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Proverbs 27:11 — Word Study

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WLCחֲכַ֣ם בְּ֭נִי וְשַׂמַּ֣ח לִבִּ֑י וְאָשִׁ֖יבָה חֹרְפִ֣י דָבָֽר׃

BSABe wisechâkam [have good judgment, act intelligently] my sonbên [child, descendant] and bring joysâmach [rejoice, be glad] to my heartlêb [feelings, will, intellect] so that I can answershûwb [respond, reply] him who taunts mechâraph [reproaches, criticizes, with scorn, contempt]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 27
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 (da.Var) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 27:11quick helps
In a sentenceThe father advises his son to be wise and joyful, enabling him to respond to those who mock him.
Who is speakingA father, addressing his son.
Where we areIn a section of Proverbs that offers practical wisdom and advice.
The hard wordחֲכַ֣ם
Take awayWisdom brings joy and the ability to respond to challenges.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbחָכַם 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 27:11

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 — Advice from a Fathergenerated

10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

Proverbs 27:11 is part of a series of wise sayings that emphasize the importance of wisdom and relationships. The father encourages his son to act wisely, which will not only bring joy to the father's heart but also equip the son to handle mockery from others. This advice reflects the broader themes of wisdom found throughout the book of Proverbs.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
2Proverbs 15:20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
3Proverbs 23:15–16My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
4Ecclesiastes 2:18–21I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
5Philemon 1:7–19I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

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


The Key Word חֲכַ֣ם, cha.Khamgenerated

The verb חָכַם (cha.Kham) means to be wise or to act wisely. It conveys the idea of having good judgment and acting intelligently, which is essential for making sound decisions in life.

In this verse, the imperative form addresses the son directly, urging him to embrace wisdom. This call to wisdom is a recurring theme in Proverbs, often linked to the well-being of both the individual and their family.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the rendering of חֲכַ֣ם as be wise, and they all convey the same essential meaning.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb חֲכַ֣ם governs the entire verse, with several clauses and phrases hanging off it. The structure emphasizes a sequence: first, the call to wisdom, followed by the resulting joy, and concluding with the purpose of being able to respond.

The sentence is built around the imperative forms, which create a sense of urgency and directness in the father's advice to his son.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חֲכַ֣ם as σοφὸς (sophos), which also means wise. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of wisdom across both Hebrew and Greek texts.

The translation of וְשַׂמַּ֣ח as εὐφραίνηταί (euphraínētai) suggests a focus on the joy that comes from wisdom, reinforcing the connection between wisdom and happiness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 27:11 advises a son to be wise and bring joy to his father's heart. The father wants his son to act intelligently so that he can respond to those who mock him. This verse emphasizes the value of wisdom in relationships and the importance of joy.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be wise in this context?

To be wise means to have good judgment and to act intelligently, making choices that lead to positive outcomes.

Why is bringing joy to the father's heart important?

Bringing joy to the father's heart strengthens their relationship and reflects the son's wise actions.

What kind of taunts might the son face?

The taunts could come from peers or adversaries who criticize or mock him for his choices or beliefs.

How can wisdom help in responding to taunts?

Wisdom equips the son with the ability to respond thoughtfully and effectively to criticism, rather than reacting impulsively.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek wisdom more actively?
  2. How can I bring joy to those I care about through my actions?
  3. What are some examples of wise responses to criticism I've seen or experienced?
  4. How does wisdom influence my relationships with family and friends?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 27:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,.... That is, show thyself to be a wise man by thy words and actions; endeavour to get a good share of wisdom and knowledge, and make a good use of it, and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 27 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. My son, be wise ... that I may answer him that reproacheth me - as though my son were a fool, or one badly reared.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 27 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For being the father of a wicked son, as if I had either deserved him as a curse from God, or made him so by my example, or by the neglect of his education. See .

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 27 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 27:11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.Ver. 11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad.]

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 27 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) My son.—The address of a father to his son, or master to pupil. That I may answer him that reproacheth me for having brought you up badly when he sees you ignorant or ill-behaved. So Christians are exhorted to let their “light so shine before men” that their Father in heaven may be thereby glorified (Matthew 5:16).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 27 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The voice of the teacher to his true disciple. He pleads with him that the uprightness of the scholar will be the truest answer to all attacks on the character or teaching of the master.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 27 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

11. May answer him — Literally, that I may return a word, etc. That reproacheth me — That is, with want of care in the education of my child. The good and wise conduct of children is the best compliment to their parents.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 27 →

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

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.

RVARevised Version, American1894

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

My sonne, be wise, and reioyce mine heart, that I may answere him that reprocheth me.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart. And I return my reproacher a word.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, || And I return a word [to] my reproacher.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice; then I will give back an answer to the one who mocks me.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst give an answer to him that reproacheth.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

My son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I may give back an answer to him who puts me to shame.

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.

clauseclauseverbחֲכַ֣םbe.wiseclausenoun phraseבְּ֭נִmy.sonיmyוְandclauseverbשַׂמַּ֣חmake.gladnoun phrase · objectלִבִּ֑heartיmyוְsoclauseverbאָשִׁ֖יבָהthat.I.may.bring.backnoun phrase · objectחֹרְפִ֣[oneיwho].taunts.mesecond objectדָבָֽרa.word

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 seven words matching in their respective translations. This agreement highlights the consistency of the message across different textual traditions.

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

חֲכַ֣ם בְּ֭נִי וְשַׂמַּ֣ח לִבִּ֑י וְאָשִׁ֖יבָה חֹרְפִ֣י דָבָֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
חֲכַ֣םσοφὸςבְּ֭נִיυἱέוְשַׂמַּ֣חεὐφραίνηταίלִבִּ֑יμουוְאָשִׁ֖יבָהἀπόστρεψονחֹרְפִ֣יἐπονειδίστουςדָבָֽר׃λόγους

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

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


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

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

Proverbs 27:11חָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםבֵּןO son myO son myבֵּןשָׂמַחand make gland make gladשָׂמַחלֵבheart myheart myלֵבשׁוּבso let me bso let me bringשׁוּבחָרַף[one who] t[one who] tauntחָרַףדָּבָרa worda wordדָּבָרבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהחֹ֫רֶףautumnautumnחֹ֫רֶףדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבלִיץto mockto mockלִיץעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןגִּילto rejoiceto rejoiceגִּילשִׂמְחָהjoyjoyשִׂמְחָהחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןגָּדַףto blaspheto blasphemeגָּדַףמַעֲרָכָהrankrankמַעֲרָכָהיֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶרסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶר
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 27:11

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.

be wise O son my and make glad heart my so let me bring back [one who] taunts me a word
חֲכַ֣םcha.Kham be wise H2449 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be wise means to have good judgment and act intelligently, as described in the Bible. This word is used in Proverbs and other books to encourage people to seek wisdom and make wise decisions, like King Solomon.
Amplified meaning
have good judgment, act intelligently
Tyndale gloss
be wise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָכַם (chakam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be wise or to act wisely. It encompasses various forms, including teaching wisdom and showing oneself wise. The entries highlight its use in different contexts, such as making others wise or dealing shrewdly. There are no noted disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכַם vb. be wise

Qal be or become wise, act wisely

Pi. make wise, teach wisdom

Pu. made wise, intensive, as it were the embodiment of wisdom

Hiph. making wise the simple

Hithp. let us deal wisely (shrewdly) toward it (the people); make or shew thyself wise

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2449 חָכַם be wise .be or become wise, act wisely

. make wise, teach wisdom

. made wise, intensive, as it were the embodiment of wisdom

. making wise the simple

. let us deal wisely (shrewdly) toward it (the people); make or shew thyself wise

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2449 chakam khaw-kam'

a primitive root, to be wise (in mind, word or act):--X

exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal

(never so) wisely, make wiser.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָכַם (cha.kham) — be wise.

1) to be wise

1a) (Qal) to be or become wise, act wisely

1b) (Piel) to make wise, teach wisdom, instruct

1c) (Pual) to be made wise

1d) (Hiphil) to make wise

1e) (Hithpael) to show oneself wise, deceive, show one's wisdom

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
be wise O son my and make glad heart my so let me bring back [one who] taunts me a word
בְּ֭נִיBe.ni O son my H1121 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Amplified meaning
child, descendant
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
be wise O son my and make glad heart my so let me bring back [one who] taunts me a word
וְשַׂמַּ֣חve.sa.Mach and make glad H8055 Conjunction · verb piel imperative second person masculine singular
155× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to rejoice or be glad, often used in a religious sense, like when the Israelites rejoiced at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8:66.
Amplified meaning
rejoice, be glad
Tyndale gloss
to rejoice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂמַח (samach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad. It can express joy in everyday life, religious contexts, or even exultation. The verb has different forms: Qal (to rejoice), Piel (to cause to rejoice), and Hiphil (to make glad). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to joy and merriment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ 154 vb. rejoice, be glad

Qal 126

in common life

rejoice religiously

subj. י׳

Pi. cause to rejoice, gladden

Hiph. = Pi.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8055 שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ rejoice, be glad

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8055 samach saw-makh'

a primitive root; probably to brighten up, i.e.

(figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or

gleesome:--cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful),

be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂמַח (sa.mach) — to rejoice.

1) to rejoice, be glad

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to rejoice

1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at)

1a3) to rejoice (religiously)

1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb piel imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vpv2ms
be wise O son my and make glad heart my so let me bring back [one who] taunts me a word
לִבִּ֑יli.Bi heart my H3820 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Amplified meaning
feelings, will, intellect
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
be wise O son my and make glad heart my so let me bring back [one who] taunts me a word
וְאָשִׁ֖יבָהve.'a.Shi.vah so let me bring back H7725 Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
respond, reply
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-1cs — Conjunction · verb hiphil infinitive construct first person common singular
HC/Vhc1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
be wise O son my and make glad heart my so let me bring back [one who] taunts me a word
חֹרְפִ֣יcho.re.Fi [one who] taunts me H2778 Verb qal participle (active) masculine singular common · suffix
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'châraph' means to acquire or expose something, and can also mean to betroth or defame someone. It is translated as 'betroth', 'blaspheme', or 'reproach' in the KJV Bible.
Amplified meaning
reproaches, criticizes, with scorn, contempt
Tyndale gloss
to taunt
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָרַף (charaph) has a range of meanings including to reproach, taunt, and defame, as well as to remain in harvest time and to acquire. It is built from a primitive root and can be used in various forms, such as Qal and Piel. Notably, it appears in Isaiah 18:6 and Leviticus 19:20.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָרַף] vb. reproach

Qal

Piel. reproach,—prop. say sharp things against,—taunt

base

[חָרַף] vb. denom. remain in harvest time—only Qal Is 18:6

ref

[חָרַף] vb. acquire—only Niph. Lv 19:20

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2778a [חָרַף] reproach H2778b חָרַף vb. denom. remain in harvest time H2778c חָרַף acquire

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2778 charaph. khaw-raf'

a primitive root; to pull off, i.e. (by implication) to

expose (as by stripping); specifically, to betroth (as if a

surrender); figuratively, to carp at, i.e. defame;

denominative (from 2779) to spend the winter:--betroth,

blaspheme, defy, jeopard, rail, reproach, upbraid.

see HEBREW for 02779

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרַף (cha.raph) — to taunt.

1) to reproach, taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid

1a) (Qal) to reproach

1b) (Piel) to reproach, defy, taunt

חָרַף (cha.raph) — to winter.

(Qal) to winter, spend harvest time, remain in harvest time

חָרַף (cha.raph) — to acquire.

(Niphal) to acquire, be betrothed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine singular common · suffix
HVqrmsc/Sp1bs
be wise O son my and make glad heart my so let me bring back [one who] taunts me a word
דָבָֽר׃da.Var a word H1697 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wurd: The commonest term in the Old Testament for "word" is dabhar (also "matter" "thing"); in the New Testament logos ("reason," "discourse," "speech"); but also frequently rhema. Rhema is a "word" in itself considered; logos is a spoken word, with reference generally to that which is in the speaker's mind. Some of the chief applications of the terms may thus be exhibited:

(1) We have the word of Yahweh (or God; see below)

(a) as the revelation to the patriarch, prophet, or inspired person (Ge 15:1; Ex 20:1; Nu 22:38, etc.);

(b) as spoken forth by the prophet (Ex 4:30; 34:1; 2Ki 7:1;

One of the titles of the second person of the Trinity, indicating perhaps that by his acts and teachings God is revealed, somewhat as thought is by words, 1Jo 1:1 5:7 Re 19:13. "The word of the Lord" was a common phrase in the Old Testament, always denoting some revelation of Jehovah. Long before the coming of Christ, the Jewish paraphrasts of the Bible used "The Word" in the passage where Jehovah occurred in the original; and the term was familiar to Jewish writers as the name of a divine being, the Son of God.

To show its true meaning and its application to our Savior, was of great importance to John, the last of the inspired writers, in whose later years certain errors as to the person of Christ, borrowed from Eastern philosophy, had begun to creep into the Christian church. He describes "The Word" as a personal and divine Being…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A title of Jesus Joh 1:1,14; 1Jo 5:7; Re 19:13

→ See JESUS, NAMES OF

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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