Menu

Lamentations 5:16 — Word Study

Depth

WLCנָֽפְלָה֙ עֲטֶ֣רֶת רֹאשֵׁ֔נוּ אֽוֹי־ נָ֥א לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י חָטָֽאנוּ׃

BSAThe crownʻăṭârâh has fallennâphal [been taken away, removed] from our headrôʼsh [the topmost part of the body] Woeʼôwy [oh no, alas, sorrow] forkîy [because, since] we have sinnedchâṭâʼ [missed the mark, gone wrong, incurred guilt]

Word
Listen & take awayLamentations 5
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 16 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 (cha.Ta.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Lamentations 5:16quick helps
In a sentenceThe people lament the loss of their crown and acknowledge their sin.
Who is speakingThe speaker is part of the community experiencing sorrow and guilt.
Where we areThis verse is part of a lament expressing deep grief over loss and sin.
The hard wordנָֽפְלָה֙
Take awayThe crown symbolizes lost honor due to sin.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאוֹי verbנָפַל 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 5:16

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 of the Peoplegenerated

15Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
16The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
17Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim—
18because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.

Lamentations 5:16 expresses the sorrow of the people after suffering great loss and recognizing their own wrongdoing. The verse captures a moment of despair, where the crown, a symbol of authority and honor, has fallen, leading to a cry of woe. This lament reflects the broader themes of loss and repentance found throughout the book of Lamentations, as the community grapples with the consequences of their actions.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Lamentations 1:1How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave.
2Job 19:9He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head.
3Psalm 89:39You have renounced the covenant with Your servant and sullied his crown in the dust.
4Jeremiah 13:18Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”
5Ezekiel 21:26This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted.

The Key Word נָֽפְלָה֙, na.fe.Lahgenerated

The verb נָפַל (naphal) means 'to fall' and is used here in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action: 'it has fallen.' This word can imply various forms of downfall, whether literal or metaphorical, such as defeat or loss of status. In this context, it signifies the loss of the crown, representing the community's fallen state.

The use of the feminine singular form suggests that the crown, as a symbol of the community's collective authority and honor, has been irrevocably lost. The emotional weight of this word emphasizes the gravity of their situation, marking a significant moment of despair.


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 נָֽפְלָה֙ governs the entire verse, indicating the action of falling. The structure is straightforward, with a subject and a predicate that conveys the lamentation.

The sentence begins with the fallen crown, emphasizing the loss, followed by the expression of woe and the acknowledgment of sin. This order highlights the cause of their sorrow and the communal recognition of guilt.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נָֽפְלָה֙ with ἔπεσεν (epesen), which also means 'it has fallen.' This choice maintains the original meaning while fitting the Greek language structure.

The use of οὐαὶ (ouai) for אוֹי emphasizes the emotional intensity of the lament, aligning with the Hebrew expression of grief.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Lamentations 5:16 shows the people mourning the loss of their crown, which symbolizes their honor and authority. They express sorrow and acknowledge their sins, indicating that their current state is a result of their actions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the crown represent in this verse?

The crown symbolizes authority and honor, and its loss indicates a fallen state due to sin.

Why do the people cry out 'woe'?

The cry of 'woe' expresses deep sorrow and grief over their situation and acknowledges their wrongdoing.

What does it mean to have sinned?

To sin means to miss the mark or go wrong, incurring guilt, and in this context, it reflects the community's recognition of their failures.

How does this verse connect to the overall theme of Lamentations?

This verse encapsulates the themes of loss, repentance, and communal grief that permeate the book of Lamentations.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I recognize areas in my life where I may have fallen short, like the people in this verse?
  2. What steps can I take to acknowledge my mistakes and seek restoration?
  3. In what ways can I support others who are experiencing sorrow or loss?
  4. How can I better understand the consequences of my actions in light of this lament?

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

Early commentary on this verse highlights the significance of the crown as a symbol of authority and the community's recognition of their fallen state.

Thomas Aquinas 1225–1274
Here is indicated the glory of di~nities. First, the glory of a king. As stated: "The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us,
Early Church Fathers on Lamentations 5 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Lamentations 5:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The crown is fallen [from] our head,.... Or, "the crown of our head is fallen" (a); all their honour and glory as a nation were gone; the glory of their kingdom and priesthood, to both which a crown

Read John Gill on Lamentations 5 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! The crown - all our glory, the kingdom and the priesthood (Job 19:9; Psalms 89:39; Psalms 89:44).

Read Robert Jamieson on Lamentations 5 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Or, The crown of our head is fallen, by which is not only to be understood the cessation of their kingdom, but all their honour, splendour, and dignity (crown being taken in a metaphorical notion). Woe unto us, that we have sinned! we must thank ourselves for all this, this woe is come upon us because of our sins·

Read Matthew Poole on Lamentations 5 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Lamentations 5:16 The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!Ver. 16. The crown is fallen from our head,] i.e., All our glory, both of Church and State, because we refused to serve God, which indeed is to "reign in righteousness." Now neither is all this, nor any of this, spoken to exasperate or exulcerate people’ s hearts to fret against God, or to faint under their pressures, but to put them upon the practice of true humiliation, that so they may not lose the fruit of their afflictions, whence the following passage. Woe unto us that we have sinned!] Which, as it runneth sweetly and rhythmically in the original, so it pointeth us to that savoury and sovereign…

Read John Trapp on Lamentations 5 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) The crown is fallen.—The phrase is naturally symbolic of degradation, and need not be restricted to the destruction of the Temple or the devastation of Jerusalem. We have sinned!—The confession of personal sinfulness produced by the contemplation of the miseries of the people contrasts, as has been already noticed, with the half-complaining tone of Lam 5:7.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Lamentations 5 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 16. The crown is fallen from our head] At feasts, marriages, c., they used to crown themselves with garlands of flowers all festivity of this kind was now at an end. Or it may refer to their having lost all sovereignty, being made slaves.

Read AdamClarke on Lamentations 5 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. The crown is fallen from our head] Our honour is brought to the dust.

Read Cambridge on Lamentations 5 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Literally, “The crown of our head is fallen,” i. e. what was our chief ornament and dignity is lost; the independence of the nation, and all that gave them rank and honor.

Read Albert Barnes on Lamentations 5 →

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 crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!

NETBNew English Translation2006

The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The crown is fallen from our head: Woe unto us! for we have sinned.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us! for we have sinned.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The crown is fallen from our head: woe to us, that we have sinned!

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The crowne of our head is fallen: wo nowe vnto vs, that we haue sinned.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, for we have sinned!

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Fallen hath the crown [from] our head, Woe [is] now to us, for we have sinned.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The crown has fallen [from] our head, || Woe [is] now to us, for we have sinned.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Fallen is the crown of our head: woe to us, for we have sinned.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The crown is fallen from our head woe to us, because we have sinned.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The crown has fallen from our head. What a disaster has come upon us because we have sinned!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The crown has been taken from our head: sorrow is ours, for we are sinners.

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.

clauseverbנָֽפְלָה֙it.has.fallennoun phrase · subjectעֲטֶ֣רֶתthe.crownnoun phraseרֹאשֵׁ֔our.headנוּourclausesubjectאֽוֹיwoe!adverbialנָ֥אpleaseprepositional phrase · predicateלָ֖toנוּusכִּ֥י(dm)clauseverbחָטָֽאנוּwe.have.sinned

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all eight words matching in the Hebrew and Greek versions. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain one word from the verse, with the rest supplied by an editor, indicating partial preservation of the text.

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

נָֽפְלָה֙ עֲטֶ֣רֶת רֹאשֵׁ֔נוּ אֽוֹי־ נָ֥א לָ֖נוּ כִּ֥י חָטָֽאנוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
נָֽפְלָה֙ἔπεσενעֲטֶ֣רֶתστέφανοςרֹאשֵׁ֔נוּἡμῶνאֽוֹי־οὐαὶנָ֥אδὴלָ֖נוּἡμῖνכִּ֥יὅτιחָטָֽאנוּ׃ἡμάρτομεν

8 of the 8 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 — 5Q6a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[נפלה] [עטרת] [ראש׳נו] אוי [נא] [ל׳נו] [כי] [חטאנו]

1 word on the leather — 7 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 5:16נָפַלit has fallit has fallenנָפַלעֲטָרָה[the] crown[the] crown ofעֲטָרָהרֹאשׁhead ourhead ourרֹאשׁאוֹיwoe!woe!אוֹינָאpleasepleaseנָאנוּto usto usנוּכִּיforforכִּיחָטָאwe have sinwe have sinnedחָטָאעָטַרto surrounto surroundעָטַראָוָהto desireto desireאָוָהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלגֵּאוּתmajestymajestyגֵּאוּתשִׁכֹּרdrunkendrunkenשִׁכֹּרעֲטָרָהcrowncrownעֲטָרָהנָשִׂיאleaderleaderנָשִׂיארָזִיwastingwastingרָזִימִיwho?who?מִיחֵןfavorfavorחֵןעַתָּ֫הnownowעַתָּ֫היָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענְבָטNebatNebatנְבָטסָלַחto forgiveto forgiveסָלַח
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 5:16

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.

it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
נָֽפְלָה֙na.fe.Lah it has fallen H5307 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
435× 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 to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Amplified meaning
been taken away, removed
Tyndale gloss
to fall: fall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie

Qal 366

fall, by accident

Esp. of violent death

fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

fig. = experience calamity

fall, of a city

Fall prostrate

fall = prostrate oneself before

fall upon one's neck, in embrace

Fall upon = attack

desert or fall away to, go over to

Fig., of deep sleep

Other idiomatic uses

= lie; = lie prostrate

Hiph.

cause to fall

Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

Esp. of casting lot

Fig., let drop, cause to fail

cause deep sleep to fall

Other idioms

Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident

. . Esp. of violent death

. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

. fig. = experience calamity

. fall, of a city

. . Fall prostrate

. fall = prostrate oneself before

. fall upon one's neck, in embrace

. . Fall upon = attack

. desert or fall away to, go over to

. Fig., of deep sleep

. Other idiomatic uses

. = lie; = lie prostrate

. . cause to fall

. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

. Esp. of casting lot

. Fig., let drop, cause to fail

. cause deep sleep to fall

. Other idioms

. throw, or prostrate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5307 naphal naw-fal'

a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be

accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide

(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall

(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have

(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay

(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,

lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make

to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.

: fall/drop/fail

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.

: deserting

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
עֲטֶ֣רֶת'a.Te.ret [the] crown of H5850 Noun common · feminine singular construct
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A crown is a symbol of power and honor, and this word is used in the Bible to describe a royal crown. It appears in 2 Samuel 12:30, where King David takes a crown from a defeated king.
Tyndale gloss
crown
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֲטָרָה (atarah) means 'crown' or 'wreath' and is derived from the root word עָטַר (atar). It can refer to a literal crown, a decorative wreath, or symbolize honor. The term appears in contexts related to idol imagery and materials like silver and gold.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲטָרָה n.f. crown, wreath

of idol-image

of silver and gold

fig. of honour

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5850 עֲטָרָה crown, wreath

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5850 `atarah at-aw-raw'

from 5849; a crown:--crown.

see HEBREW for 05849

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲטָרָה (a.ta.rah) — crown.

crown, wreath

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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…

it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
רֹאשֵׁ֔נוּro.She.nu head our H7218 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
600× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Amplified meaning
the topmost part of the body
Tyndale gloss
head
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) means 'head' and encompasses various meanings related to position and rank. It can refer to the head of a person or animal, the top of a mountain, or a chief in various contexts, such as a city or nation. The word also signifies beginnings and sums, appearing in phrases related to enumeration. Additionally, it serves as a proper noun for 'Rosh,' a title for a chief or prince.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֹאשׁ 599 n.m.

(c. 230 t.) head, of human being

head, of animals

top (88 t.)

height, of stars

head = chief (man)

= chief (city)

chief nation

= chief (place, position)

= chief priest

= head of a family

head = front, leader's place

of time, beginning, of night watch

of things, river-heads

chief, choicest, best, of spices

head = division of army, company, band

= sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

other phr.

base

רֹאשׁ n.pr.gent. Rôsh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7218a רֹאשׁ . . (c. 230 t.) head, of human being

. head, of animals

. . top (88 t.)

. height, of stars

. . head = chief (man)

. = chief (city)

. chief nation

. = chief (place, position)

. = chief priest

. = head of a family

. . head = front, leader's place

. of time, beginning, of night watch

. of things, river-heads

. chief, choicest, best, of spices

. head = division of army, company, band

. = sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

. other phr.

H7218b רֹאשׁ n. pr. gent. Rôsh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7218 ro'sh roshe

from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as

most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many

applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning,

captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company,

end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,

height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor,

principal, ruler, sum, top.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head.

: head

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — prince.

Rosh, a tite for a chief or prince

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: leader.

: leader

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: top.

: top/best

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bp
it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
אֽוֹי־'o- woe! H188 Particle
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is an expression of sorrow or grief, like a cry of 'Oh no!' or 'Alas!' It's used in Isaiah and Jeremiah to lament the fate of God's people. The prophets use it to express deep emotional pain.
Amplified meaning
oh no, alas, sorrow
Tyndale gloss
woe!
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוֹי (oy) is an interjection expressing grief or despair, often translated as 'woe!' or 'alas!'. It likely originates from a root meaning to cry out, emphasizing its use as a passionate lamentation. The entries consistently highlight its emotional intensity without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוֹי interj. (onomatop.) woe! an impassioned expression of grief and despair

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H188 אוֹי (onomatop.) woe! an empassioned expression of grief and despair

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

188 'owy o'-ee

probably from 183 (in the sense of crying out after);

lamentation; also interjectionally Oh!:--alas, woe.

see HEBREW for 0183

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹי (oy) — woe!.

1) woe! alas! oh!

1a) passionate cry of grief or despair

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTj
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is sometimes used in our Bibles where a softer expression would be at least equally proper: "Woe to such a one!" is in our language a threat or imprecation of some calamity, natural or judicial, to befall a person; but this is not always the meaning of the word in Scripture. We find the expression, "Woe is me!" that is, Alas for my sufferings! And, "Woe to the women with child, and those who give suck!" that is, Alas for their redoubled sufferings in times of distress! If in the denunciatory language of Christ, we should read, "Alas for thee, Chorazin! Alas for thee, Bethsaida!" we should do not injustice to the general sentiments of the passage.

Yet in many cases the word woe is used in a fuller and more awful sense, expressing an inspired denunciation and foreshadowing of God’s wrath upon sinners; as when we read, "Woe to those who build houses by unrighteousness, and cities by blood;"…

it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
נָ֥אna' please H4994 Particle
404× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Tyndale gloss
please
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָא (na') is a Hebrew particle used primarily for entreaty or exhortation, meaning 'I pray,' 'now,' or 'please.' It often appears attached to verbs in the imperative or future forms, and can also modify interjections, adverbs, or conjunctions. The entries consistently emphasize its role in expressing a plea or request.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָא part. of entreaty or exhortation, I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4994 נָא I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4994 na' naw

a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may

usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly

to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections,

occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray)

thee (you), go to, now, oh.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָא (na) — please.

1) I (we) pray, now, please

1a) used in entreaty or exhortation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
לָ֖נוּLa.nu to us H9035 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נוּ (nu) — us.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bp — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bp
English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

US, pronoun objective case of we.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.

Us, pron. oblique case of we

it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
כִּ֥יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Amplified meaning
because, since
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
it has fallen [the] crown of head our woe! please to us for we have sinned
חָטָֽאנוּ׃cha.Ta.nu we have sinned H2398 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common plural
238× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sin means to miss the mark or go wrong, incurring guilt or penalty, and can also mean to repent or make amends. It is used in the Bible to describe wrongdoing and its consequences.
Amplified meaning
missed the mark, gone wrong, incurred guilt
Tyndale gloss
to sin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָטָא (chata') means to miss a goal or way, and is commonly translated as 'to sin.' It encompasses a range of meanings including incurring guilt, making a sin offering, and purifying from uncleanness. The word can also imply leading others to sin or causing oneself to lose one's way. It appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of the concept of sin.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָטָא 238 vb. miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin

Qal

miss

sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit

Pi.

bear loss

make a sin offering

purify from sin

purify from uncleanness

Hiph.

miss the mark

induce or cause to sin

bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment

Hithp.

miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself

purify oneself from uncleanness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2398 חָטָא miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin .. miss

. sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

. incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit

. . bear loss

. make a sin offering

. purify from sin

. purify from uncleanness

. . miss the mark

. induce or cause to sin

. bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment

. . miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself

. purify oneself from uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2398 chata' khaw-taw'

a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and

generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate,

repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:--bear the blame,

cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss,

miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self),

make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָטָא (cha.ta) — to sin.

1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to miss

1a2) to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to bear loss

1b2) to make a sin-offering

1b3) to purify from sin

1b4) to purify from uncleanness

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to miss the mark

1c2) to induce to sin, cause to sin

1c3) to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way

1d2) to purify oneself from uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common plural
HVqp1cp
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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

Donate