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Proverbs 28:7 — Word Study

Depth

WLCנוֹצֵ֣ר תּ֭וֹרָה בֵּ֣ן מֵבִ֑ין וְרֹעֶה זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים יַכְלִ֥ים אָבִֽיו׃

BSAA discerningbîyn [wise, understanding] sonbên [child, descendant] keepsnâtsar [guards, watches over] the lawtôwrâh [instruction, Torah] but a companionrâʻâh [friend, associate] of gluttonszâlal [those who are morally loose, riotous men] disgraceskâlam [shames, humbles] his fatherʼâb [parent, ancestor]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 28
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 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 ('a.Viv) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 28:7quick helps
In a sentenceA wise son honors the law, while a friend of gluttons brings shame to his father.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom on family and moral conduct.
Where we areIn a section discussing the virtues of integrity and the consequences of poor associations.
The hard wordנוֹצֵ֣ר
Take awayThe contrast between a son who keeps the law and one who associates with the morally loose.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָצַר 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 28:7

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 Conduct and Relationshipsgenerated

6Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
7A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
9Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.

Proverbs 28:7 addresses the importance of discernment in a son's behavior, emphasizing that a wise child adheres to the law, while a companion of gluttons brings disgrace to his father. This verse fits within a broader discourse on integrity and the influence of associations, as seen in the surrounding verses, such as Proverbs 28:6 and Proverbs 28:8.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 2:1–6My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
2Proverbs 3:1–35My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
3Proverbs 28:24He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.
4Proverbs 19:26He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
5Proverbs 23:19–22Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.

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


The Key Word נוֹצֵ֣ר, no.Tzergenerated

The word נוֹצֵ֣ר (no.Tzer) is a participle from the verb נָצַר (natsar), meaning to keep or guard. It conveys the action of watching over or preserving something, which in this context refers to adhering to the law.

This term is significant as it highlights the active role of a discerning son in maintaining the law, contrasting with the passive or negative behavior of those who do not uphold such standards.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses keeps for נוֹצֵ֣ר, aligning with the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is נוֹצֵ֣ר, keeps, which governs the subject בֵּ֣ן, son, and the object תּ֭וֹרָה, the law. The second part of the verse introduces another subject וְרֹעֶה, and [one who] associates, with its object זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים, gluttons, followed by the verb יַכְלִ֥ים, he shames.

The structure emphasizes the actions of both subjects, with the first part focusing on the positive behavior of the son and the second part contrasting it with the disgraceful actions of the companion.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נוֹצֵ֣ר as φυλάσσει (phulassei), meaning to guard or protect, which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning of keeping the law.

This choice of word indicates a consistent understanding of the importance of safeguarding moral and ethical behavior.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 28:7 teaches that a wise son keeps the law, which means he follows moral guidance, while a friend of gluttons brings shame to his father, indicating the negative influence of poor companions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be a discerning son?

A discerning son is one who understands the importance of following the law and making wise choices that honor his family.

How does associating with gluttons disgrace a father?

Associating with gluttons reflects poor moral choices and behavior that can bring shame to the family name and reputation.

What is the significance of keeping the law?

Keeping the law is essential for moral integrity and demonstrates respect for divine guidance and family values.

How can one avoid being a companion of gluttons?

To avoid being a companion of gluttons, one should seek friendships with those who uphold moral values and encourage positive behavior.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I demonstrate discernment in my choices and relationships?
  2. How do my associations reflect on my family and values?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure I am keeping the law in my daily life?
  4. How can I encourage others to make wise choices and avoid negative influences?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 28:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Whoso keepeth the law [is] a wise son,.... That observes the law of God; for, though he cannot perfectly keep it, yet he delights in it after the inward man; and with his spirit serves it, from a

Read John Gill on Proverbs 28 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 28 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Is a wise son; and consequently a credit and comfort to his father, as hath been oft noted before. Is a companion of riotous men; which is both a manifest violation of God’ s law, which forbids this society, and is the ready way to a total and final apostacy from God, and from his law. Shameth his father, because he is a foolish son.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 28 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law [is] a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous [men] shameth his father.Ver. 7. He that keepeth the law is a wise son.] It is neither good nature, nor good nurture or breeding, that can prove a man to be truly wise, but obedience to God’ s statutes. Aiphonsus, king of Spain, surnamed the Wise, was a rank fool and an arrant atheist; so are all the world’ s wizards. But he that is a companion to riotous men.] Or, That feedeth gluttons, whose belly hath no bottom. ‘ Ingluvies et tempestas, barathrumque macelli.’ They say the locust is all belly, which is joined to his mouth, and endeth at his tail: such are riotous belly gods. To feed such is to cast…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 28 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. riotous] Rather, gluttonous. See Proverbs 23:20, note.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 28 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7. Keepeth the law — Is moral in deportment and character. Comp. Mark 10:19; Mark 10:21. Wise son — Discreet, intelligent, he also imparts instruction by his example.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 28 →

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 discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The one who keeps the law is a discerning child, but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of gluttonous men shameth his father.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He who keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He that keepeth the Law, is a childe of vnderstanding: but hee that feedeth the gluttons, shameth his father.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Whoso observeth the law is a son that hath understanding; but he that is a companion of profligates bringeth shame to his father.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Whoever is keeping the Law is an intelligent son, || And a friend of gluttons || Causes his father to blush.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Whoso keepeth the law is an intelligent son; but he that is a companion of gluttons bringeth dishonor on his father.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He who keeps the law is a son who has understanding, but one who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He that keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that feedeth gluttons, shameth his father.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If you keep the law, you're a wise son, but if you keep bad company you shame your father.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who keeps company with feasters puts shame on his father.

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


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

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

clausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbנוֹצֵ֣ר[one.who].keepsobjectתּ֭וֹרָה[the].lawnoun phrase · predicateבֵּ֣ן[is].a.sonמֵבִ֑ין[who].has.understandingוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbרֹעֶה[one.who].associates.withobjectזֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗יםgluttonsverbיַכְלִ֥יםhe.shamesnoun phrase · objectאָבִֽיfatherוhis

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 matched, indicating a strong consistency in the transmission of this text.

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

נוֹצֵ֣ר תּ֭וֹרָה בֵּ֣ן מֵבִ֑ין וְרֹעֶה זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗ים יַכְלִ֥ים אָבִֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
נוֹצֵ֣רφυλάσσειתּ֭וֹרָהνόμονבֵּ֣ןυἱὸςמֵבִ֑יןσυνετόςוְרֹעֶהδὲזֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗יםἀσωτίανיַכְלִ֥יםἀτιμάζειאָבִֽיו׃πατέρα

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 28:7נָצַר[one who] k[one who] keepsנָצַרתּוֹרָה[the] law[the] lawתּוֹרָהבֵּן[is] a son[is] a sonבֵּןבִּיןunderstandiunderstandingבִּיןבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדand [one whand [one who] aבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדזָלַלgluttonsgluttonsזָלַלכָּלַםhe shameshe shamesכָּלַםאָבfather hisfather hisאָביָרָאto shootto shootיָרָאבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהזוּלto lavish/to lavish/despiזוּלאֱמֶתtruth: faitruth: faithfulאֱמֶתבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרכָּתַבto writeto writeכָּתַבעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםרָבַץto stretchto stretchרָבַץעֵ֫דֶרflockflockעֵ֫דֶרסָבָאto imbibeto imbibeסָבָאיָרַדto go downto go downיָרַדבּוֹשׁbe ashamedbe ashamedבּוֹשׁכֵּןrightrightכֵּןקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַר
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 28:7

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.

[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
נוֹצֵ֣רno.Tzer [one who] keeps H5341 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to watch or guard something, like the Israelites watching over the Passover in Exodus 12:42 or God watching over his people in Psalm 121:4.
Amplified meaning
guards, watches over
Tyndale gloss
to watch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָצַר (natsar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to watch, guard, or keep. It encompasses a range of actions including protecting, preserving, and observing, as well as concealing or keeping secret. The entries suggest both positive and negative connotations, such as guarding from danger or hiding something. The term can also refer to a watchman.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָצַר] vb. watch, guard, keep;—Qal

Watch, guard, keep

Guard from dangers, preserve

Guard with fidelity, keep, observe

Guard, keep secret

Keep close, blockaded

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5341 נָצַר watch, guard, keep . Watch, guard, keep

. Guard from dangers, preserve

. Guard with fidelity, keep, observe

. Guard, keep secret

. Keep close, blockaded

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5341 natsar naw-tsar'

a primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect,

maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.):--

besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe,

preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָצַר (na.tsar) — to watch.

1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to watch, guard, keep

1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers

1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity

1a4) to guard, keep secret

1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded

1a6) watchman (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
תּ֭וֹרָהTo.rah [the] law H8451 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
219× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for instruction or law, referring to the Ten Commandments or the first five books of the Bible, guiding human behavior and moral code.
Amplified meaning
instruction, Torah
Tyndale gloss
instruction
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תּוֹרָה (towrah) encompasses concepts of direction, instruction, and law, particularly relating to divine or human guidance. It refers to legal directives, customs, and teachings, including the Decalogue and the Pentateuch. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as prophetic and priestly instruction, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תּוֹרָה n.f. direction, instruction, law

instruction

law (prop. direction)

custom, manner

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8451 תּוֹרָה direction, instruction, law . instruction

. law (prop. direction)

. custom, manner

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8451 towrah to-raw'

or torah {to-raw'}; from 3384; a precept or statute,

especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch:--law.

see HEBREW for 03384

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תּוֹרָה (to.rah) — instruction.

1) law, direction, instruction

1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)

1a1) body of prophetic teaching

1a2) instruction in Messianic age

1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction

1a4) body of legal directives

1b) law

1b1) law of the burnt offering

1b2) of special law, codes of law

1c) custom, manner

1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Law

A rule of action. (1.) The Law of Nature is the will of God as to human conduct, founded on the moral difference of things, and discoverable by natural light (Rom. 1:20; 2:14, 15). This law binds all men at all times. It is generally designated by the term conscience, or the capacity of being influenced by the moral relations of things.

(2.) The Ceremonial Law prescribes under the Old Testament the rites and ceremonies of worship. This law was obligatory only till Christ, of whom these rites were typical, had finished his work (Heb. 7:9, 11; 10:1; Eph. 2:16). It was fulfilled rather than abrogated by the gospel.

(3.) The Judicial Law, the law which directed the civil policy of the Hebrew nation.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The word is properly used, in Scripture as elsewhere, to express a definite commandment laid down by any recognized authority; but when the word is used with the article, and without any words of limitation, it refers to the expressed will to God, and in nine cases out of ten to the Mosaic law, or to the Pentateuch of which it forms the chief portion. The Hebrew word torah (law) lays more stress on its moral authority, as teaching the truth and guiding in the right way; the Greek nomos (law), on its constraining power as imposed and enforced by a recognized authority. The sense of the word, however, extends its scope and assumes a more abstracts character in the writings of St. Paul. Nomos , when used by him with the article, still refers in general to the law of Moses; but when used without the article, so as to embrace any manifestation of "law," it includes all powers which act on…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Bible, signifies sometimes the whole word of God, Ps 19:7-11 119:1-176 Isa 8:20; sometimes the Old Testament, Joh 10:34 15:25, and sometimes the five books of Moses, which formed the first of the three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures, Lu 24:44 Ac 13:15. The Pentateuch was probably "the law," a copy of which every king was to transcribe for himself and study, and which was to be made known to young and old, in public and in private, De 6:7 17:18,19 31:9-19,26. In other places the Mosaic institutions as a whole are intend by "the law," in distinction from the…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ps 19:7-9; 119:1-8; Pr 28:4,5; Mt 22:21; Lu 16:17; 20:22-25; Ro 2:14,15; 7:7,12,14; 13:10; 1Ti 1:5,8-10; Jas 1:25; 1Jo 3:4; 5:3

→ See LITIGATION

→ See COMMANDMENTS

→ See DUTY TO GOD

→ OF MOSES

→ (Contained in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)

Given at Sinai Ex 19; De 1:1; 4:10-13; 33:2; Hab 3:3

[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
בֵּ֣ןben [is] a son H1121 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
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 — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

The term "son" is used in Scripture language to imply almost any kind of descent or succession, as ben shanah , "son of a year," i.e. a year old; ben kesheth , "son of a bow," i.e. an arrow. The word bar is often found in the New Testament in composition, as Bar-timaeus.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Sometimes denotes a grandson, or any remote descendant, Ge 29:5 2Sa 19:24. At other times a son by adoption is meant, Ge 48:5; or by law, Ru 4:17; or by education, 1Sa 3:6 20:35; or by conversion, as Titus was Paul’s "son father the common faith," Tit 1:4. And again it denotes a mental or moral resemblance, etc., Jud 19:22 Ps 89:6 Isa 57:3 Ac 13:10. In a…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE

Of a person' s relation to God Ex 4:22

See ADOPTION

See GOD, FATHERHOOD OF

See JESUS, SON OF GOD

See JESUS, SON OF MAN

[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
מֵבִ֑יןme.Vin understanding H995 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To understand or discern, this verb means to separate mentally and know something with your mind, as seen in Proverbs where it talks about gaining insight.
Amplified meaning
wise, understanding
Tyndale gloss
to understand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּין vb. discern

Qal

perceive

understand, know (with mind)

observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

have discernment, insight, understanding

Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

Po. he attentively considereth him

Hiph.

understand

give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

give understanding, make understand, teach

Hithp.

shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

get understanding, understand

shew oneself to have understanding

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H995 בִּין discern .. perceive

. understand, know (with mind)

. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

. have discernment, insight, understanding

. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

. he attentively considereth him

. . understand

. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

. give understanding, make understand, teach

. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

. get understanding, understand

. shew oneself to have understanding

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

995 biyn bene

a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),

i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,

diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,

have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be

prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,

make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)

wise(-ly, man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּין (bin) — to understand.

1) to discern, understand, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to perceive, discern

1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)

1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider

1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding

1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to understand

1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach

1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently

1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct

2) (TWOT) prudent, regard

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
HVhrmsa
[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
וְרֹעֶהve.ro.'eh and [one who] associates with H7462 Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
177× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to care for or tend to someone or something, like a shepherd with his flock. It can also mean to rule over or associate with someone as a friend, and is sometimes used to describe a close relationship.
Amplified meaning
friend, associate
Tyndale gloss
House of Shepherds
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12

base

רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze

Qal

trans.

intrans.

Niph. poss.

Hiph. v.

base

[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with

Qal cherish faithfulness

Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man

base

[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7462 ra`ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;

intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);

generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a

friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat

up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,

herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,

shepherd, wander, waste.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.

Ra'ah = "pasturing"

perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"

רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.

1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tend, pasture

1a1a) to shepherd

1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)

1a1c) of people as flock (fig)

1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)

1a2) to feed, graze

1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)

1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)

1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess

Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.

1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)

1a) (Qal) to associate with

1b) (Hithpael) to be companions

רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.

(Piel) to be a special friend

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HC/Vqrmsa
[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
זֽ֝וֹלְלִ֗יםzo.Lim gluttons H2151 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Zalal means to be vile or worthless, describing someone who is morally loose or reckless, as seen in Proverbs 28:2 where a riotous eater is described as vile.
Amplified meaning
those who are morally loose, riotous men
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word זָלַל (zalal) is a primitive root meaning 'to shake' or 'to quake.' It also conveys a figurative sense of being morally loose or worthless, and can imply squandering or being lavish. The entries highlight its use in different forms, including Qal and Niphal, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[זָלַל] vb. shake

Niph. shake, quake

base

[זָלַל] vb. 1. be light, worthless, 2. make light of

Qal

be worthless, insignificant

trans. make light of = be lavish with, squander

Hiph. make light of, despise

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2151a זָלַל shake H2151b זָלַל . be light, worthless

. make light of

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2151 zalal zaw-lal'

a primitive root (compare 2107); to shake (as in the wind),

i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or

prodigal:--blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.

see HEBREW for 02107

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָלַל (za.lal) — to shake.

1) (Qal) to shake, tremble, quake

1a) (Niphal) to shake, quake

זָלַל (za.lal) — be vile.

1) to be worthless, be vile, be insignificant, be light

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be worthless, be insignificant

1a2) to make light of, squander, be lavish with

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVqrmpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
יַכְלִ֥יםyakh.Lim he shames H3637 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be humiliated means to be insulted or shamed, as seen in the Bible's use of this word to describe people's reactions to their mistakes. It is about feeling ashamed or reproached.
Amplified meaning
shames, humbles
Tyndale gloss
be humiliated
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּלַם (kalam) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to humiliate or insult. It has various forms, including Niphal (to be humiliated) and Hiphil (to humiliate others). The word conveys a sense of shame and confusion, indicating both the act of causing shame and the experience of being shamed.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּלַם] vb. only Niph. Hoph. be humiliated, Hiph. humiliate

Niph. be humiliated, ashamed, put to shame, dishonoured, confounded

Hiph.

put to shame = insult, humiliate

exhibit shame

Hoph.

we were not insulted, humiliated

they were put to shame, dishonoured, confounded

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3637 [כָּלַם] only Niph. Hoph. be humiliated, Hiph. humiliate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3637 kalam kaw-lawm'

a primitive root; properly, to wound; but only figuratively,

to taunt or insult:--be (make) ashamed, blush, be confounded,

be put to confusion, hurt, reproach, (do, put to) shame.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּלַם (ka.lam) — be humiliated.

1) to insult, shame, humiliate, blush, be ashamed, be put to shame, be reproached, be put to confusion, be humiliated

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be humiliated, be ashamed

1a2) to be put to shame, be dishonoured, be confounded

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to put to shame, insult, humiliate, cause shame to

1b2) to exhibit shame

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be insulted, be humiliated

1c2) to be put to shame, be dishonoured, be confounded

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVhi3ms
[one who] keeps [the] law [is] a son understanding and [one who] associates with gluttons he shames father his
אָבִֽיו׃'a.Viv father his H1 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
1,213× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Amplified meaning
parent, ancestor
Tyndale gloss
father
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָב 1101 n.m. father

father of individual

of God as father of his people

head of household, family or clan

ancestor

originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

fig. of producer, generator

fig. of benevolence & protection

term of respect & honor

specif., ruler, chief (late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1 אָב father . father of individual

. of God as father of his people

. head of household, family or clan

. ancestor

. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

. fig. of producer, generator

. fig. of benevolence & protection

. term of respect & honor

. specif., ruler, chief (late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1 'ab awb

a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or

figurative and remote application):--chief,

(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names

in "Abi-".

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָב (av) — father.

1) father of an individual

2) of God as father of his people

3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan

4) ancestor

4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person

4b) of people

5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art

6) of producer, generator (fig.)

7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)

8) term of respect and honour

9) ruler or chief (spec.)

Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)

אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;

Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)

אָב (av) — father of.

The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;

son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

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

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