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Leviticus 11:43 — Word Study

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WLCאַל־ תְּשַׁקְּצוּ֙ אֶת־ נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכָל־ הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵ֑ץ וְלֹ֤א תִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙ בָּהֶ֔ם וְנִטְמֵתֶ֖ם בָּֽם׃

BSADo notʼal [make yourselves abominable] defileshâqats yourselvesnephesh by anykôl [creeping thing that creepeth, teeming thing] crawling creaturesherets do notlôʼ become uncleanṭâmêʼ [morally or ceremonially] or defiledṭâmêʼ [foul, contaminated]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 43 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 (Bam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 11:43quick helps
In a sentenceGod instructs Israel not to defile themselves by certain creatures.
Who is speakingThe LORD, giving commandments to His people.
Where we areA section of Leviticus detailing dietary laws and cleanliness.
The hard wordשִׁקֵּץ
Take awayThe command to maintain purity in the community.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbשִׁקֵּץ 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 11:43

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

42Do not eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it crawls on its belly or walks on four or more feet; for such creatures are detestable.
43Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not become unclean or defiled by them.
44For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground.
45For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Leviticus 11:43 is part of a larger set of laws concerning clean and unclean animals. God instructs the Israelites on how to remain holy and distinct from other nations by adhering to these dietary restrictions. This verse emphasizes the importance of purity and the avoidance of things that are considered detestable.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Leviticus 11:41–42Every creature that moves along the ground is detestable; it must not be eaten.
2Leviticus 20:25You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שִׁקֵּץ, te.sha.ke.Tzugenerated

The verb שִׁקֵּץ (shaqats) means to detest or make detestable. It conveys a strong sense of aversion, indicating that certain creatures are not just unclean but are to be regarded with disgust. This word is used to highlight the seriousness of the command against consuming these creatures.

The Piel form of the verb indicates an intensive action, emphasizing the act of making something detestable. In this context, it serves as a warning to the Israelites to avoid these creatures to maintain their holiness.


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 is תְּשַׁקְּצוּ, you make detestable, which governs the action of the subject. The sentence structure is straightforward, with the prohibition followed by the consequences of that action.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the commands, starting with the negative particle אַל, may not, and then elaborating on the actions to avoid, creating a clear directive.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שִׁקֵּץ as βδελύχητε (bdeluchēte), which carries a similar meaning of detesting or abhorring. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the seriousness of the command.

The use of βδελύχητε indicates a strong moral and ceremonial implication, aligning with the original Hebrew intent to convey a sense of disgust towards certain creatures.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 11:43 instructs the Israelites not to defile themselves by consuming certain crawling creatures. This command emphasizes the importance of maintaining purity and holiness in their community.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to defile oneself?

To defile oneself means to become unclean or impure, often in a ceremonial or moral sense, as outlined in the laws of Leviticus.

Why are certain creatures considered detestable?

Certain creatures are deemed detestable because they are associated with impurity and are not suitable for consumption according to God's laws.

How do these dietary laws apply today?

While many of these laws are specific to the Israelite community, they reflect broader principles of holiness and separation from practices considered unclean.

What is the significance of maintaining cleanliness in the community?

Maintaining cleanliness signifies obedience to God's commands and a commitment to living a holy life, distinct from surrounding nations.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can ensure I remain spiritually clean in my daily life?
  2. How do the dietary laws reflect God's desire for His people?
  3. What practices can I adopt to foster a sense of holiness in my community?
  4. In what ways do I view certain things in my life as detestable, and how can I align my values with God's commands?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 11:43 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth,.... With any creeping thing that flies in the air, excepting the four sorts of locusts, Leviticus 11:22 and with any

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

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. No JFB commentary on these verses.

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

Leviticus 11:43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.Ver. 43. Ye shall not make yourselves.] Heb., Your souls. See on Leviticus 11:32.

Read John Trapp on Leviticus 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(43) Ye shall not make your selves abominable.—By eating the unclean creatures which are constantly characterised in this book as “abominable” (see Leviticus 7:21; Leviticus 11:10-13; Leviticus 11:20; Leviticus 11:23; Leviticus 11:41-42)—a term which only occurs twice more in the Hebrew Scriptures (Isaiah 66:17; Ezekiel 8:10)—those who do so render themselves abominable and repulsive; hence the admonition. The phrase only occurs once more, viz., Leviticus 20:25, where it is translated in the Authorised Version, “Ye shall not make your souls abominable.” This is the reason why “soul” is put here in the margin on the word “selves.” Neither shall ye make yourselves unclean.—But not only is it…

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

41–44. This would come appropriately as a conclusion to the rules about eating, after Leviticus 11:23. Cp. Ezekiel 8:10 f.

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

43. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable — Hebrew, your souls.See Leviticus 4:2.

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

Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not become unclean or defiled by them.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps. You shall not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled by them.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not become unclean or defiled by them.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not make yourselves detestable by any of the swarming things. You must not defile yourselves by them and become unclean by them,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Ye shall not make your selves abominable with any creeping animal that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled by them.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Ye shall not pollute your selues with any thing that creepeth, neither make your selues vncleane with them, neither defile your selues thereby: ye shall not, I say, be defiled by them,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable through any crawling thing which crawleth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

ye do not make yourselves abominable with any teeming thing which is teeming, nor do ye make yourselves unclean with them, so that ye have been unclean thereby.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

you do not make yourselves abominable with any teeming thing which is teeming, nor do you make yourselves unclean with them, so that you have been unclean with them.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth; and ye shall not make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

You must not make yourselves unclean with any living creatures that creep; you must not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be made impure by them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Do not defile your souls, nor touch aught thereof, lest you be unclean,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't defile yourselves by any such crawling animal. Don't make yourselves unclean or defiled by them,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

You are not to make yourselves disgusting with anything which goes about flat on the earth; you may not make yourselves unclean with them, in such a way that you are not holy to me.

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.

clauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתְּשַׁקְּצוּ֙make.detestablenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseנַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיselvesכֶ֔םyourprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּbynoun phraseכָלanynoun phraseהַ(the).swarmingnoun phraseשֶּׁ֖רֶץthingadjective phraseהַ[which]שֹּׁרֵ֑ץswarmsוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֤אnotverbתִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙you.must.make.yourselves.uncleanprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּbyהֶ֔םthemוְandclauseverbנִטְמֵתֶ֖םyou.will.make.yourselves.uncleanprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּֽbyםthem

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 Samaritan Pentateuch agree on the overall message, though the Samaritan version uses נטמאתם (you will be unclean) instead of the Masoretic נִטְמֵתֶם. This variation maintains the same core idea of avoiding defilement.

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

אַל־ תְּשַׁקְּצוּ֙ אֶת־ נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכָל־ הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵ֑ץ וְלֹ֤א תִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙ בָּהֶ֔ם וְנִטְמֵתֶ֖ם בָּֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־οὐתְּשַׁקְּצוּ֙βδελύχητεנַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔םὑμῶνבְּכָל־πᾶσιהַשֶּׁ֖רֶץἑρπετοῖςהַשֹּׁרֵ֑ץἕρπουσινוְלֹ֤אοὐתִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙μιανθήσεσθεבָּהֶ֔םτούτοιςוְנִטְמֵתֶ֖םκαὶבָּֽם׃αὐτοῖς

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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

אל תשׁקצו את נפשׁתיכם בכל השׁרץ השׁרץ ולא תטמאו בהם ונטמאתם בם

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: נטמאתם (be unclean)

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 11:43אַלmay notmay notאַלשִׁקֵּץyou make deyou make detestשִׁקֵּץאֵתthe object the object markאֵתנֶ֫פֶשׁselves yourselves yourנֶ֫פֶשׁכֹּלby anyby anyכֹּלשֶׁ֫רֶץswarming thswarming thingשֶׁ֫רֶץשָׁרַץwhich swarmwhich swarmsשָׁרַץלֹאand notand notלֹאטָמֵאyou must mayou must make yטָמֵאהֶםby themby themהֶםטָמֵאand you wiland you will maטָמֵאהֶםby themby themהֶםשָׁרַץto swarmto swarmשָׁרַץאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַללֹאnotnotלֹאעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶברָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאתַּעָבto abhorto abhorתַּעָבמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַיעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףשֶׁ֫רֶץswarmswarmשֶׁ֫רֶץפָּרָהbe fruitfube fruitfulפָּרָה
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 11:43

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.

may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
make yourselves abominable
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
תְּשַׁקְּצוּ֙te.sha.ke.Tzu you make detestable H8262 Verb · Piel · jussive 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.
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-Juss-2mp — Verb · Piel · jussive second person masculine plural
HVpj2mp
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔םnaf.Sho.tei.Khem selves your H5315 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp2mp
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
בְּכָל־be.khol by any H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
creeping thing that creepeth, teeming thing
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

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

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

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

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

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

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

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

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץha.She.retz swarming thing H8318 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a swarm of small animals like insects or reptiles, often found in the book of Genesis. It describes a large group of tiny creatures moving together. In the Bible, it is used to describe the abundance of God's creation.
Tyndale gloss
swarm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫רֶץ (sherets) refers to swarmers or swarming things, encompassing a variety of small creatures like insects, reptiles, and other animals. It is derived from a related term indicating a swarm or active mass of minute animals. The entries consistently describe it as a collective noun for these types of creatures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫רֶץ n.m. coll. swarmers, swarming things

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8318 שֶׁ֫רֶץ swarmers, swarming things

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8318 sherets sheh'-rets

from 8317; a swarm, i.e. active mass of minute

animals:--creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature).

see HEBREW for 08317

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫רֶץ (she.rets) — swarm.

1) teeming or swarming things, creepers, swarmers

1a) of insects, animals, small reptiles, quadrupeds

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
הַשֹּׁרֵ֑ץha.sho.Retz which swarms H8317 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to swarm or abound, and is used in the Bible to describe the multiplication of living things, like in Genesis 8:17. It can also mean to breed or increase, and is often associated with the abundance of God's creation. The word is used in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
to swarm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁרַץ (sharats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to swarm or teem, indicating a sense of abundance or multiplication. It is derived from a primitive root that conveys the idea of wriggling or moving. The entries emphasize its usage in contexts where creatures or things abound, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁרַץ vb. swarm, teem

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8317 שָׁרַץ swarm, teem

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8317 sharats shaw-rats'

a primitive root; to wriggle, i.e. (by implication) swarm or

abound:--breed (bring forth, increase) abundantly (in

abundance), creep, move.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁרַץ (sha.rats) — to swarm.

1) (Qal) to teem, swarm, multiply

1a) to swarm, teem

1b2) to swarm

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Vqrmsa — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HTd/Vqrmsa
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
וְלֹ֤אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · 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
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
תִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙ti.ta.me.'U you must make yourselves unclean H2930 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect second person masculine plural
162× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be foul or contaminated, often in a moral or ceremonial sense. It is used in the Bible to describe something that is unclean or polluted. In the book of Leviticus, it talks about being unclean and how to become clean again.
Amplified meaning
morally or ceremonially
Tyndale gloss
to defile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָמֵא (tame') is a Hebrew root meaning to be or become unclean, covering various contexts such as sexual, religious, and ceremonial impurity. The noun form, טָמְאָה (tam'ah), refers to uncleanness itself. The entries indicate that the word can be used reflexively to mean defiling oneself.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָמֵא vb. be or become unclean

Qal be or become unclean

Niph. defile oneself, be defiled

Pi. defile

Pu. myself is not polluted

Hithp.—reflexive, defile oneself

Hothp. after that she has been defiled

base

טָמְאָה n.f. uncleanness Mi 2:10

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2930a טָמֵא be or become unclean .be or become unclean

. defile oneself, be defiled

. defile

. myself is not pulluted

.—reflexive, defile oneself

. after that she has been defiled

H2930b טָמְאָה uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2930 tame' taw-may'

a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or

moral sense (contaminated):--defile (self), pollute (self), be

(make, make self, pronounce) unclean, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָמֵא (ta.me) — to defile.

1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure

1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean

1a1) sexually

1a2) religiously

1a3) ceremonially

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled

1b1a) sexually

1b1b) by idolatry

1b1c) ceremonially

1b2) to be regarded as unclean

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to defile

1c1a) sexually

1c1b) religiously

1c1c) ceremonially

1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially)

1c3) to profane (God's name)

1d) (Pual) to be defiled

1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean

1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled

טָמְאָה (tam.ah) — uncleanness.

uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVti2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CLEAN.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Ceremonially speaking)

Creatures designated as such Le 11; De 14

→ See UNCLEANNESS

may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
בָּהֶ֔םba.Hem by them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
וְנִטְמֵתֶ֖םve.nit.me.Tem and you will make yourselves unclean H2930 Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect second person masculine plural
162× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be foul or contaminated, often in a moral or ceremonial sense. It is used in the Bible to describe something that is unclean or polluted. In the book of Leviticus, it talks about being unclean and how to become clean again.
Amplified meaning
foul, contaminated
Tyndale gloss
to defile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָמֵא (tame') is a Hebrew root meaning to be or become unclean, covering various contexts such as sexual, religious, and ceremonial impurity. The noun form, טָמְאָה (tam'ah), refers to uncleanness itself. The entries indicate that the word can be used reflexively to mean defiling oneself.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָמֵא vb. be or become unclean

Qal be or become unclean

Niph. defile oneself, be defiled

Pi. defile

Pu. myself is not polluted

Hithp.—reflexive, defile oneself

Hothp. after that she has been defiled

base

טָמְאָה n.f. uncleanness Mi 2:10

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2930a טָמֵא be or become unclean .be or become unclean

. defile oneself, be defiled

. defile

. myself is not pulluted

.—reflexive, defile oneself

. after that she has been defiled

H2930b טָמְאָה uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2930 tame' taw-may'

a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or

moral sense (contaminated):--defile (self), pollute (self), be

(make, make self, pronounce) unclean, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָמֵא (ta.me) — to defile.

1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure

1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean

1a1) sexually

1a2) religiously

1a3) ceremonially

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled

1b1a) sexually

1b1b) by idolatry

1b1c) ceremonially

1b2) to be regarded as unclean

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to defile

1c1a) sexually

1c1b) religiously

1c1c) ceremonially

1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially)

1c3) to profane (God's name)

1d) (Pual) to be defiled

1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean

1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled

טָמְאָה (tam.ah) — uncleanness.

uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-2mp — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect second person masculine plural
Hc/VNq2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CLEAN.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Ceremonially speaking)

Creatures designated as such Le 11; De 14

→ See UNCLEANNESS

may not you make detestable the object marker selves your by any swarming thing which swarms and not you must make yourselves unclean by them and you will make yourselves unclean by them
בָּֽם׃Bam by them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
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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