Menu

Leviticus 13:40 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאִ֕ישׁ כִּ֥י יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ קֵרֵ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא׃

BSANow ifkîy a manʼîysh [a male person, individual] loses his hairmâraṭ [his head is polished, becomes smooth] [and] is baldqêrêach [on the back of his head, with a shiny scalp] he is stillhûwʼ [remains, continues to be] cleanṭâhôwr [pure, ceremonially undefiled]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 13
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 40 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 (Hu') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 13:40quick helps
In a sentenceA man who loses his hair and is bald remains ceremonially clean.
Who is speakingThe priest, as part of the laws regarding cleanliness.
Where we areThis verse is part of the instructions for dealing with skin diseases.
The hard wordיִמָּרֵ֖ט
Take awayBaldness does not affect a person's ceremonial purity.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbמָרַט 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 13:40

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 — Laws Concerning Skin Diseasesgenerated

39the priest shall examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; the person is clean.
40Now if a man loses his hair and is bald, he is still clean.
41Or if his hairline recedes and he is bald on his forehead, he is still clean.
42But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it.

Leviticus 13:40 is part of a section that details the laws regarding skin diseases, particularly how to determine cleanliness. The priest examines various conditions, and baldness is addressed specifically, indicating that it does not render a person unclean. This reflects the broader theme of the importance of ritual purity in the community.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Leviticus 13:41Or if his hairline recedes and he is bald on his forehead, he is still clean.
2Song of Solomon 5:11
3Romans 6:12–19Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
4Romans 8:10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
5Galatians 4:13You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יִמָּרֵ֖ט, yi.ma.Retgenerated

The verb יִמָּרֵ֖ט (yi.ma.Ret) is in the Niphal stem, indicating a passive action — to become bare or smooth. It is used here in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing or potential action, specifically referring to the loss of hair.

This verb appears only 14 times in the Hebrew Bible and is associated with the act of smoothing or polishing, often in relation to the head becoming bald. The context here relates directly to the laws of cleanliness, emphasizing that such a condition does not affect one's ceremonial status.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses loses his hair and is bald.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is יִמָּרֵ֖ט, it will become bare, which governs the subject and predicates. The structure includes the subject ה֖וּא (he) and two predicates: קֵרֵ֥חַ ([is] bald) and טָה֥וֹר ([is] pure).

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the condition of baldness and its relation to purity, highlighting that despite the loss of hair, the individual remains ceremonially clean.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִמָּרֵ֖ט as μαδήσῃ, which carries a similar meaning of becoming bare. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the condition of baldness.

The use of μαδήσῃ suggests a smoothness or polishing, aligning with the Hebrew context and the ceremonial implications of the condition described.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 13:40 states that if a man loses his hair and is bald, he remains clean. This means that baldness does not make a person unclean according to the laws of cleanliness outlined in the chapter.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be clean in this context?

Being clean refers to a state of ceremonial purity, which is important in the context of Israelite law.

Why is baldness addressed specifically?

Baldness is mentioned to clarify that it does not affect a person's cleanliness, which is significant in the priestly examination of skin diseases.

How does this verse relate to other cleanliness laws?

This verse is part of a broader set of laws that define what makes a person clean or unclean, particularly in relation to physical conditions.

What implications does this have for understanding purity?

It shows that physical appearance, such as baldness, does not determine one's spiritual or ceremonial status.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I understand the concept of cleanliness in my own life?
  2. What does this verse teach about the relationship between physical conditions and spiritual status?
  3. In what ways can I apply the principles of purity and cleanliness to my daily actions?
  4. How can I support others who may feel unclean or judged based on their appearance?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 13:40 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the man whose hair is fallen off his head,.... That is, from the back part of his head, from the crown of his head toward his neck behind: he [is] bald; in that spot of the head where the hair is

Read John Gill on Leviticus 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. Bald ... forehead bald.

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 13 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(40) And the man whose hair is fallen off—Better, And if a man loseth the hair of his head. The sixth and last case, discussed in Leviticus 13:40-44, is leprosy either at the back or in the front of the head. Though baldness in itself was regarded as a disgrace, and often looked upon as a Divine punishment (2 Kings 2:23; Isaiah 3:17; Jeremiah 48:37), yet the simple fact of the mere falling of the hair is not to be taken as a sign of leprosy. He is bald; yet is he clean.—Better, if he is backhead bald, he is clean. The baldness mentioned in the first part of the verse in general terms is now more minutely specified as consisting of two kinds of baldness. Leviticus 13:41-42 distinctly show…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 13 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Baldness in the back or front part of the head (40–44) This is not in itself a sign of uncleanness, but if in either part a reddish white plague (white reddish sore A. V.) appears, he must be seen by the priest. The word ‘bald’ in Leviticus 13:40 means bald at the back of the head, as distinguished from forehead bald in Leviticus 13:41.

Read Cambridge on Leviticus 13 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

40. Bald… yet… clean — Literally, hind bald. Natural baldness was so uncommon among the Israelites that it subjected men to an unpleasant suspicion and public derision.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 13 →

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

Now if a man loses his hair and is bald, he is still clean.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Now if a man loses his hair and is bald, he is still clean.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“When a man’s head is bare so that he is balding in back, he is clean.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And if a man’s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And if a man’s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the man whose hair hath fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the man whose heare is fallen off his head, and is balde, is cleane.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And if a man's hair have fallen off his head, he is bald: he is clean;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'And when a man's head [is] polished, he [is] bald, he [is] clean;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And when a man’s head [is] polished, he [is] bald; he [is] clean;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And if there be a man whose hair of the head fall off, he is a bald head; he is clean.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

If a man's hair has fallen out of his head, he is bald, but he is clean.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The man whose hair falleth off from his head, he is bald and clean:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If a man loses his hair and goes bald, he is still clean.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And if a man's hair has come out and he has no hair, still he is clean.

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.

וְandclauseclauseאִ֕ישׁanyoneclauseכִּ֥י(dm)clauseverbיִמָּרֵ֖טit.will.become.barenoun phrase · subjectרֹאשׁ֑headוֹhisclausepredicateקֵרֵ֥חַ[is].baldsubjectה֖וּאheclausepredicateטָה֥וֹר[is].puresubjectהֽוּאhe

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 Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the key terms align with the Masoretic Text, indicating consistency in this verse across witnesses.

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

וְאִ֕ישׁ כִּ֥י יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ קֵרֵ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאִ֕ישׁτινιיִמָּרֵ֖טμαδήσῃרֹאשׁ֑וֹαὐτοῦקֵרֵ֥חַφαλακρόςה֖וּאἐστινטָה֥וֹרκαθαρόςהֽוּא׃ἐστιν

7 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ואישׁ כי ימרט ראשׁו קרח הוא טהור הוא

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 11Q1a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואיש] [כי] [ימרט] [ראש׳ו] [קרח] [הוא] טהור הוא

1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 6 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 13:40אִישׁand anyoneand anyoneאִישׁכִּיififכִּימָרַטit will becit will become מָרַטרֹאשׁhead hishead hisרֹאשׁקֵרֵחַ[is] bald[is] baldקֵרֵחַהוּאheheהוּאטָהוֹר[is] pure[is] pureטָהוֹרהוּאheheהוּאקָרַחto make bato make baldקָרַחטָהֵרbe purebe pureטָהֵראֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעמָשַׁךְto drawto drawמָשַׁךְחֶ֫רֶבswordswordחֶ֫רֶבעֲטָרָהcrowncrownעֲטָרָהנָשִׂיאleaderleaderנָשִׂיאעָלָהto ascend:to ascend: riseעָלָהצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהמְנוֹרָהlampstandlampstandמְנוֹרָה
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 13:40

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 anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
וְאִ֕ישׁve.'Ish and anyone H376 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Amplified meaning
a male person, individual
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
כִּ֥יki if 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'.
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
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
יִמָּרֵ֖טyi.ma.Ret it will become bare H4803 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To smooth or polish something, like making a surface shiny or bald. It can also mean to sharpen or gall something. In the Bible, it's used to describe someone's head being bald or their shoulder being rough.
Amplified meaning
his head is polished, becomes smooth
Tyndale gloss
to smooth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָרַט (marat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to make smooth or bare, often associated with polishing or scouring. It can imply making something bald, particularly the head, or sharpening an object. The word appears in various forms, including Qal (to make bare) and Niphal (to be made bald).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָרַט] vb. make smooth, bare, bald; scour, polish

Qal

make bare

scour, polish

Niph. his head is made bald

Pu. scoured, polished

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4803 [מָרַט] make smooth, bare, bald; scour, polish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4803 marat maw-rat'

a primitive root; to polish; by implication, to make bald

(the head), to gall (the shoulder); also, to

sharpen:--bright, furbish, (have his) hair (be) fallen off,

peeled, pluck off (hair).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָרַט (ma.rat) — to smooth.

1) to bare, polish, make smooth or bald or bare

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to make bare

1a2) to scour, polish

1b) (Niphal) to be made bald

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
and anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
רֹאשׁ֑וֹro.Sho head his 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.
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
HNcmsc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
קֵרֵ֥חַke.Re.ach [is] bald H7142 Adj
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Bald, specifically on the back of the head, a condition described in Leviticus as a possible result of disease or aging.
Amplified meaning
on the back of his head, with a shiny scalp
Tyndale gloss
bald
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קֵרֵחַ (qereach) means 'bald' and is derived from the root word for 'baldness.' It is used as an adjective and a noun in contexts such as Leviticus 13:40 and 2 Kings 2:23. The entries consistently describe it as referring specifically to baldness on the back of the head.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קֵרֵחַ adj. bald;—Lv 13:40; n.m. 2 K 2:23, 23.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7142 קֵרֵחַ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7142 qereach kay-ray'-akh

from 7139; bald (on the back of the head):--bald (head).

see HEBREW for 07139

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קֵרֵחַ (qe.re.ach) — bald.

bald

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
ה֖וּאhu' he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Amplified meaning
remains, continues to be
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

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

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

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

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

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

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

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

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
טָה֥וֹרta.Hor [is] pure H2889 Adj
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tahor means pure or clean, and can refer to physical, moral, or ceremonial purity. In the Bible, it describes clean animals and morally upright people. It is often used to describe something as fair or pure.
Amplified meaning
pure, ceremonially undefiled
Tyndale gloss
pure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָהוֹר (tahor) means clean or pure, covering physical, ceremonial, and moral senses. It is derived from the root word associated with H2891. The entries emphasize its application in various contexts, including animals and ethical purity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָהוֹר adj. clean, pure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2889 טָהוֹר clean, pure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2889 tahowr taw-hore'

or tahor {taw-hore'}; from 2891; pure (in a physical,

chemical, ceremonial or moral sense):--clean, fair,

pure(-ness).

see HEBREW for 02891

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָהוֹר (ta.hor) — pure.

1) pure, clean

1a) clean (ceremonially-of animals)

1b) pure (physically)

1c) pure, clean (morally, ethically)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
and anyone if it will become bare head his [is] bald he [is] pure he
הֽוּא׃Hu' he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

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

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

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

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

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

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

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

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp3ms — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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