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Lamentations 1:4 — Word Study

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WLCדַּרְכֵ֨י צִיּ֜וֹן אֲבֵל֗וֹת מִבְּלִי֙ בָּאֵ֣י מוֹעֵ֔ד כָּל־ שְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין כֹּהֲנֶ֖יהָ נֶאֱנָחִ֑ים בְּתוּלֹתֶ֥יהָ נּוּג֖וֹת וְהִ֥יא מַר־ לָֽהּ׃ ס

BSAThe roadsderek [ways, paths] to ZionTsîyôwn [the mountain, the city of God] mournʼâbêl [are in lament, grieving] because no onebᵉlîy comesbôwʼ [attends, travels] to her appointed feastsmôwʻêd [solemn assemblies, sacred festivals] Allkôl her gatesshaʻar [city entrances, doors] are desertedshâmêm [desolate, empty] her priestskôhên [spiritual leaders, ministers] groanʼânach [sigh, mourn] her maidensbᵉthûwlâh [virgins, young women] grieveyâgâh [are afflicted, suffer] and she herselfhûwʼ is bitter with anguishmar [filled with sorrow, in anguish]

Word
Listen & take awayLamentations 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Lah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Lamentations 1:4quick helps
In a sentenceLamentations expresses deep sorrow over Zion's desolation and the absence of worshippers.
Who is speakingThe author of Lamentations, reflecting on the plight of Jerusalem.
Where we areIn a lament for Zion, amidst the consequences of exile and loss.
The hard wordאֲבֵל֗וֹת
Take awayZion's roads mourn, her gates are empty, and her people suffer deeply.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהִיא verbבּוֹא 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 — Lamentations 1:4

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

Context — The Lament for Ziongenerated

3Judah has gone into exile under affliction and harsh slavery; she dwells among the nations but finds no place to rest. All her pursuers have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
4The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are deserted; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she herself is bitter with anguish.
5Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. For the LORD has brought her grief because of her many transgressions. Her children have gone away as captives before the enemy.
6All the splendor has departed from the Daughter of Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; they lack the strength to flee in the face of the hunter.

Lamentations 1:4 captures the profound grief of Jerusalem as it reflects on the absence of worshippers during its appointed feasts. The city, personified as a mourning woman, experiences desolation and abandonment, highlighting the emotional and spiritual devastation following exile. This lamentation serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of sin and the longing for restoration, echoing themes found throughout the prophetic literature.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Lamentations 2:6–7He has laid waste His tabernacle like a garden booth; He has destroyed His place of meeting. The LORD has made Zion forget her appointed feasts and Sabbaths. In His fierce anger He has despised both king and priest.
2Lamentations 5:13Young men toil at millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.
3Isaiah 24:4–6The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and fades; the exalted of the earth waste away.
4Jeremiah 14:2“Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.
5Micah 3:12Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

The Key Word אֲבֵל֗וֹת, 'a.ve.Lotgenerated

The word אָבֵל (abel) means mourning or lamenting, and it is particularly associated with grief for the dead or calamity. In this verse, it emphasizes the collective sorrow experienced by Zion and its inhabitants due to the absence of worshippers at sacred gatherings.

As an adjective, it conveys the state of being in lament, capturing the emotional weight of the situation. The use of this term underscores the depth of anguish felt by the city and its people, marking a significant moment of mourning in the text.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses mourn for אֲבֵל֗וֹת, aligning with the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the sentence is אֲבֵל֗וֹת, are mourning, which governs the overall sentiment of the verse. Several clauses follow, describing the desolation of Zion and the emotional state of its inhabitants.

The structure highlights the interconnectedness of the city's physical and emotional desolation, with each clause contributing to the overarching theme of grief and abandonment.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew term אֲבֵל֗וֹת is rendered with the Greek word for mourning, emphasizing the continuity of this theme across translations. The choice of words in the Septuagint reflects a similar understanding of grief and lamentation.

This alignment shows that the translators recognized the profound sorrow expressed in the original Hebrew and sought to convey that same emotional weight in Greek.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Lamentations 1:4 expresses the deep sorrow of Zion, which mourns because no one attends her feasts. The gates are empty, the priests are groaning, and the young women are grieving, all reflecting the anguish of the city.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the roads to Zion mourn?

The roads symbolize the pathways to worship and community, and their mourning indicates the absence of people who once traveled to celebrate the feasts.

Why are the gates described as deserted?

The gates represent the entrances to the city, and their desolation signifies the lack of visitors and worshippers, highlighting the city's abandonment.

What is the significance of the priests groaning?

The priests, as spiritual leaders, express the collective grief of the community, mourning not only for themselves but for the spiritual state of the people.

How does this verse reflect the overall theme of Lamentations?

This verse encapsulates the themes of grief, loss, and longing for restoration that permeate Lamentations, emphasizing the consequences of sin and the hope for future redemption.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I feel a sense of mourning or loss, similar to Zion?
  2. How can I better appreciate the significance of communal worship and its absence?
  3. What steps can I take to support those who are grieving in my community?
  4. How does understanding the historical context of Lamentations enhance my reading of this verse?

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

Early church fathers reflect on the themes of mourning and grief found in this verse, using it to illustrate the state of the church and its need for restoration.

Glossa Ordinaria 12th c.
DELETH: a fourfold species of planks is introduced according to anagogy. Through the service of which the house of the Lord rises, joined together in a fourfold cupola, namely by the ways, gates, priests and virgins.
Early Church Fathers on Lamentations 1 →
Gregory of NazianzusON THE GREAT ATHANASIUS, ORATION 21:12-13 c. 329–390
In the early days of the church, all was well. The present elaborate, far-fetched and artificial treatment of theology had not made its way into the schools of divinity,
Early Church Fathers on Lamentations 1 →
Gregory of NyssaFUNERAL ORATION ON MELETIUS c. 335–395
“Call for the mourning women,” the prophet Jeremiah says. In no other way can the burning heart cool down, swelling as it is with its affliction,
Early Church Fathers on Lamentations 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Lamentations 1:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The ways of Zion do mourn,.... Being unoccupied, as in Jude 5:6; or unfrequented: this is said by a rhetorical figure; as ways may be said to rejoice, or look pleasant and cheerful, when there are

Read John Gill on Lamentations 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

Read Robert Jamieson on Lamentations 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The ways that lead to the temple have as unlovely a complexion as mourners, being overgrown, by reason that none goeth up as usually to the feasts of the passover, of tabernacles, &c. Either all the gates of Jerusalem, or the temple, or all her cities, are very thin of people, the places that use to be so full. Her priests that were wont to be so fully employed at festivals receiving the people’ s oblations, and offering sacrifices, they mourn, having now nothing to do. The virgins who in those feasts were wont to play with timbrels, , they now mourn, and persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness.

Read Matthew Poole on Lamentations 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Lamentations 1:4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness.Ver. 4. The ways of Zion do mourn.] So they seem to do because unfrequented, overgrown with grass, and out of their kindly order. Her priests sigh.] For want of employment. The virgins were afflicted.] Or, Discomfited. Those that are usually set upon the merry pin, and were wont to make mirth at those festivities, And she is in bitterness.] Zion is; but for nothing so much as for the decay of religion, and the loss of holy exercises. When this befalleth, all things else are mere Ichabods to good people, See…

Read John Trapp on Lamentations 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) The ways of Zion do mourn.—The words paint what we may call the religious desolation of Jerusalem. The roads leading to it, the “gates” by which it was entered, were no longer thronged with pilgrims and worshippers. “Virgins” are joined with “priests” as taking part in the hymns and rejoicing processions of the great festivals (Exodus 15:20; Psalms 68:25; Judges 21:19-21; Jeremiah 31:13).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Lamentations 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. The ways of Zion do mourn] A fine prosopopoeia. The ways in which the people trod coming to the sacred solemnities, being now no longer frequented, are represented as shedding tears; and the gates themselves partake of the general distress. All poets of eminence among the Greeks and Romans have recourse to this image. So Moschus, in his Epitaph on Bion, ver. 1-3: - Αιλιναμοιστροναχειτεναπαι, καιΔωριονὑδωρ ΚαιποταμοικλαιοιτετονἱμεροενταΒιωνα. Νυνφυταμοιμυρεσθε, καιαλσεανυνγοαοισθε, κ. τ. λ. "Ye winds, with grief your waving summits bow, Ye Dorian fountains, murmur as ye flow; From weeping urns your copious sorrows shed, And bid the rivers mourn for Bion dead. Ye shady groves, in…

Read AdamClarke on Lamentations 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. The ways of Zion do mourn] The approaches to Jerusalem are meant. They are desolate, without the usual throng of those coming up to the feasts. For the thought of inanimate objects as sympathising with human affairs cp. “Call it not vain—they do not err, Who say, that, when the Poet dies, Mute Nature mourns her worshipper, And celebrates his obsequies.” Lay of the Last Minstrel, Canto V. All her gates are desolate] See on Jeremiah 14:2. her priests do sigh] in the absence of sacrifices, their livelihood has disappeared. Her virgins are afflicted] They are mentioned as taking part in religious ceremonies. See Exodus 15:20; Judges 21:21; Psalms 68:25; Jeremiah 31:13. It is clear from this…

Read Cambridge on Lamentations 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Zion, as the holy city, is the symbol of the religious life of the people, just as Judah in the previous verse represents their national life.

Read Albert Barnes on Lamentations 1 →

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

The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are deserted; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she herself is bitter with anguish.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to the solemn assembly. All her gates are desolate. Her priests sigh. Her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are deserted; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she herself is bitter with anguish.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The roads to Zion mourn because no one travels to the festivals. All her city gates are deserted; her priests groan. Her virgins grieve; she is in bitter anguish!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; All her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh: Her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; all her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh: her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The wayes of Zion lament, because no man commeth to the solemne feastes: all her gates are desolate: her Priests sigh: her virgins are discomfited, and she is in heauinesse.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly: all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh, her virgins are in grief; and as for her, she is in bitterness.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The ways of Zion are mourning, Without any coming at the appointed time, All her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, Her virgins are afflicted — and she hath bitterness.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The ways of Zion are mourning, || Without any coming at the appointed time, || All her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, || Her virgins are afflicted—and she has bitterness.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The ways to Zion are in mourning, because none come to the solemn feasts; all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh; her virgins moan, and she suffereth herself from bitter grief.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The roads of Zion mourn because none come to the appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate. Her priests groan. Her virgins are sorrowful and she herself is in complete distress.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Daleth. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come to the solemn feast: all her gates are broken down: her priests sigh: her virgins are in affliction, and she is oppressed with bitterness.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Even the roads to Zion are in mourning because no one travels on them to go to the religious festivals. All her gates are empty. Her priests groan in sadness. Her girls are suffering. She herself is in bitter distress.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The ways of Zion are sad, because no one comes to the holy meeting; all her doorways are made waste, her priests are breathing out sorrow: her virgins are troubled, and it is bitter for her.

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectדַּרְכֵ֨יthe.roadsצִיּ֜וֹןof.Zionpredicateאֲבֵל֗וֹת[are].mourningprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromclausepredicateבְּלִי֙notnoun phrase · subjectבָּאֵ֣י[those.who].comeמוֹעֵ֔ד(of).an.appointed.feastclausenoun phrase · subjectכָּלallnoun phraseשְׁעָרֶ֨יgatesהָ֙itsverbשֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין[are].desolateclausenoun phrase · subjectכֹּהֲנֶ֖יpriestsהָitsverbנֶאֱנָחִ֑ים[are].groaningclausenoun phrase · subjectבְּתוּלֹתֶ֥יvirginsהָitsverbנּוּג֖וֹת[are].grievedוְandclausesubjectהִ֥יאitverbמַרit.is.bitterprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָֽtoהּit

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 Dead Sea Scrolls show agreement in the wording of this verse, although the scrolls contain some restored text. The Septuagint, while partially matching, presents a different word order and structure.

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

דַּרְכֵ֨י צִיּ֜וֹן אֲבֵל֗וֹת מִבְּלִי֙ בָּאֵ֣י מוֹעֵ֔ד כָּל־ שְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙ שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔ין כֹּהֲנֶ֖יהָ נֶאֱנָחִ֑ים בְּתוּלֹתֶ֥יהָ נּוּג֖וֹת וְהִ֥יא מַר־ לָֽהּ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
דַּרְכֵ֨יμετῳκίσθηמִבְּלִי֙ἐκάθισενבָּאֵ֣יεὗρενמוֹעֵ֔דἀνάπαυσινכָּל־πάντεςשְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙οἱכֹּהֲנֶ֖יהָθλιβόντων

7 of the 16 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 — 4Q111a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[דרכי] [ציון] [אבלות] [מבלי] באי מועד [כול] [שערי׳ה] [שוממים] [כוהני׳ה] נאנחים [בתולותי׳ה] [נוגות] [והיאה] [מר] [ל׳ה]

nothing on the leather here — 3 partly restored, 13 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.

Lamentations 1:4דֶּ֫רֶךְ[the] roads[the] roads ofדֶּ֫רֶךְצִיּוֹןZionZionצִיּוֹןאָבֵל[are] mourn[are] mourningאָבֵלבְּלִיbecause notbecause notבְּלִיבּוֹא[those who][those who] comבּוֹאמוֹעֵדan appointean appointed feמוֹעֵדכֹּלallallכֹּלשַׁ֫עַרgates hergates herשַׁ֫עַרשָׁמֵם[are] desol[are] desolateשָׁמֵםכֹּהֵןpriests herpriests herכֹּהֵןאָנַח[are] groan[are] groaningאָנַחבְּתוּלָהvirgins hervirgins herבְּתוּלָהיָגָה[are] griev[are] grievingיָגָההוּאand sheand sheהוּאמָרַרit is bitteit is bitterמָרַרהָto herto herהָדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְאָבַלto mournto mournאָבַלבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהיָעַדto appointto appointיָעַדכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלשָׁעַרto calculato calculateשָׁעַרצִיוּןsignpostsignpostצִיוּןכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןמַרbitterbitterמַרמַרdropdropמַרפֶּ֫תַחentranceentranceפֶּ֫תַחפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןגִּילto rejoiceto rejoiceגִּילקִנְאָהjealousyjealousyקִנְאָהנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםצִיּוֹןZionZionצִיּוֹןדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַת
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 Lamentations 1:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
דַּרְכֵ֨יdar.Khei [the] roads of H1870 Noun common · both plural construct
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
ways, paths
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp — Noun common · both plural construct
HNcbpc
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…

[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
צִיּ֜וֹןtzi.Yon Zion H6726 Noun proper
154× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Zion refers to a mountain in Jerusalem, often used as another name for the city, especially in prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Amplified meaning
the mountain, the city of God
Tyndale gloss
Zion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צִיּוֹן (Tsiyyôn) refers to Zion, often identified as a mountain in Jerusalem and a symbolic name for the city itself, particularly in prophetic contexts. The term is linked to the Hebrew word for Jerusalem and is noted for meaning 'parched place.' It is consistently recognized across lexicons as a proper noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צִיּוֹן 154 n.pr.loc. Ṣiyyôn, Zion

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6726 צִיּוֹן Ṣiyyôn, Zion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6726 Tsiyown tsee-yone'

the same (regularly) as 6725; Tsijon (as a permanent

capital), a mountain of Jerusalem:--Zion.

see HEBREW for 06725

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צִיּוֹן (tsiy.yon) — Zion.

Zion = "parched place"

another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

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

zi'-on (tsiyon; Sion):

1. Meaning of the Word

2. The Zion of the Jebusites

3. Zion of the Prophets

4. Zion in Later Poetical Writings and Apocrypha

5. Omission of Name by Some Writers

6. The Name "Zion" in Christian Times

LITERATURE

1. Meaning of the Word:

A name applied to Jerusalem, or to certain parts of it, at least since the time of David. Nothing certain is known of the meaning. Gesenius and others have derived it from a Hebrew root tsahah, "to be dry"; Delitzsch from tsiwwah, "to set up" and Wetzstein from tsin, "to protect." Gesenius finds a more hopeful suggestion in the Arabic equivalent cihw, the Arabic cahwat signifying "ridge of a mountain" or "citadel," which at any rate suitably applies to what we know to have been the original Zion (compare Smith, HGHL, under the word).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Zion

Sunny; height, one of the eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the Tyropoeon (q.v.) separating it from Moriah (q.v.), which it surpasses in height by 105 feet. It was the south-eastern hill of Jerusalem.

When David took it from the Jebusites (Josh. 15:63; 2 Sam. 5:7) he built on it a citadel and a palace, and it became “the city of David” (1 Kings 8:1; 2 Kings 19:21, 31; 1 Chr. 11:5). In the later books of the Old Testament this name was sometimes used (Ps. 87:2; 149:2;

[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
אֲבֵל֗וֹת'a.ve.Lot [are] mourning H57 Adj
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means mourning or lamenting, often for the dead or because of a disaster. It appears in the Bible as a time of sorrow. In the KJV, it is translated as mourn or mourner.
Amplified meaning
are in lament, grieving
Tyndale gloss
mourning
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָבֵל (abel) refers to mourning, particularly in the context of grief for the dead or calamity. It can also denote a mourner as a noun. The word is derived from a root related to lamenting, and its usage encompasses both the act of mourning and the rites associated with it.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָבֵל adj. mourning—elsewhere as subst. mourner

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H57 אָבֵל mourning—elsewhere as subst. mourner

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

57 'abel aw-bale'

from 56; lamenting:--mourn(-er, -ing).

see HEBREW for 056

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבֵל (a.vel) — mourning.

1) mourning

1a) for the dead

1b) because of calamity

1c) of rites of mourning

2) mourner (subst.)

2a) for the dead

2b) for calamity

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

morn'-ing.

See BURIAL; GRIEF.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

One marked feature of Oriental mourning is what may be called its studies publicity and the careful observance of the prescribed ceremonies. (Genesis 23:2; Job 1:20; 2:12) Among the particular forms observed the following may be mentioned: (a) Rending the clothes. (Genesis 37:29,34; 44:13) etc. (b) Dressing in sackcloth. (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 21:10) etc. (c) Ashes, dust or earth sprinkled on the person. (2 Samuel 13:19; 15:32) etc. (d) Black or sad-colored garments. (2 Samuel 14:2;

The Hebrews, at the death of their friends and relations, made striking demonstrations of grief and mourning. They wept, tore their clothes, smote their breasts, threw dust upon their heads, Jos 7:6, and lay upon the ground, went barefooted, pulled their hair and beards, or cut them, Ezr 9:3 Isa 15:2, and made incisions on their breasts, or tore them with their nails, Le 19:28 21:5 Jer 16:6 48:37. The time of mourning was commonly seven days, 1Sa 31:11-13; but it was lengthened or shortened according to circumstances,

→ For the dead

Head uncovered Le 10:6; 21:10

Lying on the ground 2Sa 12:16

Personal appearance neglected 2Sa 14:2

Cutting the flesh Le 19:28; 21:1-5; De 14:1; Jer 16:6,7; 41:5

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
מִבְּלִי֙mi.be.Li because not H1097 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means without or nothing, often used for negation. It appears in various forms, such as without or not yet, in the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
without
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּלִי (bli) refers to a state of wearing out or destruction, and serves as an adverb of negation meaning 'without' or 'not.' It is derived from the root meaning failure and can indicate absence or lack in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence

fig. destruction

defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1097 בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence . fig. destruction

. defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1097 bliy bel-ee'

from 1086; properly, failure, i.e. nothing or destruction;

usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as

long as, etc.:--corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where

no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without.

see HEBREW for 01086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּלִי (be.li) — without.

subst

1) wearing out

adv of negation

2) without, no, not

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
בָּאֵ֣יba.'Ei [those who] come H935 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Amplified meaning
attends, travels
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kum: The translation of many Hebrew and Greek words. In the phrase "The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him" (Jud 14:6,19; 15:14; 1Sa 10:10; 11:6; 16:13), the word is tsaleah; Jud 14:6; 15:14 "came mightily," which is the uniform translation of the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Jud 13:25 "to move," i.e. to disturb or stir up). In Jud 6:34; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 24:20, it is labhesh, "to clothe"; the Revised Version, margin "The Spirit .... clothed itself with Gideon" and .... "with Zechariah,"…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
מוֹעֵ֔דmo.'Ed an appointed feast H4150 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
223× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a meeting or appointed time, often for a sacred season or festival, like the tent of meeting in Exodus. It can also mean an assembly or congregation. In the Bible, it is used to describe the Israelites' gatherings and celebrations.
Amplified meaning
solemn assemblies, sacred festivals
Tyndale gloss
meeting
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹעֵד (mo'ed) refers to an appointed time, place, or meeting, often associated with festivals and sacred seasons. It can denote a specific appointment or assembly, and is linked to the concept of a tent of meeting. The word is derived from a root meaning to appoint, and encompasses a range of meanings related to scheduled gatherings and designated locations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוֹעֵד 223 n.m. appointed time, place, meeting

appointed time

appointed meeting

appointed place

appointed sign, signal

tent of meeting

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4150 מוֹעֵד appointed time, place, meeting . appointed time

. appointed meeting

. appointed place

. appointed sign, signal

. tent of meeting

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4150 mow`ed mo-ade'

or moled {mo-ade'}; or (feminine) moweadah (2 Chronicles

8:13) {mo-aw-daw'}; from 3259; properly, an appointment, i.e.

a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;

conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as

convened for a definite purpose); technically the

congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a

signal (as appointed beforehand):--appointed (sign, time),

(place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn)

feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set)

time (appointed).

see HEBREW for 03259

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting: time appointed.

: time_appointed

1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting

1a) appointed time

1a1) appointed time (general)

1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season

1b) appointed meeting

1c) appointed place

1d) appointed sign or signal

1e) tent of meeting

מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting: festival.

: festival

1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting

1a) appointed time

1a1) appointed time (general)

1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season

1b) appointed meeting

1c) appointed place

1d) appointed sign or signal

1e) tent of meeting

מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting.

: meeting

1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting

1a) appointed time

1a1) appointed time (general)

1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season

1b) appointed meeting

1c) appointed place

1d) appointed sign or signal

1e) tent of meeting

מוֹעֵד (mo.ed) — meeting: signal appointed.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Feast

As a mark of hospitality (Gen. 19:3; 2 Sam. 3:20; 2 Kings 6:23); on occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Gen. 21:8); on birthdays (Gen. 40:20; Job 1:4; Matt. 14:6); and on the occasion of a marriage (Judg. 14:10; Gen. 29:22).

[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

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

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
שְׁעָרֶ֙יהָ֙she.'a.Rei.ha gates her H8179 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
374× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a gate or door, often referring to city entrances or temple doors, like in Genesis and Exodus. It can also symbolize a meeting place or marketplace. The word is used to describe important locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
city entrances, doors
Tyndale gloss
gate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׁ֫עַר (sha'ar) means 'gate' and is derived from a root that signifies an opening. It encompasses various types of gates, including those of cities, palaces, and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like 'gate of heaven.' The entries consistently highlight its role as an entrance or threshold.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁ֫עַר 373 n.m. gate

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8179 שַׁ֫עַר gate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8179 sha`ar shah'-ar

from 8176 in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or

gate:--city, door, gate, port (X -er).

see HEBREW for 08176

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate.

: gate

1) gate

1a) gate (of entrance)

1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)

1b1) city, town

1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)

1d) heaven

שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate: town.

: town

1) gate

1a) gate (of entrance)

1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)

1b1) city, town

1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)

1d) heaven

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3fs
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
שֽׁוֹמֵמִ֔יןsho.me.Min [are] desolate H8074 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
86× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The word 'shamem' means to be desolate or devastated, like a place left empty and destroyed, often used to describe the aftermath of war or disaster.
Amplified meaning
desolate, empty
Tyndale gloss
be desolate: destroyed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁמֵם (shamem) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be desolated or appalled. It is built from a primitive root and encompasses a range of meanings including to stun, devastate, and cause horror. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances like being made desolate or causing desolation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁמֵם] vb. be desolated, appalled

Qal

be desolated

be appalled, awestruck

Niph.

be desolated

be appalled

Pō‛.

I sat appalled

transit. appalling, causing horror

Hiph.

devastate, ravage

appal

inwardly trans., shewing horror

Hoph. all the days of (its) being desolate

Hithpō‛.

be appalled, astounded

cause oneself desolation, ruin

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8074 [שָׁמֵם] be desolated, appalled

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8074 shamem shaw-mame'

a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb),

i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a

passive sense):--make amazed, be astonied, (be an)

astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make)

desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay,

lie, make) waste, wonder.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמֵם (sha.mem) — be desolate: destroyed.

: destroyed/deserted

1) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be desolated, be deflowered, be deserted, be appalled

1a2) to be appalled, be awestruck

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be desolated, be made desolate

1b2) to be appalled

1c) (Polel)

1c1) to be stunned

1c2) appalling, causing horror (participle)

1c2a) horror-causer, appaller (subst)

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to devastate, ravage, make desolated

1d2) to appal, show horror

1e) (Hophal) to lay desolate, be desolated

1f) (Hithpolel)

1f1) to cause to be desolate

1f2) to be appalled, be astounded

1f3) to cause oneself desolation, cause oneself ruin

שָׁמֵם (sha.mem) — be desolate: appalled.

: appalled

1) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be desolated, be deflowered, be deserted, be appalled

1a2) to be appalled, be awestruck

1b) (Niphal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVqrmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

des'-o-lat (very frequently in the Old Testament for shamem, and its derivatives; less frequently, charebh, and its derivatives, and other words. In the New Testament it stands for eremos (Mt 23:38; Ac 1:20; Ga 4:27) eremoo (Re 17:16), and monoo (1Ti 5:5)): From Latin de, intens., solus, alone. Several shades of meaning can be distinguished:

(1) Its primary sense is "left lonely," "forlorn," e. g. Ps 25:16, "Have mercy upon me; for I am desolate" (Hebrew yachidh, "alone"); 1Ti 5:5, "she that is a widow indeed, and…

[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
כֹּהֲנֶ֖יהָko.ha.Nei.ha priests her H3548 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
spiritual leaders, ministers
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3fs
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
נֶאֱנָחִ֑יםne.'e.na.Chim [are] groaning H584 Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine plural
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sigh means to groan or mourn in pain or grief, like an animal moaning, and is used to express deep emotional distress in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
sigh, mourn
Tyndale gloss
to sigh
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָנַח (anach) is a Hebrew verb that primarily appears in the Niphal form, meaning to sigh or groan, often in contexts of pain or grief. It can also refer to the moaning of cattle. The entries consistently emphasize its emotional and physical connotations without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָנַח] vb. only Niph. sigh, groan

sigh, in token of grief

in physical distress

groan of cattle

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H584 אָנַח only Niph. sigh, groan

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

584 'anach aw-nakh'

a primitive root; to sigh:--groan, mourn, sigh.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָנַח (a.nach) — to sigh.

1) (Niphal) sigh, groan (in pain or grief), gasp

1a) moan (of cattle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Inf-c — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVNrmpa
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
בְּתוּלֹתֶ֥יהָbe.tu.lo.Tei.ha virgins her H1330 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A virgin, or bride, is described by this word, emphasizing her private and untouched state, as seen in the stories of Genesis and Esther.
Amplified meaning
virgins, young women
Tyndale gloss
virgin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּתוּלָה (bthuwlah) means 'virgin' and is derived from a passive participle of an unused root that suggests separation. It can also refer to a bride and, in a figurative sense, to a city or state. The term appears in contexts related to purity and marital status.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּתוּלָה 60 n.f. virgin

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1330 בְּתוּלָה virgin

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1330 bthuwlah beth-oo-law'

feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to

separate; a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by

continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or

state:--maid, virgin.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּתוּלָה (be.tu.lah) — virgin.

virgin

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp3fs
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
נּוּג֖וֹתnu.Got [are] grieving H3013 Verb · Niphal · participle (active) feminine plural
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to cause or feel grief, as seen in the Bible when people suffer or are afflicted, like in the book of Jeremiah.
Amplified meaning
are afflicted, suffer
Tyndale gloss
to suffer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָגָה (yagah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to suffer or grieve. It encompasses various forms, including causing grief (Hiphil), grieving (Niphal), and to grieve (Piel). The entries consistently emphasize the themes of affliction and sorrow, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָגָה] vb. suffer

Niph. grieved

Pi. grieve

Hiph. cause grief or sorrow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3013 יָגָה suffer . grieved

. grieve

. cause grief or sorrow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3013 yagah yaw-gaw'

a primitive root; to grieve:--afflict, cause grief, grieve,

sorrowful, vex.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָגָה (ya.gah) — to suffer.

1) to afflict, grieve, suffer, cause grief

1a) (Niphal) grieved, grieving (participle)

1b) (Piel) to grieve

1c) (Hiphil) to cause grief, cause sorrow

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Inf-c — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) feminine plural
HVNrfpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
וְהִ֥יאve.Hi' and she H1931 Conjunction · pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
מַר־mar- it is bitter H4843 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The word marar means to be or make something bitter. It can also describe a strong or intense emotion, such as anger or grief. In the Bible, it is used to describe a range of feelings and experiences, from physical bitterness to emotional pain.
Tyndale gloss
to provoke
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָרַר (marar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be bitter, with various forms indicating actions like making something bitter or showing bitterness. It can express both literal and figurative bitterness, and can also imply provoking or vexing. The entries suggest its usage in different grammatical forms, including Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpalpel, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָרַר vb. be bitter

Qal be bitter

Pi. make bitter, shew bitterness

Hiph. make bitter, shew bitterness

Hithpalp. and the king of the south shall embitter himself (be enraged)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4843 מָרַר be bitter

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4843 marar maw-rar'

a primitive root; properly, to trickle (see 4752); but used

only as a denominative from 4751; to be (causatively, make)

bitter (literally or figuratively):--(be, be in, deal, have,

make) bitter(-ly, - ness), be moved with choler, (be, have

sorely, it) grieved(-eth), provoke, vex.

see HEBREW for 04752

see HEBREW for 04751

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָרַר (ma.rar) — to provoke.

1) to be bitter

1a) (Qal) to be bitter

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to show bitterness

1b2) to make bitter

1c) (Hiphil) to make bitter, embitter

1d) (Hithpalpel)

1d1) to embitter oneself

1d2) to be enraged

2) (TWOT) to be strong, strengthen

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bitter

Bitterness is symbolical of affliction, misery, and servitude (Ex. 1:14; Ruth 1:20; Jer. 9:15). The Chaldeans are called the “bitter and hasty nation” (Hab. 1:6). The “gall of bitterness” expresses a state of great wickedness (Acts 8:23). A “root of bitterness” is a wicked person or a dangerous sin (Heb. 12:15).

The Passover was to be eaten with “bitter herbs” (Ex. 12:8; Num. 9:11). The kind of herbs so designated is not known. Probably they were…

[the] roads of Zion [are] mourning because not [those who] come an appointed feast all gates her [are] desolate priests her [are] groaning virgins her [are] grieving and she it is bitter to her
לָֽהּ׃ סLah to her H9034 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָ (ha) — her.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3fs
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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