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Proverbs 20:9 — Word Study

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WLCמִֽי־ יֹ֭אמַר זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑י טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃

BSAWhomîy [what person, anyone] can sayʼâmar [declare, claim] I have kept my heartlêb [preserved, guarded, inner being, conscience] purezâkâh [clean, free from sin] I am cleansedṭâhêr [purified, made clean] from my sinchaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, wrongdoing, transgression]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 9 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 (me.cha.ta.Ti) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 20:9quick helps
In a sentenceThe wise man questions who can truly claim purity of heart and freedom from sin.
Who is speakingA wise teacher, likely Solomon, reflecting on human nature.
Where we areIn a passage discussing the nature of righteousness and integrity.
The hard wordזִכִּ֣יתִי
Take awayThe challenge of true moral purity is presented.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectמִי verbאָמַר 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 20:9

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 — Reflections on Integritygenerated

8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
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.

Proverbs 20:9 poses a rhetorical question about the ability of individuals to claim moral purity. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the integrity of a person, emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining a pure heart and being free from sin. The surrounding verses highlight the importance of discernment and righteousness in judgment, as seen in verse 8, where a king judges evil, and verse 10, which warns against dishonesty in measures.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 8:46When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,
22 Chronicles 6:36When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,
3Job 14:4Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
4Job 15:14What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
5Job 25:4How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

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


The Key Word זִכִּ֣יתִי, zi.Ki.tigenerated

The verb זָכָה (zakah) means to keep something pure or clean, often in a moral sense. It implies an active role in preserving one's integrity and righteousness. The perfect tense indicates a completed action, suggesting that the speaker is reflecting on a past effort to maintain purity.

This word carries significant weight in the context of self-examination and accountability. It challenges the reader to consider their own moral standing and the authenticity of their claims to purity.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered consistently across translations, with all agreeing on the core message of questioning the ability to claim purity of heart and freedom from sin.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יֹ֭אמַר (yo.mar) governs the entire sentence, indicating a question about declaration. The structure includes a subject ('who'), followed by the verb and two clauses detailing the claims of purity and cleansing.

The arrangement emphasizes the rhetorical nature of the question, placing the subject first to draw attention to the inquiry about personal integrity.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew words are rendered as τίς for 'who' and καυξήσεται for 'will he say', showing a direct translation that aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning. This choice maintains the rhetorical questioning of purity.

The Greek translation reflects the same concerns about moral integrity and the human condition, emphasizing the universality of the question posed.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 20:9 asks a profound question: who can honestly claim to have kept their heart pure and to be free from sin? This verse challenges us to reflect on our own integrity and the reality of our moral state.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to keep my heart pure?

To keep one's heart pure involves maintaining moral integrity and avoiding sin, reflecting a state of inner cleanliness and righteousness.

Why does the verse emphasize the difficulty of claiming purity?

The verse highlights the universal struggle with sin and the challenge of achieving true moral purity, suggesting that no one can claim to be entirely free from sin.

How does this verse relate to the concept of sin in the Bible?

Sin is a central theme in the Bible, representing actions that separate individuals from God. This verse underscores the importance of recognizing one's own sinful nature.

What can I learn from this verse about self-examination?

This verse encourages self-reflection and honesty about one's moral state, prompting individuals to consider their actions and their alignment with purity.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I struggle with maintaining purity of heart?
  2. How can I actively work towards being cleansed from my sins?
  3. What does it mean for me to guard my heart in daily life?
  4. How can I support others in their journey towards moral integrity?

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

Early Church Fathers reflect on this verse, discussing the nature of purity and the human condition in relation to sin.

Gregory of NyssaON THE LORD’S PRAYER 5 c. 335–395
Whose soul, then, is pure from stain? How has anyone not been struck by vanity or been trodden down by the foot of pride? Whose hand has never been touched by sin? Whose feet have never run toward evil? Who has not been polluted by a…
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 20 →
JeromeLETTER 125.7 c. 347–420
“Who can say,” writes the wise man, “I have made my heart clean”? The stars are not pure in the Lord’s sight; how much less people whose whole life is one long temptation.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 20 →
John ChrysostomHOMILIES ON 1 Corinthians 8:8 c. 347–407
Let us not therefore give up in despair; for to fall is not so grievous as to lie where we have fallen. It is not so dreadful to be wounded as it is to refuse healing after being wounded.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 20 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 20:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Who can say, I have made my heart clean,.... The heart of than is naturally unclean, the mind, conscience, understanding, will, and affections; there is no part clean, all are defiled with sin; and

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

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Who can say (with truth), I have made my heart clean. Nay, we ought to say, "Create in me a clean heart, O God" (Psalms 51:10.) I am pure from my sin?

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

Who can say? no man living upon earth can say this truly and sincerely. Compare 15:14 . I am pure from my sin; I am perfectly free from all guilt and filth of sin in my heart and life.

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

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?Ver. 9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean?] That can I, saith the proud Pharisee and the Popish justiciary. Non habeo, Domine, quod mihi ignoscas: I have nothing, Lord, for thee to pardon, saith Isidore the monk. When St Paul, that had been in the third, heaven, complains of his inward impurities, and though he should have known no evil by himself, yet durst he not look to be thereby justified. And holy Job could say, "If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; yet God would plunge me in the ditch, so that my own clothes should abhor me." And "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark…

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

(9) Who can say, I have made my heart clean?—Though we may have done our best by self-examination and confession, and repentance and trust in the atoning blood of Christ to obtain remission of sin, still the heart is so deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), sins may so easily have escaped our notice (Psalms 19:12, 1 Corinthians 4:4), that satisfaction with ourselves ought never to be allowed (Romans 11:20).

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

Verse 9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean] No man. But thousands can testify that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed them from all unrighteousness. And he is pure from his sin, who is justified freely through the redemption that is in Jesus.

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

9. Comp. Psalms 19:12; Jeremiah 2:22; Luke 18:9-14.

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

A warning voice against the spirit, which, ignorant of its own guilt, is forward to condemn others.

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

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?

NETBNew English Translation2006

Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin”?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Who says, “I have purified my heart, || I have been cleansed from my sin?”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?

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.

clausesubjectמִֽיwho?verbיֹ֭אמַרwill.he.sayclause · objectclauseverbזִכִּ֣יתִיI.have.kept.purenoun phrase · objectלִבִּ֑heartיmyclauseverbטָ֝הַ֗רְתִּיI.am.pureprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵfromnoun phraseחַטָּאתִֽsinיmy

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 the wording of מִֽי־ יֹ֭אמַר זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑י טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃. Both texts convey the same inquiry regarding the purity of heart and the cleansing from sin, indicating a consistent transmission of this verse.

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

מִֽי־ יֹ֭אמַר זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑י טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מִֽי־τίςיֹ֭אמַרκαυξήσεταιזִכִּ֣יתִיἁγνὴνלִבִּ֑יκαρδίανטָ֝הַ֗רְתִּיκαθαρὸςמֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃ἁμαρτιῶν

6 of the 6 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 20:9מִיwho?who?מִיאָמַרwill he saywill he sayאָמַרזָכָהI have keptI have kept purזָכָהלֵבheart myheart myלֵבטָהֵרI am pureI am pureטָהֵרחַטָּאָהfrom sin myfrom sin myחַטָּאָהחָטָאto sinto sinחָטָאמָהwhat?what?מָהזָכַךְbe cleanbe cleanזָכַךְלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָביָעַדto appointto appointיָעַדכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקרָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםטֻמְאָהuncleannesuncleannessטֻמְאָהכָּבַסto washto washכָּבַסשָׂעִרhairyhairyשָׂעִרעֵזgoatgoatעֵז
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 20:9

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.

who? will he say I have kept pure heart my I am pure from sin my
מִֽי־mi- who? H4310 Pronoun
423× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to ask questions like who, whose, or whom. It can also be used to express a wish, like would that or whoever. It appears in many forms throughout the Bible, often in phrases like O that or what.
Amplified meaning
what person, anyone
Tyndale gloss
who?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִי (mi) is an interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about persons, meaning 'who?' or 'whose?'. It can also appear in rhetorical questions and has some idiomatic uses, such as 'who among...?' or 'whosoever'. The word is rarely applied to things, and its forms can vary in emphasis.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִי 423 pron.interrog. who? of persons

מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied

in the gen. whose

in an indirect qu.

מִי ב׳ who among … ?

strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.

various rhetorical uses whose

מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it

once, following a verb, any one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4310 מִי who? of persons . מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied

. in the gen. whose

. in an indirect qu.

. מִי ב׳ who among … ?

. strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.

. various rhetorical uses whose

. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it

. once, following a verb, any one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4310 miy me

an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things,

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also

(indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction

with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that!

what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.

see HEBREW for 04100

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִי (mi) — who?.

who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Pronoun
HPi
who? will he say I have kept pure heart my I am pure from sin my
יֹ֭אמַרYo.mar will he say H559 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Amplified meaning
declare, claim
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
who? will he say I have kept pure heart my I am pure from sin my
זִכִּ֣יתִיzi.Ki.ti I have kept pure H2135 Verb · Piel · perfect first person common singular
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make something clean, like washing away sins. In the Bible, it's used to describe God's people being purified and made righteous. It appears in Leviticus and Ezekiel, emphasizing God's desire for cleanliness.
Amplified meaning
clean, free from sin
Tyndale gloss
to clean
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָכָה (zakah) means to be clear, clean, or pure, often in a moral sense. It is a primitive root that can imply being justified or regarded as righteous. The verb appears in various forms, including making oneself clean or keeping something pure. The entries consistently emphasize its moral implications.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[זָכָה] vb. be clear, clean, pure, alw. in a moral sense

Qal

be clean, pure

be clear, be justified = be regarded as just, righteous, of God

Pi. make or keep clean, pure

Hithp. make yourselves clean

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2135 זָכָה be clear, clean, pure, alw. in a moral sense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2135 zakah zaw-kaw'

a primitive root (compare 2141); to be translucent;

figuratively, to be innocent:--be (make) clean, cleanse, be

clear, count pure.

see HEBREW for 02141

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָכָה (za.khah) — to clean.

1) to be clean, be pure, be clear

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be clean, be pure

1a2) to be clear, be justified

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to make clean, make pure, keep clean, keep pure

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to cleanse

1c2) to make yourself clean, purify oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-1cs — Verb · Piel · perfect first person common singular
HVpp1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
who? will he say I have kept pure heart my I am pure from sin my
לִבִּ֑יli.Bi heart my H3820 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Amplified meaning
preserved, guarded, inner being, conscience
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
who? will he say I have kept pure heart my I am pure from sin my
טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּיta.Har.ti I am pure H2891 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to be pure, either physically, morally, or ceremonially. It appears in Leviticus for purification rituals and in Psalm 51 where David asks God to purify his heart. This concept is central to Jewish and Christian ideas of cleanliness and holiness.
Amplified meaning
purified, made clean
Tyndale gloss
be pure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָהֵר (taher) means to be clean or pure, covering physical, ceremonial, and moral aspects of purity. It can refer to being free from disease, ceremonially clean, or morally innocent. The verb has various forms, including Qal (to be clean), Piel (to cleanse), and Hithpael (to purify oneself). Brown-Driver-Briggs notes a specific instance of miraculous cleansing related to leprosy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָהֵר vb. be clean, pure

Qal

be clean, i.e. (miraculously) freed from leprosy by washing in the Jordan

be clean ceremonially

be clean morally

Pi.

cleanse, purify

pronounce clean, ceremonially

perform the ceremony of cleansing

Pu. a land not cleansed

Hithp.

purify oneself

present oneself for purification

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2891 טָהֵר be clean, pure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2891 taher taw-hare'

a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by

implication) to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated;

Levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy):--be

(make, make self, pronounce) clean, cleanse (self), purge,

purify(-ier, self).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָהֵר (ta.her) — be pure.

1) to be clean, be pure

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be clean (physically-of disease)

1a2) to be clean ceremonially

1a3) to purify, be clean morally, made clean

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cleanse, purify

1b1a) physically

1b1b) ceremonially

1b1c) morally

1b2) to pronounce clean

1b3) to perform the ceremony of cleansing

1c) (Pual) to be cleansed, be pronounced clean

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to purify oneself

1d1a) ceremonially

1d1b) morally

1d2) to present oneself for purification

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
who? will he say I have kept pure heart my I am pure from sin my
מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃me.cha.ta.Ti from sin my H2403 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
295× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes sin, guilt, or punishment for sin, and also the sacrifice or purification made to atone for it. It is used in the Bible to describe the consequences and solutions for sin. The KJV translates it as 'punishment' or 'sin'.
Amplified meaning
guilt, wrongdoing, transgression
Tyndale gloss
sin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חַטָּאָה (chatta'ah) refers to sin and encompasses various aspects such as the condition of sin, guilt, punishment, and sin-offering. It can denote both the act of sinning and the consequences, including purification from ceremonial uncleanness. The term is built from the root word for offense and is used in contexts relating to sin and its expiation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַטָּאָה n.f. sinful thing, sin, Ex 34:7 (J E) Is 5:18.

done

חַטָּאת n.f. sin, sin-offering

sin

condition of sin, guilt of sin

punishment for sin

sin-offering

purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2403a חַטָּאָה sin, sin-offering(?) . sin

. sin-offering

H2403b חַטָּאת sin, sin-offering . sin

. condition of sin, guilt of sin

. punishment for sin

. sin-offering

. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2403 chatta'ah khat-taw-aw'

or chattacth {khat-tawth'}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes

habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or

expiation; also (concretely) an offender:--punishment (of

sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).

see HEBREW for 02398

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַטָּאָה (chat.ta.ah) — sin.

sin, sinful thing

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin.

: sin

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: sin offering.

: sin_offering

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

חַטָּאת (chat.tat) — sin: punishment.

: punishment/purification

1) sin, sin offering

1a) sin

1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin

1c) punishment for sin

1d) sin-offering

1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
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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