Proverbs 10:21 — Word Study
WLCשִׂפְתֵ֣י צַ֭דִּיק יִרְע֣וּ רַבִּ֑ים וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־ לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃
BSAThe lipssâphâh [language, words] of the righteoustsaddîyq [just, upright] feedrâʻâh▸ [care for, tend to] manyrab [a large number, numerous] ◂but foolsʼĕvîyl [foolish, lacking sense] diemûwth▸ [perish, come to an end] for lackchâçêr [want, need] of judgmentlêb [wisdom, understanding, heart]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׂפְתֵ֣י | [the] lips of | Noun common, feminine dual construct |
| צַ֭דִּיק | [the] righteous | Adj |
| יִרְע֣וּ | they feed | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| רַבִּ֑ים | many [people] | Adj |
| וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים | and fools | Conjunction |
| בַּחֲסַר־ | by lack of | Preposition |
| לֵ֥ב | heart | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| יָמֽוּתוּ׃ | they die | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment. |
| KJV | The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. |
| ASV | The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding. |
| YLT | The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die. |
| WEB | The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding. |
| BBE | The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense. |
Where they part company is צַדִּיק — see How Translations Differ.
The verse contains a main clause followed by a contrasting subject and verb phrase, illustrating the difference between the righteous and the foolish.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֱוִיל
verbרָעָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 10:21
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 — Wisdom and Folly in Proverbsgenerated
Proverbs 10:21 is part of a series of proverbs that contrast the outcomes of the righteous and the foolish. The surrounding verses emphasize the value of wise speech and the consequences of foolish actions. In this context, the righteous are depicted as nurturing and providing for many, while fools are shown to suffer due to their lack of understanding, as seen in the verses before and after this one.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 12:18 | Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. |
| 2 | Proverbs 15:4 | A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. |
| 3 | Job 4:3–4 | Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands. |
| 4 | Job 23:12 | I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. |
| 5 | Job 29:21–22 | Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 18 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צַדִּיק, Tza.dikgenerated
The Hebrew word צַדִּיק (*tzaddiq*) refers to someone who is just or righteous. It describes a person who acts in accordance with moral and ethical standards, often reflecting a right relationship with God. This term is used frequently in the Bible to denote individuals who exemplify integrity and uprightness.
In this verse, the righteous are contrasted with fools, highlighting their role as providers and nurturers through their speech. The term emphasizes the importance of their words in fostering well-being among many.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has righteous, which is consistent with the KJV and ASV: all three maintain the moral implications of צַדִּיק.
Where others part company with the BSB, they differ over the rendering of צַדִּיק. The DRA uses just, while the BBE opts for upright, showcasing a slight variation in emphasis but not in meaning.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יִרְע֣וּ, they feed, which governs the subject שִׂפְתֵ֣י, the lips, and the object רַבִּ֑ים, many. The structure highlights the action of the righteous providing for others through their words.
The second part of the verse introduces a contrasting clause with the conjunction וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים, and fools, leading into the consequences of foolishness, which is articulated through the verb יָמֽוּתוּ, they die.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew צַדִּיק is rendered as δικαίων, which carries the same sense of righteousness. This choice aligns with the moral implications found in the Hebrew text.
The translation of אֱוִיל as ἄφρονες indicates a similar understanding of foolishness, emphasizing a lack of sense or wisdom consistent with the Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 10:21 tells us that the words of the righteous bring nourishment to many people, while fools suffer and die because they lack wisdom. This verse emphasizes the importance of wise speech and the consequences of foolishness in our lives.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the words and guidance of righteous people nurture and support others, providing wisdom and care.
Fools lack the wisdom and understanding necessary to make good decisions, leading to their downfall.
We can strive to speak wisely and righteously, using our words to uplift and support those around us.
This contrast highlights the consequences of wisdom versus folly, showing how righteous actions lead to life and nourishment, while foolishness leads to death.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can my words provide nourishment to those around me?
- How can I cultivate wisdom in my decision-making process?
- What are some examples of foolishness that I should avoid in my life?
- How can I encourage others to speak wisely and righteously?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 10:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe lips of the righteous feed many,.... Not their bodies; words are but wind, and will not feed; it is not enough to say to the distressed, "be ye warmed and filled", and give nothing; unless this
Read John Gill on Proverbs 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 10 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleFeed many, by their wise and pious discourses, counsels, and comforts, which are so many evidences of their wisdom. Die for want of wisdom; they have not wisdom to feed or preserve themselves, much less to feed others.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.Ver. 21. The lips of the righteous feed many.] A great housekeeper he is, hath his doors ever open, and, though himself be poor, yet he "maketh many rich." He well knows that to this end God put "honey and milk under his tongue," that he might look to this spiritual lip feeding. To this end hath he communicated to him those "rivers of water," that they may flow from him, to quench that world of wickedness that, being "set on fire of hell, would set on fire the whole course of nature." They are "empty vines that bear fruit to themselves." Those are void houses, we say, where the doors daily open not. The…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 10 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) The lips of the righteous feed many—i.e., sustain them by words of counsel, encouragement, and comfort, giving to each one his “meat in due season “(Matthew 24:45). Fools.—Headstrong, obstinate persons (Proverbs 1:7). For want of wisdom.—Or it may be translated, “Through one who is destitute of wisdom.” As one righteous man will guide many aright, so one unwise man will lead many fools to ruin.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges21. feed] In the wider sense perhaps which the word commonly has, supply the wants of, as a shepherd does.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 10 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFeed - The Hebrew word, like ποιμαίνειν poimainein, includes the idea of guiding as well as nourishing; doing a shepherd’s work in both.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 10 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21. Feed many — Instruct them with their wisdom and guiding counsels. But fools — The unwise. With the wise there is abundance, with the unwise, famine.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 10 →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
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.
Tyndale line
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
The lips of the righteous feed many: but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
The lippes of the righteous doe feede many: but fooles shall die for want of wisedome.
Strictly literal
The lips of a righteous [man] feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.
The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.
The lips of the righteous delight many, || And fools die for lack of heart.
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die through lack of sense.
The lips of the righteous person nourish many, but fools die because of their lack of sense.
From the Latin
The lips of the just teach many: but they that are ignorant, shall die in the want of understanding.
Simplified
Advice from good people helps feed many others, but stupid people die because they have no sense.
The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads שִׂפְתֵ֣י צַ֭דִּיק יִרְע֣וּ רַבִּ֑ים וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־ לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃. The Septuagint matches 7 of the 8 words, indicating a strong correspondence between the two texts, with only minor variations in wording.
שִׂפְתֵ֣י צַ֭דִּיק יִרְע֣וּ רַבִּ֑ים וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־ לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃
7 of the 8 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.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 10:21
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.
The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
lip
language
edge: shore of sea; bank of river
base
H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip
. language
. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
8193 saphah saw-faw'
or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from
5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by
analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,
bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,
prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
see HEBREW for 05595
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 05490
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.
: lips/mouth
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.
: words/language
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.
: edge/border/opening
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.
: shore/bank(of_sea/river)
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
N-fd — Noun common · feminine dual constructHNcfdc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
base
H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous
6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'
from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW for 06663
צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.
1) just, lawful, righteous
1a) just, righteous (in government)
1b) just, right (in one's cause)
1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
1e) right, correct, lawful
Adj — AdjHAamsa
The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12
base
רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze
Qal
trans.
intrans.
Niph. poss.
Hiph. v.
base
[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with
Qal cherish faithfulness
Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man
base
[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20
ref
H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend
7462 ra`ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;
intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);
generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a
friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat
up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,
herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,
shepherd, wander, waste.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.
Ra'ah = "pasturing"
perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tend, pasture
1a1a) to shepherd
1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
1a1c) of people as flock (fig)
1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
1a2) to feed, graze
1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.
1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
1a) (Qal) to associate with
1b) (Hithpael) to be companions
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.
(Piel) to be a special friend
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
(oft. opp. מְעַט)
much: of substances
esp. of collectives, numerous
pl. many
רַב as subst. coll. pers.
cstr. = abounding in
מִן comp. = more numerous than
רַב = abundant, enough
as adv. much, exceedingly
less oft. great
base
רַב 49 n.m. chief
base
H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances
. esp. of collectives, numerous
. pl. many
. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
. cstr. = abounding in
. + מִן comp. = more numerous than
. רַב = abundant, enough
. as adv. much, exceedingly
. less oft. great
H7227b רַב chief
7227 rab rab
by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,
number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),
captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,
one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,
things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)
much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,
populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
see HEBREW for 07231
רַב (rav) — many.
adj
1) much, many, great
1a) much
1b) many
1c) abounding in
1d) more numerous than
1e) abundant, enough
1f) great
1g) strong
1h) greater than
adv
1i) much, exceedingly
רַב (rav) — chief.
captain, chief
Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)
רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.
Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)
§ captain, chief
Adj — AdjHAampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
אֱוִיל (eviyl) means 'foolish' and describes someone who despises wisdom, mocks when guilty, is quarrelsome, or licentious. It is derived from an unused root suggesting perversion. The word is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote a person lacking wisdom.
אֱוִיל 26 adj. foolish
base
H191 אֱוִיל foolish
191 'eviyl ev-eel'
from an unused root (meaning to be perverse); (figuratively)
silly:--fool(-ish) (man).
אֱוִיל (e.vil) — fool(ish).
1) be foolish, foolish
1a) (subst)
1a1) of one who despises wisdom
1a2) of one who mocks when guilty
1a3) of one who is quarrelsome
1a4) of one who is licentious
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Aampa
- All men are, without the knowledge of God
- Deny God
Ps 14:1; 53:1
- Blaspheme God
- Reproach God
- Make a mock at sin
- Despise instruction
חָסֵר (chacer) means 'lacking' or 'needy.' It conveys a sense of being without something essential, such as in need or want. The word is built from the root that indicates deficiency or absence. It appears in contexts where something is missing or required.
חָסֵר adj. needy, lacking, in want of
base
H2638 חָסֵר
2638 chacer khaw-sare'
from 2637; lacking; hence, without:--destitute, fail, lack,
have need, void, want.
see HEBREW for 02637
חָסֵר (cha.ser) — lacking.
in need of, lacking, needy, in want of
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aamsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
hart (lebh, lebhabh; kardia): The different senses in which the word occurs in the Old Testament and the New Testament may be grouped under the following heads:
1. Various Meanings:
It represents in the first place the bodily organ, and by easy transition those experiences which affect or are affected by the body. Fear, love, courage, anger, Joy, sorrow, hatred are always ascribed to the heart--especially in the Old Testament; thus courage for which usually ruach is used (Ps 27:14); joy (Ps 4:7); anger (De 19:6, "while his heart is hot," lebhabh); fear (1Sa 25:37); sorrow (Ps 13:2), etc.
Heart
According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. “Heart” and “soul” are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case.
The heart is the “home of the personal life,” and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6;
מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.
מוּת vb. die
Qal
die, of natural or other causes
die as a penalty = be put to death
Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
Hiph.
abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
subj. God, by inflicting penalty
of animals killing men
bring to a premature death
Hoph. be killed, put to death
base
H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes
. die as a penalty = be put to death
. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
. subj. God, by inflicting penalty
. of animals killing men
. bring to a premature death
. be killed, put to death
4191 muwth mooth
a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);
causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,
man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,
be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,
slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.
מוּת (mut) — to die.
1) to die, kill, have one executed
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to die
1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death
1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)
1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)
1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch
1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be killed, be put to death
1d1a) to die prematurely
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
(muth, gawa`; apothnesko, teleutao): "To die," etc., is of very frequent occurrence, and in the Old Testament is generally the translation of muth, meaning perhaps originally, "to be stretched out" or "prostrate." "To die," should be the consequence of eating the forbidden fruit (Ge 2:17; compare Ge 20:7; 2Ki 1:4,6). "Die" is commonly used of natural death (Ge 5:8; 25:8). It is used also of violent death (Ge 26:9,11; Ex 21:20); punitive (Ex 19:12; 21:12,14; 28:43; Nu…