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Proverbs 25:27 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאָ֘כֹ֤ל דְּבַ֣שׁ הַרְבּ֣וֹת לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְחֵ֖קֶר כְּבֹדָ֣ם כָּבֽוֹד׃

BSAIt is notlôʼ [absolutely, in no way] goodṭôwb [pleasant, beneficial] to eatʼâkal [devour, consume] too muchrâbâh [excessive, abundant] honeydᵉbash [a sweet and valuable food] or to search outchêqer [investigate, seek out] one’s own glorykâbôwd [personal, individual, honor, splendor, greatness]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 25
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 27 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 (ka.Vod) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 25:27quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against the dangers of excess, both in consuming honey and in seeking personal glory.
Who is speakingThe wise teacher in Proverbs, offering guidance on moderation.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of sayings that emphasize wisdom in daily life.
The hard wordכָּבֽוֹד
Take awayExcess in enjoyment and self-promotion can lead to harm.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָכַל 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 25:27

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 in Moderationgenerated

25Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
27It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
28Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.

Proverbs 25:27 is part of a series of proverbs that offer practical advice for living wisely. This particular verse highlights the importance of moderation, suggesting that while honey is sweet and desirable, consuming too much can be detrimental. Similarly, seeking one's own glory can lead to negative consequences. The surrounding verses reinforce the theme of wisdom and caution in various aspects of life.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 27:2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
2John 5:44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
32 Corinthians 12:1–11I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
4Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אָכַל, 'a.Kholgenerated

The Hebrew verb אָכַל ('akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a range of meanings from literal consumption to figurative uses like devouring. It is commonly used in various contexts, including nourishment and satisfaction.

In this verse, it indicates the act of consuming honey, which is portrayed as something pleasurable but warns against excess. The infinitive absolute form emphasizes the action of eating as a concept, rather than as a specific event.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree that the verse conveys a warning about excess.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is טוֹב, [is] good, which serves as the predicate for the entire statement. It is accompanied by two phrases: one describing what is not good (eating too much honey) and the other addressing the search for personal glory.

The structure emphasizes the negative consequences of both actions, presenting them as parallel ideas that caution against excess.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אָכַל as ἐσθίειν (esthiein), which means 'to eat.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the act of consumption.

For כָּבֽוֹד, the translation is ἐνδόχους (endochous), which refers to honor or glory. This reflects a similar understanding of the concept, though it may carry slightly different connotations in the Greek context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 25:27 teaches that while honey is sweet and enjoyable, eating too much of it is not good. It also warns against the pursuit of one's own glory, suggesting that such a search can lead to negative outcomes.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to eat too much honey?

Eating too much honey symbolizes indulging excessively in pleasures, which can lead to negative consequences.

Why is seeking one's own glory discouraged?

Seeking personal glory can lead to pride and harm relationships, as it often prioritizes self over others.

How can I apply this verse in my life?

This verse encourages moderation in all things, suggesting that balance is key to a fulfilling life.

Are there other verses that discuss moderation?

Yes, other verses in Proverbs also highlight the importance of moderation and wisdom in behavior.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some areas in my life where I might be overindulging?
  2. How can I practice moderation in my daily choices?
  3. In what ways do I seek recognition or glory, and how can I shift my focus?
  4. How does this verse challenge my understanding of success and fulfillment?

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

Early commentators have noted the importance of moderation in this verse, highlighting the dangers of excess in enjoyment and self-promotion.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
"As he who eats much honey," etc. For the sweetness of honey, if more than is necessary is consumed, where the mouth delights, from there the life of the eater is harmed.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 25 →
Richard Challoner 1691–1781
Majesty: Viz., of God. For to search into that incomprehensible Majesty, and to pretend to sound the depths of the wisdom of God, is exposing our weak understanding to be blinded with an excess of light and glory,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 25 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 25:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[It is] not good to eat much honey,.... That is too much otherwise it is good to eat, Proverbs 24:13; but too much is hurtful, it surfeits the stomach increases choler (e) and creates loathing; and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 25 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. (It is) not good to eat much honey (Proverbs 25:16); so (for men) to search their own glory (is not) glory. Glory follows him that seeks it not.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 25 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Not good, to wit, for the health of the body. For men; which words are easily understood, both out of the foregoing clause, where the honey is supposed to be eaten by men, and out of the following words, which are evidently meant of them. To search their own glory; industriously to seek for honour and applause from men. Is not glory; is not only sinful, but shameful also, and a sign of a vain and mean spirit. The negative particle not is here understood out of the former part of the verse, as it Isaiah 9:18.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 25 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 25:27 [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.Ver. 27. It is not good to eat too much honey.] For it breeds choler and brings diseases. So for men to search their own glory,] i.e., To be "desirous of vain glory"; to seek the praise of men; to hunt after the world’ s plaudite; to say to it, as Tiberius once answered Justinus, Si tu volueris ego sum, si tu non vis ego non sum - I am wholly thine, I am only thy clay and wax; this is base and inglorious; this is to be Gloriae animal, popularis aurae vile mancipium, the creature of vain glory, a base slave to popular applause, as Jerome calls Crates, the philosopher, who cast his goods…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 25 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27) So for men to search their own glory is not glory.—The sense of this passage is very doubtful. It may mean, “But to search into difficult matters is an honour.” Self-indulgence and study are here contrasted.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 25 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 27. It is not good to eat much honey] Coverdale translates the whole passage thus: "Like as it is not good to eat to muche hony; even so, he that wyll search out hye thinges, it shal be to hevy for him." As he that etith myche honye, and it is not to him goode; so, that is a sercher of mageste, schal ben oppressid of glorie - Old MS. Bible. He that searches too much into mysteries, is likely to be confounded by them. I really think this is the meaning of the place; and shall not puzzle either myself or my reader with the discordant explanations which have been brought forward with the hope of illustrating this passage.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

27. is not glory] The words is not are not in the Heb., but are supplied both in A.V. and R.V. text. The R.V. marg. has, “But for men to search out their own glory is glory. The Hebrew text is obscure.” It would seem as though the author of the proverb threw down in the second clause the terms of the comparison and left us to adjust them: “so is it with searching out your own glory, and glory”; q.d. Glory, like honey, is a good thing, but to be too much engrossed with your own share of the one is like eating too much of the other.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 25 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

So for men ... - A difficult sentence, the text of which is probably defective. The words are not in the original. Many commentators render: so to search into weighty matters is itself a weight, i.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 25 →

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

It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

NETBNew English Translation2006

It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

It is not good to eat much honey; So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.

RVARevised Version, American1894

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search out their own glory is not glory.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is [itself] a weight.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The eating of much honey is not good, || Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

To eat too much honey is not good: so is it honor to set a limit to men's honor.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

It is not good to eat too much honey; that is like searching for honor after honor.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a searcher of majesty, shall be overwhelmed by glory.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not looking for honour will be honoured.

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.

clauseclause · subjectverbאָ֘כֹ֤לto.eatobjectדְּבַ֣שׁhoneyadverbialהַרְבּ֣וֹתmuchadverbialלֹאnotpredicateט֑וֹב[is].goodוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectחֵ֖קֶרthe.searchingnoun phraseכְּבֹדָ֣their.own.honorםtheirpredicateכָּבֽוֹד[is].an.honor

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 this verse, with all eight words matching in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency indicates a stable transmission of the text across these traditions.

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

אָ֘כֹ֤ל דְּבַ֣שׁ הַרְבּ֣וֹת לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְחֵ֖קֶר כְּבֹדָ֣ם כָּבֽוֹד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אָ֘כֹ֤לἐσθίεινדְּבַ֣שׁμέλιהַרְבּ֣וֹתπολὺלֹא־οὐט֑וֹבκαλόνוְחֵ֖קֶרδὲכְּבֹדָ֣םλόγουςכָּבֽוֹד׃ἐνδόχους

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 25:27אָכַלto eatto eatאָכַלדְּבַשׁhoneyhoneyדְּבַשׁרָבָהmuchmuchרָבָהלֹאnotnotלֹאטוֹב[is] good[is] goodטוֹבחֵ֫קֶרand [the] sand [the] searcחֵ֫קֶרכָּבוֹדown honor town honor theirכָּבוֹדכָּבוֹד[is] an hon[is] an honorכָּבוֹדכָּבֵדto honor: to honor: honouכָּבֵדטוֹבbe pleasinbe pleasingטוֹבחָקַרto searchto searchחָקַררָבַבto multiplto multiply tenרָבַבעֹ֫שֶׁרrichesrichesעֹ֫שֶׁרהָדָרglorygloryהָדָרשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםחֶמְאָהcurdcurdחֶמְאָהחָלָבmilkmilkחָלָבפָּרָהbe fruitfube fruitfulפָּרָהמָעַטto diministo diminishמָעַטיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרמַרְאֶהappearanceappearanceמַרְאֶהפָּלָאto wonderto wonderפָּלָאכָּבוֹדglorygloryכָּבוֹד
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 25:27

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.

to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
אָ֘כֹ֤ל'a.Khol to eat H398 Verb · Qal · infinitive absolute
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Amplified meaning
devour, consume
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absolute
HVqaa
to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
דְּבַ֣שׁde.Vash honey H1706 Noun common · masculine singular construct
54× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means honey, a sweet and valuable food. It was used to describe the Promised Land as a place of abundance and blessing, flowing with milk and honey. The word also appears in stories of bees and honey production.
Amplified meaning
a sweet and valuable food
Tyndale gloss
honey
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דְּבַשׁ (dbash) means honey, derived from a root that suggests stickiness. It encompasses the substance itself and can also refer to syrup. The entries consistently identify it as honey without significant variation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דְּבַשׁ 64 n.m. honey

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1706 דְּבַשׁ honey

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1706 dbash deb-ash'

from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its

stickiness); by analogy, syrup:--honey((-comb)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דְּבַשׁ (de.vash) — honey.

honey

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

hun'-i (debhash; meli): One familiar with life in Palestine will recognize in debhash the Arabic dibs, which is the usual term for a sweet syrup made by boiling down the juice of grapes, raisins, carob beans, or dates. Dibs is seldom, if ever, used as a name for honey (compare Arabic 'asal), whereas in the Old Testament debhash probably had only that meaning. The honey referred to was in most cases wild honey (De 32:13; Jud 14:8,9; 1Sa 14:25,26,29,43), although the offering of honey with the first-fruits would seem to indicate that the bees were also domesticated (2Ch 31:5). The bees constructed their honeycomb and deposited their honey in holes in the ground (

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Honey

(1.) Heb. ya’ar, occurs only 1 Sam. 14:25, 27, 29; Cant. 5:1, where it denotes the honey of bees. Properly the word signifies a forest or copse, and refers to honey found in woods.

(2.) Nopheth, honey that drops (Ps. 19:10; Prov. 5:3; Cant. 4:11).

(3.) Debash denotes bee-honey (Judg. 14:8); but also frequently a vegetable honey distilled from trees (Gen. 43:11; Ezek. 27:17). In these passages it may probably mean “dibs,” or syrup of grapes, i.e., the juice…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The Hebrew debash in the first place applied to the product of the bee, to which exclusively we give the name of honey. All travellers agree in describing Palestine as a land "flowing with milk and honey," (Exodus 3:8) bees being abundant even in the remote parts of the wilderness, where they deposit their honey in the crevices of rocks or in hollow trees. In some parts of northern Arabia the hills are so well stocked with bees that no sooner are hives placed than they are occupied. In the second place the term debash applies to a decoction of the juice of the grape, which is still called dibs , and which forms an article of commerce in the East, it was this, and not ordinary bee-honey, which Jacob sent to Joseph, (Genesis 43:11) and which the Tyrians purchased from Palestine. (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Was formerly very plentiful in Palestine, and hence the frequent expressions of Scripture which import that that country was a land flowing with milk and honey, Le 20:24. Wild bee honey was often found in hollow trees and clefts in the rocks, De 32:13 Ps 81:16; and on this John the Baptist fed, Mt 3:4. Honey was highly prized, Ps 19:10 Pr 5:3 27:7. Modern travellers observe that it is still very common there, and that the inhabitants mix it in all their sauces. Forskal says the caravans of Mecca bring honey from Arabia to Cairo, and that he has often seen honey…

to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
הַרְבּ֣וֹתhar.Bot much H7235 Verb · Hiphil · infinitive construct common
227× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to increase or grow, like a plant shooting up. It is used in the Bible to describe something getting bigger or more abundant. The KJV translates it as abundance or bring up.
Amplified meaning
excessive, abundant
Tyndale gloss
to multiply
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָבָה (rabah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to increase or multiply, encompassing ideas of becoming great, numerous, or abundant. It has various forms, including Qal (to become many), Piel (to make large), and Hiphil (to make much). The word also appears in a context related to shooting in Genesis 21:20. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, רְבָה.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָבָה] 225 vb. be, or become, much, many, great

Qal 59

become many, numerous

be great

grow great (Aramaism)

Pi. 4 make large, increase

Hiph. 162

make much or many

make great, obj. pers.

base

[רָבָה] vb. shoot;—only Qal Gn 21:20

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7235a רָבָה be, or become, much, many, great .. become many, numerous

. . be great

. grow great (Aramaism)

. make large, increase

. . make much or many

. make great, obj. pers.

H7235b רָבָה shoot

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7235 rabah raw-baw'

a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect):--(bring

in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake for 7232), be

in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel,

exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly,

X -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have,

make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more

(in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much

(greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), X

process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.

see HEBREW for 07232

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָבָה (ra.vah) — to multiply.

1) be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to become many, become numerous, multiply (of people, animals, things)

1a2) to be or grow great

1b) (Piel) to make large, enlarge, increase, become many

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make much, make many, have many

1c1a) to multiply, increase

1c1b) to make much to do, do much in respect of, transgress greatly

1c1c) to increase greatly or exceedingly

1c2) to make great, enlarge, do much

Aramaic equivalent: re.vah (רְבָה "to grow great" H7236)

רָבָה (ra.vah) — to shoot.

(Qal) to shoot

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Verb · Hiphil · infinitive construct common
HVhcc
to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
לֹא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
absolutely, in no way
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
ט֑וֹבTov [is] good H2896 Adj
538× 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 good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Amplified meaning
pleasant, beneficial
Tyndale gloss
pleasant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good

pleasant, agreeable to the senses

pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

good, excellent, of its kind

good, rich, valuable in estimation

good, appropriate, becoming

c. מִן compar. = better

of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

good, kind, benign

good (ethical), right

base

טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

good = benefit

moral good

base

טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

bounty, good

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses

. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

. good, excellent, of its kind

. good, rich, valuable in estimation

. good, appropriate, becoming

. c. מִן compar. =better

. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

. good, kind, benign

. good (ethical), right

H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2896 towb tobe

from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used

likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,

the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a

good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or

women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,

bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,

fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),

graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,

merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,

prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well

((-favoured)).

see HEBREW for 02895

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.

adj

1) good, pleasant, agreeable

1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)

1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)

1c) good, excellent (of its kind)

1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation

1e) good, appropriate, becoming

1f) better (comparative)

1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)

1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)

1i) good, kind, benign

1j) good, right (ethical)

Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)

טוֹב (tov) — good.

1) a good thing, benefit, welfare

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) good, benefit

1d) moral good

טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.

1) welfare, benefit, good things

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) bounty

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.

(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:

(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).

to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
וְחֵ֖קֶרve.Che.ker and [the] search of H2714 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a search or investigation, like trying to find something out. It is used in the Bible to describe examining or inquiring about something, and is often translated as search or finding out.
Amplified meaning
investigate, seek out
Tyndale gloss
search
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֵ֫קֶר (cheqer) refers to the act of searching or investigating, encompassing concepts like examination and enumeration. It is derived from the root word meaning to search out. The entries collectively highlight its use in contexts related to inquiry and discovery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֵ֫קֶר n.m. searching, thing (to be) searched out

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2714 חֵ֫קֶר searching, thing (to be) searched out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2714 cheqer khay'-ker

from 2713; examination, enumeration, deliberation:--finding

out, number, (un-)search(-able, -ed, out, -ing).

see HEBREW for 02713

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֵ֫קֶר (che.qer) — search.

a search, investigation, searching, enquiry, thing to be searched out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
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…

to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
כְּבֹדָ֣םke.vo.Dam own honor their H3519 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Glory refers to great honor or splendor, often used to describe God's majesty, as in Psalm 138:5 where David praises God's glorious name. It can also refer to wealth or abundance, like in Genesis 31:1 where Jacob's wealth is described.
Amplified meaning
personal, individual, honor, splendor, greatness
Tyndale gloss
glory
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory

abundance, riches

honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

honour, dignity of position

honour, reputation, of character

my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man

honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one

glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches

. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

. honour, dignity of position

. honour, reputation, of character

. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man

. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one

. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3519 kabowd kaw-bode'

rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but

only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or

copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).

see HEBREW for 03513

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.

1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance

1a) abundance, riches

1b) honour, splendour, glory

1c) honour, dignity

1d) honour, reputation

1e) honour, reverence, glory

1f) glory

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3mp
to eat honey much not [is] good and [the] search of own honor their [is] an honor
כָּבֽוֹד׃ka.Vod [is] an honor H3519 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Glory refers to great honor or splendor, often used to describe God's majesty, as in Psalm 138:5 where David praises God's glorious name. It can also refer to wealth or abundance, like in Genesis 31:1 where Jacob's wealth is described.
Tyndale gloss
glory
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory

abundance, riches

honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

honour, dignity of position

honour, reputation, of character

my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man

honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one

glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches

. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

. honour, dignity of position

. honour, reputation, of character

. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man

. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one

. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3519 kabowd kaw-bode'

rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but

only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or

copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).

see HEBREW for 03513

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.

1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance

1a) abundance, riches

1b) honour, splendour, glory

1c) honour, dignity

1d) honour, reputation

1e) honour, reverence, glory

1f) glory

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
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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