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Joshua 17:13 — Word Study

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WLCוַֽיְהִ֗י כִּ֤י חָֽזְקוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ אֶת־ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י לָמַ֑ס וְהוֹרֵ֖שׁ לֹ֥א הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ ס

BSAHoweverhâyâh whenkîy the Israelitesbên [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] grew strongerchâzaq [were waxed strong, became more powerful] they putnâthan the CanaanitesKᵉnaʻanîy [Canaanitess, people of the land of Canaan] to forced labormaç [tribute, taskwork] but they failedlôʼ [did not utterly drive them out, were not able to expel them completely] to drive them outyârash completelyyârash [to possess, to take control of the land]

Word
Listen & take awayJoshua 17
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (ho.ri.Sho) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Joshua 17:13quick helps
In a sentenceThe Israelites grew stronger and forced the Canaanites into labor, but they did not completely drive them out.
Who is speakingThe narrator recounts the actions of the Israelites.
Where we areThis verse is part of the narrative about the conquest of Canaan.
The hard wordלָמַ֑ס, la.Mas
Take awayThe Israelites exerted control but did not fully possess the land.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה 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 — Joshua 17:13

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

Context — The Conquest of Canaangenerated

12But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.
13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.
14Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”
15Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

Joshua 17:13 describes a time when the Israelites, having grown in strength, compelled the Canaanites to work for them. Despite their power, they failed to completely drive out the Canaanites from the land, illustrating the ongoing struggle for possession of Canaan. This narrative reflects the challenges faced by the Israelites as they sought to fulfill God's promise of land, as seen in earlier chapters of Joshua.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Judges 1:28When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.
22 Samuel 3:1Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
3Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
4Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
52 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חָֽזְקוּ֙, cha.ze.Kugenerated

The verb חָזַק (chazaq) means to strengthen or to become strong. It indicates a transition from weakness to strength, showing that the Israelites gained power over time.

In this context, the perfect tense indicates a completed action — the Israelites have become strong. This strength enables them to exert control over the Canaanites, yet it also highlights their incomplete conquest.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses grew stronger and failed to drive them out completely.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is יִּתְּנ֥וּ, and they made, which governs the actions described in the sentence. The structure includes a series of clauses that clarify what the Israelites did as they grew stronger.

The sentence begins with a temporal clause indicating when the actions occurred, followed by a main clause that details the actions taken against the Canaanites.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָֽזְקוּ֙ as κατίσξυσαν, which suggests a sense of overcoming or dominating. This choice emphasizes the strength of the Israelites in a way that aligns with the narrative of conquest.

The Greek word for לָמַ֑ס is ὑπηκόους, which carries the connotation of servitude, indicating that the Canaanites were made to serve the Israelites.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Joshua 17:13 tells us that as the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work for them. However, they did not manage to completely drive them out of the land. This shows the ongoing struggle for control of Canaan.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the Israelites put the Canaanites to forced labor?

It means the Israelites made the Canaanites work for them, likely as a form of tribute or servitude.

Why did the Israelites fail to drive out the Canaanites completely?

The text suggests that despite their growing strength, the Israelites were unable to fully conquer the Canaanites, which indicates ongoing challenges in their conquest.

What can we learn from the Israelites' struggle with the Canaanites?

This narrative illustrates the complexities of fulfilling God's promises, as the Israelites faced both victories and setbacks in their quest for the land.

How does this verse connect to the broader story of the Israelites in Canaan?

It highlights the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to settling in the land, emphasizing the challenges of establishing control and the importance of faithfulness to God's commands.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What areas in my life do I need to grow stronger to overcome challenges?
  2. How can I better understand the struggles faced by the Israelites in their conquest?
  3. In what ways can I apply the lessons of perseverance from this narrative to my own life?
  4. What does it mean to possess something fully, and how can I seek to do that in my own life?

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

The verse has been referenced by early church fathers to discuss themes of struggle and perseverance in faith.

Ephrem the SyrianON Genesis 7.4 c. 306–373
After Ham had been cursed through his one son, [Noah] blessed Shem and Japheth and said, “May God increase Japheth and may he dwell in the tent of Shem,
Early Church Fathers on Joshua 17 →

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Joshua 17:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxed strong,.... Increased in numbers, and became superior to the Canaanites, not only those of the tribe of Manasseh, but of the other tribes

Read John Gill on Joshua 17 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Joshua 17 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Which they were obliged to, now they were strong and numerous enough to possess those places.

Read Matthew Poole on Joshua 17 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Joshua 17:13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.Ver. 13. They did not utterly.] This was their covetousness; they kept them and squeezed them, as the Papists do at this day deal by the Jews that live amongst them.

Read John Trapp on Joshua 17 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. put the Canaanites to tribute] Comp. above, Joshua 16:10. They made them tributary servants, but could not drive them out.

Read Cambridge on Joshua 17 →

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

However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

When the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel had become strong, that they subjected the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly expel them.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Neuerthelesse, when the children of Israel were strong, they put the Canaanites vnder tribute, but cast them not out wholy.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And it came to pass when the children of Israel were become strong, that they made the Canaanites tributary; but they did not utterly dispossess them.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and it cometh to pass when the sons of Israel have been strong, that they put the Canaanite to tribute, and have not utterly dispossessed him.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and it comes to pass, when the sons of Israel have been strong, that they put the Canaanite to forced labor, and have not utterly dispossessed him.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were become strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but they did not drive them out.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

When the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not completely drive them out.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But after that the children of Israel were grown strong, they subdued the Chanaanites, and made them their tributaries, and they did not kill them.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

However, later on, when the Israelites grew strong enough, they made the Canaanites do forced labor—but they did not drive them out.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And when the children of Israel had become strong, they put the Canaanites to forced work, in place of driving them 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.

וַֽandclauseverbיְהִ֗יit.wasכִּ֤י(dm)clauseverbחָֽזְקוּ֙they.became.strongnoun phrase · subjectבְּנֵ֣יthe.peopleיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לof.Israelוַandclauseverbיִּתְּנ֥וּthey.madenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהַֽtheכְּנַעֲנִ֖יCanaanite[s]prepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ(into).forcedמַ֑סlaborוְandclauseadverbialהוֹרֵ֖שׁcompletely.(dispossess)adverbialלֹ֥אnotverbהוֹרִישֽׁheobjectוֹdispossessed.him

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 preserving the meaning of the original Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls, while partially restored, also align closely with the Masoretic Text, affirming the narrative as it stands.

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

וַֽיְהִ֗י כִּ֤י חָֽזְקוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ אֶת־ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י לָמַ֑ס וְהוֹרֵ֖שׁ לֹ֥א הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַֽיְהִ֗יἐγενήθηחָֽזְקוּ֙κατίσξυσανבְּנֵ֣יυἱοὶיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לισραηλוַיִּתְּנ֥וּἐποίησανהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖יξαναναίουςלָמַ֑סὑπηκόουςוְהוֹרֵ֖שׁἐχολεθρεῦσαιלֹ֥אοὐκהוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ סἐχωλέθρευσαν

10 of the 12 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 — 4Q48a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ויהי] כי חזקו בני ישראל ויתנו את הכנעני [למס] [והורש] [לא] הוריש׳הו

7 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 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.

Joshua 17:13הָיָהand it wasand it wasהָיָהכִּיthatthatכִּיחָזַקthey becamethey became strחָזַקבֵּן[the] peopl[the] people ofבֵּןיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלנָתַןand they maand they madeנָתַןאֵתthe object the object markאֵתכְּנַעֲנִיthe Canaanithe Canaanite[sכְּנַעֲנִימַסforced laboforced laborמַסיָרַשׁand certainand certainlyיָרַשׁלֹאnotnotלֹאיָרַשׁhe dispossehe dispossessedיָרַשׁבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהשָׂרָהto striveto striveשָׂרָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמָסַסto meltto meltמָסַסהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעבֶ֫דֶקbreachbreachבֶ֫דֶקאָמֵץto strengtto strengthenאָמֵץעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןשֵׁ֫בֶטtribetribeשֵׁ֫בֶטקָדוֹשׁholyholyקָדוֹשׁנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהזֶ֫רַעseedseedזֶ֫רַעמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁפְּרִזִּיPerizzitePerizziteפְּרִזִּי
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 Joshua 17:13

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.

and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
וַֽיְהִ֗יvay.Hi and it was H1961 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
כִּ֤יki that 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'.
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
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
חָֽזְקוּ֙cha.ze.Ku they became strong H2388 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
291× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To strengthen means to be strong or courageous, and can also mean to seize or conquer, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
were waxed strong, became more powerful
Tyndale gloss
to strengthen: strengthen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm, as well as to seize or hold fast. The word can be used in various forms, such as to strengthen oneself or to display strength. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָזַק 291 vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen

Qal

intrans. be or grow strong

transit. only strengthened him not

Pi.

make strong (physically)

strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage

make strong = bold, encourage

make firm

make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden

Hiph.

make strong, strengthen

make firm, the kingdom

display strength

make severe, of battle

support

= repair

prevail

esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp

Hithp.

strengthen oneself

put forth strength, use one's strength

withstand

hold strongly with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2388 חָזַק be or grow firm, strong, strengthen .. intrans. be or grow strong

. transit. only strengthened him not

. . make strong (physically)

. strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage

. make strong = bold, encourage

. make firm

. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden

. . . make strong, strengthen

. make firm, the kingdom

. display strength

. make severe, of battle

. support

. = repair

. prevail

. esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp

. . strengthen oneself

. put forth strength, use one's strength

. withstand

. hold strongly with

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2388 chazaq khaw-zak'

a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong

(figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help,

repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid,

amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant,

constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly),

encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make

hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play

the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered,

repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be

stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold),

be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָזַק (cha.zaq) — to strengthen: strengthen.

: strengthen/support/encourage

1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be strong, grow strong

1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon

1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure

1a1c) to press, be urgent

1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)

1a1e) to be severe, be grievous

1a2) to strengthen

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to make strong

1b2) to restore to strength, give strength

1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage

1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage

1b5) to make firm

1b6) to make rigid, make hard

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make strong, strengthen

1c2) to make firm

1c3) to display strength

1c4) to make severe

1c5) to support

1c6) to repair

1c7) to prevail, prevail upon

1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support

1c9) to hold, contain

1d) (Hithpael)

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei [the] people of H1121 Noun common · masculine plural construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Amplified meaning
children of Israel, descendants of Jacob
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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…

and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'El Israel H3478 Noun proper
2,508× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Tyndale gloss
Israel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)

n.pr.m. second name of Jacob

n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob

. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'

from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical

name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:

--Israel.

see HEBREW for 08280

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);

father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently

§ Israel = "God prevails"

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel

2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob

2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpl — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

iz'-ra-el.

See JACOB.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Israel

The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).

This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
וַיִּתְּנ֥וּvai.yi.te.Nu and they made H5414 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
2,011× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Tyndale gloss
to give: give
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set

Qal 1917

give

Put, set

Make, constitute

Niph.

82be given

Be put, set

Hoph.

be given, bestowed

= be given to one for wife

be put upon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give

. Put, set

. Make, constitute

. . be given

. Be put, set

. . . be given, bestowed

. = be given to one for wife

. be put upon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5414 nathan naw-than'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.

: give/deliver/send/produce

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

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

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

1a3) to make, constitute

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

1c) (Hophal)

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

1c2) to be put upon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.

: put/set/apppoint

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖יha.ke.na.'a.Ni the Canaanite[s] H3669 Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Canaanitess was a woman from the land of Canaan, known for being merchants and traders. The term is used in the Bible to describe a woman who was a mother of one of the tribe of Benjamin, as seen in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
Canaanitess, people of the land of Canaan
Tyndale gloss
Canaanitess
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּנַעֲנִי (ken-ah-an-ee) refers to a Canaanite, an inhabitant of Canaan, and also denotes a merchant or trader. It is derived from the root word for Canaan, which can imply a connection to trade, as Canaanites were known for their mercantile activities. The term can also describe a woman from Canaan, first mentioned in Genesis 46:10.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּנַעֲנִי adj. et nom.gent.

base

כְּנַעֲנִי n.m. trader, merchant

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3669a כְּנַעֲנִי adj. et nom. gent. H3669b כְּנַעֲנִי trader, merchant

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3669 Kna`aniy ken-ah-an-ee'

patrial from 3667; a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by

implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their

neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile

caravans):--Canaanite, merchant, trafficker.

see HEBREW for 03667

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּנַעֲנִי (ke.na.a.ni) — Canaanite.

Group of ke.na.an (כְּנַ֫עַן "Canaan" H3667A)

§ Canaanite, of Cana "zealous"

adj

descendant or inhabitant of Canaan

כְּנַעֲנִי (ke.na.a.ni) — merchant.

a merchant, trader

Group of ke.na.an (כְּנַ֫עַן "merchant" H3667B)

כְּנַעֲנִי (ke.na.a.ni) — Canaanitess.

Describing a woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.46.10;

mother of: Shaul (H7586H)

§ a merchant, trader

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Ngmsa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ngmsa
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
לָמַ֑סla.Mas forced labor H4522 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A taskworker is someone forced to perform labor as a form of tax or tribute. This practice involved gangs of laborers working under the supervision of taskmasters, often in a state of serfdom or slavery. It is mentioned in the Bible as a burden imposed on people.
Amplified meaning
tribute, taskwork
Tyndale gloss
taskworker
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מַס (mas) refers to a body of forced laborers or task-workers, encompassing concepts like serfdom and tribute. It is derived from a root meaning 'burden' and is associated with enforced labor and service. The entries highlight its use in contexts related to labor gangs and taskmasters.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַס n.m. usu. coll. body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour-band or gang, also (late) forced service, task-work, serfdom

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4522 מַס body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour-band or gang, also (late) forced service, task-work, serfdom

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4522 mac mas

or mic {mees}; from 4549; properly, a burden (as causing to

faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor:--discomfited,

levy, task(-master), tribute(-tary).

see HEBREW for 04549

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַס (mas) — taskworker.

1) gang or body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour band or gang, forced service, task-work, serfdom, tributary, tribute, levy, taskmasters, discomfited

1a) labour-band, labour-gang, slave gang

1b) gang-overseers

1c) forced service, serfdom, tribute, enforced payment

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

la'-ber (yeghia`, `amal; kopos): The word (noun and verb) denoting hard work or "toil" (thus in the Revised Version (British and American) of De 26:7; Jos 7:3; Re 2:2) represents several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly those above. Occasionally, as in Hab 3:17 (ma`aseh), it stands for "fruit of labor." Sometimes, in conjunction with "travail," it refers to childbirth (Ge 35:16,17, yaladh; compare 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8). Examples of the word in the ordinary sense are: of yeghia`,

and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
וְהוֹרֵ֖שׁve.ho.Resh and certainly H3423 Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive absolute
231× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To possess means to take control of something, like a piece of land, by driving out others and occupying it. This word is used in the Bible to describe inheriting property or seizing power.
Tyndale gloss
to possess: possess
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרַשׁ (*yarash*) is a verb meaning to take possession, inherit, or dispossess. It encompasses a range of actions from seizing and occupying land to impoverishing or ruining others. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, which express different nuances of possession and dispossession.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרַשׁ 229 vb. take possession of, inherit, dispossess

Qal

take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting

inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir

= impoverish

Niph. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty

Pi. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession

Hiph.

cause to possess or inherit

cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess

= impoverish

nearly = bring to ruin, destroy

take possession of a land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3423 יָרַשׁ take possession of, inherit, dispossess .. take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting

. inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir

. = impoverish

. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty

. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession

. . cause to possess or inherit

. cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess

. = impoverish

. nearly = bring to ruin, destroy

. take possession of a land

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3423 yarash yaw-rash'

or yaresh {yaw-raysh'}; a primitive root; to occupy (by

driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place);

by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel,

to impoverish, to ruin:--cast out, consume, destroy,

disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, X

without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) +

magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make

to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon,

succeed, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרַשׁ (ya.rash) — to possess: possess.

: possess/inherit

1) to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take possession of

1a2) to inherit

1a3) to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor

1b) (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty

1c) (Piel) to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to possess or inherit

1d2) to cause others to possess or inherit

1d3) to impoverish

1d4) to dispossess

1d5) to destroy, bring to ruin, disinherit

יָרַשׁ (ya.rash) — to possess: take.

: take/conquer/drive_out

1) to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take possession of

1a2) to inherit

1a3) to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor

1b) (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty

1c) (Piel) to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to possess or inherit

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-Ptc — Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive absolute
HC/Vhaa
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
לֹ֥אlo' not H3808 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
did not utterly drive them out, were not able to expel them completely
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
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it was that they became strong [the] people of Israel and they made the object marker the Canaanite[s] forced labor and certainly not he dispossessed him
הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ סho.ri.Sho he dispossessed him H3423 Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular · suffix
231× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To possess means to take control of something, like a piece of land, by driving out others and occupying it. This word is used in the Bible to describe inheriting property or seizing power.
Amplified meaning
to possess, to take control of the land
Tyndale gloss
to possess: possess
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרַשׁ (*yarash*) is a verb meaning to take possession, inherit, or dispossess. It encompasses a range of actions from seizing and occupying land to impoverishing or ruining others. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, which express different nuances of possession and dispossession.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרַשׁ 229 vb. take possession of, inherit, dispossess

Qal

take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting

inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir

= impoverish

Niph. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty

Pi. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession

Hiph.

cause to possess or inherit

cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess

= impoverish

nearly = bring to ruin, destroy

take possession of a land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3423 יָרַשׁ take possession of, inherit, dispossess .. take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting

. inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir

. = impoverish

. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty

. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession

. . cause to possess or inherit

. cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess

. = impoverish

. nearly = bring to ruin, destroy

. take possession of a land

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3423 yarash yaw-rash'

or yaresh {yaw-raysh'}; a primitive root; to occupy (by

driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place);

by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel,

to impoverish, to ruin:--cast out, consume, destroy,

disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, X

without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) +

magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make

to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon,

succeed, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרַשׁ (ya.rash) — to possess: possess.

: possess/inherit

1) to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take possession of

1a2) to inherit

1a3) to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor

1b) (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty

1c) (Piel) to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to possess or inherit

1d2) to cause others to possess or inherit

1d3) to impoverish

1d4) to dispossess

1d5) to destroy, bring to ruin, disinherit

יָרַשׁ (ya.rash) — to possess: take.

: take/conquer/drive_out

1) to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take possession of

1a2) to inherit

1a3) to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor

1b) (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty

1c) (Piel) to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to possess or inherit

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVhp3ms/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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