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Nehemiah 5:6 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּ֥חַר לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־ זַֽעֲקָתָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

BSAWhenʼăsher I heardshâmaʻ [with attention and obedience] their outcryzaʻaq [a loud cry of distress, shriek] and theseʼêl-leh complaintsdâbâr [words, matters] I became extremelymᵉʼôd [was, very, much, exceedingly] angrychârâh [incensed, furious, like a fire burning]

Word
Listen & take awayNehemiah 5
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 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 (ha.'E.leh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Nehemiah 5:6quick helps
In a sentenceNehemiah expresses his intense anger after hearing the people's distress and complaints.
Who is speakingNehemiah, responding to the outcry of his fellow Jews.
Where we areIn a moment of crisis, Nehemiah is moved to action by the suffering of his people.
The hard wordוַיִּ֥חַר
Take awayNehemiah's anger is a catalyst for addressing injustice.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbוְ 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 — Nehemiah 5:6

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 — Nehemiah's Response to Injusticegenerated

5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
6When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,
7and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
8and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.

Nehemiah 5:6 describes Nehemiah's reaction upon hearing the cries of the people who are suffering due to the exploitation they face from their own countrymen. This moment of anger leads him to confront the nobles and officials responsible for the usury, as he seeks justice for his fellow Jews. The surrounding verses illustrate the plight of the people and Nehemiah's commitment to their welfare.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Nehemiah 13:8–25And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.
2Exodus 11:8And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.” And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.
3Numbers 16:15Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”
4Mark 3:5Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
5Ephesians 4:26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,

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

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.Nehemiah 13:8–25 Exodus 11:8 Numbers 16:15 Mark 3:5 Ephesians 4:26

The Key Word וַיִּ֥חַר, vai.Yi.chargenerated

The verb וַיִּ֥חַר (vai.Yi.char) is derived from the root חָרָה (charah), which means to burn or be kindled, particularly in the context of anger. This word conveys a strong emotional response, indicating that Nehemiah's anger is not just a fleeting feeling but a deep, burning indignation toward the injustice faced by his people.

In this context, Nehemiah's anger is a significant reaction that drives him to take action. The use of the sequential imperfect tense shows that this anger arose as a direct response to the outcry he heard, emphasizing the immediacy and intensity of his feelings.


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. The BSB uses became extremely angry, which is echoed in the KJV and ASV with was very angry.

Where they part company is with מְאֹ֑דexceedingly (DRA) contrasts with very (ASV, KJV, WEB, etc.). The variations reflect different emphases on the intensity of Nehemiah's anger.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb וַיִּ֥חַר governs the sentence, indicating Nehemiah's emotional state. The structure includes a prepositional phrase describing the source of his anger, followed by the object of his hearing, which is the outcry and complaints of the people.

The sentence flows from Nehemiah's hearing to his reaction, showing a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The order emphasizes the immediacy of his response to the distress he hears.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew וַיִּ֥חַר is rendered as ἐθυμώθη (ethymōthē), which carries the meaning of becoming angry. This choice highlights the emotional intensity of Nehemiah's reaction, aligning closely with the original Hebrew.

The translation captures the essence of Nehemiah's anger, though the Greek word may not convey the same burning imagery as the Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Nehemiah 5:6 shows Nehemiah reacting with intense anger when he hears the cries of his people suffering from injustice. His response is immediate and strong, leading him to confront those who are exploiting their fellow Jews.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What caused Nehemiah's anger?

Nehemiah's anger was caused by hearing the outcry of the people who were suffering due to the exploitation and usury imposed by their own countrymen.

How does Nehemiah's anger lead to action?

His intense anger motivates him to confront the nobles and officials, urging them to stop their unjust practices and to care for their fellow Jews.

What does the word 'exceedingly' imply about Nehemiah's feelings?

The word 'exceedingly' emphasizes the depth and intensity of Nehemiah's anger, indicating that it was not a mild irritation but a strong and passionate response.

Why is it important that Nehemiah heard the outcry?

Nehemiah's act of hearing the outcry signifies his attentiveness to the needs of his people, demonstrating his leadership and commitment to justice.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some injustices I see around me that provoke a strong emotional response?
  2. How can I take action in response to the needs of those who are suffering?
  3. In what ways can I practice attentive listening to the concerns of others?
  4. How does Nehemiah's example inspire me to stand up against wrongdoing?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 5:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And I was very angry when I heard their cry, and these words.

Read John Gill on Nehemiah 5 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Read Robert Jamieson on Nehemiah 5 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Nehemiah 5:6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.Ver. 6. And I was very angry] Red-hot with anger, and not without cause. To be angry without cause is to be guilty of judgment, Matthew 5:22, but in case of God’ s dishonour, and public prejudice, moderation is mopishness, toleration cowardice, &c. Nehemiah was a magistrate, that is, a mortal god; as God is an immortal magistrate. Therefore as God is angry at the oppressions of poor people (Lactantius hath written a book De Ira Dei), so should his lieutenants; and this holy anger should be cos fortitudinis, a means to encourage, or rather to enrage them against oppressors, who grind the faces of the poor, and take from…

Read John Trapp on Nehemiah 5 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) And I was very angry.—Nehemiah, recently arrived, had not known this state of things. The common wailing and the three complaints in which it found expression are distinct.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Nehemiah 5 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. I was very angry, &c.] Nehemiah’s indignation was excited at the excessive usury, which his own brethren and servants required (Nehemiah 5:10), but still more at the degree to which the brotherhood of Israel was forgotten in days of common peril and of which the sale of fellow-countrymen for debt (Nehemiah 5:8) and the alienation of the poor man’s inheritance (Nehemiah 5:11) were the worst symptoms. Cf. Psalms 119:53 ‘Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.’

Read Cambridge on Nehemiah 5 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

6. Very angry — Highly indignant, to find that such abuses existed among a people so recently escaped from exile.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Nehemiah 5 →

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

When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

When I heard their outcry and these complaints, I became extremely angry,

NETBNew English Translation2006

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then was I very angrie when I heard their crie and these wordes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And it is very displeasing to me when I have heard their cry and these words,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And it displeased me greatly when I heard their complaint and these words.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I was exceedingly angry when I heard their cry according to these words.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I became very angry when I heard them protesting their grievances.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And on hearing their outcry and what they said I was very angry.

Word by word, the decisions they made

מְאֹ֑דme.'Od exceedingly H3966 2 different renderings
veryASV BBE DBY FBV GNV KJV LSV NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
exceedinglyDRA

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּ֥חַרit.burnedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֖toיmeadverbialמְאֹ֑דexceedinglyprepositional phrase · prepositionalכַּwhenrelpאֲשֶׁ֤רwhenclauseverbשָׁמַ֨עְתִּי֙I.heardnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseזַֽעֲקָתָ֔outcryםtheirוְandnoun phraseאֵ֖ת(et)noun phraseהַthenoun phraseדְּבָרִ֥יםwordsadjective phraseהָ(the)אֵֽלֶּהthese

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads וַיִּ֥חַר לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד while the Septuagint matches 7 of the 10 words in the Hebrew, indicating a close alignment in meaning, though the word order differs.

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

וַיִּ֥חַר לִ֖י מְאֹ֑ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־ זַֽעֲקָתָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּ֥חַרκαὶמְאֹ֑דσφόδραכַּאֲשֶׁ֤רκαθὼςשָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ἤκουσαוְאֵ֖תκαὶהַדְּבָרִ֥יםλόγουςהָאֵֽלֶּה׃τούτους

7 of the 10 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.

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.

Nehemiah 5:6חָרָהand it burnand it burnedחָרָהנִיto meto meנִימְאֹדexceedinglyexceedinglyמְאֹדאֲשֶׁרwhenwhenאֲשֶׁרשָׁמַעI heardI heardשָׁמַעאֵתthe object the object markאֵתזְעָקָהoutcry theioutcry theirזְעָקָהאֵתand the objand the object אֵתדָּבָרthe wordsthe wordsדָּבָראֵ֫לֶּהthesetheseאֵ֫לֶּהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתזָעַקto cry outto cry outזָעַקדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַראֵלthesetheseאֵלחָרַרto scorchto scorchחָרַרחָרָהto contendto contendחָרָהאוּדfirebrandfirebrandאוּדמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁאַףfacefaceאַףיוֹנָהJonahJonahיוֹנָהכָּבֵדheavyheavyכָּבֵדרָבָהto multiplto multiplyרָבָהצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁברָעַשׁto shaketo shakeרָעַשׁשֶׁ֫בֶרbreakingbreakingשֶׁ֫בֶריֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶר
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 Nehemiah 5:6

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

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

and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
וַיִּ֥חַרvai.Yi.char and it burned H2734 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be incensed means to be very angry or furious, like a fire burning. It describes strong emotions like anger, zeal, or jealousy, and is used to express intense feelings in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
incensed, furious, like a fire burning
Tyndale gloss
to be incensed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרָה (charah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to burn or be kindled, particularly in the context of anger or zeal. It encompasses various forms, including to glow, grow warm, or become incensed. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal (to burn), Niphal (to be angry), and Hiphil (to kindle). The lexicons do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָרָה vb. burn, be kindled, of anger

Qal

of man

of God

Niph. be angry with

Hiph. burned with zeal (?) in repairing; and kindled his anger against me

Hithp. heat oneself in vexation.—The foll. forms are somewhat dub.: how canst thou hotly contend (in a race) with the horses?; because thou strivest eagerly (to excel) in cedar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2734 חָרָה burn, be kindled, of anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2734 charah khaw-raw'

a primitive root (compare 2787); to glow or grow warm;

figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal,

jealousy:--be angry, burn, be displeased, X earnestly, fret

self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, X very, be

wroth. See 8474.

see HEBREW for 02787

see HEBREW for 08474

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרָה (cha.rah) — to be incensed.

1) to be hot, furious, burn, becomeangry, be kindled

1a) (Qal) to burn, kindle (anger)

1b) (Niphal) to be angry with, be incensed

1c) (Hiphil) to burn, kindle

1d) (Hithpael) to heat oneself in vexation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
לִ֖יli to me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
מְאֹ֑דme.'Od exceedingly H3966 Adv
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Meod means 'much' or 'very' and is used to emphasize something. It can mean 'exceedingly' or 'greatly' and is often used to show strong feelings or actions.
Amplified meaning
was, very, much, exceedingly
Tyndale gloss
much
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְאֹד (m`od) refers to concepts of muchness, force, and abundance. It serves as an adverb meaning exceedingly or greatly, often used to intensify other words. The entries highlight its use in various idioms to express magnitude or degree, with a focus on might and intensity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְאֹד n.m. muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly

force, might

in diff. idioms (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3966 מְאֹד muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly . force, might

. in diff. idiomns (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3966 m`od meh-ode'

from the same as 181; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or

without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly,

speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

superlative; especially when repeated):--diligently,

especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), X

louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so)

sore, utterly, very (+ much, sore), well.

see HEBREW for 0181

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְאֹד (me.od) — much.

adv

1) exceedingly, much

subst

2) might, force, abundance

n m

3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly

3a) force, might

3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)

3b1) exceedingly

3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly

3b3) with muchness, muchness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adv
HAcmsa
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤רka.'a.Sher when H834 Preposition · particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Rel — Preposition · particle
HR/Tr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙sha.Ma'.ti I heard H8085 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Amplified meaning
with attention and obedience
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
זַֽעֲקָתָ֔םza.'a.ka.Tam outcry their H2201 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a loud cry or shriek, often expressing distress, like the outcry in Exodus 2:23. It can also describe a clamor or cry for help. In the Bible, it appears in various forms, such as crying out to God.
Amplified meaning
a loud cry of distress, shriek
Tyndale gloss
outcry
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זְעָקָה (ze'aqah) refers to a cry or outcry, often associated with distress or clamour. It is derived from the root word meaning to cry out, and its usage encompasses various forms of vocal expression, particularly in moments of urgency or need.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זְעָקָה n.f. cry, outcry

outcry, against

cry of distress

outcry, clamour

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2201 זְעָקָה cry, outcry

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2201 za`aq zah'-ak

and (feminine) zoaqah {zeh-aw-kaw'}; from 2199; a shriek or

outcry:--cry(-ing).

see HEBREW for 02199

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זְעָקָה (ze.a.qah) — outcry.

1) cry, outcry

1a) outcry

1b) cry of distress

1c) outcry, clamour

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3mp
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
וְאֵ֖תve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
הַדְּבָרִ֥יםha.de.va.Rim the words H1697 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Amplified meaning
words, matters
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of Jesus

Gracious Lu 4:22

Are spirit and life Joh 6:63

Of eternal life Joh 6:68

Will judge Joh 12:47,48

→ Of the wise

As goads, and as well-fastened nails Ec 12:11

Gracious Ec 10:12

→ Spoken at the proper moment Pr 15:23; Isa 50:4

→ Aptly spoken, like apples of gold in filigree of silver Pr 25:11

→ Of the complete man, gentle Jas 3:2

and it burned to me exceedingly when I heard the object marker outcry their and the object marker the words these
הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ha.'E.leh these H428 Particle · particle
746× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Tyndale gloss
these
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these

in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)

repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those

with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)

. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those

. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

428 'el-leh ale'-leh

prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one

sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,

thus, which, who(-m).

see HEBREW for 0411

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.

1) these

1a) used before antecedent

1b) used following antecedent

Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Pron — Particle · particle
HTd/Tm
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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