵן 100 demonstr.adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2005 הֵן demonstr. adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2005 hen hane

a primitive particle; lo!; also (as expressing surprise)

if:--behold, if, lo, though.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵן (hen) — look!.

interj

1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part

2) if

Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTj
there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
אֵ֣ל'el God H410 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
241× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Amplified meaning
the supreme Being, Almighty
Tyndale gloss
god
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵל (*'el*) primarily means 'god' and conveys the idea of might or strength. It can refer to the one true God of Israel, as well as to other deities, angels, and mighty men. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including nature and power, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵל n.m. god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might

applied to men of might and rank

angels

gods of the nations

Ēl

as characterizing mighty things in nature

God, the one only and true God of Israel

אֵל strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H410 אֵל god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might . applied to men of might and rank

. angels

. gods of the nations

. Ēl

. as characterizing mighty things in nature

. God, the one only and true God of Israel

. אֵל strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

410 'el ale

shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty;

especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God

(god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong.

Compare names in "-el."

see HEBREW for 0352

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵל (el) — God.

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֵל (el) — El (Berith).

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Berith" (berith בְּרִית H1286)

אֵל (el) — El (Elohe).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "God" (elohim אֱלֹהִים H0430)

אֵל (el) — El (Most High).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Most High" (el.yon עֶלְיוֹן H5945B)

אֵל (el) — god.

: god

1) god, god-like one, mighty one

1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes

1b) angels

1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations)

1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah

2) mighty things in nature

3) strength, power

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

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
שַׂ֭גִּיאSa.gi' [is] exalted H7689 Adj
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means great or mighty, often used to describe God's power. It appears in the Bible to emphasize God's excellence. In the KJV, it's translated as excellent or great.
Amplified meaning
mighty, powerful
Tyndale gloss
great
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׂגִּיא (saggiy') means 'great' or 'mighty,' particularly in reference to God. It is derived from a root meaning 'to be great' and appears in Job 36:26. The term emphasizes excellence and greatness, with an Aramaic equivalent noted as well.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׂגִּיא adj. great;—of God, abs. Jb 36:26; cstr. 37:23.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7689 שַׂגִּיא

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7689 saggiy' sag-ghee'

from 7679; (superlatively) mighty:--excellent, great.

see HEBREW for 07679

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׂגִּיא (sag.gi) — great.

great (of God)

Aramaic equivalent: sag.gi (שַׂגִּיא "greatly" H7690)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
נֵדָ֑עne.Da' we know [him] H3045 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common plural
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
understanding, comprehension
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cp — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common plural
HVqi1cp
there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
מִסְפַּ֖רmis.Par [the] number of H4557 Noun common · masculine singular construct
134× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a number or quantity, whether large or small, and can also mean a narrative or story. It is used in many biblical contexts to describe counting or recounting events. In the Bible, it appears in passages about census and genealogy.
Amplified meaning
quantity, amount
Tyndale gloss
number
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְפָּר (mispar) means 'number' or 'tale.' It can refer to definite or indefinite quantities, ranging from large to small. The word also encompasses concepts of narration and recounting. The entries consistently highlight its numerical and narrative aspects without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְפָּר 133 n.m. number, tale

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4557 מִסְפָּר number, tale

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4557 micpar mis-pawr'

from 5608; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite

(large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly)

narration:--+ abundance, account, X all, X few, (in-)finite,

(certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, + time.

see HEBREW for 05608

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְפָּר (mis.par) — number.

1) number, tale

1a) number

1a1) number

1a2) innumerable (with negative)

1a3) few, numerable (alone)

1a4) by count, in number, according to number (with prep)

1b) recounting, relation

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…

there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
שָׁנָ֣יוsha.Nav years his H8141 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
877× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Amplified meaning
time, eternity
Tyndale gloss
year
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8141 shaneh shaw-neh'

(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year

(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,

year(X -ly).

see HEBREW for 08138

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.

1) year

1a) as division of time

1b) as measure of time

1c) as indication of age

1d) a lifetime (of years of life)

Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
וְלֹא־ve.lo'- and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
cannot be found out, incomprehensible
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! God [is] exalted and not we know [him] [the] number of years his and not inquiry
חֵֽקֶר׃Che.ker inquiry H2714 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a search or investigation, like trying to find something out. It is used in the Bible to describe examining or inquiring about something, and is often translated as search or finding out.
Tyndale gloss
search
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֵ֫קֶר (cheqer) refers to the act of searching or investigating, encompassing concepts like examination and enumeration. It is derived from the root word meaning to search out. The entries collectively highlight its use in contexts related to inquiry and discovery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֵ֫קֶר n.m. searching, thing (to be) searched out

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2714 חֵ֫קֶר searching, thing (to be) searched out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2714 cheqer khay'-ker

from 2713; examination, enumeration, deliberation:--finding

out, number, (un-)search(-able, -ed, out, -ing).

see HEBREW for 02713

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֵ֫קֶר (che.qer) — search.

a search, investigation, searching, enquiry, thing to be searched out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
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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