Menu

Proverbs 13:25 — Word Study

Depth

WLCצַדִּ֗יק אֹ֭כֵל לְשֹׂ֣בַע נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּבֶ֖טֶן רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֶּחְסָֽר׃ פ

BSAA righteoustsaddîyq [morally upright, just, having a right relationship with God] man eatsʼâkal [to devour, consume] to his heart’snephesh [soul's, inner being's] contentsôbaʻ [satisfaction, fullness] but the stomachbeṭen [belly, innermost being] of the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty, those who oppose God] is emptychâçêr [will be, remains, lacking, in need]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 13
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 25 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 (tech.Sar) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 13:25quick helps
In a sentenceA righteous man enjoys his food, while the wicked find themselves in need.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, reflecting on the outcomes of righteousness and wickedness.
Where we areThe conclusion of a series of proverbs contrasting the righteous and the wicked.
The hard wordצַדִּיק
Take awayRighteousness leads to satisfaction; wickedness leads to emptiness.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectצַדִּיק verbאָכַל 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 13:25

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 Righteousness and Wickednessgenerated

22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.
23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away.
24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.

Proverbs 13:25 contrasts the experiences of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous man is depicted as one who enjoys the fruits of his labor and is satisfied, while the wicked are portrayed as lacking and in need. This verse encapsulates the broader themes of justice and morality found throughout the book of Proverbs, emphasizing the rewards of righteousness and the consequences of wickedness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 34:10Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
2Psalm 37:3–16Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
31 Timothy 4:8For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
4Hebrews 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
5Proverbs 6:11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

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


The Key Word צַדִּיק, tza.Dikgenerated

The term צַדִּיק (tza.Dik) is an adjective meaning righteous or just. It describes someone who is in right standing with God and adheres to moral principles. This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts that highlight the character and actions of individuals who are upright.

In this verse, the righteous man is contrasted with the wicked, emphasizing the fulfillment that comes from living a life aligned with God's will. The parsing as an adjective indicates that it describes a characteristic of the subject, the righteous man.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb אֹכֵל ('O.khel) governs the main clause, with two noun phrases following: the subject צַדִּיק (tza.Dik) and the object לְשֹׂבַע (le.Soa'). The second part of the verse introduces a contrasting clause about the wicked, structured with a noun phrase and the verb תֶּחְסָר (tech.Sar).

This structure emphasizes the satisfaction of the righteous in contrast to the emptiness of the wicked, highlighting the moral lesson of the proverb.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates צַדִּיק as δίκαιος (dikaios), which carries a similar meaning of righteousness or just behavior. This choice aligns with the Hebrew understanding of moral uprightness.

For the wicked, the translation ἀσεβῶν (asebōn) emphasizes their ungodliness, reinforcing the contrast between the two groups and the consequences of their actions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 13:25 teaches that a righteous man enjoys his food and is satisfied, while the wicked find themselves lacking. This verse highlights the difference between living a good life and the emptiness that comes from wrongdoing.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for a righteous man to eat to his heart's content?

It means that the righteous man enjoys his food and is satisfied, reflecting a life of abundance and fulfillment.

How does this verse describe the wicked?

The wicked are described as having empty stomachs, indicating a lack of satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives.

What is the significance of the contrast between the righteous and the wicked?

This contrast emphasizes the moral teachings of Proverbs, illustrating the rewards of righteousness and the consequences of wickedness.

How can this verse apply to our lives today?

It encourages us to pursue righteousness and moral living, suggesting that true satisfaction comes from aligning our lives with God's will.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I experience satisfaction in my life, similar to the righteous man?
  2. How can I avoid the pitfalls of wickedness that lead to emptiness?
  3. What steps can I take to cultivate a more righteous life?
  4. How does this verse challenge my understanding of fulfillment and contentment?

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

The early Church Fathers reflect on this verse to discuss the nature of true fulfillment and the spiritual hunger of the wicked.

Clement of AlexandriaThe Instructor Book 2 c. 150–215
We have been created, not to eat and drink but to come to the knowledge of God. “The just man,” Scripture says, “eats and fills his soul; but the belly of the wicked is ever in want,” ever hungry with a greed that cannot be quenched.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 13 →
Origen of AlexandriaAGAINST CELSUS 7:24 c. 185–253
We must consider the food promised in the law as the food of the soul, which is to satisfy not both parts of a person’s nature but the soul only.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 13 →
Origen of AlexandriaHOMILIES ON Leviticus 16:5.4 c. 185–253
If you take [this verse] according to the literal sense that “when the just person eats he will fill his soul but the souls of the impious will be in poverty,” it will appear false.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 13 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 13:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul,.... He is blessed with a sufficient competency to live upon; and he is contented with what he has, and uses it moderately; he has enough to eat,

Read John Gill on Proverbs 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul - (Proverbs 10:3,) by the blessing and kind providence of God.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

God’ s favour and blessing gives the righteous man a competent estate, and a heart to use it, and comfort and satisfaction in it; whereas wicked men commonly want either all these blessings, or some of them.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.Ver. 25. The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul.] Have he more or less, he hath that which satisfies him. Nature is content with a little, grace with less; Cibus et potus sunt divitiae Christianorum. food and drink are the divinity of Christians, If Jacob may but have "bread to eat, and clothes to put on," it sufficeth him; and this he dare be bold to promise himself. Beg his bread he hopes he shall not; but if he should, he can say with Luther (who made many a meal with a broiled herring), Mendicato pane hic vivamus; annon hoc pulchre sarcitur in eo quod pascimur pane cum…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 13 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(25) The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul—i.e., has enough for his wants. (See above on Proverbs 10:3.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 13 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 25. To the satisfying of his soul] His desires are all moderate; he is contented with his circumstances, and is pleased with the lot which God is pleased to send. The wicked, though he use all shifts and expedients to acquire earthly good, not sticking even at rapine and wrong, is frequently in real want, and always dissatisfied with his portion. A contented mind is a continual feast. At such feasts he eats not.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 13 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

25. To the satisfying of his soul — What his need requires to the proper sustenance of his life. Belly — áùׂ ?ï, (beten,) stomach.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 13 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked lacks food.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The righteous eateth to the contentation of his minde: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, || And the belly of the wicked lacks!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The righteous eateth to satisfy his desire [to eat]; but the belly of the wicked always suffereth want.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The righteous person eats until he satisfies his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is always hungry.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The just eateth and filleth his soul: but the belly of the wicked is never to be filled.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The good eat until they're full; but the belly of the wicked is empty.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.

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.

clausesubjectצַדִּ֗יקa.righteous.[person]verbאֹ֭כֵל[is].eatingprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseשֹׂ֣בַעthe.satietynoun phraseנַפְשׁ֑his.appetiteוֹhisוּand.[the]clausenoun phrase · subjectבֶ֖טֶןbellyרְשָׁעִ֣יםof.wicked.[people]verbתֶּחְסָֽרit.is.lacking

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 closely in their wording for Proverbs 13:25, with all seven Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This indicates a consistent understanding of the verse across these ancient texts.

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

צַדִּ֗יק אֹ֭כֵל לְשֹׂ֣בַע נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּבֶ֖טֶן רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֶּחְסָֽר׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
צַדִּ֗יקδίκαιοςאֹ֭כֵלἔσθωνלְשֹׂ֣בַעἐμπιπλᾷנַפְשׁ֑וֹαὐτοῦוּבֶ֖טֶןψυξαὶרְשָׁעִ֣יםἀσεβῶνתֶּחְסָֽר׃ פἐνδεεῖς

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 13:25צַדִּיקa righteousa righteous [peצַדִּיקאָכַל[is] eating[is] eatingאָכַלשֹׂ֫בַעto [the] sato [the] satietשֹׂ֫בַענֶ֫פֶשׁappetite hiappetite hisנֶ֫פֶשׁבֶּ֫טֶןand [the] band [the] bellyבֶּ֫טֶןרָשָׁעwicked [peowicked [people]רָשָׁעחָסֵרit is lackiit is lackingחָסֵרצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקשָׂבֵעַto satisfyto satisfyשָׂבֵעַנָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁרָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁעלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםרָשָׁעwickedwickedרָשָׁעעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַיפְּרִיfruitfruitפְּרִימֵעֶהbellybellyמֵעֶהצַדִּיקrighteousrighteousצַדִּיקאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדבֶּ֫טֶןbelly: abdbelly: abdomenבֶּ֫טֶןחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyfiftyחֲמִשִּׁים
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 13:25

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

a righteous [person] [is] eating to [the] satiety of appetite his and [the] belly of wicked [people] it is lacking
צַדִּ֗יקtza.Dik a righteous [person] 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
morally upright, just, having a right relationship with God
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
HAamsa
a righteous [person] [is] eating to [the] satiety of appetite his and [the] belly of wicked [people] it is lacking
אֹ֭כֵל'O.khel [is] eating H398 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Amplified meaning
to devour, consume
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Eating

The ancient Hebrews would not eat with the Egyptians (Gen. 43:32). In the time of our Lord they would not eat with Samaritans (John 4:9), and were astonished that he ate with publicans and sinners (Matt. 9:11). The Hebrews originally sat at table, but afterwards adopted the Persian and Chaldean practice of reclining (Luke 7:36-50). Their principal meal was at noon (Gen. 43:16; 1 Kings 20:16; Ruth 2:14; Luke 14:12). The word “eat” is used metaphorically…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Jews would have considered themselves polluted by eating with people of another religion, or with any who were ceremonially unclean or disreputable-as with Samaritans, Joh 4:9, publicans, Mt 9:11, or Gentiles, Ac 10:28 Ga 2:12. Eating together was an established token of mutual confidence and friendship, a pledge of friendly relations between families, which their children were expected to perpetuate. The rites of hospitality were held sacred; and to this day, among the Arabs, a fugitive is safe for the time, if he gains the shelter of even an enemy’s tent. The abuse of hospitality was a great crime, Ps 41:9.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ The host acting as waiter Ge 18:8

→ Favored guests served a double portion Ge 43:34

→ Table used in Jud 1:7

→ Sitting at table Ex 32:6

→ Reclining on couches Am 6:4,7; Lu 7:37,38; Joh 13:25

→ Ablutions before Mt 15:2

→ See FEASTS

→ See FOOD

→ See GLUTTONY

a righteous [person] [is] eating to [the] satiety of appetite his and [the] belly of wicked [people] it is lacking
לְשֹׂ֣בַעle.Soa' to [the] satiety of H7648 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means satisfaction or being full, like having enough food or feeling joyful. It appears in the Bible when talking about being content. In the KJV, it is translated as fill or fullness.
Amplified meaning
satisfaction, fullness
Tyndale gloss
satiety
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֹׂ֫בַע (soba`) refers to concepts of satiety and abundance, derived from a root meaning to be satisfied. It encompasses ideas of fullness and satisfaction, particularly in relation to food and joy. The entries consistently highlight these themes without notable disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֹׂ֫בַע n.[m.] satiety, abundance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7648 שֹׂ֫בַע satiety, abundance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7648 soba` so'-bah

from 7646; satisfaction (of food or (figuratively)

joy):--fill, full(-ness), satisfying, be satisfied.

see HEBREW for 07646

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֹׂ֫בַע (so.va) — satiety.

1) satiety, abundance, fulness

1a) satiety

1b) abundance

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…

a righteous [person] [is] eating to [the] satiety of appetite his and [the] belly of wicked [people] it is lacking
נַפְשׁ֑וֹnaf.Sho appetite his H5315 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Amplified meaning
soul's, inner being's
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/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."

a righteous [person] [is] eating to [the] satiety of appetite his and [the] belly of wicked [people] it is lacking
וּבֶ֖טֶןu.Ve.ten and [the] belly of H990 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
72× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to the belly or womb, and is used to describe the seat of hunger, emotions, and even the depths of the afterlife. It is used in the Bible to describe the body and its functions. The KJV translates it as belly, body, or womb.
Amplified meaning
belly, innermost being
Tyndale gloss
belly: abdomen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בֶּ֫טֶן (*beten*) primarily means 'belly,' 'body,' or 'womb.' It is derived from a root suggesting hollowness and encompasses various uses, including the physical abdomen and metaphorical meanings, such as the seat of hunger or mental faculties. The lexicons consistently highlight these aspects without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֶּ֫טֶן n.f. belly, body, womb

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H990 בֶּ֫טֶן belly, body, womb

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

990 beten beh'-ten

from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly,

especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything:--

belly, body, + as they be born, + within, womb.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: abdomen.

: abdomen

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: womb.

: womb/pregnancy

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: hump.

: hump

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: body.

: body

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
HC/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

a righteous [person] [is] eating to [the] satiety of appetite his and [the] belly of wicked [people] it is lacking
רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Im wicked [people] H7563 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
263× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
morally wrong, guilty, those who oppose God
Tyndale gloss
wicked
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7563 rasha` raw-shaw'

from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad

person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did

wrong.

see HEBREW for 07561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.

1) wicked, criminal

1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)

1b) wicked (hostile to God)

1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Compared with

Abominable branches Isa 14:19

Ashes under the feet Mal 4:3

Bad fish Mt 13:48

Animals Ps 49:12; 2Pe 2:12

Blind people Zep 1:17; Mt 15:14

Bronze and iron Jer 6:28; Eze 22:18

Briers add thorns Isa 55:13; Eze 2:6

The bulls of Bashan Ps 22:12

a righteous [person] [is] eating to [the] satiety of appetite his and [the] belly of wicked [people] it is lacking
תֶּחְסָֽר׃ פtech.Sar it is lacking H2637 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To lack or be without something is what this word means. It describes a state of need or shortage, often used in stories of struggle or hardship. The Bible talks about lack in books like Psalms and Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
will be, remains, lacking, in need
Tyndale gloss
to lack
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָסֵר (chacer) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lack or be without. It encompasses various nuances such as diminishing, decreasing, and causing something to be lacking. The entries indicate its use in different forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which reflect its active and causative aspects.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָסֵר vb. lack, need, be lacking, decrease

Qal

lack

be lacking

diminish, decrease

Pi. cause to lack

Hiph. cause to be lacking, fail

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2637 חָסֵר lack, need, be lacking, decrease .. lack

. be lacking

. diminish, decrease

. cause to lack

. cause to be lacking, fail

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2637 chacer khaw-sare'

a primitive root; to lack; by implication, to fail, want,

lessen:--be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have)

lack, make lower, want.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָסֵר (cha.ser) — to lack.

1) to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lack

1a2) to be lacking

1a3) to diminish, decrease

1b) (Piel) to cause to lack

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to be lacking

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate