Proverbs 18:21 — Word Study
WLCמָ֣וֶת וְ֭חַיִּים בְּיַד־ לָשׁ֑וֹן וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ יֹאכַ֥ל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃
BSALifechay [and spiritual vitality] and deathmâveth [physical or spiritual] are in the poweryâd [control and authority] of the tonguelâshôwn [the instrument of speech] and those who love [it]ʼâhab [have affection for, cherish] will eatʼâkal▸ [consume, experience] its fruitpᵉrîy [the consequences of one's words, pərī]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מָ֣וֶת | death | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְ֭חַיִּים | and life | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| בְּיַד־ | [are] in [the] hand of | Preposition, noun common both singular construct |
| לָשׁ֑וֹן | [the] tongue | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ | and [those who] love it | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| יֹאכַ֥ל | he will eat | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| פִּרְיָֽהּ׃ | fruit its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| KJV | Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. |
| ASV | Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. |
| YLT | Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit. |
| WEB | Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| BBE | Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, emphasizing the power of the tongue.
The main clause presents the central idea, while the subsequent phrases elaborate on the implications of that idea.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָכַל
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 18:21
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 — The Power of Wordsgenerated
Proverbs 18:21 teaches that the words we speak have significant power, influencing not only our own lives but also the lives of others. This verse emphasizes the dual nature of speech, where it can lead to both life and death, highlighting the importance of careful communication. It is situated within a broader context of wisdom literature that often reflects on the consequences of our words and actions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 18:4–7 | The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. |
| 2 | Proverbs 10:20–21 | The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. |
| 3 | Proverbs 11:30 | The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. |
| 4 | Matthew 12:35–37 | The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. |
| 5 | Romans 10:14–15 | How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מָוֶת, Ma.vetgenerated
The Hebrew word מָוֶת (ma.vet) means 'death' and encompasses various aspects such as natural or violent death, the state of being dead, and the realm of the dead (hades). It can also refer to pestilence or ruin. This word is derived from a root meaning 'to die' and has an Aramaic equivalent, מוֹת (mot).
In this verse, מָוֶת serves to illustrate the serious consequences of speech, contrasting it with חַיִּים (chai.yim), or life, showing that our words can lead to either outcome.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the essential meaning of this verse, emphasizing the power of the tongue in determining life and death.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יֹאכַ֥ל (yo.khal), meaning 'he will eat', governs the structure of the verse. The subject is implied in the context of those who love the tongue, and the rest of the sentence elaborates on the consequences of their love for words.
The sentence structure emphasizes the relationship between the power of the tongue and the outcomes of speech, with the main clause followed by a conditional phrase describing those who love it.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מָוֶת as θάνατος (thanatos), which also means 'death' and carries similar connotations of finality and separation. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning.
For חַיִּים, the Septuagint uses ζωὴ (zōē), which emphasizes life and vitality, reflecting the same duality found in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the words we speak have great power; they can bring life or death. Those who cherish their words will experience the results of what they say. This verse reminds us to be mindful of our speech and its impact on ourselves and others.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that our words can greatly influence outcomes in life, either positively or negatively.
Loving the tongue means valuing what we say, and we will experience the consequences of our words, whether good or bad.
The tongue is powerful because it can create, destroy, encourage, or discourage through speech.
Words can bring life by offering encouragement and hope, while they can bring death by spreading lies or causing harm.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I be more mindful of the words I speak?
- What are some ways I have seen words bring life or death in my own experiences?
- How can I encourage others with my speech?
- What steps can I take to avoid harmful speech?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, emphasizing the moral implications of speech and its consequences.
Christ makes the same point when he says, “By your own words you will be condemned, and by your words you will be justified.”The tongue stands in the middle ready for either use; you are its master.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 18 →
A wound arising from words is unbearable.… Truly, dearly beloved, if you look deeply, and diligently investigate the swelling tumor of an exasperated heart, you will discover that the wounds produced by words cause deaths.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 18:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDeath and life [are] in the power of the tongue,.... Of witnesses, according to the testimony they bear; of judges, according to the sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they
Read John Gill on Proverbs 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDeath and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Death and life (are) in the power of the tongue. "Death and life," both of body and soul; both of the speakers and the hearers.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAre in the power of the tongue; are brought upon men by the good or bad use of their tongues. That love it; either, 1. The tongue; that love and use much talking, which is oft censured as a sin, and a cause of mischief. See . Or, 2. The use of their tongue in either of those ways, which are plainly supposed in the former clause of the verse: they who do not only speak well, which a wicked man may sometimes do; or speak ill, which a good man may possibly do; but do love, and therefore accustom themselves, to speak well or ill. Shall eat the fruit thereof; shall receive either good or evil, according to the quality of their speeches.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 18:21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.Ver. 21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue.] That best and worst member of the body, as Bias told Amasis, king of Egypt; an "unruly evil set on fire of hell," saith St James of an ill tongue - as contrarily a good one is fired with zeal by the Holy Ghost. Fire, we know, is a good servant, but an ill lord; if it get above us once, there is no dealing with it. Hence it is, that as the careful householder lays a strict charge upon his children and servants to look well to their fire, so doth Solomon give often warning to have a care of the tongue. "For by thy words…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue.—See above on Proverbs 4:23, where much the same power is attributed to the heart as is here given to the tongue as being its exponent. (Comp. also Proverbs 12:13.) They that love it—i.e., to use it.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue] This may apply to all men. Many have lost their lives by their tongue, and some have saved their lives by it: but it applies most forcibly to public pleaders; on many of their tongues hangs life or death.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges21. love it] i.e. delight in using it, as an instrument either of “death” or of “life.”
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 18 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21. Power of the tongue — Hebrew, hand of the tongue. Many men lose their lives by incautious words; others, by using prudent words, save their lives. False accusations and false testimony sometimes destroy men.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 18 →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
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.
Tyndale line
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Death and life are in the power of ye tongue, and they that loue it, shall eate the fruite thereof.
Strictly literal
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, || And those loving it eat its fruit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
Death and life are controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue will eat its fruit.
From the Latin
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
Simplified
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.
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 on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency underscores the reliability of both traditions in conveying the message about the power of speech.
מָ֣וֶת וְ֭חַיִּים בְּיַד־ לָשׁ֑וֹן וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ יֹאכַ֥ל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃
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.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 18:21
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.
מָ֫וֶת (maveth) means 'death' and encompasses various aspects such as natural or violent death, the state of being dead, and the realm of the dead (hades). It can also refer to pestilence or ruin. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to die' and has an Aramaic equivalent, מוֹת (mot).
מָ֫וֶת 161 n.m. death
death, opp. life
death by violence
state of death or place of death
base
H4194 מָ֫וֶת death
4194 maveth maw'-veth
from 4191; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead,
their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence,
ruin:--(be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d).
see HEBREW for 04191
מָ֫וֶת (ma.vet) — death.
1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead
1a) death
1b) death by violence (as a penalty)
1c) state of death, place of death
Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
(maweth; thanatos):
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW
The word "Death" is used in the sense of
(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);
(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);
(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);
(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;
Death
May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).
(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).
(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).
(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).
(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;
Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.
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
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Ncmpa
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…
יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
יָד 1604 n.f. hand
hand
Fig. = strength, power
Fig. = side
יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—
sign, monument
part, fractional part or share
time, repetition
axle-trees
stays, supports for laver
tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
a (beckoning) hand
יַד with prep.
base
H3027 יָד hand . hand
. Fig. = strength, power
. Fig. = side
. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument
. part, fractional part or share
. time, repetition
. axle-trees
. stays, supports for laver
. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
. a (beckoning) hand
. יַד with prep.
3027 yad yawd
a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,
means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed
one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of
applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate
and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,
at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,
(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +
creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,
force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,
labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,
ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,
power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,
draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by
them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,
+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,
יָד (yad) — hand.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: power.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common both singular constructHR/Ncbsc
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…
The Hebrew word אָהֵב (*'ahab*) means 'to love' and encompasses various forms of affection, including human love for others, love for God, and even appetites for things like food and wisdom. It can also refer to friendship and divine love towards humanity, particularly Israel. The entries indicate that it can function in different grammatical forms, such as participles for 'lovely' or 'loveable'.
אָהֵב 216 vb. love
Qal
human love to human object
less oft. of appetite
love to God
esp. Pt.
of divine love
Niph. Pt. pl. lovely, loveable
Pi.
friends
lovers
base
H157 אָהֵב love
157 'ahab aw-hab'
or raheb {aw-habe'}; a primitive root; to have affection for
(sexually or otherwise):--(be-)love(-d, -ly, -r), like,
friend.
אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: lover.
: lover
1) to love
1a) (Qal)
1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual
1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom
1a3) human love for or to God
1a4) act of being a friend
1a4a) lover (participle)
1a4b) friend (participle)
1a5) God's love toward man
1a5a) to individual men
1a5b) to people Israel
1a5c) to righteousness
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) lovely (participle)
1b2) loveable (participle)
1c) (Piel)
1c1) friends
1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers)
2) to like
Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)
אָהֵב (a.hav) — to love: friend.
: friend
1) to love
1a) (Qal)
1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual
1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom
1a3) human love for or to God
1a4) act of being a friend
1a4a) lover (participle)
1a4b) friend (participle)
1a5) God's love toward man
1a5a) to individual men
Conj | V-Qal | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHC/Vqrmpc/Sp3fs
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.
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
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
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.
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)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
פְּרִי (priy) means 'fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including the literal fruit of the ground, offspring or children, and figurative fruit representing the consequences of actions. It is derived from a root that emphasizes the concept of produce or reward.
פְּרִי 119 n.m. fruit
fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
= offspring, fruit of womb
fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
base
H6529 פְּרִי fruit . fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
. = offspring, fruit of womb
. fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
6529 priy per-ee'
from 6509; fruit (literally or figuratively):--bough,
((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward.
see HEBREW for 06509
פְּרִי (pe.ri) — fruit.
1) fruit
1a) fruit, produce (of the ground)
1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)
1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs