Menu

Proverbs 26:28 — Word Study

Depth

WLCלְֽשׁוֹן־ שֶׁ֭קֶר יִשְׂנָ֣א דַכָּ֑יו וּפֶ֥ה חָ֝לָ֗ק יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה מִדְחֶֽה׃

BSAA lyingsheqer [deceitful, false] tonguelâshôwn [language or speech] hatessânêʼ [to intensely dislike or despise] those it crushesdak [oppresses or afflicts] and a flatteringchâlâq [smooth, deceitful] mouthpeh [lips or edge] causesʻâsâh [to make or bring about] ruinmidcheh [destruction or overthrow, a cause of stumbling]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 26
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 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 (mid.Cheh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 26:28quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse warns against the destructive nature of deceitful speech and flattery.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, addressing the consequences of words.
Where we areIn a collection of wisdom sayings, focusing on the impact of speech.
The hard wordשֶׁ֭קֶר
Take awayDeceitful words can harm others and lead to ruin.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׂנֵא The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 26:28

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

Context — Wisdom on Speech and Its Consequencesgenerated

25When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

Proverbs 26:28 warns that a lying tongue not only harms others but also leads to destruction. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the nature of deceitful speech, which is prevalent in the wisdom literature of the Bible. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of discernment when dealing with those who speak deceptively, as seen in the context of Proverbs 26:25-27.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1John 8:40–44But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
2John 10:32–33But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
3John 15:22–24If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
4Proverbs 6:24to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
5Proverbs 7:5–21that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.

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


The Key Word שֶׁ֭קֶר, She.kergenerated

The Hebrew word שֶׁ֫קֶר (*sheqer*) means 'falsehood' or 'deception,' indicating a range of dishonest behaviors. It is often used to describe lies and false testimony, emphasizing the serious implications of deceitful speech.

This word is rooted in the idea of betrayal and disappointment, highlighting the emotional weight of falsehood. Its usage in Proverbs serves as a warning against the dangers of lying and the harm it brings to relationships.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, where it uses lying and flattering to describe the two types of speech. The KJV and ASV also use lying and flattering, maintaining consistency.

Where translations differ is in the rendering of חָלָק. The BSB, KJV, and others use flattering, while the DRA opts for deceitful and the BBE for smooth, indicating different nuances in interpretation.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is יִשְׂנָ֣א, it hates, which governs the subject לְֽשׁוֹן־ a tongue and the object דַכָּ֑יו those it crushes. The second clause begins with וּפֶ֥ה, and a mouth, leading to another verb יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה, it makes, and its object מִדְחֶֽה ruin.

The structure emphasizes the relationship between the actions of speech and their consequences, with the first clause focusing on hatred and oppression, and the second on the creation of ruin.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates לְֽשׁוֹן־ as γλῶσσα, meaning 'tongue' or 'language,' which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning. This choice reflects a direct correspondence in the concept of speech.

For שֶׁ֭קֶר, the LXX uses ψευδὴς, which means 'false' or 'deceitful,' reinforcing the idea of dishonesty present in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 26:28 tells us that a lying tongue hates those it crushes, meaning that deceitful speech can harm others deeply. It also says that a flattering mouth causes ruin, warning us that smooth talk can lead to destruction.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that a lying tongue hates?

It means that deceitful speech not only harms others but is rooted in a deep animosity towards them.

How does flattery lead to ruin?

Flattery can mislead people and create false expectations, ultimately resulting in disappointment or harm.

Why is speech so important in Proverbs?

Proverbs emphasizes the power of words, showing how they can build up or tear down relationships and lives.

What can we learn from this verse about our own speech?

We should be mindful of our words, avoiding deceit and flattery, and instead speak truthfully and kindly.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I ensure that my words are truthful and not deceitful?
  2. In what situations have I seen flattery lead to negative outcomes?
  3. What steps can I take to speak more kindly and avoid harsh words?
  4. How can I encourage others to speak truthfully and avoid deceit?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 26:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it,.... That is, a man of a lying tongue, that is given to lying, hates those that are hurt and crushed by his lies; the reason why he hurts them

Read John Gill on Proverbs 26 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. A lying tongue hateth (those that are) afflicted by it.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 26 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Hateth those that are afflicted by it, because by his calumnies he hath made them his enemies. A flattering mouth; which, though it be more smooth and plausible than a slandering mouth, yet is in truth no less pernicious, betraying others either to sin, or to danger and mischief.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 26 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.Ver. 28. A lying tongue hateth those that are addicted by it.] False love proves to be true hatred, by the evil consequent of its ruin and destruction to the party flattered, and betrayed by a smooth supparasitation. There are those who thus read the text. The false tongue hateth those that smite it, &c. Truth breeds hatred, as the fair nymphs did the ill-favoured fauns and satyrs.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 26 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it.—As the remembrance of them calls up his own wickedness to the mind of the offender. This is one reason why “the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7), as being conscious of having rejected God’s love, and so hating to be reminded of Him.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 26 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 28. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it] He that injures another hates him in proportion to the injury he has done him; and, strange to tell, in proportion to the innocence of the oppressed. The debtor cannot bear the sight of his creditor; nor the knave, of him whom he has injured.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 26 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. Comp. “Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quem læseris.” Tacitus, Agric., cap. 42.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 26 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

28. A lying tongue… and a flattering mouth — These terms, according to Hebrew usage, stand for persons with these qualities. The rendering of the first clause is not entirely satisfactory.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 26 →

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

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

NETBNew English Translation2006

A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

RVARevised Version, American1894

A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruine.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A lying tongue hates its bruised ones, || And a flattering mouth works an overthrow!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

A lying tongue hateth those that are crushed by it; and a flattering mouth prepareth [others'] downfall.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth worketh ruin.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If you tell lies, you show you hate your victims; if you flatter people, you cause disaster.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.

Word by word, the decisions they made

חָ֝לָ֗קcha.Lak flattering H2509 3 different renderings
flatteringASV BSB DBY GNV ILT KJV LSV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
deceitfulDRA
smoothBBE

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


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

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

clausenoun phrase · subjectלְֽשׁוֹןa.tongueשֶׁ֭קֶרof.falsehoodverbיִשְׂנָ֣אit.hatesnoun phrase · objectדַכָּ֑יits.crushedו[people]וּandclausenoun phrase · subjectפֶ֥הa.mouthחָ֝לָ֗קsmoothverbיַעֲשֶׂ֥הit.makesobjectמִדְחֶֽהcalamity

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


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

Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all eight words matching in their respective translations. This consistency highlights the shared understanding of the consequences of deceitful speech.

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

לְֽשׁוֹן־ שֶׁ֭קֶר יִשְׂנָ֣א דַכָּ֑יו וּפֶ֥ה חָ֝לָ֗ק יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה מִדְחֶֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לְֽשׁוֹן־γλῶσσαשֶׁ֭קֶרψευδὴςיִשְׂנָ֣אμισεῖדַכָּ֑יוἀλήθειανוּפֶ֥הστόμαחָ֝לָ֗קἄστεγονיַעֲשֶׂ֥הποιεῖמִדְחֶֽה׃ἀκαταστασίας

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 26:28לָשׁוֹןa tongue ofa tongue ofלָשׁוֹןשֶׁ֫קֶרfalsehoodfalsehoodשֶׁ֫קֶרשָׂנֵאit hatesit hatesשָׂנֵאדַּךְcrushed [pecrushed [peopleדַּךְפֶּהand a mouthand a mouthפֶּהחָלָקflatteringflatteringחָלָקעָשָׂהit makesit makesעָשָׂהמִדְחֶהstumblingstumblingמִדְחֶהלָשַׁןto slanderto slanderלָשַׁןשָׁקַרto dealto dealשָׁקַרפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָהחָלַקto divideto divideחָלַקדָּחָהto thrustto thrustדָּחָהדָּכָהto crushto crushדָּכָהחֵךְpalatepalateחֵךְהָגָהto mutterto mutterהָגָהעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדנָבָאto prophesto prophesyנָבָאאָהֵבto love: lto love: loverאָהֵבשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרמִשְׂגָּבhigh refughigh refugeמִשְׂגָּבאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַה
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 26:28

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.

a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
לְֽשׁוֹן־le.sho.no.She- a tongue of H3956 Noun common · both singular construct
117× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The tongue, used for eating, speaking, or describing a language. In the Bible, it appears in many books, including Genesis 11:1 and Acts 2:4.
Amplified meaning
language or speech
Tyndale gloss
tongue
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָשׁוֹן (*lashon*) primarily means 'tongue,' referring to both the organ of speech in humans and animals. It can also denote 'language' and has figurative uses, such as a 'tongue-shaped' wedge or bay. The entries highlight its literal and metaphorical applications, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָשׁוֹן n.m. and (more oft.) f. tongue

tongue of men

= language

tongue of animals

tongue of fire

= (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold

= (tongue-shaped) bay of sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3956 לָשׁוֹן tongue . tongue of men

. = language

. tongue of animals

. tongue of fire

. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold

. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3956 lashown law-shone'

or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah

{lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used

literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech),

and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of

water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker,

tongue, wedge.

see HEBREW for 03960

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue.

: tongue/words

1) tongue

1a) tongue (of men)

1a1) tongue (literal)

1a2) tongue (organ of speech)

1b) language

1c) tongue (of animals)

1d) tongue (of fire)

1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: language.

: language

1) tongue

1a) tongue (of men)

1a1) tongue (literal)

1a2) tongue (organ of speech)

1b) language

1c) tongue (of animals)

1d) tongue (of fire)

1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: bar.

: bar/projection/bay

1) tongue

1a) tongue (of men)

1a1) tongue (literal)

1a2) tongue (organ of speech)

1b) language

1c) tongue (of animals)

1d) tongue (of fire)

1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular construct
HNcbsc
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…

a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
שֶׁ֭קֶרShe.ker falsehood H8267 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to deception or falsehood, often implying a sense of betrayal or disappointment. It's used in the Bible to describe lies, false testimony, or deceitful behavior, like in Psalm 116:11, where the psalmist says all men are liars.
Amplified meaning
deceitful, false
Tyndale gloss
deception
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) refers to deception, falsehood, and disappointment. It encompasses various forms of deceit, including fraud and wrongful testimony. The word is built from the root associated with untruths and can imply sham or lying. It is used in contexts involving false prophets and general dishonesty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood

deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

deceit, fraud, wrong

injurious falsehood, in testimony

falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

lie, falsehood, in gen.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8267 שֶׁ֫קֶר deception, disappointment, falsehood . deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

. deceit, fraud, wrong

. injurious falsehood, in testimony

. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

. lie, falsehood, in gen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8267 sheqer sheh'-ker

from 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often

adverbial):--without a cause, deceit(-ful),

false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, + lie, lying, vain

(thing), wrongfully.

see HEBREW for 08266

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) — deception.

1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood

1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)

1b) deceit, fraud, wrong

1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)

1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)

1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely

1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)

1e) lie, falsehood (in general)

1e1) false tongue

1f) in vain

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

fols'-hood.

See LYING.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 20:16; 23:1; Le 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; Job 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; Ps 5:6,9; 10:7; 12:2,3; 28:3; 31:18; 34:13; 36:3; 50:19,20; 52:2-5; 55:21,23; 58:3; 59:12; 62:4; 63:11; 101:5,7; 109:2; 116:11; 119:29,69,163; 120:2-4; 144:8,11; Pr 2:12-15; 3:3; 6:12,13,17-19; 10:9,10,18,31; 11:9; 12:17,19,20,22; 13:5; 14:5,8,25; 17:4,7; 19:5,9,22,28; 20:17; 21:6; 26:18,19,24-26,28; 27:14; Ec 5:6; Isa 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8;

a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
יִשְׂנָ֣אyis.Na' it hates H8130 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
146× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hate means to feel intense dislike or hostility, as seen in the actions of enemies or foes in the Bible. It can also describe God's hatred of sin.
Amplified meaning
to intensely dislike or despise
Tyndale gloss
to hate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate

Qal 128 hate

Niph. is hated

Pi. enemy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8130 שָׂנֵא hate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8130 sane' saw-nay'

a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)

hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.

1) to hate, be hateful

1a) (Qal) to hate

1a1) of man

1a2) of God

1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)

1b) (Niphal) to be hated

1c) (Piel) hater (participle)

1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom

Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
דַכָּ֑יוda.Kav crushed [people] its H1790 Suffix
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be crushed or oppressed, often used to describe someone who is injured or afflicted. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
oppresses or afflicts
Tyndale gloss
crushed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דַּךְ (dakh) is an adjective meaning 'crushed' or 'oppressed.' It is derived from an unused root and is used figuratively to describe someone who is injured or afflicted. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to being crushed or oppressed.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דַּךְ adj. crushed, oppressed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1790 דַּךְ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1790 dak dak

from an unused root (compare 1794); crushed, i.e. (fig.)

injured:--afflicted, oppressed.

see HEBREW for 01794

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דַּךְ (dakh) — crushed.

crushed, oppressed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj | Suff — Suffix
HAampc/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
וּפֶ֥הu.Peh and a mouth H6310 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
498× 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 the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Amplified meaning
lips or edge
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

. external organ

. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,

assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +

file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)

say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,

tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

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

mowth (peh, chekh, garon (Ps 149:6); Aramaic pum, tera (Da 3:26); stoma, 71 times, once logos, i.e. "word of mouth," "speech" (Ac 15:27); once we find the verb epistomizo, "to silence," "to stop the mouth" (Tit 1:11)):

1. Literal Sense:

In addition to frequent references to man and animals, "Their food was yet in their mouths" (Ps 78:30); "And Yahweh opened the mouth of the ass" (Nu 22:28); "Save me from the lion's mouth" (Ps 22:21), etc., the term is often used in connection with inanimate things: mouth of a…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is sometimes used in Scripture for speaker, Ex 4:16 Jer 15:19. God spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth," Numbers 12.8, that is, condescendingly and clearly. The law was to be "in the mouth" of the Hebrews, Ex 13:9, often rehearsed and talked of. "The rod of his mouth," Isa 11:4, and the sharp sword, Re 1:16, denote the power of Christ’s word to convict, control, and judge; compare Isa 49:2 Heb 4:12. The Hebrew word for mouth is often translated "command," Ge 45:21

a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
חָ֝לָ֗קcha.Lak flattering H2509 Adj
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes something or someone as smooth, often referring to flattering or deceitful speech. It is used in the Bible to warn against smooth talkers who intend to deceive. The book of Proverbs contains many warnings about smooth talk.
Amplified meaning
smooth, deceitful
Tyndale gloss
smooth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָלָק (chalaq) means 'smooth' and is often associated with flattering speech. It derives from the root meaning related to smoothness, particularly in the context of the tongue. The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, including the notion of flattery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָלָק adj. smooth

lit.

fig. of mouth uttering smooth words

as subst. = flattery

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2509 חָלָק smooth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2509 chalaq khaw-lawk'

from 2505; smooth (especially of tongue):--flattering,

smooth.

see HEBREW for 02505

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלָק (cha.laq) — smooth.

flattering, smooth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
יַעֲשֶׂ֥הya.'a.Seh it makes H6213 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
to make or bring about
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
a tongue of falsehood it hates crushed [people] its and a mouth flattering it makes stumbling
מִדְחֶֽה׃mid.Cheh stumbling H4072 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ruin means a cause of stumbling or a means of overthrow. It describes something that leads to failure or destruction, often used in biblical warnings and prophecies.
Amplified meaning
destruction or overthrow, a cause of stumbling
Tyndale gloss
ruin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִדְחֶה (midcheh) refers to a means or occasion of stumbling, and is associated with the concept of ruin. It is derived from the root meaning to overthrow. The word appears in Proverbs 26:28, highlighting its use in the context of causing downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִדְחֶה n.m. means or occasion of stumbling, Pr 26:28

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4072 מִדְחֶה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4072 midcheh mid-kheh'

from 1760; overthrow:--ruin.

see HEBREW for 01760

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִדְחֶה (mid.cheh) — ruin.

1) occasion of stumbling, means of stumbling

2) (TWOT) ruin

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

→ FIGURATIVE

Causes of Ps 69:6

Stone of Isa 8:14; Ro 9:32,33; 1Pe 1:8

Stumbling-block Le 19:14; Ps 119:165

R. V.) Isa 57:14; Jer 6:21; Eze 3:20; 7:19; 14:3,4,7; Zep 1:3; Lu 11:52; Ro 11:9; 14:13; 1Co…

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate