Menu

Numbers 9:11 — Word Study

Depth

WLCבַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֜י בְּאַרְבָּעָ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר י֛וֹם בֵּ֥ין הָעַרְבַּ֖יִם יַעֲשׂ֣וּ אֹת֑וֹ עַל־ מַצּ֥וֹת וּמְרֹרִ֖ים יֹאכְלֻֽהוּ׃

BSASuch people are to observeʻâsâh [who were unclean or away] itʼêth atbêyn [between the evenings] twilightʻereb on the fourteenthʼarbaʻ dayyôwm of the secondshênîy [again] monthchôdesh They are to eat [the lamb]ʼâkal [the Passover sacrifice] together withʻal unleavened breadmatstsâh [sweet bread without yeast] and bitter herbsmᵉrôr [plants with a strong bitter taste]

Word
Listen & take awayNumbers 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 (yo.khe.Lu.hu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Numbers 9:11quick helps
In a sentenceThe Israelites are instructed on how to observe the Passover, particularly for those who are unclean or away.
Who is speakingThe LORD, giving commandments to Moses regarding the Passover observance.
Where we areInstructions on the observance of Passover, specifically for those unable to participate at the usual time.
The hard wordמַצּ֥וֹת
Take awayThe observance of the Passover includes specific elements and timing, emphasizing the importance of community and ritual.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Barnes & more — read them › clause verbעָשָׂה 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 9:11

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 — Instructions for the Passovergenerated

10“Tell the Israelites: ‘When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a dead body, or is away on a journey, he may still observe the Passover to the LORD.
11Such people are to observe it at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;
12they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.
13But if a man who is ceremonially clean and is not on a journey still fails to observe the Passover, he must be cut off from his people, because he did not present the LORD’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

Numbers 9:11 provides guidance for those who are unable to participate in the Passover due to being unclean or away on a journey. It emphasizes that they are still to observe the Passover at a designated time, ensuring that the tradition is upheld even in exceptional circumstances. This reflects the importance of the Passover in Israel's religious life, as seen in other passages like Exodus 12:2-14 and 2 Chronicles 30:2-15.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 9:3You are to observe it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with its statutes and ordinances.”
2Exodus 12:2–14“This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year.
32 Chronicles 30:2–15For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month,
4John 19:36Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.”
5Exodus 12:8They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

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

and eat itExodus 12:8

The Key Word מַצּ֥וֹת, ma.Tzotgenerated

The word מַצָּה (matstsah) refers specifically to unleavened bread, which is a key element of the Passover meal. This bread is made without yeast, symbolizing purity and the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt.

In this context, it emphasizes the need for the Israelites to consume unleavened bread as part of their observance of the Passover, highlighting the ritual's significance in commemorating their deliverance.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses unleavened bread for מַצּ֥וֹת.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יַעֲשׂ֣וּ (they will observe) governs the main action of the verse, with multiple phrases detailing the specifics of the observance. The structure emphasizes the timing and components of the Passover meal.

The phrase מַצּ֥וֹת (unleavened bread) and וּמְרֹרִ֖ים (and bitter herbs) are coordinated, indicating that both are essential parts of the meal.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מַצּ֥וֹת as ἀζύμων (unleavened), which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the absence of leaven as a significant aspect of the Passover.

This choice of word reflects the cultural understanding of the Passover observance among Greek-speaking Jews, maintaining the ritual's integrity.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Numbers 9:11 explains how those who are unclean or away can still observe the Passover. They are to do so on the fourteenth day of the second month, eating the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, ensuring that the tradition is followed even in exceptional circumstances.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to observe the Passover?

To observe the Passover means to participate in the ritual meal that commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, following specific guidelines regarding timing and food.

Why is unleavened bread significant?

Unleavened bread is significant because it symbolizes the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt, as they did not have time to let their bread rise.

What are bitter herbs, and why are they included?

Bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery that the Israelites experienced in Egypt, serving as a reminder of their suffering and deliverance.

Can someone who is unclean still participate in the Passover?

Yes, the verse indicates that those who are unclean or away can still participate in the Passover at a later time, ensuring inclusivity in the observance.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I remember the significance of the Passover in my own life?
  2. What rituals or traditions do I observe that help me connect with my faith?
  3. In what ways can I ensure that I include others in important traditions, especially those who may feel excluded?
  4. How does understanding the context of the Passover enhance my appreciation for its observance?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early church commentary reflects on the observance of the Passover, interpreting its significance for the community, as noted by Pseudo-Cyril.

Pseudo-CyrilLETTER 87.11 5th–6th c.
Those who also lived farther off or had been unclean in soul were commanded to celebrate the pasch in the second month. This is understood as a type of the holy church, which, since it has been defiled by all demons,
Early Church Fathers on Numbers 9 →

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Numbers 9:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it,.... The mouth Ijar, as the Targum of Jonathan, which answers to part of our April and part of May; so that there was a month allowed

Read John Gill on Numbers 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Numbers 9:11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, [and] eat it with unleavened bread and bitter [herbs].Ver. 11. With unleavened bread.] Teaching them to "purge out the old leaven," that fusty, swelling, souring, spreading, corruption of nature and practice. And bitter herbs.] Directing them to true humiliation and bitterness for sin; without which there can be no sweetness in the blood of Christ.

Read John Trapp on Numbers 9 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The later Jews speak of this as the “little Passover.” Coming, as it did, a month after the proper Passover, it afforded ample time for a man to purify himself from legal defilement, as also to

Read Albert Barnes on Numbers 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

11. The fourteenth day of the second month — Thus a fundamental law is supplemented, and a standing ordinance is permanently established, in answer to prayer, first to Moses and then to the Lord. See chap.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 9 →

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

Such people are to observe it at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;

WEBWorld English Bible2000

In the second month, on the fourteenth day at evening they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Such people are to observe it at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;

NETBNew English Translation2006

They may observe it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight; they are to eat it with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

In the second month on the fourteenth day at even they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs:

RVARevised Version, American1894

in the second month on the fourteenth day at even they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The fourteenth day of the second month at evening, they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs .

GNVGeneva Bible1599

In the fourtenth day of the second moneth at euen they shall keepe it: with vnleauened bread and sowre herbes shall they eate it.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

In the second month, on the fourteenth day, between the two evenings, shall they hold it; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs shall they eat it.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

in the second month, on the fourteenth day, between the evenings they prepare it; with unleavened and bitter things they eat it;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

they prepare it in the second month, on the fourteenth day, between the evenings; they eat it with unleavened and bitter things;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

In the second month on the fourteenth day toward evening shall they prepare it, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs shall they eat it.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

In the second month on the fourteenth day at evening, they will eat the Passover meal. They must eat the Passover lamb with bread that is made without yeast and with bitter herbs.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

In the second month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, they shall eat it with unleavened bread and wild lettuce:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You are to observe it in the evening after sunset on the fourteenth day of the second month. You are to eat the lamb with the bread made without yeast, and the bitter herbs.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

In the second month, on the fourteenth day, in the evening, they are to keep it, taking it with unleavened bread and bitter-tasting plants;

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseבַּinnoun phrasethenoun phraseחֹ֨דֶשׁmonthnumeral phraseהַ(the)שֵּׁנִ֜יsecondprepositional phraseבְּon.[the]noun phrasenumeral phraseאַרְבָּעָ֨הfour-עָשָׂ֥רteenי֛וֹםdayprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֵּ֥יןbetweennoun phraseהָtheעַרְבַּ֖יִםeveningsverbיַעֲשׂ֣וּthey.will.observenoun phrase · objectאֹת֑וֹitclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלwithnoun phraseמַצּ֥וֹתunleavened.bread(s)וּandמְרֹרִ֖יםbitter.herbsverbיֹאכְלֻֽtheyobjectהוּwill.eat.it

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


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

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word with the Hebrew text in this verse. The Septuagint also matches closely, with a nearly identical word correspondence.

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

בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֜י בְּאַרְבָּעָ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר י֛וֹם בֵּ֥ין הָעַרְבַּ֖יִם יַעֲשׂ֣וּ אֹת֑וֹ עַל־ מַצּ֥וֹת וּמְרֹרִ֖ים יֹאכְלֻֽהוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁμηνὶהַשֵּׁנִ֜יδευτέρῳבְּאַרְבָּעָ֨הτῇעָשָׂ֥רτεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῃי֛וֹםἡμέρᾳבֵּ֥יןτὸהָעַרְבַּ֖יִםἑσπέρανיַעֲשׂ֣וּποιήσουσινאֹת֑וֹαὐτόעַל־ἐπ’מַצּ֥וֹתἀζύμωνוּמְרֹרִ֖יםπικρίδωνיֹאכְלֻֽהוּ׃αὐτό

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

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

בחדשׁ השׁני בארבעה עשׂר יום בין הערבים יעשׂו אתו על מצות ומררים יאכלהו

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 9:11חֹ֫דֶשׁin the montin the monthחֹ֫דֶשׁשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיאַרְבַּעon [the] foon [the] four-אַרְבַּעעָשָׂרteenteenעָשָׂריוֹםdaydayיוֹםבַּ֫יִןbetweenbetweenבַּ֫יִןעֶ֫רֶבthe eveningthe eveningsעֶ֫רֶבעָשָׂהthey will othey will obserעָשָׂהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעַלwithwithעַלמַצָּהunleavened unleavened breaמַצָּהמָרֹרand bitter and bitter herbמָרֹראָכַלthey will ethey will eat iאָכַלחָדַשׁto renewto renewחָדַשׁשָׁנָהto changeto changeשָׁנָהרָבַעto squareto squareרָבַעבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןעָרַבto grow dato grow darkעָרַבאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתמָצַץto drink dto drink deeplyמָצַץמָרַרto provoketo provokeמָרַרעֶשֶׂרtentenעֶשֶׂרעַלheightheightעַלשְׁבִיעִיseventhseventhשְׁבִיעִישְׁלִישִׁיthirdthirdשְׁלִישִׁימִדָּה`great sta`great stature`מִדָּהעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂרשְׁמֹנֶהeighteightשְׁמֹנֶהחֹ֫דֶשׁmonthmonthחֹ֫דֶשׁשַׁבָּתSabbathSabbathשַׁבָּתבָּדַלto separatto separateבָּדַל
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 9:11

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.

in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁba.Cho.desh in the month H2320 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
285× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew term for month, specifically referring to the new moon and the lunar cycle, as described in the book of Exodus and the festivals of Israel. It marks the beginning of a new month in the Hebrew calendar.
Tyndale gloss
month
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֹ֫דֶשׁ (chodesh) refers to the concept of newness, specifically the new moon and the month. It denotes both the lunar month and the first day of that month. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to timekeeping in the Hebrew calendar.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֹ֫דֶשׁ 282 n.m. (newness), new moon, month

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2320 חֹ֫דֶשׁ (newness), new moon, month

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2320 chodesh kho'-desh

from 2318; the new moon; by implication, a

month:--month(-ly), new moon.

see HEBREW for 02318

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֹ֫דֶשׁ (cho.desh) — month.

: month

1) the new moon, month, monthly

1a) the first day of the month

1b) the lunar month

חֹ֫דֶשׁ (cho.desh) — month: new moon.

: new_moon

1) the new moon, month, monthly

1a) the first day of the month

1b) the lunar month

Also means: cho.desh (חֹ֫דֶשׁ ": month" H2320)

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

munth (chodhesh, yerach; men): Chodhesh is strictly the "new moon," the appearance of which marked the beginning of the month, commonly indicated by ro'sh ha-chodhesh. Yerach is derived from yareach, "moon," which comes from the verb that means "to wander," "to make a circuit." Thus the month was lunar, the period of the moon's circuit. The Greek men also meant "moon," from the Sanskrit ma, "to measure," the Latin mensis and our "moon" being derived from the same root.

See CALENDAR; TIME; ASTRONOMY.

Chodhesh, or rather ro'sh ha-chodhesh, was observed as a festival (1Sa 20:5,18,24; Isa 1:14).

H. Porter

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Month

Among the Egyptians the month of thirty days each was in use long before the time of the Exodus, and formed the basis of their calculations. From the time of the institution of the Mosaic law the month among the Jews was lunar. The cycle of religious feasts depended on the moon. The commencement of a month was determined by the observation of the new moon. The number of months in the year was usually twelve (1 Kings 4:7; 1 Chr. 27:1-15); but every third year an additional month (ve-Adar) was inserted, so as to make the months coincide with the seasons.

“The Hebrews and Phoenicians had no word for month save ’moon,’ and only saved their calendar from becoming vague like that of the Moslems by the interpolation of an additional month. There is no evidence at all that they ever…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

From the time of the institution of the Mosaic law downward the religious feasts commencing with the passover depended not simply on the month, but on the moon; the 14th of Abib was coincident with the full moon; and the new moons themselves were the occasions of regular festivals. (Numbers 10:10; 28:11-14) The commencement of the month was generally decided by observation of the new moon. The usual number of months in a year was twelve, as implied in (1 Kings 4:7; 1 Chronicles 27:1-15) but since twelve lunar months would make but 354 1/2 days, the years would be short twelve days of the short twelve days of the true year, and therefore it follows as a matter of course that an additional month must have been inserted about…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Hebrews months were lunar months, that is, from one new moon to another. These lunar months were each reckoned at twenty-nine days and a half; or rather, one was of thirty days, the following of twenty-nine, and so on alternately: that which had thirty days was called a full or complete month; that which had but twenty-nine days was called incomplete. The new moon was always the beginning of the month and this day they called new-moon day, or new month. The Hebrews usually designated the months only as first, second, etc.; and the names by which they are now known are believed to be of Persian origin, and to have been adopted by the Jews during the captivity. At the exodus from Egypt, which occurred in April, God ordained that that month-the seventh of the civil year—should be the first of the sacred year, according to which the religious festivals were to be reckoned; and from that…

in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
הַשֵּׁנִ֜יha.she.Ni second H8145 Particle
156× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means second or again, like when Moses went up Mount Sinai a second time in Exodus 24:15-18. It can also mean another or something distinct.
Amplified meaning
again
Tyndale gloss
second
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁנִי (sheniy) means 'second' and can also imply 'again' or 'another.' It is an ordinal number used to denote position or sequence, as well as to indicate repetition. The word is derived from a root meaning 'double' and appears in various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁנִי m. שֵׁנִית f. 157 adj.num.ord. second

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8145 שֵׁנִי m. שֵׁנִית f. adj. num. ord. second

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8145 sheniy shay-nee'

from 8138; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially,

again:--again, either (of them), (an-)other, second (time).

see HEBREW for 08138

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁנִי (she.ni) — second.

1) second

1a) second (the ordinal number)

1b) again (a second time)

1c) another, other (something as distinct from something else)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Adj — Particle
HTd/Aomsa
in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
בְּאַרְבָּעָ֨הbe.'ar.ba.'Ah on [the] four- H702 Preposition
318× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Tyndale gloss
four
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

702 'arba` ar-bah'

masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.

see HEBREW for 07251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.

four

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Acbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;

in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
עָשָׂ֥ר'a.Sar teen H6240
339× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word means ten, and is used to form numbers like eleven or thirteen, as seen in Genesis 31:41. It is always used in combination with other numbers.
Tyndale gloss
ten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂר (asar) means 'ten' and is used exclusively in combination with other numbers to form the teen numbers (11-19), both as cardinal and ordinal forms. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew root, but do not elaborate on its etymology.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6240 עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6240 `asar aw-sawr'

for 6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also

(ordinal) -teenth:--(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-,

six-, thir-)teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, +

twelve(-th).

see HEBREW for 06235

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂר (a.sar) — ten.

1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers)

1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAcbsa
HAcbsa
in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
י֛וֹםYom day H3117 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹם 2285 n.m. day

day, opp. night

Day as division of time

יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

Pl. days of anyone

Days

יוֹם = time

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night

. Day as division of time

. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

. Pl. days of anyone

. Days

. יוֹם = time

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3117 yowm yome

from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm

hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one

sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by

an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +

chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)

day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +

(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as

(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,

presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,

then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,

weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole

(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹם (yom) — day.

: day/when/time/period

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: old.

: old/(full/many)[days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: year.

: year[of_days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

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

da (yom; hemera): This common word has caused some trouble to plain readers, because they have not noticed that the word is used in several different senses in the English Bible. When the different uses of the word are understood the difficulty of interpretation vanishes. We note several different uses of the word:

(1) It sometimes means the time from daylight till dark. This popular meaning is easily discovered by the context, e. g. Ge 1:5; 8:22, etc. The marked periods of this daytime were morning, noon and night, as with us. See Ps 55:17. The early hours were sometimes called "the cool of the day" (Ge 3:8). After the exile the day. or daytime was divided into twelve hours and the night into twelve (see

Day

The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). “The heat of the day” (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) was at our nine o’clock, and “the cool of the day” just before sunset (Gen. 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judg. 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex.…

The variable length of the natural day at different seasons led in the very earliest times to the adoption of the civil day (or one revolution of the sun) as a standard of time. The Hebrews reckoned the day from evening to evening, (Leviticus 23:32) deriving it from (Genesis 1:5) "the evening and the morning were the first day." The Jews are supposed, like the modern Arabs, to have adopted from an early period minute specifications of the parts of the natural day. Roughly, indeed, they were content to divide it into "morning, evening and noonday," (Psalms 55:17) but when they wished for greater accuracy they pointed to six unequal parts, each of which was again subdivided. These are held to have been -- "the dawn." "Sunrise."…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The day is distinguished into natural, civil, and artificial. The natural day is one revolution of the earth on its axis. The civil day is that, the beginning and the end of which are determined by the custom of any nation. The Hebrews began their day in the evening, Le 23:32; the Babylonians at sunrise; and we begin at midnight. The artificial day is the time of the sun’s continuance above the horizon, which is unequal according to different seasons, on account of the obliquity of the equator. The sacred writers generally divide the day into twelve hours. The sixth hour always ends at noon throughout the year; and the twelfth hour is the last hour before sunset. But in summer, all the hours of the day were longer than in winter, while those of night were shorter. See HOURS, and THREE.

in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
בֵּ֥יןbein between H996 Prep
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Between is the meaning of this preposition, used to show a location or a choice, like either or, as seen in Exodus where it describes the space between two objects.
Amplified meaning
between the evenings
Tyndale gloss
between
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between

always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

996 beyn bane

(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,

the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a

distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before

each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,

either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +

from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.

: between

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.

: among

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Prep
HAcmsc
in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
הָעַרְבַּ֖יִםha.'ar.Ba.yim the evenings H6153 Particle · noun common masculine dual absolute
134× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means evening or sunset, like when God created daylight and darkness in Genesis. It refers to the time of day, often marking the end of a workday. This word is used in many verses, including Exodus and Psalms.
Tyndale gloss
evening
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶ֫רֶב (ereb) refers to the time of day known as evening or dusk, originally associated with sunset. It can also denote night, particularly in poetic contexts. The phrase 'between two evenings' suggests a time frame between sunset and darkness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫רֶב 131 n.[m.] (sun)set, evening

evening, orig. sunset

du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark

(late poet.) = night

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6153 עֶ֫רֶב (sun)set, evening . . evening, orig. sunset

. du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark

. (late poet.) = night

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6153 `ereb eh'-reb

from 6150; dusk:--+ day, even(-ing, tide), night.

see HEBREW for 06150

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫רֶב (e.rev) — evening.

1) evening, night, sunset

1a) evening, sunset

1b) night

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-md — Particle · noun common masculine dual absolute
HTd/Ncmda
in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
יַעֲשׂ֣וּya.'a.Su they will observe H6213 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
who were unclean or away
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ob-zurv' (representing various words, but chiefly shamar, "to keep," "to watch" etc.): Properly means "to take heed to," as in Isa 42:20, "Thou seest many things, but thou observest not" and from this sense all the usages of the word in English Versions of the Bible can be understood. Most of them, indeed are quite good modern usage (as "observe a feast," Ex 12:17, etc.; "observe a law" Le 19:37, etc.), but a few are archaic. So Ge 37:11, the King James Version "His father observed the saying" (the Revised Version (British and American) "kept the saying in mind"); Ho 13:7, "As a leopard .... will I observe them" (the…

in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
אֹת֑וֹ'o.To the object marker it H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

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

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

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

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

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

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM | Suff — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
עַל־'al- with H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
מַצּ֥וֹתma.Tzot unleavened bread H4682 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
53× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, matstsah refers to unleavened bread, a sweet bread made without yeast, often eaten during the Passover festival. It symbolizes purity and simplicity. This bread is mentioned in Exodus and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
sweet bread without yeast
Tyndale gloss
unleavened bread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַצָּה (matstsah) refers to unleavened bread or cakes, specifically those made without yeast. The term is linked to the idea of sweetness, contrasting with sour or bitter bread. It is notably associated with the festival of Passover, during which leaven is prohibited.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַצָּה n.f. unleavened bread, or cake(s)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4682 מַצָּה unleavened bread, or cake(s)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4682 matstsah mats-tsaw'

from 4711 in the sense of greedily devouring for sweetness;

properly, sweetness; concretely, sweet (i.e. not soured or

bittered with yeast); specifically, an unfermented cake or

loaf, or (elliptically) the festival of Passover (because no

leaven was then used):--unleaved (bread, cake), without

leaven.

see HEBREW for 04711

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַצָּה (mats.tsah) — unleavened bread.

unleavened (bread, cake), without leaven.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ (With yeast, which symbolized pervasive corruption)

→ See BREAD

→ See PASSOVER

in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
וּמְרֹרִ֖יםu.me.ro.Rim and bitter herbs H4844 Conjunction
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means bitterness, like a strong bitter taste. It appears in the Bible to describe a bitter experience, like the Israelites' time in Egypt. It's often translated as 'bitter' or 'bitterness'.
Amplified meaning
plants with a strong bitter taste
Tyndale gloss
bitterness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָרֹר (mā́rôr) refers to a bitter thing or bitter herb, emphasizing the concept of bitterness. It is derived from the root associated with bitterness, specifically noted in Strong's H4843. The entries consistently highlight its association with bitterness without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָרֹר] n.m. bitter thing, bitter herb

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4844 [מָרֹר] bitter thing, bitter herb

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4844 mror mer-ore'

or mrowr {mer-ore'}; from 4843; a bitter herb:--

bitter(-ness).

see HEBREW for 04843

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָרֹר (me.ror) — bitterness.

bitter thing, bitter herb, bitterness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction
HC/Aampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Given for food Ge 1:29,30; Pr 15:17

→ See VEGETATION

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
in the month second on [the] four- teen day between the evenings they will observe the object marker it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they will eat it
יֹאכְלֻֽהוּ׃yo.khe.Lu.hu they will eat it H398 Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Amplified meaning
the Passover sacrifice
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

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

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

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

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

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

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

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

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

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

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

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

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

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVqi3mp/Sp3ms
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate