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Proverbs 15:1 — Word Study

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WLCמַֽעֲנֶה־ רַּ֭ךְ יָשִׁ֣יב חֵמָ֑ה וּדְבַר־ עֶ֝֗צֶב יַעֲלֶה־ אָֽף׃

BSAA gentlerak [soft, tender] answermaʻăneh [response to something] turns awayshûwb [to return, turn back] wrathchêmâh [intense anger, rage] but a harshʻetseb [grievous] worddâbâr [thing, matter] stirs upʻâlâh [to ascend, rise] angerʼaph [face, nose, countenance]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the 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 ('Af) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 15:1quick helps
In a sentenceA gentle answer can prevent anger, while harsh words can provoke it.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, conveying wisdom on communication.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of sayings on wise behavior and speech.
The hard wordחֵמָה
Take awayThe manner of speaking can greatly influence emotions.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשׁוּב 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 15:1

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 Speechgenerated

1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:1 highlights the impact of our words on relationships. It contrasts a gentle response with a harsh word, emphasizing how our manner of speaking can either diffuse tension or escalate conflict. This theme continues in the following verses, which further explore the nature of wise speech and its effects on others.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 25:15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
2Judges 8:1–3Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.
31 Samuel 25:21–33Now David had just finished saying, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good.
41 Samuel 25:18Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys
51 Samuel 10:12Then a man who lived there replied, “And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

The Key Word מַעֲנֶה, ma.'a.neh-generated

The word מַעֲנֶה (ma`aneh) refers to an answer or response, indicating a reply to a question or situation. It can be positive or negative, reflecting the nature of the interaction. In this verse, it emphasizes the importance of the tone and content of our responses in communication.

As a noun in the masculine singular, it denotes a specific instance of responding. The use of this term in Proverbs highlights the practical wisdom of choosing our words carefully to foster peace and understanding.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses gentle for רַךְ and harsh for עֶ֝֗צֶב.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb is יָשִׁ֣יב, it turns away, which governs the first clause about a gentle answer. The second clause is governed by the verb יַעֲלֶה, it raises, indicating how a harsh word stirs up anger. This structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between speech and emotional response.

The sentence structure is balanced, with two main clauses that highlight the contrasting effects of gentle and harsh words on anger.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מַעֲנֶה as ὑποπίπτουσα, suggesting a gentle or soft response. This choice reflects a nuanced understanding of the Hebrew term, emphasizing the importance of gentleness in communication.

For חֵמָה, the translation θυμόν indicates a focus on the emotional intensity of anger, aligning with the Hebrew's connotation of rage.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 15:1 teaches that a gentle answer can calm anger, while a harsh word can provoke it. This verse encourages careful speech, showing how our words can greatly affect our relationships with others.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to give a gentle answer?

A gentle answer is a calm and kind response that can help to de-escalate a situation and prevent anger.

How can harsh words stir up anger?

Harsh words can provoke strong emotional reactions, leading to conflict and escalating tensions between people.

Why is the tone of our speech important?

The tone of our speech can influence how our words are received, impacting relationships and communication.

Can a gentle answer always turn away wrath?

While a gentle answer is often effective in calming anger, individual reactions may vary based on the situation and the people involved.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations have I seen a gentle answer diffuse tension?
  2. How can I practice giving gentle responses in my daily conversations?
  3. What are some examples of harsh words that I should avoid?
  4. How does my tone of voice affect my communication with others?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the power of speech and the importance of gentleness in communication.

CommodianOn Christian Discipline, LXXII 3rd–5th c.
Receive into thy ears the teaching of the great Solomon: God hates the poor man to be a pleader on high. [Prov. 23:11] Therefore submit thyself, and give honour to Him that is powerful; for the soft speech-thou knowest the proverb-melts.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 15 →
Ephrem the SyrianHOMILY ON OUR LORD 22:3 c. 306–373
Our Lord gave most of his assistance with persuasion rather than with admonition. Gentle showers soften the earth and thoroughly penetrate it,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 15 →
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 15:1 c. 347–407
“Anger even ruins the prudent: a soft answer turns away anger, but a painful word arouses rage.” All things depend on our decision, certainly also to raise anger or to soothe.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 15 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 15:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

A soft answer turneth away wrath,.... Mild words, gentle expressions, delivered with kindness and tenderness, humility and submission; these will work upon a man's passions, weaken his resentments,

Read John Gill on Proverbs 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. A soft answer - like oil soothing the pain of a wound .

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

CHAPTER 15 A soft, mild or gentle, answer, which may imply a foregoing charge or accusation, although the word is and may be rendered speech or discourse, turneth away wrath from the speaker. Grievous words, fierce and vexatious replies or speeches, stir up anger; kindle it, and cause it to flame forth.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.Ver. 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath.] It is easier to stir strife than to stint it. Hard to hard, will never do; but lay a flint upon a pillow, and you may break it with ease. “ Frangitur ira gravis quando est responsio suavis.” What is more boisterous than the winds? tamen iidem imbribus sopiuntur, saith Pliny, yet are they laid with soft showers. How soon was David disarmed by Abigail’ s gentle apology, and made as meek as a lamb! So were the hot and hasty Ephraimites by Gideon’ s mild and modest answer. "By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone." Howbeit, some…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 15 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

CHAPTER XV The soft answer. Useful correction. Stability of the righteous. The contented mind. The slothful man. The fool. The covetous. The impious. The wicked opposed to the righteous; to the diligent; and to the man who fears the Lord. NOTES ON CHAP. XV Verse 1. A soft answer] Gentleness will often disarm the most furious, where positive derangement has not taken place; one angry word will always beget another, for the disposition of one spirit always begets its own likeness in another: thus kindness produces kindness, and rage produces rage. Universal experience confirms this proverb.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 15 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1. grievous words] More exactly, a grievous word, R.V.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 15 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

1. A soft answer turneth away wrath — Some imagine a literal translation to be the best. We give a specimen on this verse, divesting the words of their tropical, and restoring their physical, sense.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 15 →

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 gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

NETBNew English Translation2006

A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.

RVARevised Version, American1894

A SOFT answer turneth away wrath: but a grievous word stirreth up anger.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A soft answere putteth away wrath: but grieuous wordes stirre vp anger.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

A soft answer turneth away fury; but a grievous word stirreth up anger.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A soft answer turns back fury, || And a grievous word raises up anger.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

A soft answer turneth away fury; but a mortifying word stirreth up anger.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clausenoun phrase · subjectמַֽעֲנֶהan.answerרַּ֭ךְsoftverbיָשִׁ֣יבit.turns.awayobjectחֵמָ֑הrageוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectדְבַרa.wordעֶ֝֗צֶבof.hurtverbיַעֲלֶהit.raisesobjectאָֽףanger

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


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

The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint, with 7 of the 8 words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide partial support, with some words restored by an editor, indicating a strong textual consistency across these ancient witnesses.

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

מַֽעֲנֶה־ רַּ֭ךְ יָשִׁ֣יב חֵמָ֑ה וּדְבַר־ עֶ֝֗צֶב יַעֲלֶה־ אָֽף׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רַּ֭ךְὑποπίπτουσαיָשִׁ֣יבἀποστρέφειחֵמָ֑הθυμόνוּדְבַר־λόγοςעֶ֝֗צֶבλυπηρὸςיַעֲלֶה־ἐγείρειאָֽף׃ὀργάς

7 of the 8 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q103a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[מענה] [רך] ישיב חמה ודבר עצב יעלה אף

4 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.

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 15:1מַעֲנֶהan answeran answerמַעֲנֶהרַךְsoftsoftרַךְשׁוּבit turns awit turns awayשׁוּבחֵמָהragerageחֵמָהדָּבָרand a word and a word ofדָּבָרעֶ֫צֶבhurthurtעֶ֫צֶבעָלָהit raisesit raisesעָלָהאַףangerangerאַףעוּןto dwellto dwellעוּןרָכַךְbe tenderbe tenderרָכַךְיָחַםto conceivto conceiveיָחַםדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרעָצַבto hurtto hurtעָצַבאָנֵףbe angrybe angryאָנֵףחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןפֶּהliplipפֶּהאַ֫יִןnothingnothingאַ֫יִןעָנֹגdaintydaintyעָנֹגנַ֫עַרyouthyouthנַ֫עַרשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתנָתַךְto pourto pourנָתַךְקִנְאָהjealousyjealousyקִנְאָהיֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶרסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרדָּבָרChroniclesChroniclesדָּבָרעֹלָהburnt offeburnt offeringעֹלָה
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 15:1

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.

an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
מַֽעֲנֶה־ma.'a.neh- an answer H4617 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a response or answer to something, like a reply to a question. It can be a positive or negative response, and is used in the Bible to describe interactions between people.
Amplified meaning
response to something
Tyndale gloss
answer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַעֲנֶה (ma`aneh) primarily means 'answer' or 'response.' It can refer to a reply that is either favorable or contradictory. The word is derived from a root meaning to respond and is noted in various contexts, including a place for task.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַעֲנֶה n.m. answer, response

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4617 מַעֲנֶה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4617 ma`aneh mah-an-eh'

from 6030; a reply (favorable or contradictory):--answer, X

himself.

see HEBREW for 06030

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַעֲנֶה (ma.a.neh) — answer.

1) answer, response

2) (TWOT) place for task

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

an'-ser: In our English Bible the word "answer" does not always mean a simple reply to a question.

1. In the Old Testament:

Six different words are translated by answer.

(1) It is frequently used where no question has been asked and in such cases it means a word, a statement.

(2) It also means a response (Job 21:34; 34:36).

(3) It often means a declaration or proclamation from God where no question has been asked. See the many passages that read: "The Lord answered and said."

(4) The other words translated "answer" or "answered" in the Old Testament are unimportant shadings and variations.

2. In the New Testament:

The words translated "answer" are not so varied.

(1) It sometimes means an apology, a defense (1Pe 3:15; Ac 24:10,25).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Besides the common use of this word in the sense of to reply, it is very often used in the bible, following the Hebrew and Greek idioms, in the sense of to speak; meaning simply that one begins or resumes his discourse, Zec 3:4; 6:4; Mt 11:25; 12:38; Lu 7:40. It also means, to sing in choruses or responses, 1Sa 18:7; and to give account of one’s self in judgment, Ge 30:33; Job 9:3.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
רַּ֭ךְrakh soft H7390 Adj
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means tender or weak, and can be used to describe something that is soft or delicate. It can also be used to describe someone who is faint-hearted or timid.
Amplified meaning
soft, tender
Tyndale gloss
tender
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַךְ (rak) means tender, delicate, or soft, and can describe both physical qualities and emotional states, such as weakness or timidity. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being weak or faint-hearted. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts relating to gentleness or softness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַךְ adj. tender, delicate, soft

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7390 רַךְ tender, delicate, soft

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7390 rak rak

from 7401; tender (literally or figuratively); by

implication, weak:--faint((-hearted), soft, tender

((-hearted), one), weak.

see HEBREW for 07401

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַךְ (rakh) — tender.

1) tender, soft, delicate, weak

1a) tender, delicate (of flesh)

1b) weak of heart, timid

1c) soft (of words)

1c1) gentle words (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
יָשִׁ֣יבya.Shiv it turns away H7725 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
to return, turn back
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVhi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
חֵמָ֑הche.Mah rage H2534 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
125× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means intense anger or rage, like a burning fire. It's used in the Bible to describe God's wrath and human anger, often warning against the dangers of unchecked emotions. In Proverbs and Psalms, it cautions against the destructive power of anger and rage.
Amplified meaning
intense anger, rage
Tyndale gloss
rage
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֵמָה (*chemah*) primarily means heat and rage, encompassing concepts like fever, poison, and burning anger. It can refer to human anger as well as divine wrath, and is noted in Daniel's vision. The entries highlight its figurative use related to intense emotions and reactions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) 121 n.f. heat, rage

heat:

fever

venom, poison

burning anger, rage:

of man

of the he-goat in Daniel's vision

of God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2534 חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) heat, rage . heat: . fever

. venom, poison

. burning anger, rage: . of man

. of the he-goat in Daniel's vision

. of God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2534 chemah khay-maw'

or (Dan. 11:44) chemaC {khay-maw'}; from 3179; heat;

figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever):--anger, bottles,

hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison,

rage, wrath(- ful). See 2529.

see HEBREW for 03179

see HEBREW for 02529

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֵמָה (che.mah) — rage.

1) heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles

1a) heat

1a1) fever

1a2) venom, poison (fig.)

1b) burning anger, rage

Aramaic equivalent: che.ma (חֱמָא "rage" H2528)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
וּדְבַר־u.de.var- and a word of H1697 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Amplified meaning
thing, matter
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/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…

an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
עֶ֝֗צֶב'E.tzev hurt H6089 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An earthen vessel or a painful toil, this word can also describe a pang of body or mind, like the labor pains of a woman in John 16:21 or the sorrow of the prophet Jeremiah in Lamentations 1:12.
Amplified meaning
grievous
Tyndale gloss
toil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶ֫צֶב (etseb) has meanings related to both physical and emotional experiences, including pain, toil, and sorrow, as well as a reference to a vessel. It is derived from a root that suggests painful toil and can also denote an object or idol. The term appears in contexts that emphasize hardship and labor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫צֶב n.[m.] pain, hurt, toil

base

עֶ֫צֶב n.m. vessel (as fashioned);—Je 22:28

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6089a עֶ֫צֶב pain, hurt, toil H6089b עֶ֫צֶב vessel (as fashioned)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6089 `etseb eh'-tseb

from 6087; an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a

pang (whether of body or mind): grievous, idol, labor, sorrow.

see HEBREW for 06087

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫צֶב (e.tsev) — toil.

1) pain, hurt, toil, sorrow, labour, hardship

1a) pain

1b) hurt, offense

1c) toil, hardship

עֶ֫צֶב (e.tsev) — vessel.

1) vessel, creation, object

2) (TWOT) idol

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

hurt: The term (noun and verb) represents a large number of Hebrew words, of which the chief are ra` (verb ra`a`), "evil" (Ge 26:29; 1Sa 24:9; Ps 35:4, etc.), and shebher or shebher (from shabhar), "a fracture" or "breaking" (Jer 6:14; 8:11,21; 10:19; compare Ex 22:10,14). In Greek a principal verb is adikeo, "to do injustice" (Lu 10:19; Re 2:11; 6:6, etc.); once the word "hurt" is used in the King James Version (Ac 27:10, story of Paul's shipwreck) for…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
יַעֲלֶה־ya.'a.leh- it raises H5927 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
890× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ascend means to go up or rise, like the smoke from an altar going up to God, as described in many Bible passages, including Leviticus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
to ascend, rise
Tyndale gloss
to ascend: rise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including going up, climbing, and rising in various contexts such as personal, natural, and spiritual. It can refer to actions involving people, animals, vegetation, and even thoughts, and includes nuances of being exalted or offering sacrifices. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various grammatical forms, indicating different aspects of ascent or elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb

Qal

of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

go up, in personal relations

of animals, go or come up

of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

of natural phenom., go up, rise

of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

of thoughts

come up before God, arrogance

go up, extend, of boundary

excel

Niph.

be brought up

be taken up

pass., be taken up, away

reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

reflex.: take oneself away

be exalted, of God

Hiph.

bring up persons

in personal relations

bring up animals

cause to ascend

mentally

offer a present; bring up tithe to

exalt

cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

Hoph.

be carried away

be taken up into, inserted in

be offered

Hithp. lift oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5927 עָלָה go up, ascend, climb .. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

. go up, in personal relations

. of animals, go or come up

. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

. of natural phenom., go up, rise

. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

. of thoughts

. come up before God, arrogance

. go up, extend, of boundary

. excel

. . . be brought up

. be taken up

. . pass., be taken up, away

. reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

. reflex.: take oneself away

. be exalted, of God

. . bring up persons

. in personal relations

. bring up animals

. cause to ascend

. mentally

. offer a present; bring up tithe to

. exalt

. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

. . be carried away

. be taken up into, inserted in

. be offered

. lift oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5927 `alah aw-law'

a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or

actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary

and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise

(up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up),

bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb

(up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart,

exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up);

grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,

(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect,

prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise

(up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring

(up), stir up, take away (up), work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָלָה (a.lah) — to ascend: rise.

: rise/go

1) to go up, ascend, climb

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go up, ascend

1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat

1a3) to go up, come up (of animals)

1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)

1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)

1a6) to come up (before God)

1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)

1a8) to excel, be superior to

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away

1b2) to take oneself away

1b3) to be exalted

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up

1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away

1c3) to bring up, draw up, train

1c4) to cause to ascend

1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)

1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)

1c7) to exalt

1c8) to cause to ascend, offer

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be carried away, be led up

1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in

1d3) to be offered

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVhi3ms
an answer soft it turns away rage and a word of hurt it raises anger
אָֽף׃'Af anger H639 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
276× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word can mean face, but also anger or nose. It is used to describe someone's countenance or emotions, like anger or patience. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of God's emotions.
Amplified meaning
face, nose, countenance
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַף (aph) primarily means nostril or nose, but it also refers to the face and is often associated with anger. It can denote a person's countenance or expressions of ire. The entries highlight its connection to rapid breathing in passionate states, indicating its use in contexts of anger or wrath.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַף 277 n.m. nostril, nose, face, anger

nostril, as organ of breathing

Dn. face

mostly anger

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H639 אַף nostril, nose, face, anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

639 'aph af

from 599; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and

occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in

passion) ire:--anger(-gry), + before, countenance, face, +

forebearing, forehead, + (long-)suffering, nose, nostril,

snout, X worthy, wrath.

see HEBREW for 0599

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַף (aph) — face: anger.

: anger

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

אַף (aph) — face: nose.

: nose

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

אַף (aph) — face.

: face

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

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

an'-ger: In the Old Testament, the translation of several Hebrew words, especially of 'aph (lit. "nostril," "countenance"), which is used some 45 times of human, 177 times of Divine, anger (OHL). The word occurs rarely in the New Testament (Mr 3:5; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8; Re 14:10), its place being taken by the word "wrath" (see WRATH). As a translation of words denoting God's "anger," the English word is unfortunate so far as it may seem to imply selfish, malicious or vindictive personal feeling. The anger of God is the response of His holiness to outbreaking sin. Particularly when it culminates in action is it rightly called Has "wrath." The Old Testament doctrine of God's anger…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Anger

The emotion of instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view. In itself it is an original susceptibility of our nature, just as love is, and is not necessarily sinful. It may, however, become sinful when causeless, or excessive, or protracted (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8). As ascribed to God, it merely denotes his displeasure with sin and with sinners (Ps. 7:11).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A violent emotion of a painful nature, sometimes arising spontaneously upon just occasion, but usually characterized in the Bible as a great sin, Mt 5:22 Eph 4:31 Col 3:8. Even when just, our anger should be mitigated by a due consideration of the circumstances of the offence and the state of mind of the offender; of the folly and ill-results of this passion; of the claims of the gospel, and of our own need of forgiveness from others, but especially from God, Mt 6:15. Anger is in Scripture frequently attributed to God, Mt 7:11 28:20; not that he is liable to those violent emotions which this passion produces, but…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ge 4:6; 49:7; 2Ch 28:9; Job 5:2; 19:29; Ps 37:8; 55:3; 76:10; Pr 6:34; 12:16; 14:17,29; 15:1,18; 16:14,29,32; 17:14; 19:11,12,19; 21:24; 22:24,25; 25:28; 27:3,4; 29:8,9,22; 30:33; Ec 7:9; Ho 7:16; Am 1:11; Jon 4:4; Mt 5:22; 2Co 12:20;

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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