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Proverbs 1:20 — Word Study

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WLCחָ֭כְמוֹת בַּח֣וּץ תָּרֹ֑נָּה בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת תִּתֵּ֥ן קוֹלָֽהּ׃

BSAcalls outrânan [cries aloud, shouts] in the streetchûwts [public square, marketplace] she liftsnâthan [utters, gives] her voiceqôwl [sound, utterance] in the squarerᵉchôb [broad places, plazas]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 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 (ko.Lah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 1:20quick helps
In a sentenceWisdom is personified, calling out loudly in public spaces to be heard.
Who is speakingWisdom, depicted as a woman, actively engages with the public.
Where we areIn the streets and open places, where people gather.
The hard wordחָ֭כְמוֹת
Take awayWisdom is accessible and seeks to be heard by all.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectחׇכְמוֹת verbרָנַן 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 — Proverbs 1:20

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 Call of Wisdomgenerated

19Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
20Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:20 illustrates how Wisdom, personified as a woman, calls out in public spaces, urging people to listen and heed her guidance. This call is set against the backdrop of folly and greed, as seen in the surrounding verses, which highlight the consequences of ignoring wise counsel. Wisdom's public proclamation emphasizes the importance of seeking understanding and discernment in everyday life.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Matthew 13:54Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.
2Luke 11:49Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
31 Corinthians 1:24–30but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
4Colossians 2:3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
5Proverbs 8:1–5Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חָ֭כְמוֹת, Cha.khe.motgenerated

The word חָכְמוֹת (chakhamot) is the plural form of חָכְמָה (chokmah), meaning wisdom. It encompasses not just knowledge, but also skill, prudence, and good judgment across various contexts such as war, administration, and ethical conduct. The parsing as a feminine plural noun indicates that Wisdom is personified as a woman, actively engaging with those around her.

This term appears frequently in Proverbs, emphasizing its significance in practical and religious matters. The Septuagint translates it as σοφία (sophia), which also conveys the idea of wisdom but may carry different connotations in the Greek context.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, we compare the verse as rendered in the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb תָּרֹ֑נָּה (it cries aloud) governs the sentence, with two phrases following: a prepositional phrase indicating where Wisdom calls out and a noun phrase describing her voice. The structure emphasizes the public nature of Wisdom's call, highlighting her desire to be heard in communal spaces.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on Wisdom as the subject, followed by her actions, which reinforces the active role she plays in seeking the attention of those in the streets and open places.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָ֭כְמוֹת as σοφία (sophia), a term that also means wisdom but is often associated with philosophical and moral insight in Greek literature. This choice reflects a broader cultural understanding of wisdom that aligns with the Greek tradition.

The translation of תָּרֹ֑נָּה as ὑμνεῖται (hymneitai) suggests a focus on the celebratory aspect of Wisdom's call, indicating that her proclamation is not only a warning but also an invitation to joy.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 1:20 describes Wisdom as a woman who calls out loudly in the streets and open places. She lifts her voice to be heard by everyone, encouraging people to seek her guidance and understanding. This verse emphasizes the importance of listening to wisdom in our daily lives.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Wisdom calls out in the street?

It signifies that Wisdom is accessible to all and actively seeks to engage with people in their everyday environments.

Why is Wisdom personified as a woman?

This personification emphasizes the relational and nurturing aspects of wisdom, inviting people to seek her guidance as they would seek the counsel of a wise woman.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding verses?

The surrounding verses contrast the call of Wisdom with the fate of those who ignore her, highlighting the consequences of greed and folly.

What can we learn from Wisdom's call?

We learn the importance of seeking understanding and making wise choices in our lives, as Wisdom is portrayed as actively reaching out to guide us.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek Wisdom more actively?
  2. How can I be more attentive to the calls of Wisdom in my daily decisions?
  3. What are some practical ways to share Wisdom with others in my community?
  4. How does understanding Wisdom as a person help me relate to her teachings?

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

Early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss the nature of Wisdom and its significance in guiding believers.

Salvian the PresbyterFOUR BOOKS OF TIMOTHY TO THE CHURCH 4:1 c. 400–490
What about this saying: “He who shall have persevered to the end, shall be saved,” or that oracle of the divine word in the sacred proverbs: “Wisdom is proclaimed at the moment of departure”? These sayings show that,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →
Hilary of ArlesLIFE OF ST. HONORATUS, PREFACE 3 c. 403–449
It is written: “Wisdom is made known in death,” that is to say, the life of the wise man is praised at the end of his life.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Wisdom preaches in the streets, etc. The Wisdom of God, indeed, is Christ, who, having lived in the world, revealed the mysteries of His divinity to a few and instructed them not to preach that He was Jesus Christ before His passion and…
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 1:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Wisdom crieth without,.... Here the person instructing throughout this whole book is represented under the name of "Wisdom"; by which we are to understand not the attribute of divine wisdom displayed

Read John Gill on Proverbs 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: Wisdom crieth without - literally, wisdoms; i:e., consummate wisdom.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Having expressed the counsels and invitations of folly and of wicked men, he now declareth the voice of wisdom. By the name of wisdom or wisdoms he seems to understand the wisdom or counsel of God revealed to the sons of men by his word. Which he calls wisdoms here, as also , either to note the excellency of this wisdom beyond all other, as the greatest and chief of beasts is called behemoth or beasts, ; or because it consisteth of a multitude of wise precepts; or because it hath been delivered to mankind at sundry times, and in divers manners, and by many persons, prophets and apostles, and especially by the Son of God, who is called the wisdom of God, . And this wisdom is said to cry with…

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:Ver. 20. Wisdom.] Heb., Wisdoms: that is, the most absolute and sovereign wisdom, the Lord Jesus, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," who also "is made unto us of God wisdom, righteousness," &c. Crieth without.] The Hebrew word signifies often to shout for joy. Christ surely cried sweetly, "the roof of his mouth was like the best wine that goeth down sweetly"; "with a desire did he desire" our salvation, though he well knew it should cost him so very dear. She uttereth her voice.] Verbis non solum desertis, red et exertis. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(b) Second Discourse:—Wisdom Addresses her Despisers (Proverbs 1:20-33). (20) Wisdom.—The form of the Hebrew term (chokhmôth) has been taken for an abstract singular noun, but probably it is the plural of chokhmah (Proverbs 1:2), signifying the multiform excellences of wisdom. It is possible that Solomon may have originally meant in this passage only to describe, in highly poetic language, the influence and work in their generation of those in whom “the fear of the Lord” dwells. So, too, many of the Psalms (Psalms 45, for example), in the first instance it would seem, are intended to describe the excellence of some earthly saint or king, yet they are completely fulfilled only in the Son of…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 20. Wisdom crieth] Here wisdom is again personified, as it is frequently, throughout this book; where nothing is meant but the teachings given to man, either by Divine revelation or the voice of the Holy Spirit in the heart. And this voice of wisdom is opposed to the seducing language of the wicked mentioned above. This voice is everywhere heard, in public, in private, in the streets, and in the house. Common sense, universal experience, and the law of justice written on the heart, as well as the law of God, testify against rapine and wrong of every kind.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Second Address. Warning against Neglecting the Appeal of Wisdom. Chap. 1. Proverbs 1:20-3320. crieth] Rather, crieth aloud, R.V. without] Rather, in the street, R.V. The expression is sometimes used adverbially, without or abroad; but the parallelism here, in the broad places, points to the literal rendering. There is perhaps a designed contrast between the secret enticing of sinners (Proverbs 1:10) and the open call of Wisdom. the streets] Rather, the broad places, R.V.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wisdom is personified. In the Hebrew the noun is a feminine plural, as though this Wisdom were the queen of all wisdoms, uniting in herself all their excellences.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 1 →

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

Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

NETBNew English Translation2006

Wisdom calls out in the street, she shouts loudly in the plazas;

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

RVARevised Version, American1894

Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; she uttereth her voice in the broad places;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Wisdom crieth without; she raiseth her voice in the broadways;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Wisdom in an out-place crieth aloud, In broad places she giveth forth her voice,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Wisdom cries aloud in an out-place, || She gives forth her voice in broad places,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Wisdom crieth loudly without; in the public places she uttereth her voice;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Wisdom calls out in the streets; she shouts aloud in the squares.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Wisdom is crying out in the street; her voice is loud in the open places;

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.

clausesubjectחָ֭כְמוֹתwisdom(s)prepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrasetheח֣וּץstreetverbתָּרֹ֑נָּהit.cries.aloudclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּ֝innoun phrasethe.openרְחֹב֗וֹתplacesverbתִּתֵּ֥ןshe.gives.forthnoun phrase · objectקוֹלָֽvoiceהּher

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 1:20 states, "חָ֭כְמוֹת בַּח֣וּץ תָּרֹ֑נָּה בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת תִּתֵּ֥ן קוֹלָֽהּ׃" which translates to "Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square." The Septuagint largely agrees with the Masoretic Text, matching five out of the six words in a different word order, indicating a consistent understanding of the verse across these texts. However, the specific wording and structure may vary, reflecting the translation choices in the Greek version.

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

חָ֭כְמוֹת בַּח֣וּץ תָּרֹ֑נָּה בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת תִּתֵּ֥ן קוֹלָֽהּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
חָ֭כְמוֹתσοφίαבַּח֣וּץἐχόδοιςתָּרֹ֑נָּהὑμνεῖταιבָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹתπλατείαιςתִּתֵּ֥ןἄγει

5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Proverbs 1:20חָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהחוּץin the strein the streetחוּץרוּןit cries alit cries aloudרוּןרְחוֹבin the openin the open plaרְחוֹבנָתַןshe givesshe givesנָתַןקוֹלvoice hervoice herקוֹלחָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםרָחַבto enlargeto enlargeרָחַבתְּבוּנָהunderstandunderstandingתְּבוּנָהדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתמַחֲנֶהcampcampמַחֲנֶהרְחוֹבstreet/plastreet/plazaרְחוֹבחָסִידpiouspiousחָסִידרוּעַto shoutto shoutרוּעַבָּחוּרyouthyouthבָּחוּרחוּץoutsideoutsideחוּץנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהזֶ֫רַעseedseedזֶ֫רַעתְּרוּעָהshoutshoutתְּרוּעָהשֹׁפָרtrumpettrumpetשֹׁפָר
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 Proverbs 1:20

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.

wisdom in the street it cries aloud in the open places she gives voice her
חָ֭כְמוֹתCha.khe.mot wisdom H2451 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
153× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Tyndale gloss
wisdom
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom

skill in war

wisdom, in administration

shrewdness, wisdom

wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

wisdom, ethical and religious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war

. wisdom, in administration

. shrewdness, wisdom

. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

. wisdom, ethical and religious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2451 chokmah khok-maw'

from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,

wisely, wit.

see HEBREW for 02449

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.

1) wisdom

1a) skill (in war)

1b) wisdom (in administration)

1c) shrewdness, wisdom

1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)

1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wiz'-dum:

1. Linguistic

2. History

3. Religious Basis

4. Ideals

5. Teaching of Christ

6. Remainder of the New Testament

(1) James

(2) Paul

7. Hypostasis

LITERATURE

1. Linguistic:

In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of Joseph Ge 41:16,25-39; Ac 7:10

→ Of Moses Ac 7:22

→ Of Bezaleel Ex 31:3-5; 35:31-35; 36:1

→ Of Aholiab Ex 31:6; 35:34,35; 36:1

→ Of other skilled artisans Ex 36:2

→ Of women Ex 35:26

→ Of Hiram 1Ki 7:14; 2Ch 2:14

→ Of Solomon 1Ki 3:12,16-28; 4:29-34; 5:12; 10:24

wisdom in the street it cries aloud in the open places she gives voice her
בַּח֣וּץba.Chutz in the street H2351 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means outside or outdoors, referring to something beyond a wall or boundary. It can also mean a street or highway, as seen in various KJV translations, including abroad, field, and without.
Amplified meaning
public square, marketplace
Tyndale gloss
outside
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חוּץ (chuwts) refers to the concept of being outside or outward, often associated with streets or highways. It is derived from a root meaning to sever, indicating separation by a wall. The term covers various contexts, including outdoors and fields.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חוּץ n.[m.] the outside, sts., esp. in pl., spec. a street

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2351 חוּץ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2351 chuwts khoots

or (shortened) chuts {khoots}; (both forms feminine in the

plural) from an unused root meaning to sever; properly,

separate by a wall, i.e. outside, outdoors:--abroad, field,

forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חוּץ (chuts) — outside.

outside, outward, street, the outside

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

stret.

See CITY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Street

The street called “Straight” at Damascus (Acts 9:11) is “a long broad street, running from east to west, about a mile in length, and forming the principal thoroughfare in the city.” In Oriental towns streets are usually narrow and irregular and filthy (Ps. 18:42; Isa. 10:6). “It is remarkable,” says Porter, “that all the important cities of Palestine and Syria Samaria, Caesarea, Gerasa, Bozrah, Damascus, Palmyra, had their ‘straight streets’ running through the centre of the city, and lined with stately rows of columns. The most perfect now remaining are those of Palmyra and Gerasa, where long ranges of the columns still stand.”, Through Samaria, etc.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The streets of a modern Oriental town present a great contrast to those with which we are familiar, being generally narrow, tortuous and gloomy, even in the best towns. Their character is mainly fixed by the climate and the style of architecture, the narrowness being due to the extreme heat, and the gloominess to the circumstance of the windows looking for the most part into the inner court. The street called "Straight," in Damascus, (Acts 9:11) was an exception to the rule of narrowness: it was a noble thoroughfare, one hundred feet wide. divided in the Roman age by colonnades into three avenues, the central one for foot passengers, the side passages for vehicles and horsemen going in different directions. The shops and warehouses were probably collected together into bazaars in ancient as in modern times. (

wisdom in the street it cries aloud in the open places she gives voice her
תָּרֹ֑נָּהta.Ro.nah it cries aloud H7442 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
54× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to sing or shout for joy, often used to express praise or triumph, as seen in Psalm 98:4 where believers are called to shout for joy to the Lord. It can also mean to cry aloud in distress or to summon others. This word is used to describe a loud, vocal expression of emotion.
Amplified meaning
cries aloud, shouts
Tyndale gloss
to overcome
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּן (run) primarily means to overcome, while רָנַן (ranan) refers to giving a ringing cry, often in joy or distress. The entries indicate a range of uses, including shouting for joy, singing, and calling out in exhortation. Notably, the word can also imply causing others to rejoice or sing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רוּן] vb. overcome;—Hithpō‛. ψ 78:65

ref

[רָנַן] vb. give a ringing cry

Qal

in joy, exultation

in distress

cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)

Pi. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation

Pu. no ringing cry shall be given

Hiph. cause to ring out for joy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7442a רוּן overcome H7442b רָנַן give a ringing cry .. in joy, exultation

. in distress

. cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)

. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation

. no ringing cry shall be given

. cause to ring out for joy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7442 ranan raw-nan'

a primitive root; properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous

sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy):--aloud for joy, cry

out, be joyful (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout

(for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּן (run) — to overcome.

1) to overcome

1a) (Hithpolel) to be overcome

רָנַן (ra.nan) — to sing.

1) to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress)

1a2) to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom)

1b) (Piel) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exultation, praise

1c) (Pual) ringing cry, singing out (passive)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to ring or sing out (for joy)

1e) (Hithpolel) rejoicing (participle)

Also means: ran.nen (רַנֵּן "to sing" H7444)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
wisdom in the street it cries aloud in the open places she gives voice her
בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹתba.re.cho.Vot in the open places H7339 Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A street or plaza, referring to a public area or open space, like a marketplace or a thoroughfare. This word is used to describe urban settings and community gathering places, often in stories about city life and trade. It appears in books like Nehemiah and Jeremiah.
Amplified meaning
broad places, plazas
Tyndale gloss
street/plaza
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רְחוֹב (re.chov) refers to a broad open place or plaza, often translated as street. It is derived from the root meaning width and encompasses areas like avenues or public spaces. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to open areas, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רְחוֹב n.f. broad open place, plaza

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7339 רְחוֹב broad open place, plaza

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7339 rchob rekh-obe'

or rchowb {rekh-obe'}; from 7337; a width, i.e. (concretely)

avenue or area:--broad place (way), street. See also 1050.

see HEBREW for 07337

see HEBREW for 01050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רְחוֹב (re.chov) — street/plaza.

broad or open place or plaza

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HRd/Ncfpa
wisdom in the street it cries aloud in the open places she gives voice her
תִּתֵּ֥ןti.Ten she gives H5414 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
2,011× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Amplified meaning
utters, gives
Tyndale gloss
to give: give
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set

Qal 1917

give

Put, set

Make, constitute

Niph.

82be given

Be put, set

Hoph.

be given, bestowed

= be given to one for wife

be put upon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give

. Put, set

. Make, constitute

. . be given

. Be put, set

. . . be given, bestowed

. = be given to one for wife

. be put upon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5414 nathan naw-than'

a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of

application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,

assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,

hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +

cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X

without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),

grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),

(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,

occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X

pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send

(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,

strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,

turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)

God, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.

: give/deliver/send/produce

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend

1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate

1a3) to make, constitute

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned

1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up

1c2) to be put upon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.

: put/set/apppoint

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
wisdom in the street it cries aloud in the open places she gives voice her
קוֹלָֽהּ׃ko.Lah voice her H6963 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Amplified meaning
sound, utterance
Tyndale gloss
voice: sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹל 506 n.m. sound, voice

base

קֹל n.[m.] lightness, frivolity;—Je 3:9

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6963 qowl kole

or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a

voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),

fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,

proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +

yell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹל (qol) — voice.

: voice/shout/loud

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קֹל (qol) — frivolity.

lightness, frivolity

קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.

: sound/noise

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.

: thunder

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.

: message/proclaim

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].

: [sound_of](THING)

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.

: listen

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3fs
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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