Lamentations 4:4 — Word Study
WLCדָּבַ֨ק לְשׁ֥וֹן יוֹנֵ֛ק אֶל־ חכּ֖וֹ בַּצָּמָ֑א עֽוֹלָלִים֙ שָׁ֣אֲלוּ לֶ֔חֶם פֹּרֵ֖שׂ אֵ֥ין לָהֶֽם׃ ס
BSAThe nursing infant’syânaq [suckling child, young one] tonguelâshôwn [language, speech] clingsdâbaq■ [to cleave, stick] in thirsttsâmâʼ [dryness, parched condition] toʼêl the roof of his mouthchêk [palate, upper mouth] ◂Little childrenʻôwlêl [young ones, infants] beg forshâʼal■ [ask, request] breadlechem [food, nourishment] but noʼayin one gives them anypâras [none, no person, provides, breaks, nothing, none]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| דָּבַ֨ק | it has cleaved | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| לְשׁ֥וֹן | [the] tongue of | Noun common, both singular construct |
| יוֹנֵ֛ק | a suckling-child | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אֶל־ | to | Preposition |
| חכּ֖וֹ | palate its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בַּצָּמָ֑א | by thirst | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| עֽוֹלָלִים֙ | children | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| שָׁ֣אֲלוּ | they have asked for | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| לֶ֔חֶם | bread | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| פֹּרֵ֖שׂ | [one who] breaks [it] | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| אֵ֥ין | not | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| לָהֶֽם׃ ס | [belonged] to them | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. |
| KJV | The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. |
| ASV | The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. |
| YLT | Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none. |
| WEB | The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, and no one breaks it for them. |
| BBE | The tongue of the child at the breast is fixed to the roof of his mouth for need of drink: the young children are crying out for bread, and no man gives it to them. |
Where they part company is שָׁאֲלוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of two main clauses, each describing a different aspect of the children's plight.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectעוֹלֵל
verbדָּבַק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 4:4
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 Desolation of Jerusalemgenerated
Lamentations 4:4 describes the dire plight of children during a time of great suffering. The imagery of a nursing infant's tongue clinging to the roof of its mouth conveys extreme thirst, while little children begging for bread illustrates the widespread hunger. This verse captures the depth of despair faced by the people, emphasizing their vulnerability and the absence of care from others.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 22:15 | My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death. |
| 2 | Psalm 137:6 | May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy! |
| 3 | Lamentations 1:11 | All her people groan as they search for bread. They have traded their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. Look, O LORD, and consider, for I have become despised. |
| 4 | Lamentations 2:11–12 | My eyes fail from weeping; I am churning within. My heart is poured out in grief over the destruction of the daughter of my people, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 32:24 | They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — דָּבַק, da.Vakgenerated
The verb דָּבַק (dabaq) means to cling or cleave, indicating a strong attachment or adherence. In this context, it describes the infant's tongue sticking to the palate due to thirst, which powerfully conveys the desperation of the situation.
This form is a perfect tense, indicating a completed action. The use of this verb here emphasizes the urgency and severity of the infant's condition, highlighting the physical suffering experienced in the midst of famine.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is דָּבַק, it has cleaved, which governs the subject יוֹנֵק, suckling child, and is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the direction of the action. The second part of the verse introduces a new subject, עֽוֹלָלִים, children, with their action of begging for bread.
The structure emphasizes the contrast between the helplessness of the infants and the lack of provision from others, creating a poignant image of despair.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates דָּבַק as ἐκολλήθη (ekollēthē), which means 'was glued' or 'stuck'. This choice reflects a similar sense of attachment but may imply a more intense or permanent condition than the Hebrew.
The translation of יוֹנֵק as θηλάζοντος (thēlazontos) indicates the nurturing aspect of the suckling child, emphasizing the fragility and neediness of the young in times of crisis.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Lamentations 4:4 describes the terrible situation of children during a famine. The verse highlights how a nursing infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth from thirst, and little children are begging for bread, but no one is there to help them.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This imagery signifies extreme thirst and the physical suffering of the child due to lack of nourishment.
The children are begging because they are in desperate need of food, highlighting the severity of the famine affecting the community.
The lack of provision for the children emphasizes the neglect and despair faced by the people during this time of crisis.
This verse reflects the themes of suffering, loss, and the deep sorrow experienced by the people of Jerusalem in the wake of destruction.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can we respond to the needs of vulnerable children in our communities today?
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of caring for those who are suffering?
- In what ways can we ensure that we do not overlook the needs of those around us?
- How does understanding the context of this verse deepen our empathy for those in distress?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers reflect on this verse, discussing the suffering of children and the implications of their plight.
What good will marriage be to me if it is to end in slavery to the haughtiest of kings? What good will little ones be to me if their lot is to be that which the prophet sadly describes: “The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof…Early Church Fathers on Lamentations 4 →
Here in Verse 4 is considered an effect, namely, the thirst of children. As said here in Verse 4: "The tongue of the nursling cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst;Early Church Fathers on Lamentations 4 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Lamentations 4:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst,.... Through want of the milk of the breast, which is both food and drink unto it: the young children ask bread; of their
Read John Gill on Lamentations 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst.
Read Robert Jamieson on Lamentations 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAs the fatness of the mother’ s milk makes it instead of bread and flesh to the sucking child, so the moisture of it makes it to be as drink to allay its heat; the children wanting this moisture, their mouths were hot and dry. It was a time of famine; the little children, understanding not-the case of the city, were importunate for something to eat, but none had enough for himself, much less for others. See ,13.
Read Matthew Poole on Lamentations 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsLamentations 4:4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, [and] no man breaketh [it] unto them.Ver. 4. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth.] For want of suck. That was a miracle which is recorded of the old woman of Bolton, in Lancashire, who took up a poor child that lay crying at the breasts of her dead mother - slain, among many others, by Prince Rupert’ s party - and laying it to her own dry breasts, that had not yielded suck for above twenty years before, on purpose to still it, had milk came to nourish it, to the admiration and astonishment of all beholders. This and another like example of God’ s good providence…
Read John Trapp on Lamentations 4 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. The tongue of the sucking child] See Clarke on Lamentations 2:12.
Read AdamClarke on Lamentations 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible4. The tongue… cleaveth to the roof — The most graphic and fearfully expressive feature of the common misery is brought to view in this unnatural conduct of parents, leaving the sucking child and
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Lamentations 4 →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
The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, and no one breaks it for them.
The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any.
The infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth due to thirst; little children beg for bread, but no one gives them even a morsel.
Tyndale line
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it to them.
The tongue of the sucking childe cleaueth to the roofe of his mouth for thirst: the yong children aske bread, but no man breaketh it vnto them.
Strictly literal
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst; the young children ask bread, no man breaketh it unto them.
Cleaved hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst, Infants asked bread, a dealer out they have none.
The tongue of a suckling has cleaved to his palate with thirst, || Infants asked for bread, they have no dealer [of it] out.
The tongue of the suckling cleaveth to its palate by reason of thirst: babes ask for bread, there is not one to break it for them.
The tongue of the nursing baby sticks to the roof of his mouth by thirst; the children ask for food, but there is none for them.
From the Latin
Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child hath stuck to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked for bread, and there was none to break it unto them.
Simplified
The nursing babies are so thirsty that their tongues stick to the roof of their mouths. Little children beg for food, but nobody gives them anything.
The tongue of the child at the breast is fixed to the roof of his mouth for need of drink: the young children are crying out for bread, and no man gives it to them.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Lamentations 4:4 states that the nursing infant's tongue clings to the roof of his mouth due to thirst, and that little children beg for bread but receive none. The Septuagint, while not providing a direct translation in this instance, matches 11 out of the 12 words from the Masoretic Text, indicating a strong agreement in content, although the exact wording and structure differ. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, as they align with the Masoretic Text, affirming its reading.
דָּבַ֨ק לְשׁ֥וֹן יוֹנֵ֛ק אֶל־ חכּ֖וֹ בַּצָּמָ֑א עֽוֹלָלִים֙ שָׁ֣אֲלוּ לֶ֔חֶם פֹּרֵ֖שׂ אֵ֥ין לָהֶֽם׃ ס
11 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.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Lamentations 4:4
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.
דָּבַק, transliterated as dabaq, is a Hebrew verb meaning to cling or cleave. It encompasses a range of actions such as adhering closely, pursuing, and being joined together. The word appears in various forms, including Qal, Pual, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of the action. Notably, it can describe both physical and metaphorical closeness.
דָּבַק, דָּבֵק vb. cling, cleave, keep close
Qal
cling, cleave to
cling, cleave to
Pu. of crocodile’s scales, they are joined together
Hiph.
cause to cling or cleave to
pursue closely
overtake
Hoph. and my tongue is made to cleave (to) my gums
base
H1692 דָּבַק, דָּבֵק cling, cleave, keep close
1692 dabaq daw-bak'
a primitive root; properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere;
figuratively, to catch by pursuit:--abide fast, cleave (fast
together), follow close (hard after), be joined (together),
keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.
דָּבַק (da.vaq) — to cleave.
1) to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cling, cleave to
1a2) to stay with
1b) (Pual) to be joined together
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to cleave to
1c2) to pursue closely
1c3) to overtake
1d) (Hophal) to be made to cleave
Aramaic equivalent: de.vaq (דְּבֵק "to cleave" H1693)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
The Hebrew word לָשׁוֹן (*lashon*) primarily means 'tongue,' referring to both the organ of speech in humans and animals. It can also denote 'language' and has figurative uses, such as a 'tongue-shaped' wedge or bay. The entries highlight its literal and metaphorical applications, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.
לָשׁוֹן n.m. and (more oft.) f. tongue
tongue of men
= language
tongue of animals
tongue of fire
= (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
= (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
base
H3956 לָשׁוֹן tongue . tongue of men
. = language
. tongue of animals
. tongue of fire
. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
3956 lashown law-shone'
or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah
{lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used
literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech),
and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of
water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker,
tongue, wedge.
see HEBREW for 03960
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue.
: tongue/words
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: language.
: language
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: bar.
: bar/projection/bay
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
N-cs — Noun common · both singular constructHNcbsc
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.
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…
יָנַק (yanaq) means to suck or suckle, particularly in the context of an infant nursing at its mother's breast. It can also refer to the act of giving milk or nursing, with related forms indicating a nursing mother or suckling child. The entries consistently emphasize the nurturing aspect of this word.
[יָנַק] vb. suck
Qal suck, of infant at mother's breast
Hiph. give suck to, nurse
base
H3243 יָנַק suck .suck, of infant at mother's breast
. give suck to, nurse
3243 yanaq yaw-nak'
a primitive root; to suck; causatively, to give milk:--milch,
nurse(-ing mother), (give, make to) suck(-ing child, -ling).
יָנַק (ya.naq) — to suckle.
1) to suckle, nurse, suck
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to suck
1a2) suckling, babe (subst)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to give suck to, nurse
1b2) nursing, nursing woman, nurse (participle)
V-Qal — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Child
This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Gen. 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7).
The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, “the children of Edom,” “the children of Moab,” “the children of Israel.”
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep — PrepositionHR
חֵךְ (chek) refers to the palate or roof of the mouth, encompassing meanings related to taste and the mouth as an organ for speech and kissing. The entries consistently describe it as relating to the mouth and taste, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
חֵךְ n.m. palate, roof of mouth, gums
base
H2441 חֵךְ
2441 chek khake
probably from 2596 in the sense of tasting; properly, the
palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the
organ of speech, taste and kissing):--(roof of the) mouth,
taste.
see HEBREW for 02596
חֵךְ (chekh) — palate.
mouth, palate, taste, gums
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word צָמָא (tsama') means 'thirst' and can refer to both literal and figurative thirst. It is derived from the root word צָמָא (H6770). All entries consistently define it as thirst, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
צָמָא n.[m.] thirst
base
H6772 צָמָא thirst
6772 tsama' tsaw-maw'
from 6770; thirst (literally or figuratively):--thirst(-y).
see HEBREW for 06770
צָמָא (tsa.ma) — thirst.
thirst
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
thurst (tsama', verb tsame'; dipsao, dipsos, dipsa): One of the most powerful natural appetities, the craving for water or other drink. Besides its natural significance, thirst is figuratively used of strong spiritual desire. The soul thirsts for God (Ps 42:2; 63:1). Jesus meets the soul's thirst with water of life (Joh 4:13 ff; 6:35; 7:37). It is said of the heavenly bliss, "They shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more" (Re 7:16,17; compare Isa 49:10).
עוֹלֵל (owlel) refers to a child or infant, emphasizing youth and vulnerability. It is derived from a root meaning to suckle, indicating a very young child or babe. The term is consistently used across lexicons to denote a young child, with no significant disagreement among sources.
עוֹלֵל, עוֹלָל n.m. child
base
H5768 עוֹלֵל, עוֹלָל child
5768 `owlel o-lale'
or lolal {o-lawl'}; from 5763; a suckling:--babe, (young)
child, infant, little one.
see HEBREW for 05763
עוֹלֵל (o.lel) — infant.
child, boy
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
The blessing of offspring, but especially of the male sex, is highly valued among all eastern nations, while a the absence is regarded as one of the severest punishments. (Genesis 16:2; 7:14; 1 Samuel 1:6; 2 Samuel 6:23; 2 Kings 4:14; Isaiah 47:9; Jeremiah 20:15; Psalms 127:3,5) As soon as the child was born it was washed in a bath, rubbed with salt and wrapped in swaddling clothes. (Ezekiel 16:4; Job 38:9; Luke…
A numerous offspring was regarded as a signal blessing, Ps 127:3-5, and childless wives sought various means to escape the reproach of barrenness, which was deprecated in the blessing given to a newly married couple, Ru 4:11. The pangs of childbirth, in their suddenness and sharpness, are often alluded to in Scripture. The apostle Paul speaks of them as fruits and evidences of the fall; but assures those who abide in faith, that, amid all the suffering that reminds them that woman was first in the transgression, Ge 3:16, they may yet look trustfully to God for acceptance and salvation, 1Ti 2:15.
→ In answer to prayer
To Abraham Ge 15:2-5; with 21:1,2
Isaac Ge 25:21
Leah Ge 30:17-22
Rachel Ge 30:22-24
Hannah 1Sa 1:9-20
Zacharias Lu 1:13
→ Treatment of, at birth Eze 16:4-6; Lu 2:7,12
→ Circumcision of
→ See CIRCUMCISION
→ Dedicated to God in infancy
Samson Jud 13:5,7
Samuel 1Sa 1:24-28
- Christ was an example to
- Are a gift from God
- Are capable of glorifying God
- SHOULD BE
. Brought to Christ
. Brought early to the house of God
. Instructed in the ways of God
. Judiciously trained
שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in the context of requesting a favor or borrowing. It covers a range of uses, including seeking counsel, consulting deities, and even begging. The verb can appear in different forms, such as asking for oneself or granting requests. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, שְׁאֵל (she.el), meaning 'to ask'.
שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire
Qal
ask, ask for
specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow
in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
inquire of
inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.
in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
Niph. ask for oneself
Pi.
inquire carefully
beg, practise beggary
Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)
base
H7592 שָׁאַל ask, inquire .. . ask, ask for
. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow
. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
. . inquire of
. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.
. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
. ask for oneself
. . inquire carefully
. beg, practise beggary
. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)
7592 sha'al shaw-al'
or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by
implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask
(counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand,
desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend,
pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.
שָׁאַל (sha.al) — to ask.
1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to ask, ask for
1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow
1a3) to enquire, enquire of
1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)
1a5) to seek
1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully
1c2) to beg, practise beggary
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to be given on request
1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to
Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.
In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…
לֶ֫חֶם (lechem) means bread or food, encompassing items like grain and provisions for both humans and animals. It is derived from a related root and is used in various contexts, particularly in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its primary association with bread, though they also acknowledge its broader meaning as food.
לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food
base
H3899 לֶ֫חֶם bread, food
3899 lechem lekh'-em
from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or
grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit,
loaf, meat, victuals. See also 1036.
see HEBREW for 03898
see HEBREW for 01036
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food.
: food(eating)
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: bread.
: bread/loaf
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: allowance.
: allowance
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
bred (lechem; artos):
I. DIETARY PREEMINENCE
II. MATERIALS
1. Barley
2. Wheat
3. Three Kinds of Flour
III. BREAD-MAKING
1. Grinding
2. Kneading
3. Baking
(1) Hot Stones
(2) Baking Pans
4. Ovens
(1) The Bowl-Oven
(2) The Jar-Oven
(3) The Pit-Oven
5. Forms of Baked Bread
6. Work for Women
IV. SANCTITY AND SYMBOLISM OF BREAD
1. Sanctity
2. Symbolism
LITERATURE
The art of bread-making is very ancient. It was even known to the Egyptians at a very early day (Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians), to the Hebrews of the Exodus (Nowack, Lehrbuch der hebr. Archaologie) and, of course, to the Greeks and Romans of a later day. Bread played a large part in the vocabulary and in the life of the ancient Hebrews.
I. Dietary Preeminence.
(1) In the East bread is primary, other articles of food merely accessory; while in the West meat and other things chiefly constitute the meal, and bread is merely secondary. Accordingly "bread" in…
Bread
Among the Jews was generally made of wheat (Ex. 29:2; Judg. 6:19), though also sometimes of other grains (Gen. 14:18; Judg. 7:13). Parched grain was sometimes used for food without any other preparation (Ruth 2:14).
Bread was prepared by kneading in wooden bowls or “kneading troughs” (Gen. 18:6; Ex. 12:34; Jer. 7:18). The dough was mixed with leaven and made into thin cakes, round or oval, and then baked. The bread eaten at the Passover was always…
The preparation of bread as an article of food dates from a very early period. (Genesis 18:6) The corn or grain employed was of various sorts. The best bread was made of wheat, but "barley" and spelt were also used. (John 6:9,13; Isaiah 28:25) The process of making bread was as follows: the flour was first mixed with water or milk; it was then kneaded with the hands (in Egypt with the feet also) in a small wooden bowl or "kneading-trough" until it became dough. (Exodus 12:34,39; 2 Samuel 13:3; Jeremiah 7:18) When the kneading was completed, leaven was generally added [LEAVEN]; but when the time for preparation was short…
A word which in Scripture is often put for food in general, Ge 3:19 18:5 28:20 Ex 2:20 Le 11:3. Manna is called bread from heaven, Ex 16:4. Bread, in the proper and literal sense, usually means cakes made of wheaten flour; barely being used chiefly by the poor and for feeding horses. The wheat was ground daily, in small stone mills; the flour was made into dough in a wooden trough, and subsequently leavened, Ex 12:34 Ho 7:4. It was then made into cakes, and baked.
פָּרַשׂ (paras) is a Hebrew verb meaning to spread out or scatter. It encompasses actions like breaking apart, dispersing, and stretching forth. The word appears in various forms, including Qal (to spread), Niphal (to be scattered), and Piel (to scatter). The entries collectively highlight its use in contexts of spreading or scattering, but do not provide specific verse references.
פָּרַשׂ vb. spread out, spread
Qal
spread out
spread
Niph. they shall be scattered
Pi.
spread out
= scatter
base
H6566 פָּרַשׂ spread out, spread
6566 paras paw-ras'
a primitive root; to break apart, disperse, etc.:--break,
chop in pieces, lay open, scatter, spread (abroad, forth,
selves, out), stretch (forth, out).
פָּרַשׂ (pa.ra.s) — to spread.
1) to spread, spread out, stretch, break in pieces
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to spread out, display
1a2) to spread over
1b) (Niphal) to be scattered, be spread out
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to spread out
1c1) to scatter
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.
אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought
to nothing, as nothing
cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
in circumst. clauses
with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
with prefixes
base
H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing
. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
. in circumst. clauses
. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
. with prefixes
369 'ayin ah'-yin
as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not
exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative
particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,
in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,
thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),
well-nigh, without. Compare 370.
see HEBREW for 0370
אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.
1) nothing, not, nought n
1a) nothing, nought neg
1b) not
1c) to have not (of possession) adv
1d) without w/prep
1e) for lack of
Part — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp