Numbers 6:3 — Word Study
WLCמִיַּ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ יַזִּ֔יר חֹ֥מֶץ יַ֛יִן וְחֹ֥מֶץ שֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה וְכָל־ מִשְׁרַ֤ת עֲנָבִים֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וַעֲנָבִ֛ים לַחִ֥ים וִיבֵשִׁ֖ים לֹ֥א יֹאכֵֽל׃
BSAhe is to abstainnâzar▸ [separate himself, dedicate] from wineyayin [fermented wine] and strong drinkshêkâr [intoxicating liquor] He must notlôʼ drinkshâthâh▸ vinegarchômets [sour liquid] made from wineyayin [or] strong drinkshêkâr and he must notlôʼ drinkshâthâh▸ anykôl grapeʻênâb juicemishrâh△ [juice of grapes, wine] or eatʼâkal▸ freshlach [moist, new] grapesʻênâb or raisinsyâbêsh [dried grapes]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מִיַּ֤יִן | from wine | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְשֵׁכָר֙ | and strong drink | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יַזִּ֔יר | he will keep separate | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| חֹ֥מֶץ | vinegar of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| יַ֛יִן | wine | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְחֹ֥מֶץ | and vinegar of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| שֵׁכָ֖ר | strong drink | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה | he will drink | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְכָל־ | and any | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| מִשְׁרַ֤ת | juice of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| עֲנָבִים֙ | grapes | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה | he will drink | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וַעֲנָבִ֛ים | and grapes | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| לַחִ֥ים | fresh | Adj |
| וִיבֵשִׁ֖ים | and dried | Conjunction |
| לֹ֥א | not | Particle |
| יֹאכֵֽל׃ | he will eat | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. |
| KJV | He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. |
| ASV | he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. |
| YLT | from wine and strong drink he doth keep separate; vinegar of wine, and vinegar of strong drink he doth not drink, and any juice of grapes he doth not drink, and grapes moist or dry he doth not eat; |
| WEB | he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. |
| BBE | He is to keep himself from wine and strong drink, and take no mixed wine or strong drink or any drink made from grapes, or any grapes, green or dry. |
Where they part company is לַחִ֥ים — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause outlines the central action, with subsequent clauses detailing specific prohibitions, creating a clear structure of what is required.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָזַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 19 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 6:3
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 Nazarite Vowgenerated
Numbers 6:3 outlines the Nazarite vow, a commitment to separate oneself to the Lord. This vow includes specific prohibitions, particularly concerning wine and strong drink, which symbolize worldly pleasures. The instructions given here reflect a call to holiness and dedication, as seen in the broader context of the Nazarite's separation from everyday life, which continues through verse 5.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 10:9 | “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come. |
| 2 | Judges 13:14 | She must not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor drink any wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.” |
| 3 | Proverbs 31:4–5 | It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, |
| 4 | Jeremiah 35:6–8 | “We do not drink wine,” they replied, “for our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, ‘Neither you nor your descendants are ever to drink wine. |
| 5 | Amos 2:12 | “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַזִּ֔יר, ya.Zirgenerated
The verb נָזַר (nazar) means 'to dedicate' or 'to separate,' indicating a commitment to holiness. This word emphasizes the act of setting oneself apart for God, as seen in the context of the Nazarite vow, where individuals abstain from certain pleasures to focus on their spiritual devotion.
The parsing as a Hiphil imperfect indicates an ongoing action or state, suggesting that the individual is actively maintaining their separation. This reflects the continuous nature of the vow, which is not just a temporary abstention but a lifestyle choice.
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 has abstain, which is consistent with the KJV, ASV, and WEB, all emphasizing the act of separation.
Where others part company with the BSB they part company over the word לַחִ֥ים. The BSB and several versions render it as fresh, while the KJV and others choose moist, highlighting a difference in nuance regarding the state of the grapes.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יַזִּ֔יר governs the structure, indicating the action of keeping separate. The sentence includes multiple clauses detailing what is prohibited, creating a list of items that the Nazarite must avoid.
The word order emphasizes the prohibitions, with the main clause stating the action and subsequent phrases elaborating on the specific items, reinforcing the seriousness of the vow.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew יַיִן is rendered as οἴνου, which maintains the focus on fermented wine, similar to the Hebrew meaning. This choice aligns with the understanding of wine in both texts as something to be avoided.
The Greek term ἁγνισθήσεται reflects the idea of purification or dedication, emphasizing the spiritual aspect of the Nazarite vow.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 6:3 states that a person making a Nazarite vow must abstain from wine and strong drink. This includes not drinking vinegar made from wine, any grape juice, and eating fresh grapes or raisins. The vow signifies a commitment to holiness and separation from certain pleasures.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The Nazarite vow signifies a commitment to holiness and separation from worldly pleasures, allowing individuals to focus on their spiritual devotion.
These prohibitions are meant to symbolize the separation from everyday indulgences and distractions, emphasizing the Nazarite's dedication to God.
To keep separate means to dedicate oneself to God by avoiding certain pleasures and focusing on spiritual growth and purity.
Yes, other examples include the vow of Samson's mother in Judges 13:5, which also involved abstaining from wine and strong drink.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some modern-day commitments I can make to dedicate myself to God?
- How can I create boundaries in my life that help me focus on my spiritual growth?
- What are some distractions I need to avoid to maintain my dedication to God?
- How can the example of the Nazarite vow inspire my own spiritual journey?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 6:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe shall separate [himself] from wine,.... Old or new, as Ben Gersom; from drinking it, any of it: not only from an immoderate and excessive drinking of it, which every man should abstain from, but
Read John Gill on Numbers 6 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentarySpeak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: When either man or woman
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 6 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleLest they should either inflame or dispose him to luxury, and consequently to the breaking of his vow; or cloud his reason, and thereby occasion some mistake or miscarriage in the rules to which he had bound himself. Compare . Nor eat moist grapes, or dried; which was forbidden him for greater caution to keep him at the further distance from wine.
Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 6 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsNumbers 6:3 He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.Ver. 3. He shall separate himself from wine.] Lest he should drink and forget the law, which he was to study diligently: but loaden bellies make leaden wits: intemperance takes away the heart, overchargeth it. Moist grapes or dried.] Dried as raisins, currants, or grapes of Corinth, whence they come, and are called.
Read John Trapp on Numbers 6 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink . . . —The law of the Nazirite in this respect, as in regard to defilement from the dead, was more strict than that which was enjoined upon the priests, thus typifying the entire surrender of the heart and life to God, and freedom from the distraction of earthly ties. The ideal of this separation, however, was not that of a life of monastic seclusion, but of action, and of uninterrupted devotion to the Divine service. The priests were forbidden to drink wine, or strong drink, when they entered the tabernacle to perform service there, but were not prohibited the use of wine at other times. Strong drink (shecar) is supposed to have been…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Numbers 6 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. No vinegar of wine, c.] חמץ chomets signifies fermented wine, and is probably used here to signify wine of a strong body, or any highly intoxicating liquor. Dr. Lightfoot supposes that the LEPER being the most defiled and loathsome of creatures, was an emblem of the wretched, miserable state of man by the fall and that the NAZARITE was the emblem of man in his state of innocence. Wine and grapes are here particularly forbidden to the Nazarite because, as the doctor thinks, being an emblem of man in his paradisaical state, he was forbidden that tree and its fruits by eating of which Adam fell; for the doctor, as well as the Jewish rabbins, believed the tree of knowledge to have been…
Read AdamClarke on Numbers 6 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3, 4. First regulation. Abstinence from intoxicating liquors and from any produce of the vine, liquid or solid.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 6 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. Wine and strong drink — See Leviticus 10:8-11, notes. This law requiring abstinence from intoxicants is placed next to the law for a defiled or suspected woman, because by drunkenness unchastities frequently come.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 6 →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
he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
he is to abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and he must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.
he must separate himself from wine and strong drink, he must drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from strong drink, nor may he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins.
Tyndale line
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
He shall abstaine from wine and strong drinke, and shall drinke no sowre wine nor sowre drinke, nor shall drinke any licour of grapes, neither shall eate fresh grapes nor dryed.
Strictly literal
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink: he shall drink no vinegar of wine, nor vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat grapes, fresh or dried.
from wine and strong drink he doth keep separate; vinegar of wine, and vinegar of strong drink he doth not drink, and any juice of grapes he doth not drink, and grapes moist or dry he doth not eat;
he keeps separate from wine and strong drink; he does not drink vinegar of wine and vinegar of strong drink, and he does not drink any juice of grapes, and he does not eat moist or dry grapes;
Then shall he abstain from wine and strong drink, vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink shall he not drink, and any infusion of grapes shall he not drink, and grapes, fresh or dried, shall he not eat.
he must keep himself from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from strong drink. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.
From the Latin
They shall abstain from wine, and from every thing that may make a man drunk. They shall not drink vinegar of wine, or of any other drink, nor any thing that is pressed out of the grape: nor shall they eat grapes either fresh or dried.
Simplified
they must not drink any wine or other alcoholic drink. They must not even drink vinegar made from wine or other alcoholic drink, or any grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.
He is to keep himself from wine and strong drink, and take no mixed wine or strong drink or any drink made from grapes, or any grapes, green or dry.
Word by word, the decisions they made
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.
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 Septuagint largely agree on the wording, with 17 of the 19 words matched. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs in two words: it uses משׁארת (kneading-trough) and יבישׁים (dry) instead of the corresponding terms in the MT.
מִיַּ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ יַזִּ֔יר חֹ֥מֶץ יַ֛יִן וְחֹ֥מֶץ שֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה וְכָל־ מִשְׁרַ֤ת עֲנָבִים֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וַעֲנָבִ֛ים לַחִ֥ים וִיבֵשִׁ֖ים לֹ֥א יֹאכֵֽל׃
17 of the 19 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.
מיין ושׁכר יזיר חמץ יין וחמץ שׁכר לא ישׁתה וכל משׁארת ענבים לא ישׁתה וענבים לחים ויבישׁים לא יאכל
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: משׁארת (kneading-trough), יבישׁים (dry)
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.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 6:3
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.
יַ֫יִן (yayin) means 'wine' and is associated with fermentation and intoxication. It appears in various contexts, including banqueting. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of effervescence.
יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine
base
H3196 יַ֫יִן wine
3196 yayin yah'-yin
from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as
fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine,
wine(-bibber).
יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) — wine.
wine
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
Wine
The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos_, and the Latin _vinun. But besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.
(1.) Ashishah (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.
(2.) ‘Asis, “sweet wine,” or “new wine,” the product of the same year (Cant. 8:2;
The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [VINE] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian paintings, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of "treading," which has prevailed in all ages in Oriental…
The vine being natural to the soil of Canaan and its vicinity, wine was much used as a beverage, especially at festivals, Es 1:7 5:6 Da 5:1-4 Joh 2:3. As one of the staple products of the Holy Land, it was employed for drink-offerings in the temple service, Ex 20:26 Nu 15:4-10; it was included among the "first-fruits," De 18:4, and was used in the celebration of the Passover, and subsequently of the Lord’s supper, Mt 26:27-29. Together with corn and oil it denoted all temporal supplies,
שֵׁכָר (shekar) refers to an intoxicating or strong drink, often associated with alcoholic beverages. It is derived from a root meaning to be drunk and encompasses intensely alcoholic liquor. The term appears in contexts discussing strong drink and drunkenness.
שֵׁכָר n.[m.] intoxicating drink, strong drink
base
H7941 שֵׁכָר intoxicating dring, strong drink
7941 shekar shay-kawr'
from 7937; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic
liquor:--strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine.
see HEBREW for 07937
שֵׁכָר (she.khar) — strong drink.
strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
See FOOD; DRINK, STRONG.
Drink
The drinks of the Hebrews were water, wine, “strong drink,” and vinegar. Their drinking vessels were the cup, goblet or “basin,” the “cruse” or pitcher, and the saucer.
To drink water by measure (Ezek. 4:11), and to buy water to drink (Lam. 5:4), denote great scarcity. To drink blood means to be satiated with slaughter.
The Jews carefully strained their drinks through a sieve, through fear of violating the law of Lev. 11:20, 23, 41, 42. (See Matt. 23:24. “Strain at” should be “strain out.”)
→ INTOXICATING
See ABSTINENCE, TOTAL
→ See DRUNKARD
→ See DRUNKENNESS
→ See WINE
נָזַר (nazar) means to dedicate, consecrate, or separate, particularly in a religious context. It can refer to dedicating oneself or living as a Nazarite, a term used in the Old Testament, specifically in Numbers 6. The entries indicate that the word has roots in abstaining from impurities and devoting oneself to sacred purposes.
[נָזַר] vb. dedicate, consecrate, separate, in relig. and ceremonial sense
Niph. devote, dedicate oneself unto
Hiph. and ye shale keep the sons of Isr. sacredly separate from their uncleanness
base
[נָזַר] vb. denom. Hiph. be a Nazarite, live as a Nazarite;—only Nu 6 in law of Naz.
base
H5144a נָזַר , dedicate, consecrate, separate, in relig. and ceremonial sense H5144b נָזַר vb. denom. Hiph. be a Nazarite, live as a Nazarite
5144 nazar naw-zar'
a primitive root; to hold aloof, i.e. (intransitivey) abstain
(from food and drink, from impurity, and even from divine
worship (i.e. apostatize)); specifically, to set apart (to
sacred purposes), i.e. devote:--consecrate, separate(-ing,
self).
נָזַר (na.zar) — to dedicate.
1) to dedicate, consecrate, separate
1a) (Niphal) to dedicate oneself, devote oneself
1b) (Hiphil) to keep sacredly separate
נָזַר (na.zar) — be a Nazarite.
(Hiphil) to be a Nazarite, live as a Nazarite
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singularHVhi3ms
sep'-a-rat: The translation of a number of Hebrew and Greek words, badhal (Le 20:24, etc.), and aphorizo (Mt 25:32, etc.), being the most common. "To separate" and "to consecrate" were originally not distinguished (e.g. Nu 6:2 margin), and probably the majority of the uses of "separate" in English Versions of the Bible connote "to set apart for God." But precisely the same term that is used in this sense may also denote the exact opposite (e.g. the use of nazar in Eze 14:7 and Zec 7:3).
See HOLINESS; NAZIRITE; SAINTS.
חֹ֫מֶץ (chomets) means vinegar. It is derived from the root word for sourness, indicating its sharp taste. The entries consistently define it as vinegar without significant variation.
חֹ֫מֶץ n.m. vinegar
base
H2558 חֹ֫מֶץ vinegar
2558 chomets kho'-mets
from 2556; vinegar:--vinegar.
see HEBREW for 02556
חֹ֫מֶץ (cho.mets) — vinegar.
vinegar
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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.
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…
יַ֫יִן (yayin) means 'wine' and is associated with fermentation and intoxication. It appears in various contexts, including banqueting. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of effervescence.
יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine
base
H3196 יַ֫יִן wine
3196 yayin yah'-yin
from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as
fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine,
wine(-bibber).
יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) — wine.
wine
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
Wine
The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos_, and the Latin _vinun. But besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.
(1.) Ashishah (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.
(2.) ‘Asis, “sweet wine,” or “new wine,” the product of the same year (Cant. 8:2;
The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [VINE] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian paintings, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of "treading," which has prevailed in all ages in Oriental…
The vine being natural to the soil of Canaan and its vicinity, wine was much used as a beverage, especially at festivals, Es 1:7 5:6 Da 5:1-4 Joh 2:3. As one of the staple products of the Holy Land, it was employed for drink-offerings in the temple service, Ex 20:26 Nu 15:4-10; it was included among the "first-fruits," De 18:4, and was used in the celebration of the Passover, and subsequently of the Lord’s supper, Mt 26:27-29. Together with corn and oil it denoted all temporal supplies,
חֹ֫מֶץ (chomets) means vinegar. It is derived from the root word for sourness, indicating its sharp taste. The entries consistently define it as vinegar without significant variation.
חֹ֫מֶץ n.m. vinegar
base
H2558 חֹ֫מֶץ vinegar
2558 chomets kho'-mets
from 2556; vinegar:--vinegar.
see HEBREW for 02556
חֹ֫מֶץ (cho.mets) — vinegar.
vinegar
HC/Ncmsc — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
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.
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…
שֵׁכָר (shekar) refers to an intoxicating or strong drink, often associated with alcoholic beverages. It is derived from a root meaning to be drunk and encompasses intensely alcoholic liquor. The term appears in contexts discussing strong drink and drunkenness.
שֵׁכָר n.[m.] intoxicating drink, strong drink
base
H7941 שֵׁכָר intoxicating dring, strong drink
7941 shekar shay-kawr'
from 7937; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic
liquor:--strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine.
see HEBREW for 07937
שֵׁכָר (she.khar) — strong drink.
strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
See WINE.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
שָׁתָה (shathah) means 'to drink' and can refer to both literal drinking and figurative uses, such as feasting or experiencing God's wrath. It is a primitive root that appears in various forms, including Qal and Niphal, indicating actions like drinking and being drunk. The lexicons note its connection to the Aramaic equivalent שְׁתָה (she.tah), but do not present significant disagreements.
שָׁתָה 217 vb. drink
Qal 216
Niph. all which is (may be) drunk
base
H8354 שָׁתָה drink
8354 shathah shaw-thaw'
a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively):--X
assuredly, banquet, X certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk
(X -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of 8248.)
see HEBREW for 08248
שָׁתָה (sha.tah) — to drink.
1) to drink
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to drink
1a1a) of drinking cup of God's wrath, of slaughter, of wicked deeds (fig)
1a2) to feast
1b) (Niphal) to be drunk
Aramaic equivalent: she.tah (שְׁתָה "to drink" H8355)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
See FOOD; DRINK, STRONG.
Drink
The drinks of the Hebrews were water, wine, “strong drink,” and vinegar. Their drinking vessels were the cup, goblet or “basin,” the “cruse” or pitcher, and the saucer.
To drink water by measure (Ezek. 4:11), and to buy water to drink (Lam. 5:4), denote great scarcity. To drink blood means to be satiated with slaughter.
The Jews carefully strained their drinks through a sieve, through fear of violating the law of Lev. 11:20, 23, 41, 42. (See Matt. 23:24. “Strain at” should be “strain out.”)
→ INTOXICATING
See ABSTINENCE, TOTAL
→ See DRUNKARD
→ See DRUNKENNESS
→ See WINE
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
מִשְׁרָה (mishrah) refers to juice, specifically the juice of grapes, as noted in Numbers 6:3. It is derived from the root meaning to loosen, indicating a process of maceration or steeping. The entries consistently define it as a liquid, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[מִשְׁרָה] n.f. juice;—Nu 6:3 (P) the juice of grapes
ref
H4952 מִשְׁרָה
4952 mishrah mish-raw'
from 8281 in the sense of loosening; maceration, i.e. steeped
juice:--liquor.
see HEBREW for 08281
מִשְׁרָה (mish.rah) — juice.
juice
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
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.
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…
עֵנָב (enab) means 'grape' or 'grapes,' referring to the fruit. It is derived from a root that likely means to bear fruit. The entries consistently focus on the fruit itself, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
עֵנָב n.m. grape(s)
base
H6025 עֵנָב grape(s)
6025 `enab ay-nawb'
from an unused root probably meaning to bear fruit; a
grape:--(ripe) grape, wine.
עֵנָב (e.nav) — grape.
grape(s)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
graps.
See VINE.
The fruit of the vine. The grapes of Palestine were very fine, of great size and high flavor, Nu 13:24. At present, and probably the same has always been true, the wine that is made requires but a small part of the annual yield of the vines. Dr. Robinson says, "No wine is made from the very extensive vineyards of Hebron, except a little by the Jews." While yet green, grapes are used for food in various ways; and are dried in the sun, or their juice preserved in bottles, to secure a pleasant vegetable tart all the year round, Nu 6:4. Ripe grapes may be had in Syria four or five months, Le 26:5; and when the season closes many are hung up in clusters, suitably protected, and remain without drying up all through the winter. Grapes…
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
שָׁתָה (shathah) means 'to drink' and can refer to both literal drinking and figurative uses, such as feasting or experiencing God's wrath. It is a primitive root that appears in various forms, including Qal and Niphal, indicating actions like drinking and being drunk. The lexicons note its connection to the Aramaic equivalent שְׁתָה (she.tah), but do not present significant disagreements.
שָׁתָה 217 vb. drink
Qal 216
Niph. all which is (may be) drunk
base
H8354 שָׁתָה drink
8354 shathah shaw-thaw'
a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively):--X
assuredly, banquet, X certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk
(X -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of 8248.)
see HEBREW for 08248
שָׁתָה (sha.tah) — to drink.
1) to drink
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to drink
1a1a) of drinking cup of God's wrath, of slaughter, of wicked deeds (fig)
1a2) to feast
1b) (Niphal) to be drunk
Aramaic equivalent: she.tah (שְׁתָה "to drink" H8355)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
See FOOD; DRINK, STRONG.
Drink
The drinks of the Hebrews were water, wine, “strong drink,” and vinegar. Their drinking vessels were the cup, goblet or “basin,” the “cruse” or pitcher, and the saucer.
To drink water by measure (Ezek. 4:11), and to buy water to drink (Lam. 5:4), denote great scarcity. To drink blood means to be satiated with slaughter.
The Jews carefully strained their drinks through a sieve, through fear of violating the law of Lev. 11:20, 23, 41, 42. (See Matt. 23:24. “Strain at” should be “strain out.”)
→ INTOXICATING
See ABSTINENCE, TOTAL
→ See DRUNKARD
→ See DRUNKENNESS
→ See WINE
עֵנָב (enab) means 'grape' or 'grapes,' referring to the fruit. It is derived from a root that likely means to bear fruit. The entries consistently focus on the fruit itself, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
עֵנָב n.m. grape(s)
base
H6025 עֵנָב grape(s)
6025 `enab ay-nawb'
from an unused root probably meaning to bear fruit; a
grape:--(ripe) grape, wine.
עֵנָב (e.nav) — grape.
grape(s)
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Ncmpa
graps.
See VINE.
The fruit of the vine. The grapes of Palestine were very fine, of great size and high flavor, Nu 13:24. At present, and probably the same has always been true, the wine that is made requires but a small part of the annual yield of the vines. Dr. Robinson says, "No wine is made from the very extensive vineyards of Hebron, except a little by the Jews." While yet green, grapes are used for food in various ways; and are dried in the sun, or their juice preserved in bottles, to secure a pleasant vegetable tart all the year round, Nu 6:4. Ripe grapes may be had in Syria four or five months, Le 26:5; and when the season closes many are hung up in clusters, suitably protected, and remain without drying up all through the winter. Grapes…
לַח (lach) means moist, fresh, or new. It is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of being unused or undried, often describing plants or materials like cords and sinews. The entries consistently highlight its association with freshness and moisture.
לַח adj. moist, fresh, new
base
H3892 לַח moist, fresh, new
3892 lach lakh
from an unused root meaning to be new; fresh, i.e. unused or
undried:--green, moist.
לַח (lach) — fresh.
1) moist, fresh, new
1a) moist, fresh (of plants)
1b) new (of cords, sinews)
Adj — AdjHAampa
Adj.:
The translation of hadhash, "new," "fresh" (Job 29:20, "My glory is fresh in me"); of leshadh, "sap," "moisture" (Nu 11:8, of the manna, "as the taste of fresh oil," the Revised Version, margin "cakes baked with oil"); of ra`anan, "to be fresh and green" (Ps 92:10, "fresh oil"); of glukus, "sweet" (Jas 3:12, "salt water and fresh," the Revised Version (British and American) "sweet"). Fresher is the translation of rutaphash, "to become fresh" (Job 33:25; "His flesh shall be fresher than a child's").
יָבֵשׁ (yabesh) means 'dry' or 'dried.' It is derived from the root word for 'dry' (H3001) and can function as both an adjective and a verb. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to dryness without significant disagreement.
יָבֵשׁ adj.verb. or pt. dry, dried
base
H3002 יָבֵשׁ dry, dried
3002 yabesh yaw-bashe'
from 3001; dry:--dried (away), dry.
see HEBREW for 03001
יָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) — dry.
1) dry
2) dried
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Aampa
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
HTn — ParticleHTn
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
