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Leviticus 11:11 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְשֶׁ֖קֶץ יִהְי֣וּ לָכֶ֑ם מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וְאֶת־ נִבְלָתָ֖ם תְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃

BSAThey shall behâyâh [detestable] an abominationsheqets you must notlôʼ eatʼâkal their meatbâsâr [flesh, body] and you must detestshâqats [utterly detest, loathe] their carcassesnᵉbêlâh [dead body, carcass]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 (te.sha.Ke.tzu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
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Leviticus 11:11quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse instructs the Israelites about certain creatures that are detestable and should not be consumed.
Who is speakingGod is speaking to the Israelites through Moses.
Where we areThis is part of the dietary laws given to the Israelites in Leviticus.
The hard wordשֶׁקֶץ
Take awayCertain creatures are marked as detestable and should be avoided.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Leviticus 11:11

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 — Dietary Laws in Leviticusgenerated

10But the following among all the teeming life and creatures in the water are detestable to you: everything in the seas or streams that does not have fins and scales.
11They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses.
12Everything in the water that does not have fins and scales shall be detestable to you.
13Additionally, you are to detest the following birds, and they must not be eaten because they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,

Leviticus 11:11 outlines specific dietary restrictions for the Israelites, emphasizing that certain animals are considered unclean and should not be eaten. This instruction is part of a broader set of laws aimed at maintaining holiness and purity among God's people, as seen throughout the chapter.


Cross References


The Key Word שֶׁקֶץ, ve.She.ketzgenerated

The word שֶׁ֫קֶץ (sheqets) refers to a detestable thing or abomination, often associated with idolatrous objects and filth. It is built from a root meaning filth and carries a strong connotation of detestation. In this verse, it indicates that the creatures mentioned are not just unclean but are to be regarded with utter disdain.

This term appears in contexts related to uncleanliness and idolatry, reinforcing the seriousness of the dietary laws. The use of שֶׁ֫קֶץ here underscores the need for the Israelites to maintain their distinct identity and purity in accordance with God's commandments.


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 finite verb יִהְי֣וּ (yihyu), meaning 'they will be', governs the entire verse. The structure consists of a main clause followed by several phrases detailing what should not be done with the creatures.

The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the prohibition: first stating the creatures are detestable, then instructing not to eat their flesh, and finally commanding to detest their carcasses.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שֶׁ֫קֶץ as βδελύγματα, which also means 'abominations.' This choice reflects a similar understanding of the creatures as utterly unacceptable.

The LXX's use of ἔσονται for יִהְי֣וּ aligns with the Hebrew meaning of 'they will be,' indicating a consistent interpretation of the text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 11:11 tells the Israelites that certain creatures are detestable and should not be eaten. They are to be considered an abomination, and their carcasses should be loathed. This verse is part of the dietary laws that God gave to help the Israelites maintain their purity.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for something to be detestable?

In this context, it refers to creatures that are considered unclean and should be avoided by the Israelites.

Why are these dietary laws important?

These laws help the Israelites maintain their identity and purity as God's chosen people.

What should the Israelites do with the carcasses of these creatures?

They are instructed to detest them, indicating a strong aversion to these animals.

Are these dietary restrictions still applicable today?

These laws were specific to the Israelites under the Old Covenant and are not typically observed in the same way by Christians today.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some modern practices that reflect a commitment to purity and holiness?
  2. How do dietary laws influence our understanding of cultural identity?
  3. In what ways can we apply the principles of this verse to our lives today?
  4. What does it mean to detest something in the context of our faith?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 11:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They shall be even an abomination to you,.... This is repeated again and again, to deter from the eating of such fishes, lest there should be any desire after them: ye shall not eat of their flesh,

Read John Gill on Leviticus 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

An abomination unto you, to wit, for food. This clause is added to show that they were neither abominable in their own nature, nor for the food of other nations; and consequently when the partition-wall between Jews and Gentiles was taken away, these distinctions of meats were to cease. See Acts 10.

Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Leviticus 11:11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.Ver. 11. They shall be even an abomination.] To teach us, that nothing is lawful, no not for our common use, unless it be "sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

Read John Trapp on Leviticus 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ch. Leviticus 11:1-23 [51]. The Distinction between Clean and Unclean Food [51] For the sources from which this ch. comes, and its relation from a critical point of view to Deuteronomy 14:3 ff. see App. I (c), pp. 162 f.One principle underlying this distinction appears to have been that animals which were recognised as in any way objects of worship by heathen neighbours, or even supposed by them to be connected with unseen supernatural beings, were to be considered unclean. See Bertholet in KHC., introd. note to this ch. But in other cases the prohibition probably rested on the animal’s repulsive appearance or uncleanly habits, or on sanitary or totemistic grounds. See Driver, Deut. p. 164…

Read Cambridge on Leviticus 11 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

FISHES, Leviticus 11:9-12.No species of fish are here mentioned; the possession of both fins and scales is the line of demarcation between the clean and the unclean.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 11 →

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

They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

and you shall detest them. You shall not eat of their meat, and you shall detest their carcasses.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Since they are detestable to you, you must not eat their meat and their carcass you must detest.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcases ye shall have in abomination.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They shall be even an abomination to you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They, I say, shalbe an abomination to you: ye shall not eate of their flesh, but shall abhorre their carkeis.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They shall be even an abomination unto you: of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase ye shall have in abomination.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

yea, an abomination they are to you; of their flesh ye do not eat, and their carcase ye abominate.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

indeed, they are an abomination to you; you do not eat of their flesh, and you detest their carcass.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And an abomination shall they remain unto you; of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Since they must be detested, you must not eat of their meat; also, their carcasses must be detested.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And detestable: their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall avoid.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They are repulsive. You must not eat their meat, and you must treat their dead bodies as repulsive.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

They may not be used for food, and their dead bodies are disgusting to you.

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.

וְandclauseobjectשֶׁ֖קֶץdetestable.thing[s]verbיִהְי֣וּthey.will.beprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoכֶ֑םyouclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִanynoun phraseבְּשָׂרָofם֙their.meatadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbתֹאכֵ֔לוּyou.must.eatוְandclausenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseנִבְלָתָ֖carcassםtheirverbתְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּyou.will.detest

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


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

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Septuagint matches 8 of the 9 words in the Hebrew, indicating a close relationship between the translations, while the Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restorations but align with the Masoretic Text.

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

וְשֶׁ֖קֶץ יִהְי֣וּ לָכֶ֑ם מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וְאֶת־ נִבְלָתָ֖ם תְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְשֶׁ֖קֶץβδελύγματαיִהְי֣וּἔσονταιלָכֶ֑םὑμῖνמִבְּשָׂרָם֙ἀπὸלֹ֣אοὐκתֹאכֵ֔לוּἔδεσθεוְאֶת־καὶתְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃βδελύχεσθε

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

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ושׁקץ יהיו לכם מבשׂרם לא תאכלו ואת נבלתם תשׁקצו

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — Mas1ba copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ושקץ יהיו ל׳כם מבשר׳ם [לא] [תאכלו] [ואת] [נבלת׳ם] [תשקצו]

3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Q3a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ושקץ] [יהיו] ל׳כם מבשר׳ם [לא] [תאכלו]

6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 2 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Leviticus 11:11שֶׁ֫קֶץand detestaand detestable שֶׁ֫קֶץהָיָהthey will bthey will beהָיָהכֶםto youto youכֶםבָּשָׂרany of meatany of meat theבָּשָׂרלֹאnotnotלֹאאָכַלyou must eayou must eatאָכַלאֵתand the objand the object אֵתנְבֵלָהcarcass thecarcass theirנְבֵלָהשִׁקֵּץyou will coyou will considשִׁקֵּץשִׁקֵּץto detestto detestשִׁקֵּץבָּשַׂרto bear tito bear tidingsבָּשַׂראוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתנָבֵלbe senselebe senselessנָבֵלהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאבָּשָׂרfleshfleshבָּשָׂרעוֹרskinskinעוֹרעֶ֫צֶםboneboneעֶ֫צֶםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁטְרֵפָהtorn animatorn animalטְרֵפָהמַאֲכָלfoodfoodמַאֲכָלתַּעָבto abhorto abhorתַּעָב
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 Leviticus 11:11

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

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

and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
וְשֶׁ֖קֶץve.She.ketz and detestable thing[s] H8263 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means something that is detestable or an abomination, like the idols in Deuteronomy 7:25. It refers to things that are considered filthy or unclean.
Tyndale gloss
detestation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫קֶץ (sheqets) refers to a detestable thing or abomination, often associated with idolatrous objects and filth. It is built from the root meaning of filth and carries a strong connotation of detestation. The term appears in contexts related to uncleanliness and idolatry.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫קֶץ n.m. detestation, detestable thing

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8263 שֶׁ֫קֶץ detestation, detestable thing

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8263 sheqets sheh'-kets

from 8262; filth, i.e. (figuratively and specifically) an

idolatrous object:--abominable(-tion).

see HEBREW for 08262

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫קֶץ (she.qets) — detestation.

detestable thing or idol, an unclean thing, an abomination, detestation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
יִהְי֣וּyih.Yu they will be H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Amplified meaning
detestable
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

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

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

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

Come into being, become

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

sq. prep.

become

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

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

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

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

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

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

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

. sq. prep.

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

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

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

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

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

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

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

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

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

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

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

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

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

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

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

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
לָכֶ֑םla.Khem to you H9036 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶם (khem) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2mp
and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
מִבְּשָׂרָם֙mi.be.sa.Ram any of meat their H1320 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
270× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
flesh, body
Tyndale gloss
flesh
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּשָׂר (basar) means 'flesh' and encompasses various meanings, including the physical body, kinship, and a euphemism for male genitalia. It can refer to humans, animals, and all living things, highlighting the frailty of man in relation to God. The entries consistently emphasize its bodily and relational aspects.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּשָׂר 266 n.m. flesh

of the body

flesh for the body itself

male organ of generation (euphemism)

flesh for kindred, blood-relations

man over against God as frail or erring

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1320 בָּשָׂר flesh . of the body

. flesh for the body itself

. male organ of generation (euphemism)

. flesh for kindred, blood-relations

. man over against God as frail or erring

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1320 basar baw-sawr'

from 1319; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body,

person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man:--body, (fat,

lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.

see HEBREW for 01319

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּשָׂר (ba.sar) — flesh.

1) flesh

1a) of the body

1a1) of humans

1a2) of animals

1b) the body itself

1c) male organ of generation (euphemism)

1d) kindred, blood-relations

1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God)

1f) all living things

1g) animals

1h) mankind

Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
תֹאכֵ֔לוּto.Khe.lu you must eat H398 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVqi2mp
and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
נִבְלָתָ֖םniv.la.Tam carcass their H5038 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
48× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a dead body or carcass, whether human or animal, often translated as 'dead body' or 'carcass'. It can also symbolize an idol.
Amplified meaning
dead body, carcass
Tyndale gloss
carcass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְבֵלָה (nevelah) refers to a carcass or corpse, applicable to both humans and animals. It can also denote carrion and, in a figurative sense, an idol. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be flabby' and encompasses the idea of a dead body, whether it died naturally or otherwise.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְבֵלָה n.f. carcass, corpse

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5038 נְבֵלָה carcass, corpse

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5038 nbelah neb-ay-law'

from 5034; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human

or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol:--

(dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died,

(beast) that (which) dieth of itself.

see HEBREW for 05034

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְבֵלָה (ne.ve.lah) — carcass.

1) carcass, corpse

1a) of humans, idols, animals

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3mp
and detestable thing[s] they will be to you any of meat their not you must eat and the object marker carcass their you will consider detestable
תְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃te.sha.Ke.tzu you will consider detestable H8262 Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine plural
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To detest or loathe something is the meaning of this word, as seen in Psalm 119:163 where the writer hates falsehood. It involves strong feelings of dislike or disgust.
Amplified meaning
utterly detest, loathe
Tyndale gloss
to detest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁקֵּץ (shaqats) is a verb meaning to detest or make detestable. It is derived from a primitive root that conveys the idea of being filthy or loathsome. The word covers meanings related to abomination and pollution, emphasizing a strong aversion. It appears in contexts where something is considered utterly abhorrent.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שִׁקֵּץ] vb. Pi. denom. detest, make detestable

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8262 שִׁקֵּץ vb. Pi. denom. detest, make detestable

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8262 shaqats shaw-kats'

a primitive root; to be filthy, i.e. (intensively) to loathe,

pollute:--abhor, make abominable, have in abomination,

detest, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁקֵּץ (sha.qats) — to detest.

1) (Piel) to detest, make abominable, count filthy, make detestable

1a) to detest

1b) to make detestable

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVpi2mp
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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