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Proverbs 21:4 — Word Study

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WLCרוּם־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־ לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

BSAHaughtyrûwm [lofty, proud] eyesʻayin and a proudrâchâb [broad, arrogant] heartlêb of the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty] [are] sinchaṭṭâʼâh [guilt, punishment for sin]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 21
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (cha.Tat) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 21:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse identifies prideful attitudes as sinful, highlighting their role in guiding the wicked.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, conveying wisdom about moral character.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger discourse on righteousness and justice.
The hard wordרוּם
Take awayPride leads to sin and moral failure.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 21:4

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Teachings of Proverbsgenerated

3To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.

Proverbs 21:4 emphasizes the importance of humility and righteousness, contrasting the prideful attitudes that lead to sin with the virtues that please the LORD. This verse serves as a reminder of the moral consequences of haughtiness, echoing themes found throughout the book of Proverbs, including the value of justice and righteousness as seen in Proverbs 21:3.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 6:17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
2Proverbs 8:13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
3Proverbs 30:13There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—
4Psalm 10:4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
5Isaiah 2:11–17The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word רוּם, rum-generated

The word רוּם (rum) is a noun that signifies height or elevation, often associated with haughtiness. It can describe both physical height and metaphorical pride, illustrating the arrogance that can lead to downfall. The parsing as a masculine singular construct indicates it is used here to describe the prideful nature of one's eyes.

In this verse, the emphasis on haughtiness reflects a broader biblical theme that warns against pride, which is frequently linked to moral failure. The use of רוּם suggests that such attitudes are not only undesirable but are also seen as guiding forces for the wicked.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, the verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, and it is consistent with the KJV and ASV, all translating רוּם as 'haughty'.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is governed by the predicate חַטָּֽאת, [is] sin, which encapsulates the essence of the statement. The structure includes several noun phrases that describe the characteristics of those who are wicked, emphasizing the attributes of pride and haughtiness.

The arrangement of the Hebrew words places the focus on the qualities of the eyes and heart, leading into the conclusion that these traits guide the wicked into sin.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the word for wicked is rendered as ἀσεβῶν (asebōn), which emphasizes moral wrongdoing. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the nature of wickedness, aligning with the moral teachings found in the Hebrew text.

The Greek translation indicates a concern for ethical behavior, suggesting that the attributes described in the Hebrew text are universally recognized as leading to moral failure.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 21:4 states that haughty eyes and a proud heart are guides for the wicked and are considered sin. This verse highlights the negative consequences of pride and arrogance in one's character.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for eyes to be haughty?

Haughty eyes refer to a proud or arrogant gaze, suggesting a sense of superiority over others.

How does pride lead to sin?

Pride can blind individuals to their faults and lead them to act in ways that are morally wrong, distancing them from righteousness.

What is the significance of the heart in this verse?

The heart represents one's inner thoughts and feelings, indicating that pride and arrogance stem from within a person.

Why are these traits described as guides for the wicked?

These traits lead individuals to make poor moral choices, guiding them away from righteousness and towards sin.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see pride manifest in my own life?
  2. How can I cultivate humility in my relationships with others?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to resist the temptation of arrogance?
  4. How does this verse challenge my understanding of moral character?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 21:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

An high look, and a proud heart,.... The former is a sign of the latter, and commonly go together, and are both abominable to the Lord; see Psalms 101:5.

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

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

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

An high look; one gesture or sign of pride put for all the rest, . A proud heart; pride lurking and reigning in the heart, though it do not discover itself to men by outward actions, but be disguised with a show of humility, it is frequently. The ploughing; either, 1. Strictly and properly so called: even their civil or natural actions, which in themselves are lawful and good, are made sinful, as they are managed by ungodly men, without any regard to the service and glory of God, which ought to be the great end of all our actions, , and with a design of serving their own wicked lusts by it. Or, 2. Metaphorically, their designs and endeavours, which are said to be sin, because they are…

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

Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin.Ver. 4. An high look and proud heart.] And the ploughing of the wicked is sin.] As they plot and plough mischief - being the devil’ s hinds and drudges - so all their actions, natural, moral, spiritual, are turned into sin; whether they plough, or play, or pray, or eat, or sleep, "to the impure and unbelieving, all things are impure." Their proud or big swollen heart is full of filthy corrupt matter, that oozeth out still and offendeth the eyes of God’ s glory. Everything they do is as an evil vapour reeking from that loathsome dunghill, worse than those that came up from the five cities of the plain.…

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

(4) The plowing of the wicked.—i.e., their work, all they do; for it is not done to please God but themselves; nor carried on in His strength, but in reliance upon their own, and therefore it is “sin,” not pleasing to Him. For the word here translated “plowing,” see above on Proverbs 13:23, where it is rendered “tillage.” It may also signify “lamp” (see above on 13:9).

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

Verse 4. A high look] The evidence of pride, self-conceit, and vanity. A proud heart, from which the high look, c., come. And the ploughing] נר ner, lucerna, the lamp, the prosperity and posterity of the wicked is sin - it is evil in the seed, and evil in the root, evil in the branch, and evil in the fruit. They are full of sin themselves, and what they do is sinful.

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

4. the plowing] This, which is an admissible rendering, is virtually retained (the tillage) in R.V. marg. The haughty bearing, the proud look, the prosperous labours of the wicked are alike condemned as “sin.” But it is better to render lamp, instead of plowing or tillage, even the lamp of the wicked is sin. λαμπτήρ, LXX.; lucerna, Vulg. The lamp burning brightly and steadily in the tent or house is the symbol of the prosperity of an individual (Proverbs 13:9; Job 18:6; and of a dynasty, 1 Kings 11:36; 1 Kings 15:4). But in the case of “the wicked,” instead of being accepted with humble thankfulness as lighted by Jehovah (Psalms 18:28), it finds expression in “an high look and a proud…

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

The plowing - The Hebrew word, with a change in its vowel points, may signify either: (1) the “fallow field,” the “tillage” of Proverbs 13:23, or (2) the lamp.

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

Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the agricultural product of the wicked is sin.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

RVARevised Version, American1894

An high look, and a proud heart, even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A hautie looke, and a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sinne.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, || Tillage of the wicked [is] sin.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Haughtiness of the eyes, and an immoderate heart, are the sinful field of the wicked.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

A high look and a heart of pride, ***of the evil-doer is 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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectnoun phrasenoun phraseרוּםhaughtinessעֵ֭ינַיִםof.eyesוּandnoun phraseרְחַבa.[person].wideלֵ֑בof.heartnoun phraseנִ֖ר[the].lampרְשָׁעִ֣יםof.wicked.[people]predicateחַטָּֽאת[is].sin

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 show some alignment, with the Hebrew and Greek both addressing the themes of pride and wickedness. However, only two of the seven words match directly, indicating some interpretive differences in translation.

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

רוּם־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־ לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רְשָׁעִ֣יםἀσεβῶνחַטָּֽאת׃ἁμαρτία

2 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Proverbs 21:4רוּםhaughtinesshaughtiness ofרוּםעַ֫יִןeyeseyesעַ֫יִןרָחָבand a [persand a [person] רָחָבלֵבheartheartלֵבנֵר[the] lamp [the] lamp ofנֵררָשָׁעwicked [peowicked [people]רָשָׁעחַטָּאָה[is] sin[is] sinחַטָּאָהרוּםto exaltto exaltרוּםרָחַבto enlargeto enlargeרָחַברָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁעחָטָאto sinto sinחָטָאלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבנִירto breakto breakנִירנוּרfirefireנוּרשָׂגַבto exaltto exaltשָׂגַבשָׁפֵלto abaseto abaseשָׁפֵלחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרעָרַרto stripto stripעָרַרשָׁמֵןrichrichשָׁמֵןחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםדָּעַךְto put outto put outדָּעַךְמְנוֹרָהlampstandlampstandמְנוֹרָהצַדִּיקrighteousrighteousצַדִּיק
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 21:4

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

haughtiness of eyes and a [person] arrogant of heart [the] lamp of wicked [people] [is] sin
רוּם־rum- haughtiness of H7312 Noun common · masculine singular construct
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to something or someone being high or lofty, like a mountain or a proud person. It can also mean haughtiness, like the pride that comes before a fall. In the Bible, it's often used to describe God's elevated position.
Amplified meaning
lofty, proud
Tyndale gloss
height
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּם (rum) primarily means height or elevation, both in a literal sense and as a metaphor for haughtiness. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of being high or elevated. The term appears in various contexts, emphasizing both physical height and a sense of arrogance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּם, רֻם n.[m.] height, haughtiness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7312 רוּם, רֻם height, haughtiness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7312 ruwm room

or rum {room}; from 7311; (literally) elevation or

(figuratively) elation:--haughtiness, height, X high.

see HEBREW for 07311

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּם (rum) — height.

1) haughtiness, height, elevation

1a) height, loftiness

1b) haughtiness

Aramaic equivalent: rum (רוּם "height" H7314)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — 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…

haughtiness of eyes and a [person] arrogant of heart [the] lamp of wicked [people] [is] sin
עֵ֭ינַיִם'Ei.na.yim eyes H5869 Noun common · feminine dual absolute
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cd — Noun common · feminine dual absolute
HNcfda
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics

to be guarded against evil

Ps 119:37; Pr 4:25; Isa 33:15; Mt 5:29

haughtiness of eyes and a [person] arrogant of heart [the] lamp of wicked [people] [is] sin
וּרְחַב־u.re.chav- and a [person] arrogant of H7342 Conjunction
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means broad or wide, describing something that is roomy or spacious. It can also mean proud or arrogant, and is used to describe a person's attitude. In the KJV, it is translated as broad or large.
Amplified meaning
broad, arrogant
Tyndale gloss
broad: wide
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָחָב (rachab) means wide or broad, covering both physical dimensions and metaphorical uses like pride or arrogance. It is derived from the root word רָחַב (rachav), which also conveys a sense of spaciousness. The entries consistently highlight its meanings as broad or wide, with a note on its use to describe arrogance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָחָב adj. wide, broad

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7342 רָחָב wide, broad

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7342 rachab raw-khawb'

from 7337; roomy, in any (or every) direction, literally or

figuratively:--broad, large, at liberty, proud, wide.

see HEBREW for 07337

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָחָב (ra.chav) — Broad.

§ broad, wide

רָחָב (ra.chav) — broad: wide.

broad, wide

Also means: ra.chav (רָחָב ": arrogant" H7342I)

רָחָב (ra.chav) — broad: arrogant.

broad, wide

A sub-meaning of ra.chav (רָחָב ": wide" H7342H)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Aamsc
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…

haughtiness of eyes and a [person] arrogant of heart [the] lamp of wicked [people] [is] sin
לֵ֑בLev heart H3820 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
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.
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 — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hart (lebh, lebhabh; kardia): The different senses in which the word occurs in the Old Testament and the New Testament may be grouped under the following heads:

1. Various Meanings:

It represents in the first place the bodily organ, and by easy transition those experiences which affect or are affected by the body. Fear, love, courage, anger, Joy, sorrow, hatred are always ascribed to the heart--especially in the Old Testament; thus courage for which usually ruach is used (Ps 27:14); joy (Ps 4:7); anger (De 19:6, "while his heart is hot," lebhabh); fear (1Sa 25:37); sorrow (Ps 13:2), etc.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heart

According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. “Heart” and “soul” are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case.

The heart is the “home of the personal life,” and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6;

haughtiness of eyes and a [person] arrogant of heart [the] lamp of wicked [people] [is] sin
נִ֖רnir [the] lamp of H5216 Noun common · masculine singular construct
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A lamp is a device that holds a flame, providing light. In the Bible, it's often used to symbolize guidance or spiritual light. The word can also refer to the light itself, rather than just the lamp.
Tyndale gloss
lamp
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֵר (ner) and נִיר (nir) both mean 'lamp' in Hebrew. The word is derived from a root that suggests brightness or glistening, and it can refer to a literal lamp or light as well as a figurative one. The entries indicate that these forms are interchangeable, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵר 43 n.m. lamp

base

נִיר n.[m.] lamp

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5216a נֵר lamp H5216b נִיר lamp

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5216 niyr neer

or nir {neer}; also neyr {nare}; or ner {nare}; or (feminine)

nerah {nay-raw'}; from a primitive root (see 5214; 5135)

properly, meaning to glisten; a lamp (i.e. the burner) or

light (literally or figuratively):--candle, lamp, light.

see HEBREW for 05214

see HEBREW for 05135

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵר (ner) — lamp.

lamp

Also means: nir (נִיר "lamp" H5216B)

נִיר (nir) — lamp.

lamp

Another spelling of ner (נֵר "lamp" H5216A)

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…

haughtiness of eyes and a [person] arrogant of heart [the] lamp of wicked [people] [is] sin
רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Im wicked [people] H7563 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
263× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
morally wrong, guilty
Tyndale gloss
wicked
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7563 rasha` raw-shaw'

from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad

person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did

wrong.

see HEBREW for 07561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.

1) wicked, criminal

1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)

1b) wicked (hostile to God)

1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Compared with

Abominable branches Isa 14:19

Ashes under the feet Mal 4:3

Bad fish Mt 13:48

Animals Ps 49:12; 2Pe 2:12

Blind people Zep 1:17; Mt 15:14

Bronze and iron Jer 6:28; Eze 22:18

Briers add thorns Isa 55:13; Eze 2:6

The bulls of Bashan Ps 22:12

haughtiness of eyes and a [person] arrogant of heart [the] lamp of wicked [people] [is] sin
חַטָּֽאת׃cha.Tat [is] sin H2403 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
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, punishment for sin
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
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sin

Is “any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God” (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom. 6:12-17; 7:5-24). It is “not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offence against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is (1) intrinsically vile and polluting, and (2) that it justly deserves punishment, and calls down the righteous wrath of God. Hence sin carries with it two inalienable characters, (1) ill-desert, guilt (reatus); and (2) pollution (macula).”, Hodge’s…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a city of Egypt, mentioned only by Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 30:15,16) The name is Hebrew, or at least Semitic, perhaps signifying clay . It is identified in the Vulgate with Pelusium, "the clayey or muddy" town. Its antiquity may perhaps be inferred from the mention of "the wilderness of Sin" in the journeys of the Israelites. (Exodus 16:1; Numbers 33:11) Ezekiel speaks of Sin as "Sin the strongholds of Egypt." (Ezekiel 30:15) This place was held by Egypt from that time until the period of the Romans. Herodotus relates that Sennacherib advanced against Pelusium, and that near Pelusium Cambyses defeated Psammenitus. In like manner the decisive battle in which Ochus defeated the…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Any thought, word, desire, action, or omission of action, contrary to the law of God, or defective when compared with it.

The origin of sin is a subject which baffles all investigation; and our inquiries are much better directed when we seek through Christ a release from its penalty and power, for ourselves and the world. Its entrance into the world, and infection of the whole human race, its nature, forms, and effects, and its fatal possession of every unregenerate soul, are fully described in the Bible, Ge 6:5 Ps 51:5 Mt 15:19 Ro 5:12 Jas 1:14,15.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

bush

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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