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Proverbs 11:20 — Word Study

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WLCתּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה עִקְּשֵׁי־ לֵ֑ב וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ תְּמִ֣ימֵי דָֽרֶךְ׃

BSAThe perverseʻiqqêsh [twisted, perverse] in heartlêb [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] are an abominationtôwʻêbah [object of disgust, abomination] to the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] but the blamelesstâmîym [unblemished] in [their] walkderek [way of life, manner of action] are His delightrâtsôwn [delight, acceptance, pleasure]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 11
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 (Da.rekh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 11:20quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse contrasts the perverse in heart with the blameless, highlighting their respective standings before the LORD.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, reflecting on the nature of righteousness and wickedness.
Where we areThe wisdom literature of Proverbs, focusing on moral character.
The hard wordתּוֹעֲבַ֣ת
Take awayThe heart's condition determines one's standing with God.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 11:20

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 — Contrasting Righteousness and Wickednessgenerated

19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
20The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Proverbs 11:20 contrasts the moral states of the wicked and the righteous. The verse emphasizes that those who are twisted in heart are detestable to the LORD, while those who walk blamelessly are pleasing to Him. This reflects a broader theme in Proverbs about the consequences of one's character and actions, as seen in the surrounding verses that discuss the outcomes of righteousness and wickedness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 6:14–16With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
2Proverbs 8:13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
3Psalm 18:25–26To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
4Proverbs 9:7He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
5Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תּוֹעֵבַה, to.'a.Vatgenerated

The word תּוֹעֵבַה (to.'e.vah) means 'abomination' and indicates something that is morally disgusting, often linked to idolatry or ethical wickedness. It is a feminine singular noun that suggests a strong disapproval from God towards certain behaviors.

In this verse, it highlights that those who are perverse in heart are viewed with disgust by the LORD. The usage of this term underscores the seriousness of moral integrity in one's relationship with God.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations of this verse generally agree on the meaning, with all versions recognizing the perverse as an abomination to the LORD and the blameless as His delight.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb structure is implied in the contrast made between the two groups: the perverse and the blameless. The first part of the verse states the condition of the perverse, while the second part presents the blameless, creating a clear dichotomy.

The sentence structure emphasizes the moral implications of each group's character, with the perverse in heart being the subject of the first clause and the blameless in their walk being the subject of the second clause.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תּוֹעֵבַה as βδέλυγμα (bdelygma), which also conveys a sense of disgust or revulsion. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning, indicating the translators understood the moral weight of the term.

The translation of עִקְּשֵׁי־ as διεστραμμέναι suggests a focus on the distortion of character, reinforcing the negative connotation associated with the perverse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 11:20 tells us that those who have twisted hearts are detestable to the LORD, while those who are blameless in their actions are pleasing to Him. This verse highlights the importance of moral integrity and character in one's relationship with God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to have a 'perverse heart'?

A perverse heart refers to a mindset that is twisted or morally corrupt, leading to actions that are against God's will.

Why are the blameless considered a delight to the LORD?

The blameless are seen as those who walk in integrity and righteousness, aligning their actions with God's standards.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Proverbs?

This verse reflects the broader theme in Proverbs that emphasizes the consequences of one's moral choices and the importance of living righteously.

What can we learn about God's character from this verse?

This verse shows that God has a strong reaction against wickedness and values righteousness, indicating His desire for His followers to live according to His ways.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I examine my own heart for any areas of perversion or dishonesty?
  2. How can I strive to be blameless in my actions and decisions?
  3. What steps can I take to align my walk with God's standards?
  4. How does understanding God's view of the perverse and the blameless affect my daily choices?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 11:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the Lord,.... Such as are men of perverse dispositions and principles; that are contrary to the light of nature, the law of God, and Gospel of

Read John Gill on Proverbs 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They that are of a froward heart; hypocrites, as appears from the opposition of these to the upright in the next clause; whose hearts are false to God, and contrary to their own professions. Are abomination to the Lord; though by their cunning artifices they may deceive men, and gain their good opinion and favour, yet God sees their naughty hearts, and hateth them. In their way; in the course of their lives and actions. By which changing of the phrase from heart in the first clause, to way here, he intimates that the sincerity and hypocrisy of men’ s hearts are discovered and to be judged by their conversations.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 11:20 They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the LORD: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight.Ver. 20. They that are of a froward heart, &c.] Not only those that pursue and practise wickedness, but they also that harbour it in their hearts, are hated of God. A man may die of inward bleeding; a man may be damned for contemplative wickedness. The schools do well observe, that outward sins are maioris infamiae, greater notorieties, but inward heart sins are maioris reatus, greater guilt, as we see in devils. But such as are upright in their way.] The antithesis requires that he should say, such as are "upright in heart." But he chooseth rather to…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 11 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

20. Froward — Perverse, tortuous. Upright in their way — The perfect of way — men of integrity.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 11 →

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

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Lord abhors those who are perverse in heart, but those who are blameless in their ways are his delight.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD: but such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They that are of a froward heart, are abomination to the Lord: but they that are vpright in their way, are his delite.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The perverse in heart are abomination to Jehovah; but they that are perfect in [their] way are his delight.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

An abomination to Jehovah [are] the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way [are] His delight.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The perverse of heart are an abomination to YHWH, || And the perfect of the way [are] His delight.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

An abomination of the Lord are those of a perverse heart; but his favor is for those who are unblemished in their way.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Yahweh hates those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in them that walk sincerely.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight

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 · predicateתּוֹעֲבַ֣ת[are].(the).abominationיְ֭הוָהof.Yahwehnoun phrase · subjectעִקְּשֵׁי[people].perverseלֵ֑בof.heartוּ֝and.[are]clausenoun phrase · predicateרְצוֹנ֗pleasureוֹhisnoun phrase · subjectתְּמִ֣ימֵי[people].blamelessדָֽרֶךְof.way

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 agree in their wording for this verse, with all seven words matched. This indicates a consistent understanding of the text across these traditions.

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

תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה עִקְּשֵׁי־ לֵ֑ב וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ תְּמִ֣ימֵי דָֽרֶךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
תּוֹעֲבַ֣תβδέλυγμαיְ֭הוָהκυρίῳעִקְּשֵׁי־διεστραμμέναιלֵ֑בὁδοίוּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹαὐτῷתְּמִ֣ימֵיἄμωμοιדָֽרֶךְ׃ὁδοῖς

7 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 11:20תּוֹעֵבַה[are] [the][are] [the] aboתּוֹעֵבַהיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהעִקֵּשׁperverse [pperverse [peoplעִקֵּשׁלֵבheartheartלֵברָצוֹןand [are] pand [are] pleasרָצוֹןתָּמִים[people] bl[people] blamelתָּמִיםדֶּ֫רֶךְwaywayדֶּ֫רֶךְהָיָהto beto beהָיָהעָקַשׁto twistto twistעָקַשׁרָצָהto acceptto acceptרָצָהתָּמַםto finishto finishתָּמַםדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְתַּעָבto abhorto abhorתַּעָבלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבשִׁקּוּץabominatioabominationשִׁקּוּץבּוֹשׁbe ashamedbe ashamedבּוֹשׁנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאפָּתַלto twistto twistפָּתַלבָּרַרto purifyto purifyבָּרַרחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםפּוּקto promoteto promoteפּוּקתְּפִלָּהprayerprayerתְּפִלָּהכֶּ֫בֶשׂlamblambכֶּ֫בֶשׂ
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 11:20

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.

[are] [the] abomination of Yahweh perverse [people] of heart and [are] pleasure his [people] blameless of way
תּוֹעֲבַ֣תto.'a.Vat [are] [the] abomination of H8441 Noun common · feminine singular construct
117× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for abomination refers to something disgusting, like idolatry or unclean food, and is often used to describe wickedness in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
object of disgust, abomination
Tyndale gloss
abomination
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תּוֹעֵבַה (tow`ebah) means 'abomination' and refers to something morally disgusting. It can denote idolatry, unclean food, or ethical wickedness. The word is built from a feminine active participle of another root, and its usage encompasses both ritual and ethical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תּוֹעֵבַה 117 n.f. abomination

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8441 תּוֹעֵבַה abomination

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8441 tow`ebah to-ay-baw'

or tonebah {to-ay-baw'}; feminine active participle of 8581;

properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an

abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol:--

abominable (custom, thing), abomination.

see HEBREW for 08581

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תּוֹעֵבַה (to.e.vah) — abomination.

1) a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable

1a) in ritual sense (of unclean food, idols, mixed marriages)

1b) in ethical sense (of wickedness etc)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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…

[are] [the] abomination of Yahweh perverse [people] of heart and [are] pleasure his [people] blameless of way
יְ֭הוָהYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[are] [the] abomination of Yahweh perverse [people] of heart and [are] pleasure his [people] blameless of way
עִקְּשֵׁי־'i.ke.shei- perverse [people] of H6141 Adj
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for something that is twisted or distorted, and can also refer to someone who is being false or perverse. It is used to describe something that is not straight or honest. The KJV translates it as crooked or froward.
Amplified meaning
twisted, perverse
Tyndale gloss
twisted
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִקֵּשׁ (iqqesh) means twisted or perverted, conveying a sense of distortion or crookedness. It is derived from the root word עָקַשׁ (‘aqash), which also relates to these themes. The entries consistently emphasize its negative connotations, describing something that is false or morally corrupt.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִקֵּשׁ adj. twisted, perverted

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6141 עִקֵּשׁ twisted, perverted

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6141 `iqqesh ik-kashe'

from 6140; distorted; hence, false:--crooked, froward,

perverse.

see HEBREW for 06140

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִקֵּשׁ (iq.qesh) — twisted.

twisted, distorted, crooked, perverse, perverted

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampc
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…

[are] [the] abomination of Yahweh perverse [people] of heart and [are] pleasure his [people] blameless of way
לֵ֑בLev 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.
Amplified meaning
the seat of feelings, will, and intellect
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;

[are] [the] abomination of Yahweh perverse [people] of heart and [are] pleasure his [people] blameless of way
וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹu.re.tzo.No and [are] pleasure his H7522 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
56× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to acceptance or delight, often used to describe God's pleasure or favor. It appears in Psalms and Isaiah, highlighting God's goodwill towards us. This word is about taking pleasure in something.
Amplified meaning
delight, acceptance, pleasure
Tyndale gloss
acceptance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָצוֹן (ratsown) refers to concepts of goodwill, favor, acceptance, and will. It encompasses ideas of delight, desire, and pleasure, particularly in the context of personal relationships and sacrifices. The word is derived from a root meaning to delight, and it captures both voluntary will and the notion of being acceptable.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָצוֹן n.[m.] goodwill, favour, acceptance, will

goodwill, favour

acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice

will, desire, pleasure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7522 רָצוֹן goodwill, favour, acceptance, will . goodwill, favour

. acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice

. will, desire, pleasure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7522 ratsown raw-tsone'

or ratson {raw-tsone'}; from 7521; delight (especially as

shown):--(be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire,

favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will,

as...(what) would.

see HEBREW for 07521

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָצוֹן (ra.tson) — acceptance.

1) pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will

1a) goodwill, favour

1b) acceptance

1c) will, desire, pleasure, self-will

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

[are] [the] abomination of Yahweh perverse [people] of heart and [are] pleasure his [people] blameless of way
תְּמִ֣ימֵיte.Mi.mei [people] blameless of H8549 Adj
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means unblemished or perfect, like an animal without defects. It describes something or someone that is whole and complete, like the sacrifices in Leviticus. It is used to describe integrity and truth.
Amplified meaning
unblemished
Tyndale gloss
unblemished
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word תָּמִים (*tamiym*) means complete, sound, or whole. It encompasses notions of integrity, truth, and being unblemished or innocent. The word can function as both an adjective and a noun, referring to what is entire or in accord with truth. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being entire or perfect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּמִים 91 adj. complete, sound

complete, whole, entire

whole, sound, healthful

complete, entire, of time

sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8549 תָּמִים complete, sound . complete, whole, entire

. whole, sound, healthful

. complete, entire, of time

. sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

. as neuter adj. = subst. what is complete, entirely in accord with truth and fact

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8549 tamiym taw-meem'

from 8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also

(as noun) integrity, truth:--without blemish, complete, full,

perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled,

upright(-ly), whole.

see HEBREW for 08552

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished.

: unblemished/perfect

1) complete, whole, entire, sound

1a) complete, whole, entire

1b) whole, sound, healthful

1c) complete, entire (of time)

1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: blameless.

: blameless

1) complete, whole, entire, sound

1a) complete, whole, entire

1b) whole, sound, healthful

1c) complete, entire (of time)

1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

תָּמִים (ta.mim) — unblemished: complete.

: complete

1) complete, whole, entire, sound

1a) complete, whole, entire

1b) whole, sound, healthful

1c) complete, entire (of time)

1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampc
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…

[are] [the] abomination of Yahweh perverse [people] of heart and [are] pleasure his [people] blameless of way
דָֽרֶךְ׃Da.rekh way H1870 Noun common · both singular absolute
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
way of life, manner of action
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

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

wa ('orach, orcha', 'erets, bo', derekh, halikhah, ma`galah, nathibh; hodos, parodos, poreia, tropos; "highway," mecillah, meclul; diexodoi ton hodon): The list just cited contains only a portion of the words translated "way" or "highway" in the King James Version. Most of them have the primary meaning of "road," "customary path," "course of travel" (Ge 3:24; Ex 23:20; Nu 20:17, etc.). By a very easy and natural figure "way" is applied to the course of human conduct, the manner of life which one lives (Ex 18:20; 32:8; Nu 22:32; 1Sa 8:3;

Of sin, broad Mt 7:13

Jesus is the Joh 14:6; Heb 9:8

Doctrines taught by Christ Ac 9:2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14,22

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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