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Proverbs 23:6 — Word Study

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WLCאַל־ תִּלְחַ֗ם אֶת־ לֶ֭חֶם רַ֣ע עָ֑יִן וְאַל־ תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָֽיו׃

BSADo notʼal [refrain from, let not be] eatlâcham the breadlechem [food, grain] of a stingy manraʻ [having an evil eye, envious] and do notʼal [let not be] his delicaciesmaṭʻam [dainty meats, fine food, savory treats]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 23
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 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 (le.mat.'a.mo.Tav) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 23:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse advises against eating with a stingy person and craving their fine foods.
Who is speakingThe wise teacher, warning against the influence of envious individuals.
Where we areIn a section about the nature of wealth and social relationships.
The hard wordרַע, ra'
Take awayAvoid the company of those who are stingy or envious.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbלָחַם 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 23:6

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 — Warnings Against Envy and Stinginessgenerated

5When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

Proverbs 23:6 cautions against consuming food from a stingy person, emphasizing the negative impact of associating with those who are envious. The surrounding verses explore the fleeting nature of wealth and the importance of discerning one's companions, as seen in Proverbs 23:5 and Proverbs 23:7.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 22:9A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
2Deuteronomy 15:9Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.
3Deuteronomy 28:56The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter
4Matthew 20:15Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
5Mark 7:22greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

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


The Key Word רַע, ra'generated

The word רַע (ra') is an adjective meaning bad or evil, often used to describe a person with negative qualities, such as envy or stinginess. This word conveys moral or ethical wrongdoing, highlighting the character of the person from whom one is advised to refrain from eating.

In this verse, it describes a person who is not generous, implying that their company can lead to negative influences and experiences.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the essence of the warning against eating with a stingy person and craving their delicacies.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is תִּלְחַ֗ם, you eat, which governs the structure of the verse. The sentence consists of two main clauses, both starting with a negative particle, אַל, may not, indicating prohibitions.

The first clause warns against eating the bread of a stingy man, while the second clause advises against craving his delicacies, creating a parallel structure that emphasizes both actions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates רַע as ἀνδρὶ (andri), meaning 'man', which emphasizes the character of the individual being referenced. This choice highlights the moral implications of associating with such a person.

The translation of לֶ֭חֶם as συνδείπνει (sundeipnei) suggests a communal aspect of eating, reinforcing the idea that social interactions matter in this context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 23:6 advises not to eat the bread of a stingy man or crave his delicacies. This verse warns against the negative influence of those who are envious and emphasizes the importance of choosing one's companions wisely.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to eat the bread of a stingy man?

It means to partake in the company or resources of someone who is not generous, which can lead to negative experiences.

Why should we avoid craving the delicacies of a stingy person?

Craving such delicacies can lead to a desire for what is not good for us, as it may come with strings attached.

How does this verse relate to the theme of wealth?

The verse highlights the transient nature of wealth and warns against being influenced by those who hoard it.

What does the term 'stingy' imply in this context?

It implies a person who is envious and unwilling to share, which can negatively affect those around them.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced the negative effects of associating with stingy or envious people?
  2. How can I ensure that I choose my companions wisely, avoiding those who may lead me astray?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to be more generous in my own life?
  4. How does understanding this verse change my perspective on social interactions and relationships?

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

Early church fathers comment on the dangers of associating with envious individuals, drawing from this verse to illustrate their points.

Basil of CaesareaHOMILY CONCERNING ENVY c. 330–379
Wise, therefore, was he who forbids us even to dine in company with an envious man, and in mentioning this companionship at table, he implies a reference to all other social contacts as well.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 23 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Do not eat with an envious man, etc. Do not speak of Scriptures with a heretic, because he envies human salvation, preferring to deceive rather than correct;
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 23 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 23:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Eat thou not the bread of [him that hath] an evil eye,.... A sordid covetous man, that grudges every bit that is eaten, in opposition to a man of a good eye, or a bountiful one, that is liberal and

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

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: An evil eye. Contrast "a bountiful eye," Proverbs 22:9. An envious, grudging, illiberal spirit (Matthew 20:15).

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

Of him that hath an evil eye; of the envious or covetous man, who secretly grudgeth thee the meat which he sets before thee, as this phrase is used, ; as, on the contrary, a liberal man is said to have a good eye, .

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

Proverbs 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of [him that hath] an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:Ver. 6. Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye.] That is, of a miserly muckworm, that wisheth thee choked for so doing, even then when he maketh greatest show of hospitality and humanity.

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

(6) Him that hath an evil eye.—A sordid, grudging temper.

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

Verse 6. Of him that hath an evil eye] Never eat with a covetous or stingy man; if he entertains you at his own expense, he grudges every morsel you put in your mouth. This is well marked by the wise man in the next verse: "Eat and drink, saith he: but his heart is not with thee."

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

6. evil] i.e. grudging. See Proverbs 22:9 note, and comp. Deuteronomy 15:9; Matthew 20:15. dainty meats] Better, dainties.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 23 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A different danger from that of Pro 23:1. The hazard here is the hospitality of the purse-proud rich, avaricious or grudging even in his banquets.

Read Albert Barnes 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 eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies;

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties:

RVARevised Version, American1894

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Eate thou not the bread of him that hath an euil eye, neither desire his deintie meates.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Eat thou not the food of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Eat not the bread of an evil eye, And have no desire to his dainties,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not eat the bread of an evil eye, || And have no desire to his delicacies,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Eat not the bread of a man with an evil eye, and do not long for his savory meats;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not eat the food of one with an evil eye— and do not crave his delicacies,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Eat not with an envious man, and desire not his meats:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Do not take the food of him who has an evil eye, or have any desire for his delicate meat:

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.notverbתִּלְחַ֗םeatnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseלֶ֭חֶם[the].foodnoun phraseרַ֣עof.a.[person].evilעָ֑יִןof.eyeוְandclauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתִּ֝תְאָ֗יוcraveprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfornoun phraseמַטְעַמֹּתָֽיhis.deliciousוfood(s)

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 23:6 reads, "אַל־ תִּלְחַ֗ם אֶת־ לֶ֭חֶם רַ֣ע עָ֑יִן וְאַל־ תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָֽיו׃" which translates to "Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies." The Septuagint (LXX) has a word-by-word correspondence with 7 of the 9 words matched, but its specific wording and structure may differ from the MT, reflecting a different translation approach. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional significant variations for this verse, indicating a general agreement with the MT's message and meaning.

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

אַל־ תִּלְחַ֗ם אֶת־ לֶ֭חֶם רַ֣ע עָ֑יִן וְאַל־ תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־μὴלֶ֭חֶםσυνδείπνειרַ֣עἀνδρὶעָ֑יִןβασκάνῳוְאַל־μηδὲתִּ֝תְאָ֗יוἐπιθύμειלְמַטְעַמֹּתָֽיו׃αὐτοῦ

7 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 23:6אַלmay notmay notאַללָחַםyou eatyou eatלָחַםאֵתthe object the object markאֵתלֶ֫חֶם[the] food [the] food ofלֶ֫חֶםרַעa [person] a [person] evilרַעעַ֫יִןeyeeyeעַ֫יִןאַלand may notand may notאַלאָוָהyou craveyou craveאָוָהמַטְעָםfor daintiefor dainties hiמַטְעָםלֹאnotnotלֹאאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַםרָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעטָעַםto perceivto perceiveטָעַםחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןפְּלִשְׁתִּי(Sea of th(Sea of the) Phפְּלִשְׁתִּימִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁפַּתmorselmorselפַּתשָׂבֵעַto satisfyto satisfyשָׂבֵעַמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרמַטְעָםdelicacydelicacyמַטְעָםתַּאֲוָהdesiredesireתַּאֲוָה
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 23:6

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 eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
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
refrain from, 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 eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
תִּלְחַ֗םtil.Cham you eat H3898 Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
177× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to feed on or consume something, often referring to eating food or battling against someone. It's used in stories like David's battles and the Israelites' struggles in the wilderness.
Tyndale gloss
to fight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָחַם (lacham) has two primary meanings: to fight or do battle, and to eat or use as food. It is a primitive root that conveys both the act of engaging in combat and the act of consuming food. The entries indicate that the word can imply destruction in the context of battle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָחַם] 171 vb. fight, do battle

Qal fight, do battle

Niph. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

base

[לָחַם] vb. use as food, eat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3898a לָחַם fight, do battle .fight, do battle

. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

H3898b לָחַם use as food, eat

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3898 lacham law-kham'

a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by

implication, to battle (as destruction):--devour, eat, X ever,

fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָחַם (la.cham) — to fight.

1) to fight, do battle, make war

1a) (Qal) to fight, do battle

1b) (Niphal) to engage in battle, wage war

לָחַם (la.cham) — to feed on.

(Qal) to eat, use as food

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
HVqj2ms
may not you eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
לֶ֭חֶםLe.chem [the] food of H3899 Noun common · masculine singular construct
298× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to food, especially bread or grain. It's used throughout the Bible to describe meals, sacrifices, and daily life, highlighting the importance of food in ancient Israelite culture.
Amplified meaning
food, grain
Tyndale gloss
food
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֶ֫חֶם (lechem) means bread or food, encompassing items like grain and provisions for both humans and animals. It is derived from a related root and is used in various contexts, particularly in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its primary association with bread, though they also acknowledge its broader meaning as food.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3899 לֶ֫חֶם bread, food

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3899 lechem lekh'-em

from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or

grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit,

loaf, meat, victuals. See also 1036.

see HEBREW for 03898

see HEBREW for 01036

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food.

: food(eating)

1) bread, food, grain

1a) bread

1a1) bread

1a2) bread-corn

1b) food (in general)

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: bread.

: bread/loaf

1) bread, food, grain

1a) bread

1a1) bread

1a2) bread-corn

1b) food (in general)

לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: allowance.

: allowance

1) bread, food, grain

1a) bread

1a1) bread

1a2) bread-corn

1b) food (in general)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — 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 eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
רַ֣עra' a [person] evil of H7451 Adj
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
having an evil eye, envious
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),

distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X

great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),

+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not

please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,

wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.

(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsc
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 eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
עָ֑יִן'A.yin eye H5869 Noun common · feminine singular 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
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

i (`ayin; ophthalmos):

(1) The physical organ of sight, "the lamp of the body" (Mt 6:22), one of the chief channels of information for man. A cruel custom therefore sanctioned among heathen nations the putting out of the eyes of an enemy or a rival, because thus his power was most effectually shattered (Jud 16:21; 2Ki 25:7; Jer 39:7). Such blinding or putting out of the "right eye" was also considered a deep humiliation, as it robbed the victim of his beauty, and made him unfit to take his part in war (1Sa 11:2; Zec 11:17).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Eye

(Heb. ‘ain, meaning “flowing”), applied (1) to a fountain, frequently; (2) to colour (Num. 11:7; R.V., “appearance,” marg. “eye”); (3) the face (Ex. 10:5, 15; Num. 22:5, 11), in Num. 14:14, “face to face” (R.V. marg., “eye to eye”). “Between the eyes”, i.e., the forehead (Ex. 13:9, 16).

The expression (Prov. 23:31), “when it giveth his colour in the cup,” is literally, “when it giveth out [or showeth] its eye.” The beads or bubbles of wine are thus spoken of. “To set the eyes” on any one is to view him with favour (

(The practice of painting the eyelids to make the eyes look large, lustrous and languishing is often alluded to in the Old Testament, and still extensively prevails among the women of the East, and especially among the Mohammedans. Jezebel, in (2 Kings 9:30) is said to have prepared for her meeting with Jehu by painting her face, or, as it reads in the margin, "put her eyes in paint." See also (Ezekiel 23:40) A small probe of wood, ivory or silver is wet with rose-water and dipped in an impalpable black powder, and is then drawn between the lids of the eye nearly closed, and leaves a narrow black border, which is though a great ornament. --ED.)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The same Hebrew word means both eye and fountain. Besides its common use, to denote the organ of sight, it is often used figuratively in the Bible. Most of these passages, however, require no explanation. The custom of sealing up the eyes of criminals, still practiced in the East, is thought to be alluded to in Isa 6:10 44:18. The expression, "As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters," Ps 123:2, is elucidated by a knowledge of the fact that many eastern servants are taught to stand always upon the watch, and are in general directed by a nod, a wink, or some slight motion of the fingers imperceptible to strangers. Many Scripture phrases intimate the soul-like nature of the eye, quickly and truly expressing the thoughts of the heart: such as "the bountiful eye"…

may not you eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
וְאַל־ve.'al- and may not H408 Conjunction · 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
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
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
may not you eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
תִּ֝תְאָ֗יוtit.'av you crave H183 Verb · Hithpael · jussive second person masculine singular
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To desire means to strongly wish for something, and can be used to describe physical or emotional longings. This word is used in the Bible to describe feelings of coveting or lusting after something.
Tyndale gloss
to desire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָוָה (avah) is a primitive root meaning to desire or wish for. It encompasses a range of meanings including to covet, long for, and lust after, often relating to bodily appetites. The verb appears in various forms, such as in the Piel and Hithpael stems, which indicate different nuances of desire.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָוָה] vb. incline, desire

Pi. desire

Hithp. desire, long for, lust after

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H183 [אָוָה] incline, desire . desire

. desire, long for, lust after

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

183 'avah aw-vaw'

a primitive root; to wish for:--covet, (greatly) desire, be

desirous, long, lust (after).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָוָה (a.vah) — to desire.

1) desire, incline, covet, wait longingly, wish, sigh, want, be greedy, prefer

1a) (Piel) to desire, crave (food and drink)

1b) (Hithpael) to desire, long for, lust after (of bodily appetites)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVtj2ms — Verb · Hithpael · jussive second person masculine singular
HVtj2ms
may not you eat the object marker [the] food of a [person] evil of eye and may not you crave for dainties his
לְמַטְעַמֹּתָֽיו׃le.mat.'a.mo.Tav for dainties his H4303 Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to delicious or savory food, like a special treat. It is used to describe the fine foods enjoyed by kings and wealthy people. This word is often translated as 'dainty' or 'savoury meat'.
Amplified meaning
dainty meats, fine food, savory treats
Tyndale gloss
delicacy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַטְעָם (mat`am) refers to tasty or savory food, specifically delicacies or dainties. The word is only used in the plural form, indicating a range of delectable foods. It is derived from another Hebrew root, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַטְעָם] n.m. only pl. tasty or savoury food, dainties

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4303 [מַטְעָם] only pl. tasty or savoury food, dainties

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4303 mat`am mat-am'

or (feminine) matiammah {mat-am-maw'}; from 2938; a

delicacy:--dainty (meat), savoury meat.

see HEBREW for 02938

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַטְעָם (mat.am) — delicacy.

tasty or savory food, delectable food, dainties

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

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

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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