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Numbers 11:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־ הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא תַּבְעֵרָ֑ה כִּֽי־ בָעֲרָ֥ה בָ֖ם אֵ֥שׁ יְהוָֽה׃

BSASo thathûwʼ placemâqôwm [location, region] was calledqârâʼ [named, designated] TaberahTabʻêrâh [burning] becausekîy [for, since] the fireʼêsh [flame, divine presence] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, God] had burnedbâʻar [been kindled, consumed]

Word
Listen & take awayNumbers 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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 (Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Numbers 11:3quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse explains the naming of a location due to a significant event involving divine fire.
Who is speakingThe narrator recounts the actions of the Israelites.
Where we areThe context is the wilderness journey of the Israelites.
The hard wordתַּבְעֵרָ֑ה
Take awayThe place was named to remember a specific event.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbקָרָא 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 — Numbers 11:3

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 Naming of Taberahgenerated

2And the people cried out to Moses, and he prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down.
3So that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD had burned among them.
4Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat?
5We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.

Numbers 11:3 recounts an event during the Israelites' journey in the wilderness where they complained, prompting a divine response. The place where this occurred was named Taberah, reflecting the significant moment when the fire of the LORD burned among them, emphasizing the seriousness of their complaints and the divine presence among them.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 9:22You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תַּבְעֵרָ֑ה, tav.'e.Rahgenerated

The word תַּבְעֵרָ֑ה (Taberah) is a proper noun derived from the root בָּעַר (ba'ar), which means 'to burn.' This name signifies a place associated with fire, likely due to the divine fire that burned there among the people. It is a unique name that encapsulates the event's intensity.

In this verse, the naming of Taberah serves as a memorial of the Israelites' experiences and the consequences of their complaints against God. The act of naming indicates a significant event that marked their journey.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions using 'Taberah' for the place name and recognizing the fire of the LORD as central to the event.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is וַיִּקְרָ֛א (and someone called), which governs the entire verse. The structure presents a noun phrase indicating the name given to the place, followed by a causal clause explaining why it was named Taberah.

The order emphasizes the action of naming first, followed by the reason for that name, which is a common structure in Hebrew narrative.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיִּקְרָ֛א as ἐκλήθη (it was called), indicating a passive construction that aligns with the Hebrew meaning of naming. This choice reflects an understanding that the name was given due to a significant event.

The use of ἐμπυρισμός for Taberah in the Septuagint emphasizes the burning aspect, consistent with the Hebrew root and the event's context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Numbers 11:3 tells us that a place was named Taberah because the fire of the LORD had burned among the Israelites. This name reminds them of the serious consequences of their complaints during their journey in the wilderness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the name Taberah signify?

Taberah means 'burning,' reflecting the event where the fire of the LORD burned among the people.

Why was the place named Taberah?

The place was named Taberah due to the divine fire that burned there, which served as a reminder of the people's complaints.

What does the fire of the LORD represent in this context?

The fire of the LORD symbolizes His presence and response to the complaints of the Israelites.

How does this event connect to the Israelites' journey?

This event illustrates the challenges the Israelites faced and the consequences of their actions during their wilderness journey.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the naming of Taberah teach us about the importance of remembering significant events in our lives?
  2. How can we reflect on our own complaints and their consequences in our relationship with God?
  3. In what ways can we recognize and honor the presence of God in our lives, similar to the fire in this verse?
  4. How does understanding the meaning of names in the Bible enhance our comprehension of the text?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Numbers 11:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And he called the name of the place Taberah,.... That is, "burning": Moses called it so; or it may be rendered impersonally, it was called (s) so in later times by the people: because the fire of the

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

And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Tabera, from this fire; as it was called Kibroth-hattaa-vah from another occasion, ,35 33:16; as it is no new thing in Scripture for persons and places to have two names. Both these names were imposed as monuments of the people’ s sin, and of God’ s just judgment. See ,22,24.

Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Numbers 11:3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.Ver. 3. The name of the place Taberah.] So to perpetuate the memory of the people’ s sin, and God’ s judgment. Alterius perditio, tua sit cautio.

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

(3) Taberah—i.e., burning, a word cognate to the verb which is rendered burnt in Numbers 11:1 and in this verse.

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

1–3. Taberah. This narrative should perhaps be ascribed to E . No mention is made of the reason for the murmuring of the people. But it is possible that they murmured because they were tired of the manna and wanted flesh. If so, this may have been E’s account, parallel to that of J in the verses which follow. In P’s itinerary (Numbers 33:16) Taberah is not included; Kibroth-hattaavah is given as the first stopping place after Sinai. D, who had both the narratives J and E before him, mentions both Taberah and Kibroth-hattaavah (in conjunction with Massah) in Deuteronomy 9:22.

Read Cambridge on Numbers 11 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Taberah - i. e. “burning:” not the name of a station, and accordingly not found in the list given in Num. 33, but the name of the spot where the fire broke out.

Read Albert Barnes on Numbers 11 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3. Taberah is simply a local designation of the spot in the end of the camp where the burning occurred.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 11 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

So that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD had burned among them.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The name of that place was called Taberah, because Yahweh’s fire burned among them.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD had burned among them.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So he called the name of that place Taberah because there the fire of the Lord burned among them.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of Jehovah burnt among them.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the name of that place was called Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he called the name of the place Taberah; because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he called the name of that place Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they called the name of that place Taberah; because a fire of Jehovah burned among them.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and he calleth the name of that place Taberah, for the fire of Jehovah hath 'burned' among them.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and he calls the name of that place Taberah, for the fire of YHWH has “burned” among them.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he called the name of the place Tab'erah; because the fire of the Lord had burnt among them.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

That place was named Taberah, because Yahweh's fire burned among them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And he called the name of that place, The burning: for that the fire of the Lord had been kindled against them.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

So that place was named Taberah, because the fire from the Lord burned them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So that place was named Taberah, because of the fire of the Lord which had been burning among them.

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּקְרָ֛אsomeone.callednoun phrase · objectשֵֽׁםthe.namenoun phraseהַofnoun phraseמָּק֥וֹםthe.placeadjective phraseהַ(the)ה֖וּאthatsecond objectתַּבְעֵרָ֑הTaberahכִּֽי(dm)clauseverbבָעֲרָ֥הit.had.burnedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָ֖amongםthemnoun phrase · subjectאֵ֥שׁthe.fireיְהוָֽהof.Yahweh

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word in this verse, affirming the consistency of the naming and the associated event. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew closely, maintaining the same core elements.

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

וַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־ הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא תַּבְעֵרָ֑ה כִּֽי־ בָעֲרָ֥ה בָ֖ם אֵ֥שׁ יְהוָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּקְרָ֛אἐκλήθηשֵֽׁם־ὄνομαהַמָּק֥וֹםτόπουהַה֖וּאἐκείνουתַּבְעֵרָ֑הἐμπυρισμόςכִּֽי־ὅτιבָעֲרָ֥הἐχεκαύθηבָ֖םαὐτοῖςאֵ֥שׁπῦρיְהוָֽה׃κυρίου

10 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויקרא שׁם המקום ההוא תבערה כי בערה בם אשׁ יהוה

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

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.

Numbers 11:3קָרָאand someoneand someone calקָרָאשֵׁם[the] name [the] name ofשֵׁםמָקוֹםthe placethe placeמָקוֹםהוּאthatthatהוּאתַּבְעֵרָהTaberahTaberahתַּבְעֵרָהכִּיforforכִּיבָּעַרit had burnit had burnedבָּעַרהֶםamong themamong themהֶםאֵשׁ[the] fire [the] fire ofאֵשׁיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםלֵב(Leb)-kama(Leb)-kamaiלֵבבָּעַרto burn: bto burn: burnבָּעַרבַּ֫עַרstupidstupidבַּ֫עַרהָיָהto beto beהָיָהקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאלֶהָבָהflameflameלֶהָבָהצוֹםfastfastצוֹםשֵׁםnamenameשֵׁםקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהבָּחַרto chooseto chooseבָּחַרשָׁחַטto slaughtto slaughterשָׁחַטטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעכָּבָהto quenchto quenchכָּבָהיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַת
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 Numbers 11:3

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 someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
וַיִּקְרָ֛אvai.yik.Ra' and someone called H7121 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
733× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to call out to someone or something, often by name. It's used in many situations, like calling for help or reading aloud. In Genesis, God calls out to Adam in the Garden.
Amplified meaning
named, designated
Tyndale gloss
to call: call to
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read

Qal

call, cry, utter a loud sound

call, cry

call unto some one

cry for help

proclaim

read aloud

read to oneself

summon

call = name

Niph.

reflex.

pass. be called

Pu. be called

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound

. call, cry

. . call unto some one

. cry for help

. proclaim

. . read aloud

. read to oneself

. summon

. call = name

. . reflex.

. pass. be called

. be called

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7121 qara' kaw-raw'

a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea

of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,

address by name, but used in a wide variety of

applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,

forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,

mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),

pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.

see HEBREW for 07122

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.

: call_to/invite/entreat

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow

1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to call oneself

1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named

1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.

: call_by/name

1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound

1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)

1a3) to proclaim

1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
שֵֽׁם־shem- [the] name of H8034 Noun common · masculine singular construct
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
הַמָּק֥וֹםha.ma.Kom the place H4725 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
401× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Maqom means a place or location, like a city or a region. It can also refer to a condition of the body or mind. This term is used to describe a wide range of locations and situations.
Amplified meaning
location, region
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָקוֹם (maqom) means 'place' and encompasses a variety of contexts, including a standing place, station, or post. It can refer to human abodes, localities, regions, and even figurative conditions of body or mind. The term is derived from a root meaning 'standing' and is used broadly in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָקוֹם, מָקֹם 399 n.m. standing-place, place

standing-place

station, where soldiers are placed

post, office

place where a thing belongs

esp.

place of human abode

of י׳’s abode

place

in gen. place, locality, spot

space, room

space, distance, between

region, quarter, direction

peculiar uses

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4725 מָקוֹם, מָקֹם standing-place, place . . standing-place

. station, where soldiers are placed

. post, office

. . place where a thing belongs

. esp. . place of human abode

. of י׳’s abode

. place

. in gen. place, locality, spot

. . space, room

. space, distance, between

. region, quarter, direction

. peculiar uses

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4725 maqowm maw-kome'

or maqom {maw-kome'}; also (feminine) mqowmah {mek-o-mah'};

or mqomah {mek-o-mah'}; from 6965; properly, a standing, i.e.

a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);

also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or

mind):--country, X home, X open, place, room, space, X

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 06965

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָקוֹם (ma.qom) — place.

1) standing place, place

1a) standing place, station, post, office

1b) place, place of human abode

1c) city, land, region

1d) place, locality, spot

1e) space, room, distance

1f) region, quarter, direction

1g) give place to, instead of

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

plas: Normally for maqom, Old Testament, and topos, New Testament, but in the King James Version "place" represents a great number of Hebrew and Greek words, often used with no difference in force (e.g. 2Ch 35:10,15). the Revised Version (British and American) has made few changes, but occasionally has attempted to specialize the meaning (Ge 40:13; Job 37:8; Ac 8:32; Jas 3:11, etc.).

and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
הַה֖וּאha.Hu' that H1931 Particle · pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

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

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

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

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

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

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

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

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Pron — Particle · pronoun
HTd/Pp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
תַּבְעֵרָ֑הtav.'e.Rah Taberah H8404 Noun proper
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Taberah was a place in the desert where the Israelites camped and complained about their hardships, as told in Numbers 11:3. The name means burning, likely due to a fire that occurred there.
Amplified meaning
burning
Tyndale gloss
Taberah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תַּבְעֵרָה (Tab`erah) refers to a location in the wilderness, meaning 'burning.' It is derived from the root word for burning, בָּעַר (ba'ar). The entries consistently identify it as a place in the Desert of Paran.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תַּבְעֵרָה n.pr.loc. in the wilderness (burning)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8404 תַּבְעֵרָה in the wilderness (burning)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8404 Tab`erah tab-ay-raw'

from 1197; burning; Taberah, a place in the

Desert:--Taberah.

see HEBREW for 01197

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תַּבְעֵרָה (tav.e.rah) — Taberah.

§ Taberah = "burning"

a place in the wilderness of Paran

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tab'-e-ra, ta-be'-ra (tabh`erah, "burning"): A wilderness camp of the Israelites, the site of which is unidentified. Here, it is recorded, the people complained against Yahweh, who destroyed many of them by fire. This is the origin of the name (Nu 11:3; De 9:22).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Taberah

Burning, a place in the wilderness of Paran, where the “fire of the Lord” consumed the murmuring Israelites (Num. 11:3; Deut. 9:22). It was also called Kibroth-hattaavah (q.v.).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

the name of a place in the wilderness of Paran. (Numbers 11:3; 9:22) It has not been identified.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Burning, so named on account of the fire which fell upon the Israelites for their murmings while encamped here, Nu 11:1-3 De 9:22.

and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Amplified meaning
for, since
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
בָעֲרָ֥הva.'a.Rah it had burned H1197 Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be brutish means to be stupid or barbarous, and can also refer to consuming something by fire or eating. It is used to describe someone who is dull-hearted or unreceptive.
Amplified meaning
been kindled, consumed
Tyndale gloss
to burn: burn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּעַר (ba'ar) has two primary meanings: to burn or consume, and to be brutish or stupid. It encompasses actions related to fire, such as kindling and burning, as well as figurative uses like consuming guilt. Additionally, it can denote a state of dullness or lack of receptiveness. The lexicons provide various nuances, particularly in how the burning aspect can relate to wrath or destruction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּעַר] vb. burn, consume

Qal burn

Pi.

kindle

burn

fig. consume, utterly remove

Pu. burn (i.e. be supplied with fire), of fire-jar

Hiph.

kindle

burn up

base

[בָּעַר] vb. denom. be brutish

Qal be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive

Niph. brutish, stupid

Pi. feed, graze

Hiph. cause to be grazed over

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1197a [בָּעַר] burn, consume .burn

. . kindle

. burn

. fig. consume, utterly remove

. burn (i.e. be supplied with fire), of fire-jar

. . kindle

. burn up

H1197b [בָּעַר] vb. denom. be brutish .be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive

. brutish, stupid

. feed, graze

. cause to be grazed over

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1197 ba`ar baw-ar'

a primitive root; to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by

eating); also (as denominative from 1198) to be(-come)

brutish:--be brutish, bring (put, take) away, burn, (cause to)

eat (up), feed, heat, kindle, set ((on fire)), waste.

see HEBREW for 01198

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּעַר (ba.ar) — to burn: burn.

: burn/ignite

1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning

1a2) to burn, be burning

1a3) to burn, consume

1a4) Jehovah's wrath, human wrath (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to kindle, burn

1b2) to consume, remove (of guilt) (fig.)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to kindle

1c2) to burn up

1c3) to consume (destroy)

1d) (Pual) to burn

בָּעַר (ba.ar) — be brutish.

v denom

1) to be stupid, brutish, barbarous

1a) (Qal) to be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive

1b) (Niphal) to be stupid, dull-hearted

1c) (Piel) to feed, graze

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to be grazed over

בָּעַר (ba.ar) — to burn: destroy.

: destroy

1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning

1a2) to burn, be burning

1a3) to burn, consume

1a4) Jehovah's wrath, human wrath (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to kindle, burn

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVqp3fs
and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
בָ֖םvam among them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
אֵ֥שׁ'esh [the] fire of H784 Noun common · both singular construct
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
flame, divine presence
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 construct
HNcbsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and someone called [the] name of the place that Taberah for it had burned among them [the] fire of Yahweh
יְהוָֽה׃Yah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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