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Proverbs 23:10 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאַל־ תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם וּבִשְׂדֵ֥י יְ֝תוֹמִ֗ים אַל־ תָּבֹֽא׃

BSADo notʼal [remove, touch] movenâçag an ancientʻôwlâm [old, long-standing] boundary stonegᵉbûwl [landmark, border] [or]ʼal encroachbôwʼ [enter, trespass] on the fieldssâdeh [lands, possessions] of the fatherlessyâthôwm [orphans, those without a father]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 23
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 10 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 (ta.Vo') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 23:10quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against altering ancient boundaries and taking advantage of the vulnerable.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, addressing the reader directly.
Where we areThis instruction is part of a larger discourse on wisdom and moral conduct.
The hard wordתַּ֭סֵּג
Take awayRespect the rights of others, especially the defenseless.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbסוּג 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 23:10

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's Instruction on Justicegenerated

9Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Proverbs 23:10 advises against the manipulation of ancient boundaries, emphasizing respect for established limits and the rights of the vulnerable, particularly orphans. This instruction is part of a broader theme in Proverbs that highlights the importance of justice and moral integrity in social interactions, as seen in the surrounding verses, which discuss the value of wisdom and the consequences of foolishness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 22:28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.
2Deuteronomy 19:14You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
3Deuteronomy 27:17‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
4Job 24:2Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.
5Job 6:27You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תַּ֭סֵּג, Ta.seggenerated

The Hebrew word סוּג (sug) is a verb in the Hiphil stem, indicating an action that causes something to happen. It means to displace or remove, often implying a retreat or turning back. In this context, it specifically refers to the act of moving a boundary stone, which is a serious offense in biblical law.

This word appears only a few times in the Hebrew Bible, underscoring its significance in matters of property rights and social justice. The jussive form indicates a command or prohibition, emphasizing the seriousness of the instruction not to alter boundaries.


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 תַּ֭סֵּג governs the sentence, with two adverbial phrases preceding it: אַל־ and אַל־, both negating actions. The structure emphasizes the prohibition against moving boundaries and encroaching on the fields of the fatherless.

The sentence's order places the negative commands at the forefront, highlighting their importance and urgency in the instruction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תַּ֭סֵּג as μεταθῇς, which means 'to transfer' or 'to change.' This choice suggests a broader interpretation of altering boundaries, indicating not just physical movement but also a change in rights and ownership.

This translation aligns with the overall message of the verse, emphasizing the seriousness of encroaching upon the rights of others.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 23:10 warns us not to move ancient boundary stones or take advantage of the fields belonging to orphans. This instruction highlights the importance of respecting others' property, especially those who cannot defend themselves.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to move a boundary stone?

Moving a boundary stone refers to the act of altering established property lines, which is considered unjust and a violation of others' rights.

Why is there a specific mention of the fatherless?

The mention of the fatherless highlights the vulnerability of orphans, emphasizing the moral obligation to protect their rights and property.

How does this verse relate to social justice?

This verse underscores the importance of fairness and integrity in dealings with others, particularly those who are defenseless or marginalized.

What are the consequences of disregarding this instruction?

Disregarding this instruction can lead to injustice and exploitation, particularly against those who are unable to defend their rights.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I ensure that I respect the boundaries and rights of others in my life?
  2. How can I support and advocate for the vulnerable in my community, such as orphans?
  3. What does this verse teach about the importance of integrity in our dealings with others?
  4. How can I apply the principles of justice and fairness in my daily interactions?

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

Bede comments on this verse, highlighting the importance of protecting the rights of the vulnerable, particularly orphans, and the moral implications of disregarding their needs.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Do not touch the boundaries of the little ones, etc. He calls the Lord the near one of the little ones and orphans because, while in the flesh, he deigned to be a companion in faith more to the poor than the rich.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 23 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 23:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Remove not the old landmark,.... [See comments on Proverbs 22:28]; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless; to carry off the increase of them, to reap their wheat, or mow their grass, or turn

Read John Gill on Proverbs 23 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: Enter not into the fields of the fatherless (in order to appropriate their property, as thinking they have none to defend

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 23 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Either to take away their goods; or rather, to possess their lands, as this phrase is used, .

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 23 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 23:10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:Ver. 10. Remove not the ancient landmark.]

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 23 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Remove not the old landmark.—See above, on Proverbs 22:28.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 23 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 10. Remove not the old landmark] See the preceding chapter, Proverbs 22:28. Enter not into the fields of the fatherless] Take nothing that belongs to an orphan. The heaviest curse of God will fall upon them that do so.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 23 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. See Proverbs 22:28. enter not into] to do him wrong as the parallelism implies.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 23 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10, 11. Remove not… landmark — That which marked the border of the field. Encroach not upon the rights of others, especially of the orphan or other defenceless person. See Proverbs 22:28.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 23 →

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

Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

RVARevised Version, American1894

Remove not the ancient landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Remooue not the ancient boundes, and enter not into the fieldes of the fatherlesse.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Remove not the ancient landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Remove not a border of olden times, And into fields of the fatherless enter not,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not remove a border of ancient times, || And do not enter into fields of the fatherless,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Remove not the ancient landmark, and into the fields of the fatherless must thou not enter;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of orphans,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Touch not the bounds of little ones: and enter not into the field of the fatherless:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Do not let the landmark of the widow be moved, and do not go into the fields of those who have no father;

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.

clauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתַּ֭סֵּגdisplacenoun phrase · objectגְּב֣וּלa.boundaryעוֹלָ֑םof.antiquityוּandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִin.[the]noun phraseשְׂדֵ֥יfieldsיְ֝תוֹמִ֗יםof.fatherless.onesadverbialאַלdo.notverbתָּבֹֽאgo

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of אַל־ תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם וּבִשְׂדֵ֥י יְ֝תוֹמִ֗ים אַל־ תָּבֹֽא׃. Both texts convey the same prohibition against moving boundary stones and encroaching on the fields of the fatherless.

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

אַל־ תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם וּבִשְׂדֵ֥י יְ֝תוֹמִ֗ים אַל־ תָּבֹֽא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־μὴתַּ֭סֵּגμεταθῇςגְּב֣וּלὅριαעוֹלָ֑םαἰώνιαוּבִשְׂדֵ֥יκτῆμαיְ֝תוֹמִ֗יםὀρφανῶνאַל־μὴתָּבֹֽא׃εἰσέλθῃς

8 of the 8 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 23:10אַלmay notmay notאַלסוּגyou displacyou displaceסוּגגְּבוּלa boundary a boundary ofגְּבוּלעוֹלָםantiquityantiquityעוֹלָםשָׂדַיand in [theand in [the] fiשָׂדַייָתוֹםfatherless fatherless onesיָתוֹםאַלmay notmay notאַלבּוֹאyou goyou goבּוֹאלֹאnotnotלֹאגָּבַלto borderto borderגָּבַלעָלַםto concealto concealעָלַםחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאגְּבוּלborder: boborder: boundarגְּבוּלרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַפֵּאָהsidesideפֵּאָהקָדִיםeasteastקָדִיםעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹרעֵ֫שֶׂבvegetationvegetationעֵ֫שֶׂבכֶּרֶםvineyardvineyardכֶּרֶםאַלְמָנָהwidowwidowאַלְמָנָהגֵּרsojournersojournerגֵּרשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁ
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 23:10

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.

may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
remove, touch
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
תַּ֭סֵּגTa.seg you displace H5253 Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to move away or retreat, often implying a turning back from something. It appears in various forms, such as departing or removing something. This concept is seen in the lives of biblical figures like Moses, who had to remove himself from a situation.
Tyndale gloss
to remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word סוּג (*sug*) primarily means to move away or backslide. It can refer to actions like retreating, turning back, or being displaced. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Niph, Hiphil, and Hophal, covering meanings from personal backsliding to the removal of boundaries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[סוּג, seldom שׂוּג] vb. move away, backslide

Qal backslide, prove recreant to י׳

Niph.

refl. turn oneself away, turn back

be turned or driven back, be repulsed

Hiph.

usu. of displacing, moving back a boundary mark

remove, carry away

Hoph. and justice is driven back

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5253 סוּג, seldom שׂוּג move away, backslide

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5253 nacag naw-sag'

a primitive root; to retreat:--departing away, remove, take

(hold), turn away.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָסַג (na.sag) — to remove.

1) to move away, backslide, move, go, turn back

1a) (Qal) to backslide, prove recreant to

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to displace, move back

1b2) to remove, carry away

1d) (Hophal) to be driven back, be moved back

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
HVhj2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
גְּב֣וּלge.Vul a boundary of H1366 Noun common · masculine singular construct
240× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a boundary or border, like the borders of the Promised Land in Numbers 34:1-12. It can also mean a region or territory, as in the borders of Israel in 1 Kings 8:65.
Amplified meaning
landmark, border
Tyndale gloss
border: boundary
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גְּבוּל (gbuwl) refers to a border or boundary, often implying a defined territory. It can denote a physical limit, such as a coast or landmark, and can also have figurative uses, like a region of darkness. The word is derived from a root meaning 'cord' and encompasses various meanings related to boundaries and territories.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גְּבוּל 240 n.m. border, boundary, territory

border, boundary

territory (enclosed within boundary)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1366 גְּבוּל border, boundary, territory

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1366 gbuwl gheb-ool'

or (shortened) gbul {gheb-ool'}; from 1379; properly, a cord

(as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extens. the

territory inclosed:--border, bound, coast, X great, landmark,

limit, quarter, space.

see HEBREW for 01379

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: boundary.

: boundary

1) border, territory

1a) border

1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)

1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)

Also means: ge.vul (גְּבוּל ": area" H1366H)

גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: area.

: area

1) border, territory

1a) border

1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)

1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)

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…

may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
עוֹלָ֑םo.Lam antiquity H5769 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
438× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means forever or always, describing something that lasts an eternity. It is used in the Bible to describe God's eternal nature and his lasting promises.
Amplified meaning
old, long-standing
Tyndale gloss
forever: antiquity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹלָם (owlam) refers to concepts of long duration, antiquity, and futurity, encompassing meanings like eternity and perpetual existence. It is derived from a root meaning 'concealed' or 'the vanishing point.' The term is used to describe both ancient times and an indefinite future, indicating continuity and everlastingness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹלָם 439 n.m. long duration, antiquity, futurity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5769 עוֹלָם long duration, antiquity, futurity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5769 `owlam o-lawm'

or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the

vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future),

i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

(especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s),

ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for,

(n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of)

old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world

(+ without end). Compare 5331, 5703.

see HEBREW for 05956

see HEBREW for 05331

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: enduring.

: enduring/eternal

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — Everlasting.

This name means long duration, everlasting, perpetual

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: any time.

: any_time

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world

1a) ancient time, long time (of past)

1b) (of future)

1b1) for ever, always

1b2) continuous existence, perpetual

1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

עוֹלָם (o.lam) — forever: antiquity.

: old/ancient

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
וּבִשְׂדֵ֥יu.vis.Dei and in [the] fields of H7704 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
334× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Amplified meaning
lands, possessions
Tyndale gloss
field
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂדַי (saday) and שָׂדֶה (sadeh) both refer to a field or land, encompassing cultivated areas, open fields, and regions opposed to mountains or seas. The terms can denote specific portions of ground and are associated with wildlife habitats. They derive from a root meaning to spread out, indicating flat, expansive areas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂדַי n.m. field, land

cultivated field

home of wild beasts

plain, opp. mt.

land, opp. sea

base

שָׂדֶה 819 n.m. id. [u.ak.ab]

(ordinary contr. form)open field, country

definite portion of ground, field, land

land, opp. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7704a שָׂדַי field, land . cultivated field

. home of wild beasts

. plain, opp. mt.

. land, opp. sea

H7704b שָׂדֶה id. [7704a] . open field, country

. definite portion of ground, field, land

. land, opp. sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7704 sadeh saw-deh'

or saday {saw-dah'-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread

out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil,

X wild.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — Sirion.

This name means field, land, plain

Another spelling of cher.mon (חֶרְמוֹן "(Mount )Hermon" H2768)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: soil.

: soil

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: country.

: country/field

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — Field (of the Launderer).

Combined with ka.vas (כָּבַס "Washer's" H3526)

This name means field, land

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: wildlife.

: wild(animals/plants)

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — field.

1) field, land

1a) cultivated field

1b) of home of wild beasts

1c) plain (opposed to mountain)

1d) land (opposed to sea)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-mp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HC/R/Ncmpc
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…

may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
יְ֝תוֹמִ֗יםye.to.Mim fatherless ones H3490 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to an orphan or a child without a father, like in Exodus where God commands the Israelites to care for the fatherless.
Amplified meaning
orphans, those without a father
Tyndale gloss
orphan
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָתוֹם (yathowm) means 'orphan' and is derived from a root that suggests loneliness or bereavement. The term specifically refers to a fatherless child or a bereaved person. All entries consistently define it in this way, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָתוֹם n.[m.] orphan

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3490 יָתוֹם orphan

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3490 yathowm yaw-thome'

from an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved

person:--fatherless (child), orphan.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָתוֹם (ya.tom) — orphan.

an orphan, fatherless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you displace a boundary of antiquity and in [the] fields of fatherless ones may not you go
תָּבֹֽא׃ta.Vo' you go H935 Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Amplified meaning
enter, trespass
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
HVqj2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(halakh, yalakh, bo', yatsa'; ago, hupago, anabaino, erchomi, aperchomai, poreuomai): "Go" ("went," etc.) occurs very frequently in the English Bible, and is the translation of a great many different Hebrew and Greek terms. As the word implies movement of all kinds, physical and mental, it has naturally many applications.

1. In the Old Testament:

In the Old Testament halakh and yalakh are among the commonest words, meaning "to go" in its original sense of "to walk," but also in the most varied senses, according to the verbal conjugations, etc., the preposition attached, and the words in connection with which the terms stand; halakh and yalakh are often used figuratively (translated "to walk," etc.) for to live, to pursue a way of life, e.g. "to walk ever in his ways" (De 19:9; compare

Mt 9:13; 21:28; 28:7; Lu 10:37; Joh 8:11

--SEE Divine Direction, GUIDANCE

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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