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Proverbs 10:8 — Word Study

Depth

WLCחֲכַם־ לֵ֭ב יִקַּ֣ח מִצְוֹ֑ת וֶאֱוִ֥יל שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יִלָּבֵֽט׃

BSAA wisechâkâm [prudent, wise in heart] heartlêb will receivelâqach [accept, heed] commandmentsmitsvâh [laws, precepts] but foolishʼĕvîyl [prating, foolish in talk] lipssâphâh [words, language] will come to ruinlâbaṭ [fall into, be overthrown by, disaster, downfall]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 10
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 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 (yi.la.Vet) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 10:8quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse contrasts the behavior of a wise person with that of a fool regarding the acceptance of commandments.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon, offers wisdom on discernment.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of sayings that highlight the differences between the righteous and the wicked.
The hard wordיִלָּבֵֽט
Take awayWisdom involves accepting guidance, while foolishness leads to downfall.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbלָקַח 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 10:8

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

7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.
9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:8 presents a contrast between the wise and the foolish, emphasizing the importance of heeding commandments. The surrounding verses elaborate on the outcomes of righteousness versus wickedness, showing that wisdom leads to blessings while folly results in ruin. This theme is prevalent throughout the book of Proverbs, where wisdom is often personified and celebrated.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 1:5let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
2Proverbs 9:9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
3Proverbs 12:1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
4Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
5Psalm 119:34Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

prating foolEcclesiastes 10:12

The Key Word חָכָם, cha.kham-generated

The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and describes someone who is skilled or prudent, often indicating intelligence or craftiness. It encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including ethical understanding and skillfulness in practical matters.

In this verse, the wise heart is characterized by its readiness to accept commandments, suggesting a disposition towards learning and obedience. The parsing as an adjective indicates that this wisdom is an inherent quality of the heart, which is central to a person's character.


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.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse revolves around two main clauses, with the finite verbs יִקַּ֣ח and יִלָּבֵֽט serving as the action points. The first clause describes the wise heart's action of receiving commandments, while the second clause indicates the fate of foolish lips.

The word order emphasizes the contrast between the wise and the foolish, highlighting the outcomes of their respective actions. The use of noun phrases to identify the subjects reinforces the distinction between wisdom and folly.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew חָכָם is rendered as σοφὸς (*sophos*), which also means wise, suggesting a consistent understanding of wisdom across the translations.

The Greek translation captures the essence of the Hebrew terms, indicating that the wisdom referred to is not merely intellectual but also practical and ethical in nature.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 10:8 teaches that a wise heart accepts commandments, while foolish lips lead to ruin. This verse contrasts wisdom and folly, showing that those who are wise will follow guidance, while those who are foolish will face consequences.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to have a wise heart?

A wise heart is one that is open to receiving guidance and commandments, indicating a willingness to learn and grow.

What are commandments in this context?

Commandments refer to laws or guidelines that are meant to direct behavior and decision-making, often seen as divinely inspired.

How do foolish lips lead to ruin?

Foolish lips represent unwise speech or actions that disregard wisdom, leading to negative outcomes or destruction.

Why is the heart important in this verse?

The heart symbolizes the center of a person's thoughts and emotions, making it crucial for understanding how one receives wisdom and guidance.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to be more open to receiving wisdom and guidance?
  2. How can I discern between wise and foolish advice in my daily decisions?
  3. What are some practical ways to cultivate a wise heart?
  4. How do my words reflect my understanding of wisdom and folly?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 10:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The wise in heart will receive commandments,.... Such who have true wisdom in the hidden part of the heart, of which the fear of the Lord is the beginning: these will not only, as good subjects,

Read John Gill on Proverbs 10 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 10 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Will receive commandments; is ready to hear and obey the counsels and precepts of God, and of men, by which means he shall stand fast and live. A prating fool; one who is slow to hear and swift to speak, who, instead of receiving good admonitions, cavils and disputes against them. In the Hebrew he is called a fool of lips, either because he discovers the folly of his heart by his lips, and thereby exposeth himself to the mischief here following; or because he is without heart, as is said of Ephraim, , or his heart is little worth, as is said here, ; or because he speaks rashly, without any consideration. Or it may be rendered, a fool by his lips, i.e. by his foolish and wicked speeches…

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 10 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.Ver. 8. The wise in heart shall receive commandment,] i.e., Submit to God’ s holy word without replies and cavils. This is check to the brave gallants of our age, which exercise their ripe heads and fresh wits in wrestling with the truth of God, and take it for a glory to give it a foil. The Athenians encountered with Paul, and had argument for argument against him, that Christ was not the Saviour of the world, that he was not risen from the dead, &c. This shewed they were not wise in heart, though reckoned chief among the world’ s wizards. But a prating fool shall fall.] Or, Be beaten. Such a fool was…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 10 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) A prating fool (‘evîl). (See above, on Proverbs 1:7.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 10 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. A prating fool shall fall.] This clause is repeated in the tenth verse. The wise man will receive the commandment: but the shallow blabbing fool shall be cast down. See Proverbs 10:10.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 10 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. a prating fool] A happy rendering, lit. the foolish of lips. shall fall] Or, shall be overthrown, or laid low. R.V. marg.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 10 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A prating ... fall - Better, as in the margin. Inward self-contained wisdom is contrasted with self-exposed folly.

Read Albert Barnes 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The wise in heart will receiue commandements: but the foolish in talke shalbe beaten.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The wise in heart receiveth commandments; but a prating fool shall fall.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The wise in heart accepts commands, || And a talkative fool kicks.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The wise in heart will accept commandments; but he that is a fool in his speaking will stumble.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Those who are sensible accept commands, but a talkative fool will come to ruin.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those who think wisely pay attention to instruction, but a stupid chatterbox ends up in disaster.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectחֲכַםa.[person].wiseלֵ֭בof.heartverbיִקַּ֣חhe.acceptsobjectמִצְוֺ֑תcommandmentsוֶandclausenoun phrase · subjectאֱוִ֥ילa.foolשְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםof.lipsverbיִלָּבֵֽטhe.will.be.ruined

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with six of the seven words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same themes of wisdom and folly, though its sentence structure may differ.

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

חֲכַם־ לֵ֭ב יִקַּ֣ח מִצְוֹ֑ת וֶאֱוִ֥יל שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יִלָּבֵֽט׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
חֲכַם־σοφὸςלֵ֭בκαρδίᾳיִקַּ֣חδέχεταιמִצְוֹ֑תἐντολάςוֶאֱוִ֥ילδὲשְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםξείλεσιν

6 of the 7 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 10:8חָכָםa wise [pera wise [person]חָכָםלֵבheartheartלֵבלָקַחhe acceptshe acceptsלָקַחמִצְוָהcommandmentcommandmentsמִצְוָהאֱוִילand a fool and a fool ofאֱוִילשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָהלָבַטhe will be he will be ruinלָבַטחָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָהלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָרכְּסִילfoolfoolכְּסִילדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהחֹקstatute: dstatute: decreeחֹקכַּ֫עַסvexationvexationכַּ֫עַסיְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןאֱוִילfool(ish)fool(ish)אֱוִילשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָה
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 10:8

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.

a wise [person] of heart he accepts commandments and a fool of lips he will be ruined
חֲכַם־cha.kham- a wise [person] of H2450 Adj
138× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means wise or skilled, describing someone intelligent or crafty, like a cunning man or a prudent leader.
Amplified meaning
prudent, wise in heart
Tyndale gloss
wise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכָם adj. wise

skilful in technical work

wise in the administration of affairs

shrewd, crafty, cunning

pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like

prudent

wise, ethically and religiously

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work

. wise in the administration of affairs

. shrewd, crafty, cunning

. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like

. prudent

. wise, ethically and religiously

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2450 chakam khaw-kawm'

from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or

artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),

man).

see HEBREW for 02449

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.

1) wise, wise (man)

1a) skilful (in technical work)

1b) wise (in administration)

1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle

1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)

1e) prudent

1f) wise (ethically and religiously)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

a wise [person] of heart he accepts commandments and a fool of lips he will be ruined
לֵ֭בlev heart H3820 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

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

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.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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;

a wise [person] of heart he accepts commandments and a fool of lips he will be ruined
יִקַּ֣חyi.Kach he accepts H3947 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
966× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Amplified meaning
accept, heed
Tyndale gloss
to take: take
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָקַח 965 vb. take

Qal

take, take in hand

take and carry along with oneself

take from, or out of

take, carry away

take away from, so as to deprive of

esp. take away life

take to or for a person

take up, upon = put upon

= fetch

take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

take = capture, seize

take = carry off

in phr. take vengeance

Niph.

be captured, of ark

be taken away, removed

be taken, brought unto

Pu.

be taken from, out of

= be stolen from

be taken captive

be taken away, removed

Hoph.

be taken, brought unto

be taken out of

be taken away from

Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand

. take and carry along with oneself

. . take from, or out of

. take, carry away

. take away from, so as to deprive of

. esp. take away life

. take to or for a person

. take up, upon = put upon

. = fetch

. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

. take = capture, seize

. take = carry off

. in phr. take vengeance

. . be captured, of ark

. be taken away, removed

. be taken, brought unto

. . be taken from, out of

. = be stolen from

. be taken captive

. be taken away, removed

. . be taken, brought unto

. be taken out of

. be taken away from

. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3947 laqach law-kakh'

a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of

applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,

get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,

seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.

: take

1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take, take in the hand

1a2) to take and carry along

1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away

1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept

1a5) to take up or upon, put upon

1a6) to fetch

1a7) to take, lead, conduct

1a8) to take, capture, seize

1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be taken away, be removed

1b3) to be taken, brought unto

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be taken from or out of

1c2) to be stolen from

1c3) to be taken captive

1c4) to be taken away, be removed

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto

1d2) to be taken out of

1d3) to be taken away

1e) (Hithpael)

1e1) to take hold of oneself

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a wise [person] of heart he accepts commandments and a fool of lips he will be ruined
מִצְוֹ֑תmitz.Vot commandments H4687 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
182× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a command or law given by God or humans, as seen in the Bible's rules and guidelines. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy. The commandments guide people's actions.
Amplified meaning
laws, precepts
Tyndale gloss
commandment
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִצְוָה (mitsvah) means 'commandment' and can refer to commands from both humans and God. It encompasses laws, ordinances, and precepts, indicating a range of directives within religious and moral contexts. The term is derived from a root meaning to command, linking it to the broader framework of divine law.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִצְוָה 181 n.f. commandment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4687 מִצְוָה commandment

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4687 mitsvah mits-vaw'

from 6680; a command, whether human or divine (collectively,

the Law):--(which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance,

precept.

see HEBREW for 06680

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִצְוָה (mits.vah) — commandment.

1) commandment

1a) commandment (of man)

1b) the commandment (of God)

1c) commandment (of code of wisdom)

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

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 13:8-10; 20:3-17; De 4:5,9,10; 5:6-21; 6:4-9; 11:18-21; 32:46,47; Jos 8:30-35; 2Ch 17:7-9; Ne 8:2-8; Ps 78:1-7; Pr 3:3,4; 6:20,21; 7:1-4; Isa 57:8; Jer 11:4; Zec 7:9,10; 8:16,17

→ PRECEPTS OF JESUS. EXPLICITLY STATED, OR IMPLIED IN DIDACTIC DISCOURSE Mt 5:16,22-24,27-48…

a wise [person] of heart he accepts commandments and a fool of lips he will be ruined
וֶאֱוִ֥ילve.'e.Vil and a fool of H191 Conjunction
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a foolish person, someone who despises wisdom or mocks when guilty. It appears in the Bible to describe those who are quarrelsome or licentious. The KJV translates it as 'fool' or 'foolish man'.
Amplified meaning
prating, foolish in talk
Tyndale gloss
fool(ish)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱוִיל 26 adj. foolish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H191 אֱוִיל foolish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

191 'eviyl ev-eel'

from an unused root (meaning to be perverse); (figuratively)

silly:--fool(-ish) (man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Aamsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

a wise [person] of heart he accepts commandments and a fool of lips he will be ruined
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםSe.fa.Ta.yim lips H8193 Noun common · feminine dual absolute
176× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Amplified meaning
words, language
Tyndale gloss
lips
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge

lip

language

edge: shore of sea; bank of river

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip

. language

. edge: shore of sea; bank of river

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd — Noun common · feminine dual absolute
HNcfda
a wise [person] of heart he accepts commandments and a fool of lips he will be ruined
יִלָּבֵֽט׃yi.la.Vet he will be ruined H3832 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to overthrow or throw down, and it can also mean to fall. It's used in different contexts, including battles and failures. The word is about being cast aside or thrust down.
Amplified meaning
fall into, be overthrown by, disaster, downfall
Tyndale gloss
to ruin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָבַט (labat) is a Hebrew verb meaning to overthrow or ruin. It primarily appears in the Niphal form, indicating a state of being thrust down or cast aside. The entries emphasize the action of being thrown down or ruined, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָבַט] vb. thrust down, out, or away;—only Niph. be thrust down, away, i.e. ruined

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3832 לָבַט

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3832 labat law-bat'

a primitive root; to overthrow; intransposed, to

fall:--fall.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָבַט (la.vat) — to ruin.

1) to throw down, thrust down, thrust out, thrust away

1a) (Niphal) to be thrust down, be thrust away, be thrown down, be cast aside

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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