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Proverbs 12:20 — Word Study

Depth

WLCמִ֭רְמָה בְּלֶב־ חֹ֣רְשֵׁי רָ֑ע וּֽלְיֹעֲצֵ֖י שָׁל֣וֹם שִׂמְחָֽה׃

BSADeceitmirmâh [trickery, cheating] is in the heartslêb [minds, feelings, and will] of those who devisechârash [plan, plot, imagine] evilraʻ [bad, morally wrong] but the counselorsyâʻats [advisers, planners] of peaceshâlôwm [completeness, wellness, friendship] have joysimchâh [gladness, happiness, celebration]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 12
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 (sim.Chah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 12:20quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse contrasts deceitful intentions with the joy found in peace.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, reflecting on the nature of human hearts.
Where we areIn a series of proverbs about wisdom and folly.
The hard wordמִרְמָה
Take awayDeceit leads to evil, while seeking peace results in joy.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectמִרְמָה verbחָרַשׁ 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 12:20

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 — Wisdom on Deceit and Peacegenerated

19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.
21No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

Proverbs 12:20 presents a stark contrast between the deceit found in the hearts of those who plot evil and the joy experienced by those who counsel peace. This verse is part of a larger discussion in Proverbs about the outcomes of wisdom versus folly, where the righteous are rewarded and the wicked face consequences, as seen in surrounding verses like Proverbs 12:19 and Proverbs 12:21.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 12:12The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.
2Proverbs 26:24–26A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
3Jeremiah 17:16But I have not run away from being Your shepherd; I have not desired the day of despair. You know that the utterance of my lips was spoken in Your presence.
4Mark 7:21–22For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
5Mark 12:14–17“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מִרְמָה, Mir.mahgenerated

The word מִרְמָה (mirmah) is a feminine singular noun meaning deceit or trickery. It derives from a root that conveys the idea of deception, often associated with cunning or guile. In this verse, it highlights the inner intentions of those who plot evil, emphasizing their deceitful nature.

The use of מִרְמָה in this context underscores the moral implications of deceit, suggesting that such treachery is rooted in the heart, affecting one's thoughts and actions. It serves as a warning against the dangers of dishonesty and the pursuit of evil.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses deceit and joy to convey the meanings of מִרְמָה and שִׂמְחָה respectively.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause of the verse is structured around the subject of deceit, מִרְמָה, which is linked to the prepositional phrase indicating its location in the heart. The second part of the sentence contrasts this with the counselors of peace, who are the subject of the second clause, leading to the conclusion about joy.

The syntax emphasizes the duality of intentions: deceit leads to evil while peace leads to joy. This structure highlights the moral dichotomy present in the verse.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, מִרְמָה is rendered as δόλος (dolos), which also means deceit or trickery. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the Hebrew term's connotation of treachery.

The Greek term εἰρήνην (eirēnē) for peace aligns with the Hebrew שָׁלוֹם, emphasizing completeness and well-being, suggesting that the translators recognized the deeper implications of peace in the context of joy.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 12:20 tells us that deceit is found in the hearts of those who plan evil, while those who give advice for peace experience joy. This verse contrasts the negative outcomes of deceit with the positive results of seeking peace.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does deceit in the heart signify?

Deceit in the heart signifies a deep-seated intention to harm or mislead, which can lead to negative actions and consequences.

What are the characteristics of counselors of peace?

Counselors of peace are those who promote harmony and well-being, guiding others towards positive outcomes and joy.

How does this verse relate to the theme of wisdom in Proverbs?

This verse illustrates the contrast between the wise, who seek peace and joy, and the foolish, who engage in deceit and evil plotting.

What can we learn from the outcomes of deceit versus peace?

We learn that deceit leads to negative consequences, while seeking peace brings joy and fulfillment.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen deceit affect relationships around me?
  2. How can I promote peace in my community or among my friends?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure my intentions align with honesty and integrity?
  4. How does understanding the concept of joy in this verse change my perspective on my own experiences?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 12:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Deceit [is] in the heart of them that imagine evil,.... That secretly devise mischief in their hearts against their neighbours; that plough evil, as the word (g) signifies, and sow discord among men;

Read John Gill on Proverbs 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 12 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Deceit; either, 1. Towards others, whom they design to deceive, and then to destroy, whilst good counsellors bring safety and joy to others. Or rather, 2. To themselves. So the sense of the verse is, They whose hearts devise mischief against others shall be deceived in their hopes, and bring that trouble upon themselves which they design against others; but they who by good counsels labour to promote the peace and happiness of others, shall reap the comfort and benefit of it to themselves.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 12:20 Deceit [is] in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace [is] joy.Ver. 20. Deceit is in the heart of them, &c.] Incendiaries and make-baits, counsellors of contention, have twenty devices to make trouble, and to put all into a combustion; but they shall either be defeated of their purposes, or have small joy of their achievements; - witness our late English boutifeaus, with the whole nation of Ignatius, whose practice is to machinate mischief, and breed hate; being herein no less dangerous than once those Jews were, who, before they were banished hence, threw bags of poison into the wells and fountains that the people were to drink from, and so…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 12 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) Deceit is in the heart . . .—Those who plot and devise evil against others begin by deceiving them, and end by deceiving themselves also; whereas the “counsellors of peace,” who seek the good of their neighbours, bring joy to them and to themselves also through the satisfaction derived from a good conscience.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 12 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The “deceit” of “those who imagine evil” can work nothing but evil to those whom they advise. The “counselors of peace” have joy in themselves, and impart it to others also.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 12 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

20. Deceit — “Delusion.” — Miller. Imagine evil — Fabricators or advisers of evil. Counsellors of peace — Those who give wholesome advice.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 12 →

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

Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counsellors of peace is joy.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counselors of peace is joy.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Deceite is in the heart of them that imagine euill: but to the counsellers of peace shall be ioye.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, And to those counselling peace [is] joy.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, || But for counselors of peace—joy.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Deceit is in the heart of those that contrive evil; but for the counsellors of peace there is joy.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

There is deceit in the hearts of those who plan to do evil, but joy comes to the advisors of peace.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Deceit is in the heart of them that think evil things: but joy followeth them that take counsels of peace.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Deceit is in the mind of those planning evil, but those who plan peace have joy.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are evil, but for those purposing peace there is joy.

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.

clausesubjectמִ֭רְמָהdeceitprepositional phrase · predicateבְּ[is].in.[the]noun phraseלֶבheartnoun phraseחֹ֣רְשֵׁיof.[those.who].deviseרָ֑ע(of).evilוּֽand.[belongs]clauseprepositional phrase · predicateלְtonoun phraseיֹעֲצֵ֖יcounselorsשָׁל֣וֹםof.peacesubjectשִׂמְחָֽהjoy

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, indicating a consistent understanding of the concepts of deceit and peace across these ancient texts.

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

מִ֭רְמָה בְּלֶב־ חֹ֣רְשֵׁי רָ֑ע וּֽלְיֹעֲצֵ֖י שָׁל֣וֹם שִׂמְחָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מִ֭רְמָהδόλοςבְּלֶב־καρδίᾳחֹ֣רְשֵׁיτεκταινομένουרָ֑עκακάוּֽלְיֹעֲצֵ֖יδὲשָׁל֣וֹםεἰρήνηνשִׂמְחָֽה׃εὐφρανθήσονται

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 12:20מִרְמָהdeceitdeceitמִרְמָהלֵב[is] in [th[is] in [the] hלֵבחָרַשׁdevisers ofdevisers ofחָרַשׁרַעevilevilרַעיָעַץand [belongand [belongs] tיָעַץשָׁלוֹםpeacepeaceשָׁלוֹםשִׂמְחָהjoyjoyשִׂמְחָהרָמָהto shootto shootרָמָהרָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעשָׁלֵםto completto completeשָׁלֵםשָׂמֵחַgladgladשָׂמֵחַלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבמאזןbalancebalanceמאזןלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםקָצֵרbe shortbe shortקָצֵרמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶלAhithophelAhithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶלעֵצָהcounselcounselעֵצָהיֵהוּאJehuJehuיֵהוּאשָׂשׂוֹןrejoicingrejoicingשָׂשׂוֹןשָׂמַחto rejoiceto rejoiceשָׂמַח
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 12:20

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.

deceit [is] in [the] heart of devisers of evil and [belongs] to counselors of peace joy
מִ֭רְמָהMir.mah deceit H4820 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means deceit or cheating, like when someone tricks or lies to another person. It appears in stories about dishonest people, like in Jeremiah 8:10, where the prophet talks about the deceit of the Israelites. The word is often translated as 'deceit' or 'craft' in English Bibles.
Amplified meaning
trickery, cheating
Tyndale gloss
deceit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִרְמָה (mirmah) refers to deceit or treachery. It is derived from the root word meaning to deceive and encompasses concepts like fraud, guile, and craftiness. The term appears in contexts that highlight dishonesty and trickery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִרְמָה n.f. deceit, treachery

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4820 מִרְמָה deceit, treachery

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4820 mirmah meer-maw'

from 7411 in the sense of deceiving; fraud:--craft,

deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly,

treachery.

see HEBREW for 07411

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִרְמָה (mir.mah) — deceit.

deceit, treachery

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

de-set' (mirmah; (dolos)): The intentional misleading or beguiling of another; in Scripture represented as a companion of many other forms of wickedness, as cursing (Ps 10:7), hatred (Pr 26:24), theft, covetousness, adultery, murder (Mr 7:22; Ro 1:29). The Revised Version (British and American) introduces the word in Pr 14:25; 2Th 2:10; but in such passages as Ps 55:11; Pr 20:17; 26:26; 1Th 2:3, renders a…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Is falsehood Ps 119:118

→ The tongue is an instrument of Ro 3:13

→ Comes from the heart Mr 7:22

→ Characteristic of the heart Jer 17:9

→ God abhors Ps 5:6

→ Forbidden Pr 24:28; 1Pe 3:10

→ Christ was perfectly free from Isa 53:9; with 1Pe 2:22

→ Saints

Free from Ps 24:4; Zep 3:13;

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Is falsehood

Ps 119:118

- The tongue, the instrument of

Ro 3:13

- Comes from the heart

Mr 7:22

- Characteristic of the heart

Jer 17:9

- God abhors

Ps 5:6

- Forbidden

Pr 24:28; 1Pe 3:10

- Christ was perfectly free from

Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22

- SAINTS

. Free from

Ps 24:4; Zep 3:13;

deceit [is] in [the] heart of devisers of evil and [belongs] to counselors of peace joy
בְּלֶב־be.lev- [is] in [the] heart of H3820 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
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
minds, feelings, and will
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
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
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…

deceit [is] in [the] heart of devisers of evil and [belongs] to counselors of peace joy
חֹ֣רְשֵׁיCho.re.shei devisers of H2790 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to be quiet or silent, but also to scratch or engrave, like a farmer plowing a field. It is used in various contexts, including being silent or deaf. The KJV translates it in different ways, including 'cease' or 'hold peace'.
Amplified meaning
plan, plot, imagine
Tyndale gloss
to plow/plot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָרַשׁ (*charash*) encompasses meanings related to cutting, engraving, and plowing, as well as devising, often with a negative connotation. It also has a related form, חָרֵשׁ (*charesh*), which means to be silent or deaf. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical actions to metaphorical implications of secrecy and silence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָרַשׁ] vb. cut in, engrave, plough, devise

Qal

cut in, engrave

plough

devise

Niph. Zion, as a field she shall be ploughed

Hiph. fabricating mischief against

base

[חָרֵשׁ] vb. 1. be silent, dumb, speechless; 2. be deaf; chiefly poet.

Qal

be silent, alw. of God’s keeping silence when men pray

be deaf

Hiph.

be silent (= exhibit silence)

once causat. make silent

be deaf, shew deafness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2790a חָרַשׁ cut in, engrave, plough, devise H2790b חָרֵשׁ . be silent, dumb, speechless

. be deaf; chiefly poet.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2790 charash khaw-rash'

a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to

engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate

(of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense);

hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone;

hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of

dumbness):--X altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise,

ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace,

plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep

silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue,

worker.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרַשׁ (cha.rash) — to plow/plot.

1) to cut in, plough, engrave, devise

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut in, engrave

1a2) to plough

1a3) to devise

1b) (Niphal) to be ploughed

1c) (Hiphil) to plot evil

חָרֵשׁ (cha.resh) — be quiet.

1) to be silent, be dumb, be speechless, be deaf

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be silent

1a2) to be deaf

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to be silent, keep quiet

1b2) to make silent

1b3) to be deaf, show deafness

1c) (Hithpael) to remain silent

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
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…

deceit [is] in [the] heart of devisers of evil and [belongs] to counselors of peace joy
רָ֑עRa' evil H7451 Adj
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
bad, morally wrong
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),

distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X

great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),

+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not

please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,

wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.

(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ev'-'-l, e'-vil ra`; poneros, @kakos, @kakon:

In the Bible it is represented as moral and physical. We choose to discuss the subject under these heads. Many of the evils that come upon men have not been intended by those who suffer for them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food, may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Many times the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is apparent. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which come upon them. Neither is God the author of moral evil. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man" (Jas 1:13).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ APPEARANCE OF, TO BE AVOIDED Ro 14:1-23; 1Co 8:7-13; 10:28-33; 1Th 4:11,12; 5:22

→ INSTANCES OF

Paul, in refusing to eat what had been offered to idols 1Co 8:13

In supporting himself 1Co 9:7-23

deceit [is] in [the] heart of devisers of evil and [belongs] to counselors of peace joy
וּֽלְיֹעֲצֵ֖יu.le.yo.'a.Tzei and [belongs] to counselors of H3289 Conjunction · preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
79× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to advise or counsel someone, like giving guidance or planning something. It is used in the Bible to describe people seeking advice or working together to make a plan. The KJV translates it as advise or counsel.
Amplified meaning
advisers, planners
Tyndale gloss
to advise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָעַץ (ya`ats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to advise or counsel. It encompasses various forms, including advising, consulting, and deliberating, with nuances in different stems such as Qal, Niphal, and Hithpael. The word can also imply conspiracy in certain contexts. The entries suggest a focus on guidance and decision-making.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָעַץ vb. advise, counsel

Qal advise, counsel

Niph. consult together, exchange counsel

Hithp. conspire against

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3289 יָעַץ advise, counsel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3289 ya`ats yaw-ats'

a primitive root; to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or

resolve:--advertise, take advise, advise (well), consult,

(give, take) counsel(-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָעַץ (ya.ats) — to advise.

1) to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to advise, counsel, give counsel, consult

1a2) counsellor (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate, counsel together

1c) (Hithpael) to conspire

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | V-Qal — Conjunction · preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common
HC/R/Vqrmpc
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…

deceit [is] in [the] heart of devisers of evil and [belongs] to counselors of peace joy
שָׁל֣וֹםsha.Lom peace H7965 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
237× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means completeness, wellness, and friendship, and is often used to describe God's relationship with humanity, as seen in the covenant with the Israelites. It encompasses physical and spiritual health, prosperity, and harmony.
Amplified meaning
completeness, wellness, friendship
Tyndale gloss
Peace
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלוֹם (shalom) conveys a range of meanings including completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace. It can refer to physical safety and health, as well as emotional states like tranquility and friendship, particularly in human relationships and with God. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be complete' and is used in various contexts, including greetings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלוֹם 237 n.m. completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

completeness in no.

safety, soundness, in body

welfare, health, prosperity

peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment

peace, friendship

peace from war

as adj. those at peace with him

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7965 שָׁלוֹם completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7965 shalowm shaw-lome'

or shalom {shaw-lome'}; from 7999; safe, i.e. (figuratively)

well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,

prosperity, peace:--X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend,

X great, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at)

peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty),

salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.

see HEBREW for 07999

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace.

: peace

1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

1a) completeness (in number)

1b) safety, soundness (in body)

1c) welfare, health, prosperity

1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment

1e) peace, friendship

1e1) of human relationships

1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship

1f) peace (from war)

1g) peace (as adjective)

שָׁלוֹם (ye.ho.vah sha.lom) — Peace.

This name means completeness, peace

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

שָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) — peace: well-being.

: well-being

1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

1a) completeness (in number)

1b) safety, soundness (in body)

1c) welfare, health, prosperity

1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment

1e) peace, friendship

1e1) of human relationships

1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship

1f) peace (from war)

1g) peace (as adjective)

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

pes (shalom; eirene):

1. In the Old Testament:

Is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies, or inwardly, within the soul. The Hebrew word is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," but coming also to signify "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. In early times, to a people harassed by foes, peace was the primary blessing. In Ps 122:7, we have "peace" and "prosperity," and in 35:27; 73:3, shalom is translated "prosperity." In 2Sa 11:7 the King James Version, David asked of Uriah "how Joab did" (margin "of the peace of Joab"), "and how the people did (the Revised Version (British and American) "fared," literally, "of the peace of the people"), and…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ EXEMPLIFIED

By Abraham Ge 13:8,9

Abimelech Ge 26:29

Mordecai Es 10:3

David Ps 120:7

See CHARITABLENESS

See NATION, PEACE OF

→ SOCIAL Ge 45:24; Le 26:6; Job 5:23,24; Ps 34:14; 120:6,7; 133:1; Pr 12:20; 15:17; 16:7; 17:1,14; 20:3; Ec 4:6; Isa 2:4; 45:7; Jer…

- God is the author of

Ps 147:14; Isa 45:7; 1Co 14:33

- RESULTS FROM

. Heavenly wisdom

Jas 3:17

. The government of Christ

Isa 2:4

. Praying for rulers

1Ti 2:2

. Seeking the peace of those with whom we dwell

Jer 29:7

- Necessary to the enjoyment of life

Ps 34:12,14; 1Pe 3:10,11

- GOD BESTOWS UPON THOSE WHO

. Obey him

Le 26:6

. Please him

deceit [is] in [the] heart of devisers of evil and [belongs] to counselors of peace joy
שִׂמְחָֽה׃sim.Chah joy H8057 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means joy or gladness, often used to describe a happy occasion or celebration, like a festival. It's used in the Bible to express God's joy and pleasure. In the KJV, it's translated as joy, gladness, or mirth.
Amplified meaning
gladness, happiness, celebration
Tyndale gloss
joy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׂמְחָה (simchah) refers to joy, gladness, and mirth. It encompasses a range of meanings from general joyfulness to religious or festival-related happiness. The word is derived from שִׂמְחָה (H8056), which also relates to pleasure and rejoicing. The entries consistently highlight its positive connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׂמְחָה 93 n.f. joy, gladness, mirth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8057 שִׂמְחָה joy, gladness, mirth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8057 simchah sim-khaw'

from 8056; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or

festival):--X exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth,

pleasure, rejoice(-ing).

see HEBREW for 08056

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׂמְחָה (sim.chah) — joy.

1) joy, mirth, gladness

1a) mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure

1b) joy (of God)

1c) glad result, happy issue

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

joi (simchah; chara):

1. Terms:

The idea of joy is expressed in the Old Testament by a wealth of synonymous terms that cannot easily be differentiated. The commonest is simchah (1Sa 18:6, etc.), variously translated in English Versions of the Bible "joy," "gladness," "mirth"; from sameah, properly "to be bright," "to shine" (Pr 13:9, "The light of the righteous rejoiceth," literally, "is bright"), but generally used figuratively "to rejoice," "be glad" (Le 23:40 and very frequent).

Other nouns are masos and sason, both from sus, properly "to spring," "leap," hence, "exult," "rejoice"; rinnah, "shouting." "joy"; gil, from verb gil or gul, "to go in a circle," hence, "be excited" (dancing round for joy), "rejoice." In the New…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Attributed to God De 28:63; 30:9; Jer 32:41

→ In heaven Lu 15:10-32

→ UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO De 12:18; 1Sa 2:1; 1Ch 16:27; 2Ch 7:10; Ezr 6:22; Ne 8:10,12; 12:43; Job 8:21; 22:21,26; 33:26; Ps 2:11; 4:7; 5:11; 9:2,14; 13:5; 14:7; 16:5,6,8,9,11; 17:15; 19:8; 20:5; 21:1,6; 28:7…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God gives

Ec 2:26; Ps 4:7

- Christ appointed to give

Isa 61:3

- Is a fruit of the Spirit

Ga 5:22

- The gospel, good tidings of

Lu 2:10,11

- God's word affords

Ne 8:12; Jer 15:16

- The gospel to be received with

1Th 1:6

- Promised to saints

Ps 132:16; Isa 35:10; 55:12; 56:7

- Prepared for saints

Ps 97:11

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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