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Micah 7:17 — Word Study

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WLCיְלַחֲכ֤וּ עָפָר֙ כַּנָּחָ֔שׁ כְּזֹחֲלֵ֣י אֶ֔רֶץ יִרְגְּז֖וּ מִמִּסְגְּרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑ם אֶל־ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ יִפְחָ֔דוּ וְיִֽרְא֖וּ מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

BSAThey will licklâchak [like a reptile, as a sign of humiliation] the dustʻâphâr [dry earth] like a snakenâchâsh like reptiles slitheringzâchal [creeping things, worms, crawling, creeping] on the groundʼerets [the land, the earth] They will come tremblingrâgaz from their strongholdsmiçgereth in the presence ofʼêl [before, in the sight] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the supreme God] our Godʼĕlôhîym [Elohim, the one true God] they will tremblepâchad [shake, be afraid] in fearyârêʼ [dread, reverence] of Youmin [in Your presence, before You]

Word
Listen & take awayMicah 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 17 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 (mi.Me.ka) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Micah 7:17quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse depicts a scene of humiliation and fear among the nations before God.
Who is speakingThe prophet Micah speaks of the nations' response to the Lord.
Where we areThis verse is part of a prophetic declaration about the fate of the nations.
The hard wordיְלַחֲכ֤וּ
Take awayThe nations will be brought low, trembling in the presence of God.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbלָחַךְ 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 — Micah 7:17

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Judgment of the Nationsgenerated

16Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their might. They will put their hands over their mouths, and their ears will become deaf.
17They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will crawl from their holes in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.
18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
19He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7:17 describes the reaction of the nations when confronted by God. They will demonstrate their humiliation by licking dust like snakes, a vivid image of submission and fear. This verse emphasizes the power of God and the inevitable recognition of His authority by all nations, which is echoed in the surrounding verses that speak of God's justice and mercy.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 3:14–15So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life.
2Psalm 72:9May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
3Isaiah 49:23Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
4Isaiah 60:14The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
5Isaiah 65:25The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain,” says the LORD.

The Key Word יְלַחֲכ֤וּ, ye.la.cha.Khugenerated

The verb לָחַךְ (lachak) means 'to lick' and is used here in the Piel form, indicating a more intense action. The imagery of licking dust suggests a posture of humiliation and submission, often associated with animals. This act signifies the nations' acknowledgment of their lowly state before God.

In the context of this verse, the act of licking dust serves as a metaphor for the nations' defeat and their fear of the Lord. It conveys a strong sense of degradation, as they are compared to snakes and creeping things, emphasizing their vulnerability and the overwhelming power of God.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses lick for יְלַחֲכ֤וּ, and this is consistent across the KJV and ASV as well.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is יְלַחֲכ֤וּ, they will lick, which governs the clause describing the action. The structure includes several prepositional phrases that add detail about what they will lick and where they will crawl.

The sentence begins with the action of licking dust, followed by comparisons to snakes and reptiles, which emphasizes the humiliation of the nations. The latter part of the verse describes their trembling and fear in the presence of God, creating a clear picture of their submission.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְלַחֲכ֤וּ as λείχουσιν, which carries a similar meaning of licking but may lack the specific connotation of humiliation found in the Hebrew. This choice reflects a more straightforward description of the action.

The term used for dust, ξοῦν, aligns closely with the Hebrew עָפָר, indicating a consistent understanding of the imagery across both texts.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Micah 7:17 describes how the nations will show their humiliation by licking dust like snakes. They will crawl out from their hiding places in fear of the Lord, trembling before Him. This verse illustrates the power of God and the inevitable recognition of His authority by all.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the nations to lick dust?

Licking dust symbolizes humiliation and submission, indicating that the nations recognize their lowly state before God.

Why are the nations compared to snakes?

The comparison to snakes emphasizes their vulnerability and the degrading nature of their defeat before the Lord.

What is the significance of trembling in fear of God?

Trembling in fear signifies a deep reverence and acknowledgment of God's supreme power and authority over all creation.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding verses?

This verse fits within a larger context of God's judgment and mercy, highlighting the contrast between the nations' shame and God's ultimate justice.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I recognize God's authority in my life?
  2. How can I demonstrate humility before God in my actions?
  3. What does it mean to me to fear the Lord, and how does that shape my relationship with Him?
  4. How can I support others in understanding the power and authority of God?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Micah 7:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They shall lick the dust like a serpent,.... Whose food is the dust of the earth, according to the curse pronounced on it, Genesis 3:14; and which is either its, natural food it chooses to live on,

Read John Gill on Micah 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

Read Robert Jamieson on Micah 7 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They, the proud and cruel enemies of Israel, the Babylonians, shall lick the dust; in the most submissive, servile manner testify their subjection, promise to serve and honour the Jews released out of captivity: it is an expression which alludes to the servile manner of those Eastern complimenters, , and was fulfilled in the days after the return. when the kings of Persia favoured the Jews, and (as the manner of courtiers is) in compliance with their kings the grandees forwarded the prosperity of the Jews, as may easily be conjectured from the 6th and 7th chapters of Ezra. Like a serpent; condemned to eat the dust and perpetually to crawl on the dust; it seems to intimate. the perpetuity of…

Read Matthew Poole on Micah 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Micah 7:17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.Ver. 17. They shall lick the dust like a serpent] That is, be reduced not only to extreme hunger and penury, but to utmost vility and baseness of condition, so as to lick the very dust. And whereas it is added, like a serpent, he puts them in mind of that old malediction, Gen. iii., and gives them to know, that as, like that old serpent, they have lifted themselves up against God, so will God cast them down again to the condition of serpents, and abase them to the very dust. See Psalms 22:29; Psalms 72:9…

Read John Trapp on Micah 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) They shall lick the dust like a serpent.—The doom of the determined enemies of the Lord and His people recalls that of Satan, the great enemy, as personified by the serpent. “Dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:14).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Micah 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. they shall move out of their holes] Rather, ‘they shall come trembling out of their fastnesses’ (same word as in Psalms 18:46, where A. V. ‘close places’). like worms] Lit., ‘like creepers’ (or rather, trailers). The same term occurs in Deuteronomy 32:24. they shall be afraid of] Rather, ‘they shall turn with shuddering towards.’

Read Cambridge on Micah 7 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They shall lick the dust like a (the) serpent - To lick the dust, by itself, pictures the extreme humility of persons who east themselves down to the very earth (as in Psalms 72:9; Isaiah 49:23).

Read Albert Barnes on Micah 7 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE, Micah 7:14-17.In Micah 7:14 occurs another change in speakers. The people, through the prophet, pray for the fulfillment of the promise of restoration. Feed… with thy rod — See on Micah 5:4.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Micah 7 →

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 will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will crawl from their holes in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like crawling things of the earth, they will come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to Yahweh our God, and will be afraid because of you.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They will lick the dust like a snake, like serpents crawling on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds to the Lord our God; they will be terrified of you.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They shall lick the dust like a serpent; like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their close places; they shall come with fear unto Jehovah our God, and shall be afraid because of thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They shall lick the dust like a serpent; like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their close places: they shall come with fear unto the LORD our God, and shall be afraid because of thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They shall licke the dust like a serpent: they shall mooue out of their holes like wormes: they shalbe afraide of the Lord our God, and shall feare because of thee.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They shall lick dust like the serpent; like crawling things of the earth, they shall come trembling forth from their close places. They shall turn with fear to Jehovah our God, and shall be afraid because of thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

They lick dust as a serpent, as fearful things of earth, They tremble from their enclosures, Of Jehovah our God they are afraid, Yea, they are afraid of Thee.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

They lick dust as a serpent, as fearful things of earth, || They tremble from their enclosures, || They are afraid of our God YHWH, || Indeed, they are afraid of You.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They shall lick the dust like the serpent; like those that crawl on the earth, shall they come forth trembling out of their close places: unto the Lord our God shall they hasten in dread, and shall be afraid of thee.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They will lick the dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the earth. They will come out of their dens with fear; they will come with fear to you, Yahweh our God, and they will be afraid because of you.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

They shall lick the dust like serpents, as the creeping things of the earth, they shall be disturbed in their houses: they shall dread the Lord our God, and shall fear thee.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They will lick the dust like snakes; they will be like the creepy-crawlies of the earth. They will come trembling from their fortresses to meet the Lord our God, fearful and afraid before him.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

They will take dust as their food like a snake, like the things which go flat on the earth; they will come shaking with fear out of their secret places: they will come with fear to the Lord our God, full of fear because of 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.

clauseverbיְלַחֲכ֤וּthey.will.lick.upobjectעָפָר֙dustprepositional phrase · prepositionalכַּlikenoun phrase(the)נָּחָ֔שׁsnakeclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּlikenoun phraseזֹחֲלֵ֣י[things.which].crawlאֶ֔רֶץof.[the].earthverbיִרְגְּז֖וּthey.will.quakeprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseמִּסְגְּרֹֽתֵיstrongholdsהֶ֑םtheirclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseיְהוָ֤הYahwehnoun phraseאֱלֹהֵ֨יGodנוּ֙ourverbיִפְחָ֔דוּthey.will.be.in.dreadוְandclauseverbיִֽרְא֖וּthey.will.be.afraidprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּֽfromךָּyou

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


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

The Masoretic Text (MT) presents Micah 7:17 with the phrase indicating that they will lick the dust like a snake and tremble in fear of the Lord. The Septuagint (LXX) matches 12 of the 13 words from the MT, indicating a strong agreement, although the specific wording and order differ due to translation choices. The Dead Sea Scrolls (Mur88) also reflect a similar sentiment but contain several words that are partly restored and supplied by an editor, which suggests some textual variations, particularly in the phrases for 'like a snake' and 'from their holes.' Overall, the core message remains consistent across these witnesses, emphasizing the fear and trembling in the presence of God.

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

יְלַחֲכ֤וּ עָפָר֙ כַּנָּחָ֔שׁ כְּזֹחֲלֵ֣י אֶ֔רֶץ יִרְגְּז֖וּ מִמִּסְגְּרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑ם אֶל־ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ יִפְחָ֔דוּ וְיִֽרְא֖וּ מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְלַחֲכ֤וּλείχουσινעָפָר֙ξοῦνכַּנָּחָ֔שׁὄφειςכְּזֹחֲלֵ֣יσύροντεςאֶ֔רֶץγῆνיִרְגְּז֖וּσυγξυθήσονταιמִמִּסְגְּרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑םαὐτῶνאֶל־ἐπὶאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ἡμῶνיִפְחָ֔דוּἐκστήσονταιוְיִֽרְא֖וּφοβηθήσονταιמִמֶּֽךָּ׃σοῦ

12 of the 13 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — Mur88a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ילחכו עפר [כנחש] [כזחלי] [ארץ] [ירגזו] [ממסגרתי׳הם] [אל] [יהוה] אלהי׳נו יפחדו וייראו ממ׳ך

3 words on the leather — 3 partly restored, 7 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Micah 7:17לָחַךְthey will lthey will lick לָחַךְעָפָרdustdustעָפָרנָחָשׁlike snakelike snakeנָחָשׁזָחַלlike [thinglike [things whזָחַלאֶ֫רֶץ[the] earth[the] earthאֶ֫רֶץרָגַזthey will qthey will quakeרָגַזמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתfrom strongfrom strongholdמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתאֶלtotoאֶליהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהאֱלֹהִיםGod ourGod ourאֱלֹהִיםפָּחַדthey will bthey will be inפָּחַדיָרֵאand they maand they may beיָרֵאמִן־from youfrom youמִן־עָפַרto throwto throwעָפַרנָחַשׁto divineto divineנָחַשׁסָגַרto shutto shutסָגַרהָיָהto beto beהָיָהאֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּמֵןstringstringמֵןעָפָרdustdustעָפָראֵ֫פֶרashesashesאֵ֫פֶרבָּרִיחַfleeingfleeingבָּרִיחַצֶ֫פַעserpentserpentצֶ֫פַעכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםשַׁאֲנָןsecuresecureשַׁאֲנָןרָעַשׁto shaketo shakeרָעַשׁשַׁלָבִּיםframeframeשַׁלָבִּיםטֹ֫פַחhandbreadthandbreadthטֹ֫פַחפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫ה
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 Micah 7:17

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.

they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
יְלַחֲכ֤וּye.la.cha.Khu they will lick up H3897 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine plural
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to lick, often referring to animals licking up food or water. It's used in various biblical stories to describe the actions of animals.
Amplified meaning
like a reptile, as a sign of humiliation
Tyndale gloss
to lick
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָחַךְ (lachak) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to lick.' It appears in both the Qal and Piel forms, with usages including an ox licking up grass and a reference to fire licking up water in a trench. The term also conveys a sense of humiliation when used in the context of licking dust.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָחַךְ] vb. lick

Qal of ox licking up grass.

Pi. lick up, fire fr. heaven the water in trench; of Isr. consuming produce of land; lick the dust, sign of humiliation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3897 [לָחַךְ] lick

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3897 lachak law-khak'

a primitive root; to lick:--lick (up).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָחַךְ (la.chakh) — to lick.

1) to lick, lick up

1a) (Qal) to lick up

1b) (Piel) to lick up

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVpi3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
עָפָר֙'a.Far dust H6083 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
110× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Aphar means dust or dry earth, and is also used to describe clay, earth, or mortar. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
dry earth
Tyndale gloss
dust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָפָר (aphar) refers to dry earth or dust, encompassing meanings such as powder, ashes, and rubbish. It is derived from a root meaning to be dry and is used in various contexts, including clay and mortar. The entries consistently highlight its association with loose earth and debris.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָפָר n.m. dry earth, dust

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6083 עָפָר dry earth, dust

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6083 `aphar aw-fawr'

from 6080; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth,

mud:--ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.

see HEBREW for 06080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָפָר (a.phar) — dust.

1) dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish

1a) dry or loose earth

1b) debris

1c) mortar

1d) ore

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dust (`aphar; koniortos, chous): Small particles of earth. The word has several figurative and symbolic meanings:

(1) Dust being the material out of which God is said to have formed man (Ge 2:7), it became a symbol of man's frailty (Ps 103:14, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust"; compare Ge 18:27; Job 4:19, etc.), and of his mortality (Ge 3:19, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"; compare Job 34:15; Ps 104:29; Ec 3:20

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dust

Storms of sand and dust sometimes overtake Eastern travellers. They are very dreadful, many perishing under them. Jehovah threatens to bring on the land of Israel, as a punishment for forsaking him, a rain of “powder and dust” (Deut. 28:24).

To cast dust on the head was a sign of mourning (Josh. 7:6); and to sit in dust, of extreme affliction (Isa. 47:1). “Dust” is used to denote the grave (Job 7:21). “To shake off the dust from one’s feet” against another is to renounce all future intercourse with him (Matt. 10:14; Acts 13:51). To “lick the dust” is a sign of…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[MOURNING]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Jos 7:6. Dust or ashes put upon the head was a sign of mourning; sitting in the dust, a sign of affliction, La 3:29 Isa 47:1. "Dust" is also put for the grave, Ge 3:19 Job 7:21. It signifies a multitude, Ge 13:16, and a low and mean condition, 1Sa 2:8. We have two remarkable instances of casting dust recorded in Scripture, and they seem to illustrate a practice common in Asia: those who demanded justice against a criminal were accustomed to throw dust upon him, signifying that he deserved to be cast into the grave.…

they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
כַּנָּחָ֔שׁka.na.Chash like snake H5175 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A serpent is a snake, often symbolizing evil, as in Genesis 3:1 where the serpent tempts Eve. It can also represent danger or harm.
Tyndale gloss
serpent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָחָשׁ (*nachash*) means 'serpent' or 'snake.' It can refer to a literal snake, a bronze image of a serpent, or even a mythological fleeing serpent. The word is derived from a root meaning to hiss, which relates to the sound snakes make.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָחָשׁ n.m. serpent

serpent

bronze image of serpent

mythol. fleeing serpent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5175 נָחָשׁ serpent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5175 nachash naw-khawsh'

from 5172; a snake (from its hiss):--serpent.

see HEBREW for 05172

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָחָשׁ (na.chash) — serpent.

1) serpent, snake

1a) serpent

1b) image (of serpent)

1c) fleeing serpent (mythological)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
כְּזֹחֲלֵ֣יke.zo.cha.Lei like [things which] crawl of H2119 Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to fear or be afraid, and can also mean to crawl like a worm or serpent. It is similar to the Aramaic word 'dechal', which also means 'to fear'.
Amplified meaning
creeping things, worms, crawling, creeping
Tyndale gloss
to crawl
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָחַל (zachal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to crawl or shrink back, with implications of fear. It appears primarily in the context of crawling or creeping, and also conveys the sense of being afraid. The only Old Testament reference noted is in Job 32:6, where it relates to fear.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[זָחַל] vb. shrink back, crawl away

base

[זָחַל] vb. fear, be afraid—only Qal Jb 32:6

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2119a זָחַל shrink back, crawl away H2119b זָחַל fear, be afraid

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2119 zachal zaw-khal'

a primitive root; to crawl; by implication, to fear:--be

afraid, serpent, worm.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָחַל (za.chal) — to crawl.

1) to shrink back, crawl away

1a) (Qal) crawling, creeping (participle) (meton)

זָחַל (za.chal) — to fear.

to fear, be afraid

Aramaic equivalent: de.chal (דְּחַל "to fear" H1763)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
HR/Vqrmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
אֶ֔רֶץ'E.retz [the] earth H776 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
the land, the earth
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):

In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.

'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Earth

(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.

(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.

Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2

they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
יִרְגְּז֖וּyir.ge.Zu they will quake H7264 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to shake or tremble with strong emotions like fear, anger, or excitement. It can also mean to provoke or disturb someone, causing them to become agitated. The KJV Bible translates it in various ways, including 'tremble', 'quake', and 'rage'.
Tyndale gloss
to tremble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָגַז (ragaz) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tremble or quake, often in response to strong emotions like anger or fear. It can describe both a state of agitation and the act of causing agitation in others. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Hiphil, and Hithpael, covering a range of emotional responses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָגַז vb. be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

Qal quake

Hiph. cause to quake, disquiet, enrage

Hithp. excite oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7264 רָגַז be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed .quake

. cause to quake, disquiet, enrage

. excite oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7264 ragaz raw-gaz'

a primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion,

especially anger or fear):--be afraid, stand in awe,

disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake,

tremble, trouble, be wroth.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָגַז (ra.gaz) — to tremble.

1) tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed

1a)(Qal) to quake, be disquieted, be excited, be perturbed

1b) (Hiphil) to cause to quake, disquiet, enrage, disturb

1c) (Hithpael) to excite oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
מִמִּסְגְּרֹֽתֵיהֶ֑םmi.mis.ge.ro.tei.Hem from strongholds their H4526 Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a border or perimeter of a region, like the edge of a city or a mountain. It is used in the Bible to describe the borders of Israel in Numbers 34:7-12 and the strongholds of God in Psalm 31:2-4. The word can also refer to a secure or fortified place.
Tyndale gloss
perimeter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (misgereth) refers to a border or rim, as well as a fastness or stronghold. It is derived from the root meaning to enclose, indicating something that serves as a margin or boundary. The term appears in contexts related to borders and strongholds, highlighting its use in describing enclosed spaces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת n.f. 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4526 מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4526 micgereth mis-gheh'-reth

from 5462; something enclosing, i.e. a margin (of a region,

of a panel); concretely, a stronghold:--border, close place,

hole.

see HEBREW for 05462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (mis.ge.ret) — perimeter.

1) border, fastness, rim

1a) border, rim

1b) fastness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Amplified meaning
before, in the sight
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
יְהוָ֤הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the supreme God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei.nu God our H430 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
Elohim, the one true God
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically

used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X

exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.

Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bp
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
יִפְחָ֔דוּyif.Cha.du they will be in dread H6342 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to feel fear or dread, like being startled by a sudden alarm. It appears in the Bible when people are in awe or fear of God. The book of Proverbs uses it to describe the fear of the Lord.
Amplified meaning
shake, be afraid
Tyndale gloss
to dread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּחַד (pachad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to dread or fear. It encompasses being startled or filled with awe, with various forms indicating different intensities of dread. The root conveys a sense of alarm and reverence, appearing in contexts that evoke both fear and respect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּחַד vb. dread, be in dread, in awe

Qal

be in dread

be in awe

Pi. be in great dread

Hiph. filled my bones with dread

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6342 פָּחַד dread, be in dread, in awe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6342 pachad paw-kkad'

a primitive root; to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence,

to fear in general:--be afraid, stand in awe, (be in) fear,

make to shake.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּחַד (pa.chad) — to dread.

1) to fear, tremble, revere, dread, be in awe or dread

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be in dread

1a2) to be in awe

1b) (Piel) to be in great dread

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to dread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
וְיִֽרְא֖וּve.yir.'U and they may be afraid H3372 Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
315× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to fear or revere, and is used to describe being afraid or standing in awe of something, like God's power. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of respect or reverence. In the KJV, it's translated as 'affright' or 'reverence'.
Amplified meaning
dread, reverence
Tyndale gloss
to fear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָרֵא (yare') is a Hebrew verb meaning to fear or be afraid, encompassing a range of meanings from reverence and honor to causing terror. It appears in various forms, including Qal (to fear), Niphal (to be fearful), and Piel (to terrify). The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions, emphasizing awe and respect, particularly in relation to the divine.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרֵא vb. fear

Qal

fear, be afraid

stand in awe of

fear, reverence, honour

Niph.

be fearful, dreadful

cause astonishment and awe

inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

Piel. make afraid, terrify

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3372 יָרֵא fear .. fear, be afraid

. stand in awe of

. fear, reverence, honour

. . be fearful, dreadful

. cause astonishment and awe

. inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe

. make afraid, terrify

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3372 yare' yaw-ray'

a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to

frighten:--affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in)

fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see,

terrible (act, -ness, thing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear.

: frightening(DANGER)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

יָרֵא (ya.re) — to fear: revere.

: awesome(god)

1) to fear, revere, be afraid

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fear, be afraid

1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed

1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared

1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe

1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe

1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify

2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

Also means: ya.re (יָרֵא ": frightening" H3372)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
HC/Vqu3mp
they will lick up dust like snake like [things which] crawl of [the] earth they will quake from strongholds their to Yahweh God our they will be in dread and they may be afraid from you
מִמֶּֽךָּ׃mi.Me.ka from you H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Amplified meaning
in Your presence, before You
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
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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