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Proverbs 20:11 — Word Study

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WLCגַּ֣ם בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־ נָ֑עַר אִם־ זַ֖ךְ וְאִם־ יָשָׁ֣ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

BSAEvengam [also, too] a young mannaʻar [youth, from infancy to adolescence] is knownnâkar by his actionsmaʻălâl [deeds, what he does] whetherʼim his conductpôʻal [work, behavior] is purezak [clean, free from sin] and uprightyâshâr [straight, just, right]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (po.'o.Lo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 20:11quick helps
In a sentenceA young man is recognized by his actions, whether they are pure and upright.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom about character.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of proverbs on moral conduct.
The hard wordיִתְנַכֶּר
Take awayActions reveal character, regardless of age.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectנַעַר verbנָכַר 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 20:11

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 Charactergenerated

10Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
11Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

Proverbs 20:11 discusses how a young man's character is revealed through his actions. This verse emphasizes that one's behavior, whether pure or upright, is a reflection of their true self. The surrounding verses highlight the importance of integrity and honesty in all dealings, as seen in Proverbs 20:10 and Proverbs 20:12.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 21:8The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
2Proverbs 22:15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
3Psalm 51:5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
4Psalm 58:3The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.
5Matthew 7:16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.Proverbs 21:8 Proverbs 22:15 Psalm 51:5 Psalm 58:3 Matthew 7:16 Luke 1:15–66 Luke 2:46–47 Luke 6:43–44

The Key Word יִתְנַכֶּר, yit.na.ker-generated

The verb נָכַר (nakar) means to recognize or make known. In this form, יִתְנַכֶּר indicates that the subject is being recognized or acknowledged through their actions. This reflects a process where the young man's character is revealed through his deeds.

In the context of this verse, the emphasis is on how one's actions serve as a testament to their moral standing. The Hithpael form suggests a reflexive aspect, indicating that the young man himself is known by what he does.


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. The BSB has is known, which is consistent across multiple translations like the KJV and ASV.

Where others part company with the BSB is in the rendering of זַךְclean (DRA) and free from sin (BBE) reflect different nuances of the same Hebrew word, highlighting its moral implications.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יִתְנַכֶּר governs the sentence, indicating the recognition of the young man. The structure includes a subject, a predicate, and two conditional phrases that describe the nature of his actions.

The sentence is constructed with a clear focus on the young man as the subject, with his actions being evaluated for purity and uprightness, emphasizing the moral weight of behavior.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִתְנַכֶּר as συμποδισθήσεται, which suggests a nuanced understanding of recognition, possibly implying a deeper acknowledgment of one's character through actions. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the Hebrew text.

The translation choices indicate a focus on the implications of a young man's actions, aligning with the moral teachings found in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 20:11 tells us that a young man is recognized by his actions, whether they are pure and upright. This verse highlights the importance of integrity in one's behavior, suggesting that actions speak louder than words.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that a young man is known by his actions?

It means that a person's character is revealed through what they do, not just what they say.

Why is purity and uprightness important?

Purity and uprightness reflect moral integrity and are valued traits in character.

Can this verse apply to anyone, not just young men?

Yes, the principle applies to all people, as actions are a universal indicator of character.

How can I ensure my actions reflect good character?

By being mindful of my choices and striving to act with integrity and honesty in all situations.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do my actions reflect my character?
  2. How can I strive to ensure my behavior is pure and upright?
  3. What examples from my life can I share that demonstrate the importance of integrity?
  4. How can I encourage others to act with moral integrity?

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

The early commentary from Bede draws from this verse to discuss the recognition of character through pursuits of virtue.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Even by his pursuits, a youth is known, etc. For whomsoever you see striving for virtues, modesty, continence, listening to the wise, and observing the commandments of God, especially humility and simplicity,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 20 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 20:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Even a child is known by his doings,.... As well as a man; "ye shall know them by their fruits", Matthew 7:16; professors and profane.

Read John Gill on Proverbs 20 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work (be) pure, and whether (it be) right.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 20 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Even a child is known by his doings; young children discover their inclinations or dispositions even by their childish speeches and carriages, as not having yet learnt the art of dissembling. Whether his work be pure; or rather, will be pure; for it is not expressed in the Hebrew, and therefore may be either way supplied. The sense is, The future disposition and conversation of a man may very probably be conjectured from his childish manners.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 20 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right.Ver. 11. Even a child is known by his doings, &c.]. Either for the better, as we see in young Joseph, Samson, Samuel, Solomon, Timothy, Athanasius, Origen, &c. It is not a young saint, an old devil; but a young saint, an old angel: - Or, for the worse, as Canaan the son of Ham - who is therefore cursed with his father, because, probably, he had a hand in the sin - Ishmael, Esau, Vajezatha, the youngest son of Haman. Hebricians observe that in the Hebrew this youth’ s name is written with a little zain, but a great vau, to show, that though the youngest, yet he was the most malicious…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 20 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Even a child is known by his doings . . .—The disposition soon shews itself; all the more reason, therefore, to train it betimes.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 20 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. Even a child is known by his doings] That is, in general terms, the effect shows the nature of the cause. "A childe is known by his conversation," says Coverdale. A child is easily detected when he has done evil; he immediately begins to excuse and vindicate himself, and profess his innocence, almost before accusation takes place. Some think the words should be understood, every child will dissemble; this amounts nearly to the meaning given above, But probably the principal this intended by the wise man is, that we may easily learn from the child what the man will be. In general, they give indications of those trades and callings for which they are adapted by nature. And, on the…

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 20 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. is known] or, maketh himself known; betrays his true character, and gives presage of “his (life’s) work.” Comp. the familiar German proverb, “Was ein Dörnchen werden will spitzt sich bei Zeiten,” Lange.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 20 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The graces or the faults of children are not trifles. “The child is father of the man;” and the earliest actions are prophecies of the future, whether it will be pure and right, or unclean and evil.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 20 →

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

Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, || Whether his work is pure or upright.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.

Word by word, the decisions they made

זַ֖ךְzakh [is] pure H2134 2 different renderings
cleanDRA
free from sinBBE

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.

clauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalגַּ֣םalsoprepositional phraseבְּ֭bynoun phraseמַעֲלָלָיdeedsוhisverbיִתְנַכֶּרhe.makes.himself.knownsubjectנָ֑עַרa.youthclauseclauseאִםifclausepredicateזַ֖ךְ[is].pureוְandclauseאִםifclausepredicateיָשָׁ֣ר[is].uprightnoun phrase · subjectפָּעֳלֽactivityוֹhis

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 largely agree in their wording for Proverbs 20:11. Both texts convey the same essential meaning, with only minor differences in word order and expression.

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

גַּ֣ם בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־ נָ֑עַר אִם־ זַ֖ךְ וְאִם־ יָשָׁ֣ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
גַּ֣םκαὶבְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיוαὐτοῦיִתְנַכֶּר־συμποδισθήσεταιנָ֑עַרνεανίσκοςאִם־μετὰזַ֖ךְὁσίουוְאִם־καὶיָשָׁ֣רεὐθεῖαפָּעֳלֽוֹ׃αὐτοῦ

9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Proverbs 20:11גַּםalsoalsoגַּםמַעֲלָלby deeds hiby deeds hisמַעֲלָלנָכַרhe makes hihe makes himselנָכַרנַ֫עַרa youtha youthנַ֫עַראִםififאִםזַךְ[is] pure[is] pureזַךְאִםand ifand ifאִםיָשָׁר[is] uprigh[is] uprightיָשָׁרפֹּ֫עַלactivity hiactivity hisפֹּ֫עַלעָלַלto abuseto abuseעָלַלנָעַרto shaketo shakeנָעַרזָכַךְbe cleanbe cleanזָכַךְיָשַׁרto smoothto smoothיָשַׁרפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁתְּמוֹלyesterdayyesterdayתְּמוֹלשִׁלְשֹׁםthree daysthree days agoשִׁלְשֹׁםרֹעַevilevilרֹעַיָטַבbe goodbe goodיָטַבאָחbrother: mbrother: male-sאָחאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יאֲבִישָׁלוֹםAbsalomAbsalomאֲבִישָׁלוֹםקָטָןsmallsmallקָטָןלְבֹנָהfrankincenfrankincenseלְבֹנָהפֹּ֫עַלworkworkפֹּ֫עַלצַדִּיקrighteousrighteousצַדִּיק
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 20:11

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.

also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
גַּ֣םgam also H1571 Adverb
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Also means 'even' or 'too', used for emphasis or to connect ideas, like 'both...and' or 'neither...nor'. It can introduce a climax or show contrast.
Amplified meaning
also, too
Tyndale gloss
also
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּם (gam) is an adverb meaning 'also' or 'moreover,' indicating addition or emphasis. It can express various nuances, such as 'even,' 'indeed,' or 'but.' The term is often used in a correlational manner, as in 'both...and.' It appears in contexts that require clarification or reinforcement of a statement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1571 גַּם denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1571 gam gam

by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea,

though; often repeated as correl. both...and:--again, alike,

also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and , but, either...or,

even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover,

nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּם (gam) — also.

1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea

1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis)

1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative)

1c) even (for stress)

1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax)

1e) also (of correspondence or retribution)

1f) but, yet, though (adversative)

1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case)

2) (TWOT) again, alike

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM — Adverb
HD
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol'-so: In the Greek kai, when it is equivalent to "also" or "even," is always placed before the word or phrase which it is intended to emphasize (e.g. Ac 12:3; 1 Joh 4:21). Mt 6:14 should therefore read, "Your heavenly Father will forgive you also"; Lu 6:13, "Whom also he named apostles"; Heb 8:6, "The mediator of a better covenant also"; and 1Th 4:14, `If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also (we believe that) those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him.'

also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיוBe.ma.'a.la.lav by deeds his H4611 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Maalal means a deed or act, which can be good or bad, such as a practice or invention. It is used in the Bible to describe human actions and their consequences. This term is found in various biblical contexts.
Amplified meaning
deeds, what he does
Tyndale gloss
deed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַעֲלָל (ma`alal) refers to a deed or practice, often with a negative connotation. It encompasses actions or works, whether good or bad, and is derived from a root meaning to act. The entries consistently highlight its focus on deeds and practices.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַעֲלָל] 41 n.m. deed, practice

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4611 מַעֲלָל deed, practice

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4611 ma`alal mah-al-awl'

from 5953; an act (good or bad):--doing, endeavour,

invention, work.

see HEBREW for 05953

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַעֲלָל (ma.a.lal) — deed.

1) deed, practice

1a) practice (usually bad)

1b) deeds

1c) acts

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
יִתְנַכֶּר־yit.na.ker- he makes himself known H5234 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine singular
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To alienate or treat as foreign, as seen in the story of Moses and the Egyptians in Exodus. This verb means to scrutinize or look intently at someone, often with suspicion or disregard. It is used to describe the actions of biblical characters towards others.
Tyndale gloss
to recognize
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָכַר (nakar) encompasses meanings related to recognition and alienation. It can signify acknowledging, regarding, or understanding someone or something, as well as treating something as foreign or strange. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including recognizing and disguising, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָכַר] vb. (not Qal) regard, recognize

Niph. they are not recognized

Pi. he regardeth not the opulent above the poor

Hiph.

regard, observe, esp. with a view to recognition

Recognize (as formerly known)

Be willing to recognize, acknowledge

Be acquianted with

Distinguish, understand

Hithp. Impf by his deeds a youth maketh himself known, whether his doing be pure, etc.

base

[נכר] vb. denom. act or treat as foreign, or strange; disguise, misconstrue

Niph. with his lips a hater disguiseth himself

Pi. and they have treated this place as foreign

Hithp. he acted as a stranger toward them

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5234a נָכַר (not Qal) regard, recognize . they are not recognized

. he regardeth not the opulent above the poor

. . regard, observe, esp. with a view to recognition

. Recognize (as formerly known)

. Be willing to recognize, acknowledge

. Be acquianted with

. Distinguish, understand

. Impf by his deeds a youth maketh himself known, whether his doing be pure, etc.

H5234b נכר vb. denom. act or treat as foreign, or strange; disguise, misconstrue

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5234 nakar naw-kar'

a primitive root; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently

at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be

acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion

implied), to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject,

resign, dissimulate (as if ignorant or

disowning):--acknowledge, X could, deliver, discern,

dissemble, estrange, feign self to be another, know, take

knowledge (notice), perceive, regard, (have) respect, behave

(make) self strange(-ly).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָכַר (na.khar) — to recognize.

1) to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard

1a) (Niphal) to be recognised

1b) (Piel) to regard

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to regard, observe, pay attention to, pay regard to, notice

1c2) to recognise (as formerly known), perceive

1c3) to be willing to recognise or acknowledge, acknowledge with honour

1c4) to be acquainted with

1c5) to distinguish, understand

1d) (Hithpael) to make oneself known

נָכַר (na.khar) — to alienate.

1) to act or treat as foreign or strange, disguise, misconstrue

1a) (Niphal) to disguise oneself

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to treat as foreign (profane)

1b2) to misconstrue

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to act as alien

1c2) to disguise oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVti3ms
also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
נָ֑עַרNa.'ar a youth H5288 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
239× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word means a young person, either a boy or a girl, from infancy to adolescence. It is used to describe the servants and attendants who worked for kings and other important people in the Old Testament, like King David's servants.
Amplified meaning
youth, from infancy to adolescence
Tyndale gloss
youth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נַ֫עַר (na`ar) generally refers to a boy, lad, or youth, covering ages from infancy to adolescence. It can also imply a servant or retainer and, in some contexts, may refer to a girl of similar age. The term appears in various forms across different lexicons, with Brown-Driver-Briggs noting its usage as a shaking or scattering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נַ֫עַר 239 n.m. 1. boy, lad, youth. 2. retainer (not in P)

boy, lad, youth (c. 133 t.)

servant, retainer (c. 105 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5288a נַ֫עַר usu. interpr. as a shaking, scattering H5288b נַ֫עַר, נַ֫עַר . boy, lad, youth

. retainer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5288 na`ar nah'-ar

from 5287; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of

infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by

interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age):--babe,

boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young

(man).

see HEBREW for 05287

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נַ֫עַר (na.ar) — youth.

1) a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer

1a) boy, lad, youth

1b) servant, retainer

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
אִם־'im- if H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
זַ֖ךְzakh [is] pure H2134 Adj
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means being pure and clean, like a clear conscience. It appears in Psalms and Proverbs, describing a person's moral purity. God values purity and wants His people to be clean.
Amplified meaning
clean, free from sin
Tyndale gloss
pure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זַךְ (zak) means pure or clean, indicating something that is unmixed and free from foreign substances. It can also refer to a figurative sense of righteousness. The word is built from the root associated with clarity and cleanliness, covering both literal and metaphorical uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זַךְ adj. pure, clean

lit., pure, i.e. unmixed, free from foreign substances

fig., pure, clean, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2134 זַךְ pure, clean . lit., pure, i.e. unmixed, free from foreign substances

. fig., pure, clean, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2134 zak zak

from 2141; clear:--clean, pure.

see HEBREW for 02141

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זַךְ (zakh) — pure.

1) clean, pure

1a) pure

1b) pure, clean, righteous (fig.)

2) the pure one (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
וְאִם־ve.'im- and if H518 Conjunction · particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Tc — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
יָשָׁ֣רya.Shar [is] upright H3477 Adj
119× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Jashar refers to being straight or just, like doing what is convenient and right. A man named Jashar lived before Israel's monarchy, as mentioned in Joshua 10:13. He wrote a book of poetry and songs, now lost.
Amplified meaning
straight, just, right
Tyndale gloss
Jashar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשָׁר (yashar) means straight or upright, covering a range of meanings from physical straightness to moral correctness. It can refer to something that is pleasing, just, or fitting, as well as the concept of uprightness itself. The term is also associated with a figure named Jashar, mentioned in Joshua 10:13.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשָׁר adj. straight, right

straight, level

right, pleasing

straightforward, just, upright

abstr., uprightness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3477 יָשָׁר straight, right . straight, level

. right, pleasing

. straightforward, just, upright

. abstr., uprightness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3477 yashar yaw-shawr'

from 3474; straight (literally or figuratively):--convenient,

equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), + pleased well right(-eous),

straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness).

see HEBREW for 03474

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.

1) straight, upright, correct, right

1a) straight, level

1b) right, pleasing, correct

1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper

1d) uprightness, righteous, upright

1e) that which is upright (subst)

Also means: ya.shar (יָשָׁר "upright" H3477I)

יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — Jashar.

A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jos.10.13

יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.

1) straight, upright, correct, right

1a) straight, level

1b) right, pleasing, correct

1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper

1d) uprightness, righteous, upright

1e) that which is upright (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
also by deeds his he makes himself known a youth if [is] pure and if [is] upright activity his
פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃po.'o.Lo activity his H6467 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A work or deed is what this word refers to, describing something that has been done or made. It can also mean wages or the result of an action.
Amplified meaning
work, behavior
Tyndale gloss
work
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֹּ֫עַל (po'al) refers to an act or work, encompassing meanings like deed, thing done, and wages of work. It is noted as poetic and late in usage. The word is built from the root associated with action, and it can also imply acquisition, particularly of treasures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֹּ֫עַל 37 n.m. doing, deed, work (poet. and late)

deed, thing done

work, thing made

wages of work

acquisition of treasures

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6467 פֹּ֫עַל doing, deed, work (poet. and late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6467 po`al po'-al

from 6466; an act or work (concretely):--act, deed, do,

getting, maker, work.

see HEBREW for 06466

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֹּ֫עַל (po.al) — work.

1) work, deed, doing

1a) deed, thing done

1b) work, thing made

1c) wages of work

1d) acquisition (of treasure)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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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