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Proverbs 11:28 — Word Study

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WLCבּוֹטֵ֣חַ בְּ֭עָשְׁרוֹ ה֣וּא יִפֹּ֑ל וְ֝כֶעָלֶ֗ה צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִפְרָֽחוּ׃

BSAHe who trustsbâṭach [confidently, with faith, has confidence, relies] in his richesʻôsher [wealth, material possessions] will fallnâphal [come to nothing, be defeated] but the righteoustsaddîyq [just, upright, having God's nature] will thrivepârach [flourish, sprout] like foliageʻâleh [a green leaf, a branch]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 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 (yif.Ra.chu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 11:28quick helps
In a sentenceProverbs teaches that reliance on wealth leads to downfall, while the righteous flourish.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom on trust and righteousness.
Where we areThe context is a series of proverbs contrasting the outcomes of the wicked and the righteous.
The hard wordבּוֹטֵ֣חַ
Take awayTrusting in wealth is ultimately futile; righteousness brings life.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbבָּטַח 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 11:28

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 on Trust and Righteousnessgenerated

27He who searches out good finds favor, but evil will come to him who seeks it.
28He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
29He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 11:28 contrasts two types of people: those who trust in their wealth and those who are righteous. The former will face downfall, while the latter will thrive like foliage, suggesting that true security and prosperity come from living a righteous life rather than relying on material possessions. This verse is part of a broader discourse on the consequences of one's choices, seen in the surrounding verses, such as Proverbs 11:27 and Proverbs 11:29.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 10:15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
2Deuteronomy 8:12–14Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell,
3Job 31:24–25If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
4Psalm 52:7“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
5Psalm 62:10Place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

The Key Word בּוֹטֵ֣חַ, bo.Te.achgenerated

The word בּוֹטֵ֣חַ (bo.Te.ach) is a participle from the root בָּטַח (batach), meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and reliance, particularly in a personal context, as when one trusts in God.

In this verse, it indicates a person who places their faith in wealth, highlighting the futility of such trust. The parsing as a masculine singular participle suggests an active, ongoing state of reliance, which is contrasted with the outcomes experienced by the righteous.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'He who trusts in his riches will fall,' which aligns with the KJV and ASV that also use 'trusts' for בּוֹטֵ֣חַ.

Where translations differ is in the rendering of צַדִּיקִ֥ים: the DRA uses 'just', while the BBE opts for 'upright'. This shows a slight variation in interpretation of the nature of the righteous.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses connected by 'but'. The first clause, led by the verb יִפֹּ֑ל (yi.Pol), states the consequence of trusting in riches, while the second clause, with the subject צַדִּיקִ֥ים (tza.di.Kim), describes the flourishing of the righteous.

The structure emphasizes the contrast between the outcomes of the two groups, with the verb 'fall' indicating a downfall and 'thrive' suggesting growth and vitality.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates בּוֹטֵ֣חַ as πεποιθὼς (pepoithōs), which also means 'having trusted'. This choice maintains the focus on reliance but does not specify the object of trust as wealth.

This rendering indicates a broader interpretation of trust, which may encompass more than just material wealth, aligning with the overall message of the verse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 11:28 teaches that those who trust in their wealth will ultimately fall, while the righteous will flourish like a leaf. This highlights the importance of living a righteous life over relying on material possessions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to trust in riches?

Trusting in riches means relying on material wealth for security and stability, rather than placing faith in God.

What is the outcome for the righteous?

The righteous are described as thriving like foliage, indicating that they will experience growth and vitality.

How does this verse relate to other proverbs?

This verse connects with other proverbs that contrast the outcomes of the wicked and the righteous, emphasizing moral choices.

What can we learn from this verse?

We learn the importance of placing our trust in God and living righteously rather than relying on material wealth.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see people around me trusting in wealth rather than in God?
  2. How can I cultivate a life that reflects righteousness and trust in God?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to ensure my trust is placed in God rather than material possessions?
  4. How does understanding this verse change my perspective on wealth and success?

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

Bede comments on this verse to illustrate the consequences of trusting in wealth versus doing good for future rewards.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
He who trusts in his riches will fall, etc. He who hankers after present goods and does not think of future ones, will lack both in the end. But those who do good in the hope of future rewards, justly receive what they hope for at present.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 11 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 11:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall,.... As leaves in autumn, which are withered and dry.

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

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous (namely, inasmuch as they do not trust in riches) shall flourish as a branch.

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

He that trusteth in his riches, as his chief portion, and felicity, and ground of safety, shall fall, as a withered leaf, by comparing this clause with the latter. The righteous, who maketh God alone, and not riches, his trust, shall flourish as a branch, to wit, a green and flourishing branch.

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

Proverbs 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.Ver. 28. He that trusteth to his riches shall fall.] Riches were never true to any that trusted to them. The rich churl that trusted and boasted that he had "much goods laid up in store" for many years, when, like a jay, he was pruning himself in his boughs, he came tumbling down with the arrow in his side. So did Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Herod, &c. "The righteous also shall see and fear, and laugh at such a one, saying, Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." "But I am like a green…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) He that trusteth in his riches shall fall.—Because of their uncertainty, and because they prevent his trusting in the living God (1 Timothy 6:17).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. branch] Rather leaf, R.V. Comp. Genesis 3:7; Psalms 1:3.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 11 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Branch - Better, leaf, as in Psalms 1:3; Isaiah 34:4.

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

28. Shall fall — Fall off, as a withered leaf from a tree. The Hebrew is emphatic: Himself shall fall. His riches may not fall, but he will if he trusts in them. Compare Matthew 10:24. Flourish as a branch — A leaf.

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

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He that trusteth in his riches, shall fall: but the righteous shall florish as a leafe.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a leaf.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Whoever is confident in his wealth falls, || And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He that trusteth in his riches will surely fall; but the righteous shall grow like the leaves [of a tree].

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but like the leaf, righteous people will flourish.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall spring up as a green leaf.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.

Word by word, the decisions they made

צַדִּיקִ֥יםtza.di.Kim righteous [people] H6662 2 different renderings
justDRA
uprightBBE

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.

clauseclauseverbבּוֹטֵ֣חַ[one.who].trustsprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּ֭innoun phraseעָשְׁרwealthוֹhisclausesubjectה֣וּאheverbיִפֹּ֑לhe.will.fallוְ֝andclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכֶlikenoun phrase(the)עָלֶ֗הleafsubjectצַדִּיקִ֥יםrighteous.[people]verbיִפְרָֽחוּthey.will.bud

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 בּוֹטֵ֣חַ בְּ֭עָשְׁרוֹ ה֣וּא יִפֹּ֑ל וְ֝כֶעָלֶ֗ה צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִפְרָֽחוּ׃, and the Septuagint matches five of the seven words, indicating a strong agreement between the two texts, though the word order differs.

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

בּוֹטֵ֣חַ בְּ֭עָשְׁרוֹ ה֣וּא יִפֹּ֑ל וְ֝כֶעָלֶ֗ה צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִפְרָֽחוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בּוֹטֵ֣חַπεποιθὼςה֣וּאοὗτοςיִפֹּ֑לπεσεῖταιוְ֝כֶעָלֶ֗הἀντιλαμβανόμενοςצַדִּיקִ֥יםδικαίων

5 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 11:28בָּטַח[one who] t[one who] trustבָּטַחעֹ֫שֶׁרin wealth hin wealth hisעֹ֫שֶׁרהוּאheheהוּאנָפַלhe will falhe will fallנָפַלעָלֶהand like leand like leafעָלֶהצַדִּיקrighteous [righteous [peopצַדִּיקפָּרַחthey will bthey will budפָּרַחעָשַׁרto enrichto enrichעָשַׁרעָלָהto ascend:to ascend: riseעָלָהצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקחָסָהto seek reto seek refugeחָסָהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרנֶ֫כֶסwealthwealthנֶ֫כֶסכָּבוֹדglorygloryכָּבוֹדטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלהֲדַסmyrtlemyrtleהֲדַסרָשָׁעwickedwickedרָשָׁעעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלצָרַ֫עַתleprosyleprosyצָרַ֫עַת
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 11:28

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.

[one who] trusts in wealth his he he will fall and like leaf righteous [people] they will bud
בּוֹטֵ֣חַbo.Te.ach [one who] trusts H982 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
120× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To trust means to have confidence or faith in something or someone, like the Israelites trusting in God to lead them through the desert, as seen in Psalm 23.
Amplified meaning
confidently, with faith, has confidence, relies
Tyndale gloss
to trust
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּטַח (batach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to trust or have confidence. It conveys a sense of security and boldness, both in a personal sense and when causing others to feel secure. The entries indicate its use in different forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, covering aspects of trust and confidence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּטַח vb. trust

Qal

trust

be confident

Hiph. cause to trust, make secure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H982 בָּטַח trust . trust

. be confident

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

982 batach baw-takh'

a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so

precipitately as 2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident

or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one,

woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

see HEBREW for 02620

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּטַח (ba.tach) — to trust.

1) to trust

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to trust, trust in

1a2) to have confidence, be confident

1a3) to be bold

1a4) to be secure

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to trust, make secure

2) (TWOT) to feel safe, be careless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
[one who] trusts in wealth his he he will fall and like leaf righteous [people] they will bud
בְּ֭עָשְׁרוֹbe.'a.she.ro in wealth his H6239 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means wealth or riches, like the treasures King Solomon had in 1 Kings 10:23. It refers to an abundance of valuable things. The KJV Bible uses it to describe riches and wealth.
Amplified meaning
wealth, material possessions
Tyndale gloss
riches
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֹ֫שֶׁר (osher) primarily means 'riches' or 'wealth.' It is derived from the root word associated with abundance. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to material wealth, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6239 עֹ֫שֶׁר riches

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6239 `osher o'-sher

from 6238; wealth:--X far (richer), riches.

see HEBREW for 06238

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֹ֫שֶׁר (o.sher) — riches.

wealth, riches

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/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."

[one who] trusts in wealth his he he will fall and like leaf righteous [people] they will bud
ה֣וּאhu' he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp3ms — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[one who] trusts in wealth his he he will fall and like leaf righteous [people] they will bud
יִפֹּ֑לyi.Pol he will fall H5307 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
435× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Amplified meaning
come to nothing, be defeated
Tyndale gloss
to fall: fall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie

Qal 366

fall, by accident

Esp. of violent death

fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

fig. = experience calamity

fall, of a city

Fall prostrate

fall = prostrate oneself before

fall upon one's neck, in embrace

Fall upon = attack

desert or fall away to, go over to

Fig., of deep sleep

Other idiomatic uses

= lie; = lie prostrate

Hiph.

cause to fall

Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

Esp. of casting lot

Fig., let drop, cause to fail

cause deep sleep to fall

Other idioms

Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident

. . Esp. of violent death

. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

. fig. = experience calamity

. fall, of a city

. . Fall prostrate

. fall = prostrate oneself before

. fall upon one's neck, in embrace

. . Fall upon = attack

. desert or fall away to, go over to

. Fig., of deep sleep

. Other idiomatic uses

. = lie; = lie prostrate

. . cause to fall

. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

. Esp. of casting lot

. Fig., let drop, cause to fail

. cause deep sleep to fall

. Other idioms

. throw, or prostrate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5307 naphal naw-fal'

a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be

accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide

(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall

(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have

(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay

(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,

lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make

to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.

: fall/drop/fail

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.

: deserting

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fol (vb.): The idea of falling is most frequently expressed in Hebrew by naphal, but also by many other words; in Greek by pipto, and its compounds. The uses of the word in Scripture are very varied. There is the literal falling by descent; the falling of the countenance in sorrow, shame, anger, etc. (Ge 4:5,6); the falling in battle (Ge 14:10; Nu 14:3, etc.); the falling into trouble, etc. (Pr 24:16,17); prostration in supplication and reverence (Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5, etc.); falling of the Spirit of Yahweh (Eze 11:5

[one who] trusts in wealth his he he will fall and like leaf righteous [people] they will bud
וְ֝כֶעָלֶ֗הve.khe.'a.Leh and like leaf H5929 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a leaf on a tree, often referring to foliage. It appears in the Bible when describing trees and plants, like in Genesis. The KJV translates it as branch or leaf.
Amplified meaning
a green leaf, a branch
Tyndale gloss
leaf
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָלֶה (aleh) refers to a leaf or foliage, emphasizing its role as something that comes up on a tree. The entries consistently define it as a leaf or leafage, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָלֶה n.m. leaf, leafage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5929 עָלֶה leaf, leafage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5929 `aleh aw-leh'

from 5927; a leaf (as coming up on a tree); collectively,

foliage:--branch, leaf.

see HEBREW for 05927

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָלֶה (a.leh) — leaf.

leaf, leafage

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Rd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Leaf

Of a tree. The olive-leaf mentioned Gen. 8:11. The barren fig-tree had nothing but leaves (Matt. 21:19; Mark 11:13). The oak-leaf is mentioned Isa. 1:30; 6:13. There are numerous allusions to leaves, their flourishing, their decay, and their restoration (Lev. 26:36; Isa. 34:4; Jer. 8:13; Dan. 4:12, 14, 21; Mark 11:13; 13:28). The fresh leaf is a symbol of prosperity (

[one who] trusts in wealth his he he will fall and like leaf righteous [people] they will bud
צַדִּיקִ֥יםtza.di.Kim righteous [people] H6662 Adj
206× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Amplified meaning
just, upright, having God's nature
Tyndale gloss
righteous
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'

from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

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

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…

[one who] trusts in wealth his he he will fall and like leaf righteous [people] they will bud
יִפְרָֽחוּ׃yif.Ra.chu they will bud H6524 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to fly or bloom, describing something that spreads out or flourishes. It can also mean to break forth like a bud or to grow abundantly. It's used to picture flourishing or spreading out.
Amplified meaning
flourish, sprout
Tyndale gloss
to sprout
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּרַח (*pa.rach*) is a primitive root that encompasses several meanings, primarily related to growth and emergence. It can mean to bud, sprout, or shoot, as well as to break out in the context of leprosy or similar eruptions. Additionally, it has a sense of flying, particularly in an Aramaic context. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּרַח vb. bud, sprout, shoot

Qal bud, sprout, send out shoots, of vine

Hiph.

cause to bud or sprout

shew buds, sprouts, of tree

base

פָּרַח vb. break out, of leprosy and like eruptions

base

[פָּרַח] vb. fly, Aramaism

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6524a פָּרַח bud, sprout, shoot H6524b פָּרַח break out, of leprosy and like eruptions H6524c פָּרַח fly, Aramaism

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6524 parach paw-rakh'

a primitive root; to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom;

generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the

wings); figuratively, to flourish:--X abroad, X abundantly,

blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow,

spread, spring (up).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַח (pa.rach) — to sprout.

1) to bud, sprout, shoot, bloom

1a) (Qal) to bud, sprout, send out shoots, blossom

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to bud or sprout

1b2) to show buds or sprouts

פָּרַח (pa.rach) — to break out.

(Qal) to break out (of leprosy)

פָּרַח (pa.rach) — to fly.

(Qal) to fly (Aramaism)

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

See FLOWERS.

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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