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Proverbs 29:6 — Word Study

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WLCבְּפֶ֤שַֽׁע אִ֣ישׁ רָ֣ע מוֹקֵ֑שׁ וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק יָר֥וּן וְשָׂמֵֽחַ׃

BSAAn evilraʻ [bad, wicked] manʼîysh [individual, person] is caughtmôwqêsh [snared, trapped] by his own sinpeshaʻ [transgression, rebellion] but a righteous onetsaddîyq [just, upright] singsrânan [shouts for joy, overcomes] and rejoicessâmach [is glad, celebrates]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 29
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ve.sa.Me.ach) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 29:6quick helps
In a sentenceAn evil man is ensnared by his own sin, while a righteous man expresses joy.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, reflecting on the outcomes of moral choices.
Where we areIn a collection of wise sayings that contrast the fates of the wicked and the righteous.
The hard wordפֶּשַׁע
Take awaySin leads to entrapment, while righteousness brings joy.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectמוֹקֵשׁ verbרָנַן 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 29:6

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

Context — Contrasting Fates of the Wicked and the Righteousgenerated

5A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
6An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
7The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.
8Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.

Proverbs 29:6 contrasts the consequences of sin and righteousness. The verse illustrates how an evil man becomes trapped by his own wrongdoing, while a righteous man experiences joy and celebration. This theme of moral outcomes is prevalent in the book of Proverbs, which offers wisdom on living a life aligned with God's principles, as seen in surrounding verses like Proverbs 29:5 and Proverbs 29:7.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 5:22The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
2Proverbs 11:5–6The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
3Proverbs 12:13An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
4Job 18:7–10His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.
5Psalm 11:6On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word פֶּשַׁע, be.Fe.sha'generated

The noun פֶּשַׁע (pesha`) refers to transgression or rebellion, indicating a deliberate act of disobedience against God or others. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including moral and ethical failures, resulting in guilt and consequences. The parsing as a masculine singular construct highlights its role as a subject of the sentence.

This word is rooted in a concept of revolt, and its usage here indicates that the evil man is ensnared by the very actions that separate him from righteousness. The implications of פֶּשַׁע are significant, as it not only denotes the act of sin but also the resulting entrapment that follows.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses caught for the Hebrew מוֹקֵשׁ and evil for רָע. Other translations like the KJV and ASV also align with these terms.

Where translations differ, רָע is rendered as wicked in the DRA, while others maintain evil. This distinction reflects different nuances in the understanding of moral character.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is governed by the finite verb מוֹקֵשׁ, is caught, which connects the subject אִישׁ, man, and the predicate בְּפֶ֤שַֽׁע, by sin. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the subject's actions and their consequences.

The sentence includes a contrasting clause introduced by וְ, and, which leads to the righteous man's actions of singing and rejoicing. This parallel structure highlights the differing outcomes based on moral choices.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew פֶּשַׁע is rendered as ἁμαρτάνοντι, indicating a broader understanding of sin that encompasses wrongdoing. This choice aligns with the Greek understanding of moral failure, emphasizing the consequences of such actions.

The use of παγίς for מוֹקֵשׁ further illustrates the idea of entrapment, suggesting a deliberate snare set by sin itself.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 29:6 teaches that an evil man is caught by his own sin, while a righteous man sings and rejoices. This verse contrasts the outcomes of wickedness and righteousness, showing how sin ensnares and joy accompanies a life aligned with God's ways.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be caught by one's own sin?

Being caught by one's own sin implies that the consequences of wrongdoing ensnare the individual, leading to guilt and punishment.

How does the righteous man respond to his circumstances?

The righteous man expresses joy and celebration, indicating a life of integrity and alignment with God's will.

What is the significance of the contrast between the evil man and the righteous man?

The contrast highlights the moral choices individuals make and their corresponding outcomes, serving as a warning and encouragement.

How can this verse apply to our lives today?

This verse encourages individuals to reflect on their choices, emphasizing the importance of living righteously to experience true joy.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I identify and avoid the snares of sin in my life?
  2. How can I cultivate a spirit of joy and celebration like the righteous man?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to align my actions with God's will?
  4. How does understanding the consequences of evil influence my decisions?

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

An early commentary on this verse highlights the moral implications of sin and righteousness, illustrating the outcomes for both the wicked and the just.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
The trap will ensnare the sinful and unjust man, etc. Therefore, the trap of sinners does not harm the just man, even if it destroys him bodily.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 29 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 29:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

In the transgression of an evil man [there is] a snare,.... Or, according to the accents in some copies, "in the transgression of a man is an evil snare", as Aben Ezra observes the words may be read;

Read John Gill on Proverbs 29 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 29 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

There is a snare; his sin will bring him to dreadful horrors and certain ruin. Doth sing and rejoice, because he hath sweet peace in his own conscience, and assurance of present safety and eternal happiness.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 29 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 29:6 In the transgression of an evil man [there is] a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.Ver. 6. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare.] Or, A cord - viz., to strangle his joy with - to check and choke all his comforts. In the midst of his mirth he hath many a secret gripe, and little knows the world where his shoe pincheth him. Every fowl that hath a seemly feather hath not the sweetest flesh, nor doth every tree that bringeth a goodly leaf bear good fruit. Glass giveth a clearer sound than silver, and many things glitter besides gold. The wicked man’ s jollity is but the hypocrisy of mirth; it may wet the mouth, but not warm the heart - smooth the brow…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 29 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare.—For he knows not how by repentance to escape God’s wrath. But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.—Being assured of God’s mercy to those who repent, lie rejoices because his conscience is clear, and the “peace of God” (Philippians 4:7) keeps his heart.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 29 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. a snare] in which, though perhaps he laid it for others (Psalms 9:15-16), he himself shall be taken, and so have sorrow, in contrast to the “joy and singing” of the righteous.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 29 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

While the offence of the wicked, rising out of a confirmed habit of evil, becomes snare for his destruction; the righteous, even if he offend, is forgiven and can still rejoice in his freedom from condemnation.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 29 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

6. Transgression… a snare — In which he is himself taken and brought to sorrow. But the righteous — He whose conduct is upright, escapes, and, as a consequence, he doth sing and rejoice.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 29 →

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

An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.

NETBNew English Translation2006

In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare, but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

RVARevised Version, American1894

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

In the transgression of an euill man is his snare: but the righteous doeth sing and reioyce.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous shall sing and rejoice.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

In the transgression of the evil [is] a snare, And the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A snare [is] in the transgression of the evil, || And the righteous sing and rejoice.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

In the transgression of a man there is an evil snare: but the righteous ever singeth and rejoiceth.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

In the sin of an evil person is a trap, but the righteous person sings and rejoices.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

A snare shall entangle the wicked man when he sinneth: and the just shall praise and rejoice.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Evil people are trapped by their own sins, but those who do right sing and celebrate.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

In the steps of an evil man there is a net for him, but the upright man gets away quickly and is glad.

Word by word, the decisions they made

רָ֣עra' evil H7451 2 different renderings
evilASV BBE BSB DBY FBV ILT KJV LSV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
wickedDRA

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · predicateבְּ[is].in.[the]noun phraseפֶ֤שַֽׁעtransgressionnoun phraseאִ֣ישׁof.a.personרָ֣עevilsubjectמוֹקֵ֑שׁa.snareוְ֝andclauseclausesubjectצַדִּ֗יקa.righteous.[person]verbיָר֥וּןhe.cries.aloudוְandclauseverbשָׂמֵֽחַhe.rejoices

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 29:6 states, "בְּפֶ֤שַֽׁע אִ֣ישׁ רָ֣ע מוֹקֵ֑שׁ וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק יָר֥וּן וְשָׂמֵֽחַ׃" which translates to, "An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all seven words match in a word-by-word correspondence, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek language. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variations for this verse, confirming the alignment with the Masoretic Text.

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

בְּפֶ֤שַֽׁע אִ֣ישׁ רָ֣ע מוֹקֵ֑שׁ וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק יָר֥וּן וְשָׂמֵֽחַ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בְּפֶ֤שַֽׁעἁμαρτάνοντιאִ֣ישׁἀνδρὶרָ֣עμεγάληמוֹקֵ֑שׁπαγίςוְ֝צַדִּ֗יקδίκαιοςיָר֥וּןξαρᾷוְשָׂמֵֽחַ׃καὶ

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 29:6פֶּ֫שַׁע[is] in [th[is] in [the] tפֶּ֫שַׁעאִישׁa persona personאִישׁרַעevilevilרַעמוֹקֵשׁa snarea snareמוֹקֵשׁצַדִּיקand a rightand a righteousצַדִּיקרוּןhe cries alhe cries aloudרוּןשָׂמַחand he rejoand he rejoicesשָׂמַחפָּשַׁעto transgrto transgressפָּשַׁערָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעיָקֹשׁto snareto snareיָקֹשׁצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהחַטָּאָהsinsinחַטָּאָהעָוֹןiniquity: iniquity: crimeעָוֹןרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםפַּחsnaresnareפַּחמָ֫וֶתdeathdeathמָ֫וֶתרָשָׁעwickedwickedרָשָׁעעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלחָסִידpiouspiousחָסִידרוּעַto shoutto shoutרוּעַגִּילto rejoiceto rejoiceגִּיל
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 29:6

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

[is] in [the] transgression of a person evil a snare and a righteous [person] he cries aloud and he rejoices
בְּפֶ֤שַֽׁעbe.Fe.sha' [is] in [the] transgression of H6588 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
93× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Transgression refers to a revolt or rebellion against God or others, resulting in guilt and punishment, as in Genesis 3:6-7. It involves intentional disobedience.
Amplified meaning
transgression, rebellion
Tyndale gloss
transgression
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫שַׁע (pesha`) means transgression and is derived from a root that implies revolt, whether national, moral, or religious. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including offenses against individuals, nations, and God, as well as the associated guilt and punishment. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫שַׁע n.m. transgression

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6588 פֶּ֫שַׁע transgression

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6588 pesha` peh'-shah

from 6586; a revolt (national, moral or

religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.

see HEBREW for 06586

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫שַׁע (pe.sah) — transgression.

1) transgression, rebellion

1a1) transgression (against individuals)

1a2) transgression (nation against nation)

1a3) transgression (against God)

1a3a) in general

1a3b) as recognised by sinner

1a3c) as God deals with it

1a3d) as God forgives

1a4) guilt of transgression

1a5) punishment for transgression

1a6) offering for transgression

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

[is] in [the] transgression of a person evil a snare and a righteous [person] he cries aloud and he rejoices
אִ֣ישׁ'ish a person H376 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Amplified meaning
individual, person
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] in [the] transgression of a person evil a snare and a righteous [person] he cries aloud and he rejoices
רָ֣עra' evil H7451 Adj
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
bad, wicked
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

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

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

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

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

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

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

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

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

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

1c) evil, displeasing

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

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

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

1c) evil, displeasing

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

ev'-'-l, e'-vil ra`; poneros, @kakos, @kakon:

In the Bible it is represented as moral and physical. We choose to discuss the subject under these heads. Many of the evils that come upon men have not been intended by those who suffer for them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food, may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Many times the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is apparent. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which come upon them. Neither is God the author of moral evil. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man" (Jas 1:13).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ APPEARANCE OF, TO BE AVOIDED Ro 14:1-23; 1Co 8:7-13; 10:28-33; 1Th 4:11,12; 5:22

→ INSTANCES OF

Paul, in refusing to eat what had been offered to idols 1Co 8:13

In supporting himself 1Co 9:7-23

[is] in [the] transgression of a person evil a snare and a righteous [person] he cries aloud and he rejoices
מוֹקֵ֑שׁmo.Kesh a snare H4170 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A snare or trap, this word is used to describe a device to catch animals. In the Bible, it is also used figuratively to describe being trapped by sin or temptation, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
snared, trapped
Tyndale gloss
snare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹקֵשׁ (mowqesh) refers to a bait or lure used in trapping, particularly in a fowler's net, and can also mean a snare in a figurative sense. It is derived from a root meaning to catch, and its implications include a noose or hook for capturing animals. The entries consistently describe it as a snare or trap.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוֹקֵשׁ n.m. prop. a bait or lure in a fowler's net; then fig. a snare

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4170 מוֹקֵשׁ prop. a bait or lure in a fowler's net; then fig. a snare

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4170 mowqesh mo-kashe'

or moqesh {mo-kashe'}; from 3369; a noose (for catching

animals) (literally or figuratively): by implication, a hook

(for the nose):--be ensnared, gin, (is) snare(-d), trap.

see HEBREW for 03369

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹקֵשׁ (mo.qesh) — snare.

bait, lure, snare

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

snar (pach; pagis, but brochos, in 1Co 7:35): Over half a dozen Hebrew words are used to indicate different methods of taking birds and animals, of which the snare (pach) is mentioned oftener than any other. It was a noose of hair for small birds, of wire for larger birds or smaller animals. The snares were set in a favorable location and grain scattered to attract the attention of feathered creatures. They accepted the bribe of good feeding and walked into the snare, not suspecting danger. For this reason the snare became particularly applicable in describing a tempting bribe offered by men to lead their fellows into trouble, and the list of references is a long one, all of the same nature. See Ex 10:7; 1Sa 18:21; 28:9;

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Snare

The expression (Amos 3:5), “Shall one take up a snare from the earth?” etc. (Authorized Version), ought to be, as in the Revised Version, “Shall a snare spring up from the ground?” etc. (See GIN.)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Am 3:5

→ FIGURATIVE

Of the evils in life of wicked people Job 18:8-10

Of the devices of evil people to deceive the righteous Ps 91:3; Jer 5:26

See AMBUSH

See CONSPIRACY

See PIT

[is] in [the] transgression of a person evil a snare and a righteous [person] he cries aloud and he rejoices
וְ֝צַדִּ֗יקve.tza.Dik and a righteous [person] H6662 Conjunction
206× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Amplified meaning
just, upright
Tyndale gloss
righteous
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'

from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.

1) just, lawful, righteous

1a) just, righteous (in government)

1b) just, right (in one's cause)

1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)

1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)

1e) right, correct, lawful

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Aamsa
[is] in [the] transgression of a person evil a snare and a righteous [person] he cries aloud and he rejoices
יָר֥וּןya.Run he cries aloud H7442 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
54× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to sing or shout for joy, often used to express praise or triumph, as seen in Psalm 98:4 where believers are called to shout for joy to the Lord. It can also mean to cry aloud in distress or to summon others. This word is used to describe a loud, vocal expression of emotion.
Amplified meaning
shouts for joy, overcomes
Tyndale gloss
to overcome
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּן (run) primarily means to overcome, while רָנַן (ranan) refers to giving a ringing cry, often in joy or distress. The entries indicate a range of uses, including shouting for joy, singing, and calling out in exhortation. Notably, the word can also imply causing others to rejoice or sing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רוּן] vb. overcome;—Hithpō‛. ψ 78:65

ref

[רָנַן] vb. give a ringing cry

Qal

in joy, exultation

in distress

cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)

Pi. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation

Pu. no ringing cry shall be given

Hiph. cause to ring out for joy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7442a רוּן overcome H7442b רָנַן give a ringing cry .. in joy, exultation

. in distress

. cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)

. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation

. no ringing cry shall be given

. cause to ring out for joy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7442 ranan raw-nan'

a primitive root; properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous

sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy):--aloud for joy, cry

out, be joyful (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout

(for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּן (run) — to overcome.

1) to overcome

1a) (Hithpolel) to be overcome

רָנַן (ra.nan) — to sing.

1) to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress)

1a2) to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom)

1b) (Piel) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exultation, praise

1c) (Pual) ringing cry, singing out (passive)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to ring or sing out (for joy)

1e) (Hithpolel) rejoicing (participle)

Also means: ran.nen (רַנֵּן "to sing" H7444)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
[is] in [the] transgression of a person evil a snare and a righteous [person] he cries aloud and he rejoices
וְשָׂמֵֽחַ׃ve.sa.Me.ach and he rejoices H8055 Conjunction
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
is glad, celebrates
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-Qal-3ms — Conjunction
HC/Aamsa
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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