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Proverbs 21:17 — Word Study

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WLCאִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־ וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

BSAHe who lovesʼâhab [is deeply affectionate towards] pleasuresimchâh [joy, gladness, or festivities] will become poormachçôwr [be in need, lacking resources] the one who lovesʼâhab [has a strong affection for] wineyayin [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage] and oilshemen [olive oil] will neverlôʼ be richʻâshar [enriched, prosperous, or wealthy]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 21
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 17 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 (ya.'a.Shir) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 21:17quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns that those who indulge in pleasure and luxury will ultimately face poverty.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, presenting wisdom on wealth and desire.
Where we areIn a collection of sayings that contrast wise living with foolish choices.
The hard wordמַחְסוֹר
Take awayPursuing pleasure can lead to financial ruin.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָהֵב 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 21:17

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 Wealth and Desiregenerated

16The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

Proverbs 21:17 presents a contrast between the pursuit of pleasure and the consequences of such choices. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of wisdom and understanding in life, warning against the dangers of straying from the right path. This particular verse highlights how a love for indulgence can lead to poverty, a theme echoed throughout the book of Proverbs.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 21:20Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
2Proverbs 5:10–11lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.
3Proverbs 23:21For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
4Luke 15:13–16After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
5Luke 16:24–25So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֹהֵ֣ב, 'o.Hevgenerated

The verb אָהֵב ('ahab) means 'to love' and encompasses various forms of affection, including love for people, God, and even desires for things like food or wisdom. In this verse, it describes a person who has a strong affection for pleasure, wine, and oil, indicating a lifestyle focused on indulgence.

The participle form indicates an ongoing state of affection, suggesting that the one who loves these things is actively engaged in their pursuit. This love is contrasted with the outcome of poverty, making a clear statement about the futility of such desires.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is אֹהֵ֣ב, loves, which governs two noun phrases: the first describes the object of love, שִׂמְחָ֑ה (pleasure), and the second describes another object, יַיִן־ וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן (wine and oil). The structure emphasizes the actions and their consequences, with a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

The sentence is built around the love for pleasure and its resulting poverty, with the negation לֹ֣א (not) introducing the outcome that the one who loves these things will not gain wealth.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֹהֵ֣ב as ἀγαπᾷ (agapā), indicating a deep affection or love, similar to the Hebrew meaning. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the emotional depth of the term.

For מַחְסוֹר, the LXX uses ἐνδεὴς (endeēs), which conveys a state of need or lack, aligning closely with the concept of poverty in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 21:17 warns that those who love pleasure, wine, and oil will end up poor. This verse teaches that indulging in luxuries can lead to financial trouble, a common theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to love pleasure?

To love pleasure means to have a strong affection for enjoyment and festivities, prioritizing them over other responsibilities.

How does this verse relate to financial wisdom?

This verse illustrates that a focus on indulgence can lead to a lack of resources, emphasizing the importance of moderation.

What are some examples of pleasure mentioned in this verse?

The verse specifically mentions wine and oil as symbols of luxury and indulgence.

Why does the verse say 'will never be rich'?

It suggests that those who pursue pleasure excessively will not achieve true wealth, as their resources will be depleted by their desires.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing pleasure over responsibility?
  2. How can I practice moderation in my own desires for luxury?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to avoid the pitfalls of excess?
  4. How does this verse challenge my understanding of wealth and happiness?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 21:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that loveth pleasure [shall be] a poor man,.... Or "sport" (c) and pastime, music and dancing, cards and dice, hunting and hawking, and other sensual gratifications; a man that indulges himself in

Read John Gill on Proverbs 21 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. He that loveth wine and oil - i:e., unguents used to anoint the person at banquets (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9).

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 21 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He that loveth pleasure, that gives up himself to the pursuit and enjoyment of sensual and immoderate pleasures, shall be a poor man; takes the ready course to poverty. Wine and oil are put for all delicious fare and luxurious feasting; for wine and oil were much used in feasts in those parts.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 21 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure [shall be] a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.Ver. 17. He that loveth pleasure, &c.] Luxury is attended by beggary. Pleasure may be had, but not loved. Isaac loved venison a little better haply than he should; Esau loved hunting, hence he grew profane, and though not a beggar, yet worse. The prodigal in the gospel "spent his substance with riotous living"; so did Apicius the Roman, who, hearing that there were seven hundred crowns only remaining of a vast estate that his father had left him, feared want, and hanged himself. Marcus Livius, another goods waster, boasted when he died that he had left nothing for his heir, praeter…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 21 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) Wine and oil.—The accompaniments of a feast. The oil, or precious unguents, were poured over the head (comp. Psalms 23:5). It was the excessive love and gratitude of the two Marys (Luke 7:38; John 12:3) which prompted them to anoint the Lord’s feet. These perfumes were sometimes of great value, the “pound of ointment of spikenard” (John 12:3) was worth “more than three hundred pence” (£10 12s. 6d.), the wages of a day labourer (Matthew 20:2) for nearly a year.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 21 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 17. He that loveth pleasure] That follows gaming, fowling, hunting, coursing, c., when he should be attending to the culture of the fields, shall be a poor man and, I may safely add, shall be so deservedly poor, as to have none to pity him.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 21 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. wine and oil] “The costly adjuncts of a princely banquet. Among these the oil, or precious unguent, was always most conspicuous (Psalms 23:5; Psalms 45:7, and especially Wis 2:7). And when we consider its price, the 300 denarii of Joh 12:5, the 300 days’ wages of a field labourer, (Matthew 20:2), we can well understand how indulgence in such a luxury would become the type of all extravagance and excess.” Speaker’s Comm. ad loc.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 21 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wine and oil - i. e., The costly adjuncts of a princely banquet. The price of oil or precious unguent was about equal to the 300 days’ wages of a field laborer Matthew 20:2.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 21 →

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

He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person; whoever loves wine and anointing oil will not be rich.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Hee that loueth pastime, shalbe a poore man: and he that loueth wine and oyle, shall not be riche.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Whoso [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Whoever [is] loving mirth [is] a poor man, || Whoever is loving wine and oil makes no wealth.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He that loveth pleasure will be a man of want: he that loveth wine and oil will not become rich.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.

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


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

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

clausenoun phrase · predicateאִ֣ישׁ[will.be].a.personמַ֭חְסוֹרof.lacknoun phrase · subjectclauseverbאֹהֵ֣ב[one.who].lovesobjectשִׂמְחָ֑הpleasureclausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbאֹהֵ֥ב[one.who].lovesnoun phrase · objectיַֽיִןwineוָ֝andשֶׁ֗מֶןoiladverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיַעֲשִֽׁירhe.will.gain.riches

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


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

The Masoretic Text (MT) of Proverbs 21:17 states that a person who loves pleasure will become poor, specifically mentioning love for wine and oil as a path to poverty. The Septuagint (LXX) aligns closely with the MT, matching all nine words, though it presents them with its own word order and articles, indicating agreement in meaning. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional evidence for this verse, so their positions are not applicable here. Overall, the MT and LXX agree on the core message of the verse.

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

אִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־ וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אִ֣ישׁἀνὴρמַ֭חְסוֹרἐνδεὴςאֹהֵ֣בἀγαπᾷשִׂמְחָ֑הεὐφροσύνηνאֹהֵ֥בφιλῶνיַֽיִן־οἶνονוָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶןἔλαιονלֹ֣אεἰςיַעֲשִֽׁיר׃πλοῦτον

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 21:17אִישׁ[will be] a[will be] a perאִישׁמַחְסוֹרpovertypovertyמַחְסוֹראָהֵב[one who] l[one who] lovesאָהֵבשִׂמְחָהpleasurepleasureשִׂמְחָהאָהֵב[one who] l[one who] lovesאָהֵביַ֫יִןwinewineיַ֫יִןשֶׁ֫מֶןand oiland oilשֶׁ֫מֶןלֹאnotnotלֹאעָשַׁרhe will gaihe will gain riעָשַׁרחָסֵרto lackto lackחָסֵרשָׂמֵחַgladgladשָׂמֵחַשָׁמֵןto grow fato grow fatשָׁמֵןאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂרשָׂנֵאto hateto hateשָׂנֵארֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַרֵישׁpovertypovertyרֵישׁמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןשָׂשׂוֹןrejoicingrejoicingשָׂשׂוֹןשָׂמַחto rejoiceto rejoiceשָׂמַחשֵׁכָרstrong dristrong drinkשֵׁכָרשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלמִשְׁחָהanointinganointingמִשְׁחָהיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹד
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 21:17

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.

[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
אִ֣ישׁ'ish [will be] a person of H376 Noun common · masculine singular construct
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
מַ֭חְסוֹרMach.sor poverty H4270 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a lack or shortage of something, like a need for food or money. It is used in the Bible to describe poverty and want. In Deuteronomy 15:8, God commands the Israelites to lend to those in need.
Amplified meaning
be in need, lacking resources
Tyndale gloss
need
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַחְסוֹר (machsor) refers to need or lack, encompassing concepts such as poverty and the things that are required. It is derived from a root meaning deficiency. The entries consistently highlight its general use in contexts of need and impoverishment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַחְסוֹר, מַחְסֹר n.[m.] need, thing needed, poverty

need = thing needed

lack, want

in gen., need, poverty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4270 מַחְסוֹר, מַחְסֹר need, thing needed, poverty . need = thing needed

. lack, want

. in gen., need, poverty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4270 machcowr makh-sore'

or machcor {makh-sore'}; from 2637; deficiency; hence,

impoverishment:--lack, need, penury, poor, poverty, want.

see HEBREW for 02637

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַחְסוֹר (mach.sor) — need.

1) need, poverty, thing needed

1a) need, thing needed

1b) lack, want

1c) need, poverty

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

pov'-er-ti:

1. Old Testament References:

This word, found but once in the Old Testament (Ge 45:11) outside of the Book of Proverbs in which it occurs 11 times (6:11; 10:15; 11:24 the King James Version; 13:18; 20:13; 23:21; 24:34; 28:19,22 the King James Version; 30:8; 31:7), is a translation of yiwaresh, "to be poor," "to come to poverty" (Ge 45:11). Four different Hebrew words are used in the 11 references in Prov, all bearing the idea of being in need of the necessities of life, although a distinction is made between being in want and being in extreme want. Pr 18:23 well illustrates the general meaning of "poverty" as found in this book: "The poor (rush, "to be impoverished," "destitute") useth entreaties; but the rich…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Pr 6:11; 10:15; 15:16; 16:8; Ec 4:6; Pr 20:13; 23:21; 24:33,34; 28:19; 30:8,9

→ See POOR, THE

[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
אֹהֵ֣ב'o.Hev [one who] loves H157 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
211× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Amplified meaning
is deeply affectionate towards
Tyndale gloss
to love: lover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H157 אָהֵב love

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

luvz (Ps 45:1, title).

See PSALMS.

[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
שִׂמְחָ֑הsim.Chah pleasure H8057 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means joy or gladness, often used to describe a happy occasion or celebration, like a festival. It's used in the Bible to express God's joy and pleasure. In the KJV, it's translated as joy, gladness, or mirth.
Amplified meaning
joy, gladness, or festivities
Tyndale gloss
joy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׂמְחָה (simchah) refers to joy, gladness, and mirth. It encompasses a range of meanings from general joyfulness to religious or festival-related happiness. The word is derived from שִׂמְחָה (H8056), which also relates to pleasure and rejoicing. The entries consistently highlight its positive connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׂמְחָה 93 n.f. joy, gladness, mirth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8057 שִׂמְחָה joy, gladness, mirth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8057 simchah sim-khaw'

from 8056; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or

festival):--X exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth,

pleasure, rejoice(-ing).

see HEBREW for 08056

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׂמְחָה (sim.chah) — joy.

1) joy, mirth, gladness

1a) mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure

1b) joy (of God)

1c) glad result, happy issue

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

plezh'-ur (chephets, ratson; eudokia, hedone: "Pleasure" is the translation of various Hebrew words, chiefly of chephets, "inclination," hence, "pleasure," "delight" (Job 21:21, "What pleasure hath he in his house?" the American Standard Revised Version "what careth he for"; Job 22:3, "Is it any pleasure to the Almighty?"; Ps 111:2; Ec 5:4; 12:1; in Isa 44:28; 46:10; 48:14; 53:10, it has the sense of will or purpose, "He shall perform all my pleasure," etc.); of ratson, "delight," "acceptance," "good will" (Ezr 10:11;

[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
אֹהֵ֥ב'o.Hev [one who] loves H157 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
211× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To love means to have affection for someone or something, including family, romance, or God. It can also describe being a friend or having appetite for things like food or wisdom.
Amplified meaning
has a strong affection for
Tyndale gloss
to love: lover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H157 אָהֵב love

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

luvz (Ps 45:1, title).

See PSALMS.

[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
יַֽיִן־ya.yin- wine H3196 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for wine, 'yayin', refers to fermented wine and its effects, including intoxication. It is often mentioned in the Bible in the context of banquets and feasts, such as in the book of Esther.
Amplified meaning
fermented drink, intoxicating beverage
Tyndale gloss
wine
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַ֫יִן (yayin) means 'wine' and is associated with fermentation and intoxication. It appears in various contexts, including banqueting. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of effervescence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3196 יַ֫יִן wine

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3196 yayin yah'-yin

from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as

fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine,

wine(-bibber).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) — wine.

wine

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wine

The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos_, and the Latin _vinun. But besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.

(1.) Ashishah (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.

(2.) ‘Asis, “sweet wine,” or “new wine,” the product of the same year (Cant. 8:2;

The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [VINE] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian paintings, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of "treading," which has prevailed in all ages in Oriental…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The vine being natural to the soil of Canaan and its vicinity, wine was much used as a beverage, especially at festivals, Es 1:7 5:6 Da 5:1-4 Joh 2:3. As one of the staple products of the Holy Land, it was employed for drink-offerings in the temple service, Ex 20:26 Nu 15:4-10; it was included among the "first-fruits," De 18:4, and was used in the celebration of the Passover, and subsequently of the Lord’s supper, Mt 26:27-29. Together with corn and oil it denoted all temporal supplies,

→ Made from grapes Ge 40:11; 49:11; Isa 25:6; Jer 40:1,12

→ From pomegranates So 8:2

→ Kept in jars Jer 13:12; 48:12

→ In skins (R. V.) Jos 9:4,13; Job 32:19; Mt 9:17; Lu 5:37,38

→ In bottles Jos 9:4,13; Job 32:19; Jer 13:12; 48:12;

[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶןva.She.men and oil H8081 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Amplified meaning
olive oil
Tyndale gloss
oil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8081 shemen sheh'-men

from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,

often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat

(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

see HEBREW for 08080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

oil (shemen; elaion):

1. Terms

2. Production and Storage

3. Uses

(1) As a Commodity of Exchange

(2) As a Cosmetic

(3) As a Medicine

(4) As a Food

(5) As an Illuminant

(6) In Religious Rites

(a) Consecration

(b) Offerings

(c) Burials

4. Figurative Uses

Shemen, literally, "fat," corresponds to the common Arabic senin of similar meaning, although now applied to boiled butter fat.

1. Terms:

Another Hebrew word, zayith (zeth), "olive," occurs with shemen in several passages (Ex 27:20; 30:24; Le 24:2). The corresponding Arabic zeit, a contraction of zeitun, which is the name for the olive tree as well as the fruit, is now applied to oils in general, to distinguish them from solid fats. Zeit usually means olive oil, unless some qualifying name indicates another oil. A corresponding use was made of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Oil

Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (

Was employed from the earliest periods in the east, not only for the purpose of consecration, but to anoint the head, the beard, and the whole person in daily life, Ge 28:18. See ANOINTING. It was also universally used for food, Eze 16:13. Fresh and sweet olive oil was greatly preferred to butter and animal fat as a seasoning for food, and to this day in Syria almost every kind of food is cooked with oil. It had a place also among the meat-offerings in the temple, being usually mixed with the meal of the oblation, Le 5:11 6:21. For lamps, also, pure olive oil was regarded as the best, and was used in illuminating the tabernacle. These many uses for oil made the culture of the olive-tree an extensive and lucrative business,

[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[will be] a person of poverty [one who] loves pleasure [one who] loves wine and oil not he will gain riches
יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃ya.'a.Shir he will gain riches H6238 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to become or make rich, often describing financial prosperity or wealth, as seen in the story of Solomon's riches in 1 Kings 10. It is translated as 'to be rich' or 'enrich' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
enriched, prosperous, or wealthy
Tyndale gloss
to enrich
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשַׁר (ashar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become rich. It encompasses various forms, including the Qal (to become rich), Hiphil (to make rich), and Hithpael (to enrich oneself). The term appears in contexts related to wealth accumulation, as noted in 1 Kings 22:48. The entries collectively emphasize the act of gaining or pretending to have riches.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָשַׁר] vb. be or become rich

Qal I have become rich

Hiph.

make rich

gain riches

Hithp. one enriching himself.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6238 עָשַׁר be or become rich

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6238 `ashar aw-shar'

a primitive root; properly, to accumulate; chiefly

(specifically) to grow (causatively, make) rich:--be(-come,

en-, make, make self, wax) rich, make (1 Kings 22:48 marg).

See 6240.

see HEBREW for 06240

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשַׁר (a.shar) — to enrich.

1) to be or become rich or wealthy, enrich, pretend to be rich

1a) (Qal) to be or become rich

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to make rich

1b2) to gain riches

1c) (Hithpael) to enrich oneself, pretend to be rich

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVhi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rich'-ez, rich'-iz: Used to render the following Hebrew and Greek words:

(1) `Osher, which should, perhaps, be considered the most general word, as it is the most often used (Ge 31:16; Ec 4:8; Jer 9:23). It looks at riches simply as riches, without regard to any particular feature. Alongside this would go the Greek ploutos (Mt 13:22; Eph 2:7).

(2) Chocen (Pr 27:24; Jer 20:5), nekhacim and rekhush (Ge 36:7; Da…

→ General scriptures concerning De 6:10-12; 8:10-18; 31:20; 32:15; 1Sa 2:7; Ps 37:16; Pr 10:2,22; 11:4,28; 13:7,8; 14:24; 15:6,16,17; 16:8; 19:4; 21:6; 23:4,5; 27:23,24; 28:8,20,22; 30:8,9; Ec 5:9-20; 6:1,2; 7:11,12; 10:19; Isa 5:8; Jer 48:36; Ho 12:8; Mt 6:19-21; 13:22; 19:16-29; Mr 4:19; 10:17-25; Lu…

- The true riches

Eph 3:8; 1Co 1:30; Col 2:3; 1Pe 2:7

- God gives

1Sa 2:7; Ec 5:19

- To God belongs this world's riches

Hag 2:8

- God gives power to obtain

De 8:18

- The blessing of the Lord brings

Pr 10:22

- Give worldly power

Pr 22:7

- DESCRIBED AS

. Temporary

Pr 27:24

. Uncertain

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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