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Nahum 3:15 — Word Study

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WLCשָׁ֚ם תֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְ אֵ֔שׁ תַּכְרִיתֵ֣ךְ חֶ֔רֶב תֹּאכְלֵ֖ךְ כַּיָּ֑לֶק הִתְכַּבֵּ֣ד כַּיֶּ֔לֶק הִֽתְכַּבְּדִ֖י כָּאַרְבֶּֽה׃

BSAthereshâm [in that place, at that time] to eatʼâkal fireʼêsh [burning, flame] to cutkârath swordchereb to eatʼâkal locustyeleq [a devouring insect] to honorkâbad locustyeleq [a creature that multiplies rapidly] to honorkâbad locustʼarbeh [a large group of locusts, a plague]

Word
Listen & take awayNahum 3
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 (ka.'ar.Beh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Nahum 3:15quick helps
In a sentenceNahum warns of impending destruction by fire and sword, using the imagery of locusts to illustrate the severity.
Who is speakingNahum, a prophet delivering a message of judgment.
Where we areA prophetic declaration about the fate of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
The hard wordתֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְ, to.khe.Lekh
Take awayThe imagery of locusts emphasizes the destructive and overwhelming nature of the coming judgment.
clause subjectאֵשׁ verbכָּבֵד 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 — Nahum 3:15

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 on Ninevehgenerated

14Draw your water for the siege; strengthen your fortresses. Work the clay and tread the mortar; repair the brick kiln!
15There the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down and consume you like a young locust. Make yourself many like the young locust; make yourself many like the swarming locust!
16You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the sky. The young locust strips the land and flies away.
17Your guards are like the swarming locust, and your scribes like clouds of locusts that settle on the walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away, and no one knows where.

Nahum 3:15 describes the dire fate awaiting Nineveh, using vivid imagery of fire and sword to convey the intensity of the destruction. The prophet Nahum illustrates the impending doom with the metaphor of locusts, emphasizing how quickly and completely the city will be consumed. This passage serves as a warning and a reminder of the consequences of wickedness and oppression, as seen throughout the book of Nahum.


The Key Word תֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְ, to.khe.Lekhgenerated

The verb אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' or 'to devour.' It encompasses a wide range of meanings, from literal consumption to figurative destruction, such as being consumed by fire. In this context, it signifies the total destruction that will befall Nineveh.

The parsing indicates it is a third person feminine singular verb in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing action — the fire will continuously consume the city. This word is used to illustrate the severity of the judgment and the complete devastation that awaits.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of multiple clauses, with the finite verbs תֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְ (it will consume you) and תַּכְרִיתֵ֣ךְ (it will cut off you) serving as the main actions. The structure illustrates a series of actions that lead to the ultimate destruction of Nineveh.

The adverb שָׁ֚ם (there) sets the location for the impending events, while the prepositional phrases provide additional context, emphasizing the nature of the destruction through the imagery of locusts.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שָׁ֚ם as ἐκεῖ, which also means 'there,' maintaining the locational aspect of the original Hebrew.

For תֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְ, the Greek σε emphasizes the directness of the action, indicating that the destruction is aimed specifically at the people of Nineveh.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Nahum 3:15 warns Nineveh of its impending destruction by fire and sword, using locusts to illustrate the total devastation. The verse calls for the people to make themselves numerous like locusts, highlighting the futility of their efforts against the coming judgment.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Nahum mean by 'the fire will devour you'?

Nahum is indicating that the city of Nineveh will face total destruction, symbolized by fire, which represents judgment and wrath.

Why does Nahum use locusts in his imagery?

Locusts are known for their destructive capacity, and by using this imagery, Nahum emphasizes how quickly and completely Nineveh will be consumed.

What is the significance of 'make yourself many like the young locust'?

This phrase suggests that despite their efforts to multiply and defend themselves, it will be futile in the face of God's judgment.

How does this verse connect to the overall message of Nahum?

This verse encapsulates Nahum's message of impending judgment against Nineveh, highlighting the consequences of their wickedness and the certainty of their destruction.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this passage reveal about the consequences of wickedness?
  2. How can the imagery of locusts help us understand the nature of judgment?
  3. In what ways might we see similar patterns of destruction in our own lives or communities?
  4. How does understanding the context of Nineveh's judgment shape our view of God's justice?

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

There the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down and consume you like a young locust. Make yourself many like the young locust; make yourself many like the swarming locust!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

There the fire will devour you. The sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the grasshopper. Multiply like grasshoppers. Multiply like the locust.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

There the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down and consume you like a young locust. Make yourself many like the young locust; make yourself many like the swarming locust!

NETBNew English Translation2006

There the fire will consume you; the sword will cut you down; it will devour you like the young locust would. The Assyrian Defenders Will Flee Multiply yourself like the young locust; multiply yourself like the flying locust!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off; it shall devour thee like the canker-worm: make thyself many as the canker-worm; make thyself many as the locust.

RVARevised Version, American1894

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall devour thee like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locust.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the canker-worm: make thyself many as the canker-worm, make thyself many as the locusts.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

There shall ye fire deuoure thee: the sword shall cut thee off: it shall eate thee vp like the locustes, though thou bee multiplied like the locustes, and multiplyed like the grashopper.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off; it shall devour thee like the cankerworm. Make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locust.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

There consume thee doth a fire, Cut thee off doth a sword, It doth consume thee as a cankerworm! Make thyself heavy as the cankerworm, Make thyself heavy as the locust.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

There a fire consumes you, || A sword cuts you off, || It consumes you as a cankerworm! Make yourself heavy as the cankerworm, || Make yourself heavy as the locust.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall devour thee up like the cankerworm: [though] thou make thyself many as the cankerworm; make thyself many as the locusts.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Fire will devour you there, and the sword will destroy you. It will devour you as young locusts devour everything. Make yourselves as many as the young locusts, as many as the full-grown locusts.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

There shall the fire devour thee: thou shalt perish by the sword, it shall devour thee like the bruchus: assemble together like the bruchus, make thyself many like the locust.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But even so, there the fire will consume you, you will be cut down by the sword. You will be destroyed as if you were devoured by a swarm of locusts. So multiply yourselves like locusts, like a swarm of locusts.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

There the fire will make you waste; you will be cut off by the sword: make yourself as great in number as the worms, as great in number as the locusts.

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.

clauseadverbialשָׁ֚םthereverbתֹּאכְלֵ֣itobjectךְwill.consume.yousubjectאֵ֔שׁfireclauseverbתַּכְרִיתֵ֣itobjectךְwill.cut.you.offsubjectחֶ֔רֶב[the].swordclauseverbתֹּאכְלֵ֖itobjectךְwill.consume.youprepositional phrase · prepositionalכַּlikenoun phrase(the)יָּ֑לֶקlocust[s]clauseverbהִתְכַּבֵּ֣דmake.yourself.numerousprepositional phrase · prepositionalכַּlikenoun phrase(the)יֶּ֔לֶקlocust[s]clauseverbהִֽתְכַּבְּדִ֖יmake.yourself.numerousprepositional phrase · prepositionalכָּlikenoun phrasetheאַרְבֶּֽהlocust

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 Septuagint, which matches eight of the eleven words. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, indicating some loss of text but agreement on key terms, particularly regarding the destruction imagery.

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

שָׁ֚ם תֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְ אֵ֔שׁ תַּכְרִיתֵ֣ךְ חֶ֔רֶב תֹּאכְלֵ֖ךְ כַּיָּ֑לֶק הִתְכַּבֵּ֣ד כַּיֶּ֔לֶק הִֽתְכַּבְּדִ֖י כָּאַרְבֶּֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שָׁ֚םἐκεῖתֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְσεאֵ֔שׁπῦρתַּכְרִיתֵ֣ךְσεחֶ֔רֶבῥομφαίαתֹּאכְלֵ֖ךְσεכַּיָּ֑לֶקἀκρίςכָּאַרְבֶּֽה׃βροῦξος

8 of the 11 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

שם [תאכל׳ך] [אש] [תכרית׳ך] [חרב] תאכל׳ך כילק התכבד כילק [התכבדי] [כארבה]

2 words on the leather — 3 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.

Nahum 3:15שָׁםtherethereשָׁםאָכַלit will conit will consumeאָכַלאֵשׁfirefireאֵשׁכָּרַתit will cutit will cut offכָּרַתחֶ֫רֶב[the] sword[the] swordחֶ֫רֶבאָכַלit will conit will consumeאָכַליֶ֫לֶקlike the lolike the locustיֶ֫לֶקכָּבֵדmake yoursemake yourself nכָּבֵדיֶ֫לֶקlike the lolike the locustיֶ֫לֶקכָּבֵדmake yoursemake yourself nכָּבֵדאַרְבֶּהlike the lolike the locustאַרְבֶּהחָרֵבto dryto dryחָרֵברָבָהto multiplto multiplyרָבָהאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרחָסִילlocustlocustחָסִילשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםעֹלyokeyokeעֹלנָדַחto banishto banishנָדַחגּוּרto sojournto sojournגּוּרלֶהָבָהflameflameלֶהָבָהיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתאֲשֵׁרָהAsherahAsherahאֲשֵׁרָהרָעָבfaminefamineרָעָבחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָליֶ֫לֶקlocustlocustיֶ֫לֶק
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 Nahum 3:15

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.

there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
שָׁ֚םSham there H8033 Adverb
834× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Amplified meaning
in that place, at that time
Tyndale gloss
there
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁם adv. there, thither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8033 שָׁם there, thither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8033 sham shawm

a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or

thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +

thither, + whither.

see HEBREW for 0834

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁם (sham) — there.

1) there, thither

1a) there

1b) thither (after verbs of motion)

1c) from there, thence

1d) then (as an adverb of time)

Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)

שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.

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

This name means there, thither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
תֹּאכְלֵ֣ךְto.khe.Lekh it will consume you H398 Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

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

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

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

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

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

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

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

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

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

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

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

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

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
HVqi3fs/Sp2fs
there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
אֵ֔שׁ'Esh fire H784 Noun common · both singular absolute
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Amplified meaning
burning, flame
Tyndale gloss
fire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire

fire, of conflagration

of supernatural fire

fire for cooking, roasting, parching

esp. of altar fire

fig. of Yahweh's anger

in various combinations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration

. of supernatural fire

. fire for cooking, roasting, parching

. esp. of altar fire

. fig. of Yahweh's anger

. in various combinations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

784 'esh aysh

a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--

burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.

1) fire

1a) fire, flames

1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)

1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)

1d) altar-fire

1e) God's anger (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fir ('esh; pur):

These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fire

(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).

Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;

is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…

there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
תַּכְרִיתֵ֣ךְtakh.ri.Tekh it will cut off you H3772 Verb hiphil imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to cut or destroy something, but it also has a special meaning related to making a covenant or agreement. In Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abram, symbolized by cutting animals in half, showing the seriousness of the promise. This word is used to describe important agreements and alliances.
Tyndale gloss
to cut: cut
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּרַת (karath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut off, cut down, or make a covenant. It encompasses a range of actions from physically cutting to forming alliances, often implying destruction or elimination. The verb appears in various forms, indicating different nuances such as being cut off or destroyed. Notably, it can also refer to the act of making a covenant, which traditionally involved cutting flesh.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּרַת 291 vb. cut off, cut down

Qal

cut off

cut down

hew, timber

cut, or make a covenant

Niph.

be cut off

be cut down

be chewed between the teeth

be cut off, in a more general sense fail

Pual

be cut off

be cut down

Hiph.

cut off, flattering lips

cut off, destroy the life of

cut down, destroy, cities

take away

permit to perish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3772 כָּרַת cut off, cut down .. cut off

. cut down

. hew, timber

. cut, or make a covenant

. . be cut off

. be cut down

. be chewed between the teeth

. be cut off, in a more general sense fail

.. be cut off

. be cut down

. . cut off, flattering lips

. cut off, destroy the life of

. cut down, destroy, cities

. take away

. permit to perish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3772 karath kaw-rath'

a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by

implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant

(i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh

and passing between the pieces):--be chewed, be

con-(feder-)ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail,

feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ((covenant)), X

lose, perish, X utterly, X want.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: cut.

: cut/fell

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be cut off

1c2) to be cut down

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cut off

1d2) to cut off, destroy

1d3) to cut down, destroy

1d4) to take away

1d5) to permit to perish

1e) (Hophal) cut off

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: make(covenant).

: make(covenant)

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
HVhi3fs/Sp2fs
there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
חֶ֔רֶבChe.rev [the] sword H2719 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
413× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Tyndale gloss
sword
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶ֫רֶב (chereb) means 'sword' and can also refer to other cutting instruments like knives and tools. It is derived from a root meaning 'drought,' highlighting its destructive nature. The term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote weapons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶ֫רֶב 411 n.f. sword (as weapon)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2719 חֶ֫רֶב sword (as weapon)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2719 chereb kheh'-reb

from 2717; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its

destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp

implement:--axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.

see HEBREW for 02717

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶ֫רֶב (che.rev) — sword.

1) sword, knife

1a) sword

1b) knife

1c) tools for cutting stone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sord.

See ARMOR, III, 5.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sword

Of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Ex. 32:27; 1 Sam. 31:4; 1 Chr. 21:27; Ps. 149:6: Prov. 5:4; Ezek. 16:40; 21:3-5).

It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deut. 32:25; Ps. 7:12; 78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Ps. 57:4; 64:3; Prov. 12:18). The word of God is likened also to a…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[ARMS, ARMOR]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used by

Gideon Jud 7:20

Goliath 1Sa 21:9

Peter Mt 26:51; Joh 18:10

→ David' s army equipped with 1Ch 21:5

→ To be beaten into plowshares Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3

→ Made of plowshares Joe 3:10

→ Two-edged Heb 4:12; Re 1:16; 2:12

→ FIGURATIVE

Of war Ge 27:40

there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
תֹּאכְלֵ֖ךְto.khe.Lekh it will consume you H398 Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

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

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

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

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

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

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

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

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

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

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

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

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

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffix
HVqi3fs/Sp2fs
there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
כַּיָּ֑לֶקkai.Ya.lek like the locust H3218 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The locust, a devouring insect, is described by this Hebrew word, which refers specifically to the young locust or caterpillar stage, known for eating and destroying crops.
Amplified meaning
a devouring insect
Tyndale gloss
locust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יֶ֫לֶק (yekeq) refers to a young locust or caterpillar, derived from a root meaning to lick up or devour. The term specifically denotes the early developmental stage of locusts, emphasizing their consuming nature. It is mentioned in the context of devourers, particularly in agricultural settings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יֶ֫לֶק n.m. a kind of locust

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3218 יֶ֫לֶק

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3218 yekeq yeh'-lek

from an unused root meaning to lick up; a devourer;

specifically, the young locust:--cankerworm, caterpillar.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יֶ֫לֶק (ye.leq) — locust.

1) young locust (early stage of development)

1a) caterpillar (as devouring)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lo'-kust: The translation of a large number of Hebrew and Greek words:

1. Names:

(1) 'arbeh from the root rabhah, "to increase" (compare Arabic raba', "to increase").

(2) sal`am, from obsolete [?] cal`am, "to swallow down," "to consume."

(3) chargol (compare Arabic charjal, "to run to the right or left," charjalat, "a company of horses" or "a swarm of locusts," charjawan, a kind of locust).

(4) chaghabh (compare Arabic chajab, "to hide," "to cover").

(5) gazam (compare Arabic jazum, " to cut off")

(6) yeleq, from the root laqaq "to lick" (compare Arabic laqlaq, "to dart out the tongue" (used of a serpent)).

(7) chacil, from the root chacal, "to devour" (compare Arabic chaucal, "crop" (of a bird)).

(8) gobh, from the obsolete root gabhah (compare Arabic jabi, "locust," from the root jaba', "to come out of a hole").

(9) gebh, from same root.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Locust

There are ten Hebrew words used in Scripture to signify locust. In the New Testament locusts are mentioned as forming part of the food of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). By the Mosaic law they were reckoned “clean,” so that he could lawfully eat them. The name also occurs in Rev. 9:3, 7, in allusion to this Oriental devastating insect.

Locusts belong to the class of Orthoptera, i.e., straight-winged. They are of many species. The ordinary Syrian locust resembles the grasshopper, but is larger and more destructive. “The legs and thighs of these insects are so powerful that they can leap to a height of two hundred times the length of their bodies. When so raised they spread their wings and fly so close together as…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a well-known insect, of the grasshopper family, which commits terrible ravages on vegetation in the countries which it visits. "The common brown locust is about three inches in length, and the general form is that of a grasshopper." The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the Bible lands are the (Edipoda migratoria and the Acridium peregrinum ; and as both these species occur in Syria and Arabia, etc., it is most probable that one or other is denoted in those passages which speak of the dreadful devastations committed by these insects. Locusts occur in great numbers, and sometimes obscure the sun. (Exodus 10:15; Judges 6:5; Jeremiah 46:23) Their voracity is alluded to in (

there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
הִתְכַּבֵּ֣דhit.ka.Bed make yourself numerous H3513 Verb · Hithpael · imperative second person masculine singular
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean to honor or make something weighty, like when God is glorified in Psalm 138, or to be heavy with burdens, as the Israelites were in Exodus 18.
Tyndale gloss
to honor: honour
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּבֵד (kabad) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to be heavy.' It covers a range of meanings, including being burdensome, weighty, or honorable. The word can describe both a negative sense of heaviness or dullness and a positive sense of honor or glory. It appears in various forms, such as making oneself heavy or being made honorable.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבֵד vb. be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured

Qal

be heavy, in weight

heavy, insensible, dull

be honoured

Niph.

pass.

be made heavy fr. abundance

be honoured, enjoy honour, of man

medial, get oneself glory (or honour), of God

Pi.

make heavy, insensible

make honourable, honour, glorify, usu. c. human subj.

Pu. be made honourable, honoured

Hiph.

make heavy

make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the ears

cause to be honoured

Hithp.

make oneself heavy, dense, numerous

honour oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3513 כָּבֵד be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured .. be heavy, in weight

. heavy, insensible, dull

. be honoured

. . pass. . be made heavy fr. abundance

. be honoured, enjoy honour, of man

. medial, get oneself glory (or honour), of God

. . make heavy, insensible

. make honourable, honour, glorify, usu. c. human subj.

. be made honourable, honoured

. . make heavy

. make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the ears

. cause to be honoured

. . make oneself heavy, dense, numerous

. honour oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3513 kabad kaw-bad'

or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in

a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense

(numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in

the same two senses):--abounding with, more grievously

afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make)

glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden,

be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to,

do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man),

lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote

(to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבֵד (ka.vad) — to honor: honour.

: honour/glory

1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be heavy

1a2) to be heavy, be insensible, be dull

1a3) to be honoured

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made heavy, be honoured, enjoy honour, be made abundant

1b2) to get oneself glory or honour, gain glory

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make heavy, make dull, make insensible

1c2) to make honourable, honour, glorify

1d) (Pual) to be made honourable, be honoured

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make heavy

1e2) to make heavy, make dull, make unresponsive

1e3) to cause to be honoured

1f) (Hithpael)

1f1) to make oneself heavy, make oneself dense, make oneself numerous

1f2) to honour oneself

כָּבֵד (ka.vad) — to honor: heavy.

: heavy/severe

1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael-Impv-2ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperative second person masculine singular
HVtv2ms
there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
כַּיֶּ֔לֶקkai.Ye.lek like the locust H3218 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The locust, a devouring insect, is described by this Hebrew word, which refers specifically to the young locust or caterpillar stage, known for eating and destroying crops.
Amplified meaning
a creature that multiplies rapidly
Tyndale gloss
locust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יֶ֫לֶק (yekeq) refers to a young locust or caterpillar, derived from a root meaning to lick up or devour. The term specifically denotes the early developmental stage of locusts, emphasizing their consuming nature. It is mentioned in the context of devourers, particularly in agricultural settings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יֶ֫לֶק n.m. a kind of locust

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3218 יֶ֫לֶק

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3218 yekeq yeh'-lek

from an unused root meaning to lick up; a devourer;

specifically, the young locust:--cankerworm, caterpillar.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יֶ֫לֶק (ye.leq) — locust.

1) young locust (early stage of development)

1a) caterpillar (as devouring)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lo'-kust: The translation of a large number of Hebrew and Greek words:

1. Names:

(1) 'arbeh from the root rabhah, "to increase" (compare Arabic raba', "to increase").

(2) sal`am, from obsolete [?] cal`am, "to swallow down," "to consume."

(3) chargol (compare Arabic charjal, "to run to the right or left," charjalat, "a company of horses" or "a swarm of locusts," charjawan, a kind of locust).

(4) chaghabh (compare Arabic chajab, "to hide," "to cover").

(5) gazam (compare Arabic jazum, " to cut off")

(6) yeleq, from the root laqaq "to lick" (compare Arabic laqlaq, "to dart out the tongue" (used of a serpent)).

(7) chacil, from the root chacal, "to devour" (compare Arabic chaucal, "crop" (of a bird)).

(8) gobh, from the obsolete root gabhah (compare Arabic jabi, "locust," from the root jaba', "to come out of a hole").

(9) gebh, from same root.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Locust

There are ten Hebrew words used in Scripture to signify locust. In the New Testament locusts are mentioned as forming part of the food of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). By the Mosaic law they were reckoned “clean,” so that he could lawfully eat them. The name also occurs in Rev. 9:3, 7, in allusion to this Oriental devastating insect.

Locusts belong to the class of Orthoptera, i.e., straight-winged. They are of many species. The ordinary Syrian locust resembles the grasshopper, but is larger and more destructive. “The legs and thighs of these insects are so powerful that they can leap to a height of two hundred times the length of their bodies. When so raised they spread their wings and fly so close together as…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a well-known insect, of the grasshopper family, which commits terrible ravages on vegetation in the countries which it visits. "The common brown locust is about three inches in length, and the general form is that of a grasshopper." The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the Bible lands are the (Edipoda migratoria and the Acridium peregrinum ; and as both these species occur in Syria and Arabia, etc., it is most probable that one or other is denoted in those passages which speak of the dreadful devastations committed by these insects. Locusts occur in great numbers, and sometimes obscure the sun. (Exodus 10:15; Judges 6:5; Jeremiah 46:23) Their voracity is alluded to in (

there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
הִֽתְכַּבְּדִ֖יhit.ka.be.Di make yourself numerous H3513 Verb · Hithpael · imperative second person feminine singular
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean to honor or make something weighty, like when God is glorified in Psalm 138, or to be heavy with burdens, as the Israelites were in Exodus 18.
Tyndale gloss
to honor: honour
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּבֵד (kabad) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to be heavy.' It covers a range of meanings, including being burdensome, weighty, or honorable. The word can describe both a negative sense of heaviness or dullness and a positive sense of honor or glory. It appears in various forms, such as making oneself heavy or being made honorable.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבֵד vb. be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured

Qal

be heavy, in weight

heavy, insensible, dull

be honoured

Niph.

pass.

be made heavy fr. abundance

be honoured, enjoy honour, of man

medial, get oneself glory (or honour), of God

Pi.

make heavy, insensible

make honourable, honour, glorify, usu. c. human subj.

Pu. be made honourable, honoured

Hiph.

make heavy

make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the ears

cause to be honoured

Hithp.

make oneself heavy, dense, numerous

honour oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3513 כָּבֵד be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured .. be heavy, in weight

. heavy, insensible, dull

. be honoured

. . pass. . be made heavy fr. abundance

. be honoured, enjoy honour, of man

. medial, get oneself glory (or honour), of God

. . make heavy, insensible

. make honourable, honour, glorify, usu. c. human subj.

. be made honourable, honoured

. . make heavy

. make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the ears

. cause to be honoured

. . make oneself heavy, dense, numerous

. honour oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3513 kabad kaw-bad'

or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in

a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense

(numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in

the same two senses):--abounding with, more grievously

afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make)

glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden,

be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to,

do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man),

lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote

(to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבֵד (ka.vad) — to honor: honour.

: honour/glory

1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be heavy

1a2) to be heavy, be insensible, be dull

1a3) to be honoured

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made heavy, be honoured, enjoy honour, be made abundant

1b2) to get oneself glory or honour, gain glory

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make heavy, make dull, make insensible

1c2) to make honourable, honour, glorify

1d) (Pual) to be made honourable, be honoured

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make heavy

1e2) to make heavy, make dull, make unresponsive

1e3) to cause to be honoured

1f) (Hithpael)

1f1) to make oneself heavy, make oneself dense, make oneself numerous

1f2) to honour oneself

כָּבֵד (ka.vad) — to honor: heavy.

: heavy/severe

1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael-Impv-2fs — Verb · Hithpael · imperative second person feminine singular
HVtv2fs
there it will consume you fire it will cut off you [the] sword it will consume you like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust make yourself numerous like the locust
כָּאַרְבֶּֽה׃ka.'ar.Beh like the locust H697 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for locust, which rapidly multiplies, is also used figuratively to describe sudden disappearance or insignificance, as seen in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a large group of locusts, a plague
Tyndale gloss
locust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבֶּה (arbeh) refers to a kind of locust, specifically noted for its rapid increase. The term can also imply a locust swarm and has figurative meanings related to sudden disappearance, insignificance, and activity. It is derived from a root meaning to increase, as noted in Strong's entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבֶּה a kind of locust

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H697 אַרְבֶּה a kind of locust

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

697 'arbeh ar-beh'

from 7235; a locust (from its rapid increase):--

grasshopper, locust.

see HEBREW for 07235

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבֶּה (ar.beh) — locust.

1) a kind of locust, locust swarm (coll)

2) (CLBL)

2a) sudden disappearance (fig.)

2b) insignificance (fig.)

2c) activity (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lo'-kust: The translation of a large number of Hebrew and Greek words:

1. Names:

(1) 'arbeh from the root rabhah, "to increase" (compare Arabic raba', "to increase").

(2) sal`am, from obsolete [?] cal`am, "to swallow down," "to consume."

(3) chargol (compare Arabic charjal, "to run to the right or left," charjalat, "a company of horses" or "a swarm of locusts," charjawan, a kind of locust).

(4) chaghabh (compare Arabic chajab, "to hide," "to cover").

(5) gazam (compare Arabic jazum, " to cut off")

(6) yeleq, from the root laqaq "to lick" (compare Arabic laqlaq, "to dart out the tongue" (used of a serpent)).

(7) chacil, from the root chacal, "to devour" (compare Arabic chaucal, "crop" (of a bird)).

(8) gobh, from the obsolete root gabhah (compare Arabic jabi, "locust," from the root jaba', "to come out of a hole").

(9) gebh, from same root.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Locust

There are ten Hebrew words used in Scripture to signify locust. In the New Testament locusts are mentioned as forming part of the food of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). By the Mosaic law they were reckoned “clean,” so that he could lawfully eat them. The name also occurs in Rev. 9:3, 7, in allusion to this Oriental devastating insect.

Locusts belong to the class of Orthoptera, i.e., straight-winged. They are of many species. The ordinary Syrian locust resembles the grasshopper, but is larger and more destructive. “The legs and thighs of these insects are so powerful that they can leap to a height of two hundred times the length of their bodies. When so raised they spread their wings and fly so close together as…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a well-known insect, of the grasshopper family, which commits terrible ravages on vegetation in the countries which it visits. "The common brown locust is about three inches in length, and the general form is that of a grasshopper." The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the Bible lands are the (Edipoda migratoria and the Acridium peregrinum ; and as both these species occur in Syria and Arabia, etc., it is most probable that one or other is denoted in those passages which speak of the dreadful devastations committed by these insects. Locusts occur in great numbers, and sometimes obscure the sun. (Exodus 10:15; Judges 6:5; Jeremiah 46:23) Their voracity is alluded to in (

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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