Proverbs 15:4 — Word Study
WLCמַרְפֵּ֣א לָ֭שׁוֹן עֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים וְסֶ֥לֶף בָּ֝֗הּ שֶׁ֣בֶר בְּרֽוּחַ׃
BSAA soothingmarpêʼ [gentle, wholesome, healing] tonguelâshôwn [language, words] is a treeʻêts [a tree; wood, timber, a plank] of lifechay [physical and spiritual, eternal] but a perverseçeleph [crooked, twisted] crushessheber [breaks, shatters] the spiritrûwach [breath of life, mind and emotions]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מַרְפֵּ֣א | healing of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| לָ֭שׁוֹן | tongue | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| עֵ֣ץ | [is] a tree of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| חַיִּ֑ים | life | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וְסֶ֥לֶף | and perverseness | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| בָּ֝֗הּ | with it | Preposition, suffix |
| שֶׁ֣בֶר | [is] brokenness | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בְּרֽוּחַ׃ | in spirit | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. |
| KJV | A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. |
| ASV | A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit. |
| YLT | A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it — a breach in the spirit. |
| WEB | A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. |
| BBE | A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit. |
Where they part company is סֶ֥לֶף — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by a contrasting clause, illustrating the dichotomy of speech effects.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 15:4
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
Proverbs 15:4 presents a stark contrast between the outcomes of two types of speech. The soothing tongue is likened to a tree of life, suggesting that gentle and wholesome words bring healing and vitality. In contrast, a perverse tongue is described as crushing the spirit, indicating that harsh or twisted speech can lead to emotional distress. This wisdom is part of a broader discourse on the importance of words in shaping relationships and well-being.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 12:18 | Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. |
| 2 | Proverbs 16:24 | Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
| 3 | Malachi 4:2 | “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. |
| 4 | Proverbs 3:18 | She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed. |
| 5 | Genesis 3:22–24 | Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מַרְפֵּא, mar.Pe'generated
The word מַרְפֵּא (marpe') is a noun that conveys the idea of healing or cure, often used in both physical and emotional contexts. It can imply a state of calmness or deliverance, suggesting that soothing words can restore peace and health.
This term is derived from a root that emphasizes curative properties, highlighting its significance in promoting well-being. The parsing as a masculine singular construct indicates its role as a subject or object in the sentence, emphasizing its importance in the context of communication.
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 verse contains two main clauses, separated by a conjunction: the first clause describes the soothing tongue as a tree of life, while the second clause presents the perverse tongue as causing brokenness. The structure emphasizes the contrasting effects of speech on life and spirit.
The finite verbs are implied in both clauses, with the subject being the tongue in each case. This parallel structure highlights the dichotomy between healing and destruction, underscoring the power of words.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מַרְפֵּא as ἴασις, which means healing. This choice reflects a direct connection to the idea of restoration and health, aligning with the Hebrew meaning.
For סֶ֥לֶף, the LXX uses δὲ, which serves as a conjunction, indicating a shift in thought rather than a direct translation of the term's moral implications.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 15:4 teaches that a soothing tongue brings life and healing, while a perverse tongue causes harm and brokenness. This highlights the importance of our words and their impact on others.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
A soothing tongue refers to words that are gentle, kind, and healing, promoting peace and well-being.
A perverse tongue uses harsh, twisted, or dishonest words that can cause emotional pain and distress.
The comparison suggests that gentle words can nourish and support life, much like a tree provides sustenance.
Being mindful of our speech is crucial because our words can either uplift and heal or harm and destroy, affecting our relationships and emotional health.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I use my words to bring healing to others?
- Have I experienced the impact of someone’s words on my spirit, either positively or negatively?
- How can I practice speaking in a way that promotes peace and understanding?
- What steps can I take to avoid using harsh or twisted language in my conversations?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators like John Chrysostom and Bede reflect on the significance of the tongue in conveying wisdom and the importance of speaking with integrity.
“Sanity of tongue is the tree of life.” The tongue which does not sin by speaking makes use of sanity: indeed the illness of the tongue is its sin. The one who can check his tongue and does not sin with it is filled with the Holy Spirit.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 15 →
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, etc. The tongue of the Catholic teacher leads to the fruit of eternal life; but the one who ignores the measure of ecclesiastical rule,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 15 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 15:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life,.... A tongue that delivers out salutary instructions, wholesome advice and counsel; a "healing tongue" (w), as it may be rendered, which pacifies contending
Read John Gill on Proverbs 15 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 15 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA wholesome tongue, which uttereth sound, and comfortable, and useful counsels, is a tree of life; is greatly useful to preserve the present life, and to promote the spiritual and eternal life, both of the speaker and hearers. Perverseness therein, all sorts of false or corrupt speeches, is a breach in the spirit; disturbs and wounds, and ofttimes corrupts and destroys, the spirits or souls, both of the speaker and hearers.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 15 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.Ver. 4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.] As uttering words that have a healing property in them, pure, precious, and profitable; not unlike that tree of life in the midst of God’ s garden, that would have given immortality to the eaters. See August. de Civit. Dei, lib. xv. cap. 20. But perverseness therein is a breach of the spirit.] That is, in the conscience, which it goreth and gasheth; and in the heart, which it defileth and disposeth to further evil: it leaveth both a sting and a stain in a man’ s own soul; besides the much mischief that it doeth to the spirits and manners…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 15 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) A wholesome tongue.—One which heals and soothes by its gentleness and judicious words. (Comp. Proverbs 12:18.) A tree of life.—Comp. Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30. Perverseness.—Distortion of the truth. (Comp. Proverbs 11:3.) A breach in the spirit—i.e., deeply wounds another’s spirit.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 15 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life] Here again is an allusion to the paradisiacal tree, עץ חיים ets chaiyim, "the tree of lives."
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 15 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. wholesome] See Proverbs 14:30, where the same Heb. word is rendered sound, and note there, and comp. ὑγιαίνοντεςλόγοι, 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13, and λόγοςὑγιής, Titus 2:8. R.V. marg. gives, the healing of (caused by) the tongue. So ἴασιςγλώσσης, LXX.; lingua placabilis, Vulg. a breach in] Better, a breaking of, R.V.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 15 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleA wholesome tongue - literally, as in the margin, the same word as “sound” in Proverbs 14:30 (see the note). A more literal rendering would be soundness of speech. Tree of life - Compare Proverbs 3:18 note.
Read Albert Barnes 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
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.
Tyndale line
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness in it is a breach in the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is as a tree of life: but the frowardnes therof is the breaking of ye minde.
Strictly literal
Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it — a breach in the spirit.
A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, || And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.
A healing [word] of the tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breach to the spirit.
A healing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
From the Latin
A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.
Simplified
Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in their wording for this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct correspondence to the Hebrew. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration in the text but align with the Masoretic reading in essence.
מַרְפֵּ֣א לָ֭שׁוֹן עֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים וְסֶ֥לֶף בָּ֝֗הּ שֶׁ֣בֶר בְּרֽוּחַ׃
8 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.
[מרפא] לשון עץ חיים [וסלף] [ב׳ה] [שבר] [ברוח]
2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 5 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.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 15:4
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.
מַרְפֵּא (marpe') refers to healing, cure, and health, often in a figurative sense. It is derived from the root meaning 'curative' and can imply both literal medicine and abstract concepts like deliverance or placidity. The term encompasses various aspects of health, including the idea of being incurable.
מַרְפֵּא, מַרְפֵּה n.m. healing, cure, health (usu. fig.)
base
H4832 מַרְפֵּא, מַרְפֵּה healing, cure, health (usu. fig.)
4832 marpe' mar-pay'
from 7495; properly, curative, i.e. literally (concretely) a
medicine, or (abstractly) a cure; figuratively (concretely)
deliverance, or (abstractly) placidity:--((in-))cure(-able),
healing(-lth), remedy, sound, wholesome, yielding.
see HEBREW for 07495
מַרְפֵּא (mar.pe) — healing.
1) health, healing, cure
1a) healing, cure
1b) health, profit, sound (of mind)
1c) healing
1c1) incurable (with negative)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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.
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…
The Hebrew word לָשׁוֹן (*lashon*) primarily means 'tongue,' referring to both the organ of speech in humans and animals. It can also denote 'language' and has figurative uses, such as a 'tongue-shaped' wedge or bay. The entries highlight its literal and metaphorical applications, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.
לָשׁוֹן n.m. and (more oft.) f. tongue
tongue of men
= language
tongue of animals
tongue of fire
= (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
= (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
base
H3956 לָשׁוֹן tongue . tongue of men
. = language
. tongue of animals
. tongue of fire
. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
3956 lashown law-shone'
or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah
{lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used
literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech),
and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of
water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker,
tongue, wedge.
see HEBREW for 03960
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue.
: tongue/words
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: language.
: language
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: bar.
: bar/projection/bay
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
tung: Almost invariably for either lashon, or glossa the latter word with the cognates heteroglossos, "of strange tongues" (1Co 14:21), glossodes, "talkative," English Versions of the Bible "full of tongue" (Sirach 8:3; 9:18), glossotomeo, "to cut out the tongue" (2 Macc 7:4), diglossos, "double-tongued" (Sirach 5:9; 28:13). In 1Ti 3:8, however, "double-tongued" is for dilogos, literally, "two-worded." Where "tongue" in the King James Version translates dialektos (Ac 1:19; 2:8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14), the Revised Version (British and American) has "language," while for the King James Version "in the Hebrew tongue" in Joh 5:2; Re…
עֵץ (ets) refers to a tree or wood, encompassing various forms such as timber, sticks, and planks. It can denote both singular and plural trees, as well as specific uses like gallows and firewood. The word is derived from a root meaning firmness, indicating its solid nature.
עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood
(c. 150 t.)
a standing tree
coll. trees
(c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
base
H6086 עֵץ tree, trees, wood . (c. 150 t.) . a standing tree
. coll. trees
. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
6086 `ets ates
from 6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural
sticks):--+ carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff,
stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
see HEBREW for 06095
עֵץ (ets) — tree: wood.
: wood
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree.
: tree
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stick.
: stick/log
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: stake.
: stake/shaft
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax
עֵץ (ets) — tree: carpenter.
: carpenter/wood(worker)
1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows
1a) tree, trees
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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.
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…
The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.
חַי adj. alive, living
of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
of man
of animals, alive, living
animals and man
(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
of water, fresh
(dub.) lively, active
reviving
base
[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18
ref
חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal
animal
in general
wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
living beings, of the cherubic chariot
life, only in late poetry
appetite, activity of hunger
revival, renewal
base
חַיָּה n.f. community
base
חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life
life: physical
life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
sustenance, maintenance
base
H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
. of man
. of animals, alive, living
. animals and man
. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
. of water, fresh
. (dub.) lively, active
. reviving
H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general
. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
. living beings, of the cherubic chariot
. life, only in late poetry
. appetite, activity of hunger
. revival, renewal
H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical
. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
. sustenance, maintenance
2416 chay khah'-ee
from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether
literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)
beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living
(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)
old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
see HEBREW for 02421
חַי (chay) — alive.
adj
1) living, alive
1a) green (of vegetation)
1b) flowing, fresh (of water)
1c) lively, active (of man)
1d) reviving (of the springtime)
Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.
kinsfolk
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.
1) living thing, animal
1a) animal
1b) life
1c) appetite
1d) revival, renewal
Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.
community
חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.
1) life (abstract emphatic)
1a) life
1b) sustenance, maintenance
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma):
I. THE TERMS
II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING
1. Popular Use of the Term
2. Complexity of the Idea
III. IN THE APOCRYPHA
IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. In the Synoptic Gospels
2. In the Fourth Gospel
3. In the Ac of the Apostles
4. In the Writings of Paul
5. In the Writings of John
6. In the Other Books of the New Testament
LITERATURE
I. The Terms.
Of the Hebrew terms, chayah is the verb which means "to live," "to have life," or the vital principle, "to continue to live," or "to live prosperously." In the Piel it signifies "to give life, or preserve, or quicken and restore life." The Hiphil is much like the Piel. The noun hayyim generally used in the plural is an abstract noun meaning "life," i.e. the possession of the vital principle with its energies and activities. Nephesh often means "living being" or "creature." Sometimes it has the…
Life
Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Heb. 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Rom. 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matt. 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).
In the Bible, is either natural, Ge 3:17; spiritual, that of the renewed soul, Ro 8:6; or eternal, a holy and blissful immortality, Joh 3:36 Ro 6:23. Christ is the great Author of natural life, Col 1:16; and also of spiritual and eternal life; Joh 14:6 6:47. He has purchased these by laying down his own life; and gives them freely to his people, Joh 10:11,28. He is the spring of all their spiritual life on earth, Ga 2:20; will raise them up at the last day; and…
סֶ֫לֶף (celeph) refers to concepts of distortion and crookedness, particularly in a moral or figurative sense. It encompasses meanings like perverseness and crooked dealing. The term is derived from a related root, and its usage highlights themes of moral deviation.
סֶ֫לֶף n.m. crookedness, crooked dealing
base
H5558 סֶ֫לֶף
5558 celeph seh'-lef
from 5557; distortion, i.e. (figuratively)
viciousness:--perverseness.
see HEBREW for 05557
סֶ֫לֶף (se.leph) — crookedness.
crookedness, perverseness, crooked dealing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
הָ (ha) — her.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular
HR/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3fs
שֶׁ֫בֶר (sheber) refers to breaking or fracturing, encompassing meanings like crash, ruin, and destruction. It can also denote the breaking of a dream and its interpretation. The term appears in various contexts, including physical damage and emotional distress.
שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר n.m. breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
base
H7667 שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
7667 sheber sheh'-ber
or sheber {shay'-ber}; from 7665; a fracture, figuratively,
ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream):--affliction,
breach, breaking, broken(-footed, -handed), bruise, crashing,
destruction, hurt, interpretation, vexation.
see HEBREW for 07665
שֶׁ֫בֶר (she.ver) — breaking.
1) breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering
1a) breaking, fracture, shattering, crushing
1b) crashing
1c) breaking (of a dream), interpretation
1d) quarries
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
רוּחַ (ruach) means breath, wind, or spirit. It encompasses various meanings, including the breath of life, emotional disposition, and the spirit of God. The term can refer to both physical phenomena, like wind, and abstract concepts, such as moral character or mental acts. Notably, it is used frequently in the context of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit.
רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit
breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
wind (117 t.)
spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
spirit of the living, breathing being
spirit as seat of emotion
occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
rarely of the will
רוּחַ esp. of moral character
spirit of God (94 t.)
base
H7307 רוּחַ breath, wind, spirit . breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
. wind (117 t.)
. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
. spirit of the living, breathing being
. spirit as seat of emotion
. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
. rarely of the will
. רוּחַ esp. of moral character
. spirit of God (94 t.)
7307 ruwach roo'-akh
from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or
even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger,
unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by
resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including
its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X
cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)),
tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).
see HEBREW for 07306
רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit.
: spirit
1) wind, breath, mind, spirit
1a) breath
1b) wind
1b1) of heaven
1b2) quarter (of wind), side
1b3) breath of air
1b4) air, gas
1b5) vain, empty thing
1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
1c2) courage
1c3) temper, anger
1c4) impatience, patience
1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
1c7) prophetic spirit
1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)
1e1) desire
1e2) sorrow, trouble
1f) spirit
1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts
1f2) rarely of the will
1f3) as seat especially of moral character
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
spir'-it (ruach; pneuma; Latin, spiritus):
1. Primary and Figurative Senses
(1) As Wind, Breath
(2) As Anger or Fury
(3) As Mental and Moral Qualities in Man
2. Shades of Meaning
(1) As Life-Principle
(2) As Surviving Death
(3) Spiritual Manifestations
3. Human and Divine Spirit
(1) The Human as Related with the Divine
(2) Operations of the Divine Spirit as Third Person of the Trinity
4. Old Testament Applications
5. Various Interpretations
1. Primary and Figurative Senses:
Spirit
(Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2 Thess. 2:8 it means “breath,” and in Eccl. 8:8 the vital principle in man. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by which man is distinguished (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 5:5; 6:20; 7:34), and the soul in its separate state (Heb. 12:23), and hence also an apparition (Job 4:15; Luke 24:37, 39), an angel (Heb. 1:14), and a demon (Luke 4:36; 10:20). This…
A word employed in various senses in Scripture.
1. For THE HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who inspired the prophets, animates good men, pours his unction into our hearts, imparts to us life and comfort; and in whose name we are baptized and blessed, as well as in that of the Father and the Son. When the adjective Holy is applied to the term Spirit, we should always understand it as here explained; but there are many places whether it must be taken in this sense, although the term Holy is omitted. See HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT.
2. BREATH, respiration; or the principle of animal life, common to men and animal: this God has given, and this he recalls when he takes away life, Ec 3:21. See SOUL.