Menu

Proverbs 31:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאַל־ תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין׃

BSADo notʼal [under no circumstances] spendnâthan your strengthchayil [vigor, power, or might] on womenʼishshâh [those who destroy kings] or your vigorderek [energy, or ability] on those who ruinmâchâh [destroy, or wipe away] kingsmelek [royal persons, or rulers]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 31
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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 (me.la.Khin) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 31:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse advises against wasting strength on women and energy on those who lead to the downfall of kings.
Who is speakingA mother addressing her son, Lemuel, offering wisdom.
Where we areThis is part of a larger discourse in Proverbs 31, focusing on the qualities of a virtuous woman.
The hard wordחֵיל
Take awayThe counsel is to guard one's strength and resources.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָתַן 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 31:3

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 — The Wisdom of a Mothergenerated

2What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows?
3Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

Proverbs 31:3 presents a mother’s advice to her son, warning him not to waste his strength on women or those who lead to the ruin of kings. This advice emphasizes the importance of discernment and self-control, particularly in the context of relationships and leadership. The surrounding verses further elaborate on the responsibilities and virtues expected of a king, highlighting the need for wisdom and integrity in ruling.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 5:9–11lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;
2Proverbs 7:26–27For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.
3Hosea 4:11Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.
4Deuteronomy 17:17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.
5Nehemiah 13:26Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חֵיל, cheilgenerated

The noun חֵיל (cheil) signifies strength, might, or power. It can refer to various forms of strength, including physical, military, or moral. The parsing indicates it is a singular noun in construct state, meaning it is closely linked to the possessive suffix, thus translating as 'your strength.'

This term is often used in contexts that highlight the strength of God or the might of armies, suggesting a robust and multifaceted understanding of strength. In this verse, it warns against misusing one's strength in unwise pursuits.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses strength for חֵיל, which is consistent across the KJV and ASV, maintaining the original meaning.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is governed by the finite verb תִּתֵּ֣ן, you give, which is followed by two prepositional phrases: one indicating to whom the strength is given and the other indicating what it is given for. The structure emphasizes the warning against misallocation of one's resources.

The arrangement of the Hebrew words places the negative particle אַל at the beginning, underscoring the prohibition and setting a strong tone for the advice given.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חֵיל as σὸν, which means 'your' in Greek, maintaining the possessive aspect of the original Hebrew. This choice emphasizes personal responsibility for one's strength.

The LXX's rendering reflects a direct correspondence with the Hebrew, reinforcing the caution against misusing one's vigor.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 31:3 warns against wasting your strength on women or those who lead to the downfall of kings. This advice, given by a mother to her son, emphasizes the importance of being careful with one's resources and choices.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to spend strength on women?

It suggests that one should not waste their energy or resources on relationships that do not lead to positive outcomes.

Why is the advice specifically about kings?

The verse highlights the importance of wise leadership and the potential distractions that can lead to ruin.

How can this verse apply to modern life?

It serves as a reminder to focus on what truly matters and to be discerning about where we invest our time and energy.

What are some examples of misusing strength in relationships?

Examples include investing in toxic relationships or pursuing fleeting pleasures that distract from one's responsibilities.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life might I be wasting my strength or resources?
  2. How can I ensure that my relationships support my goals and values?
  3. What does it mean to be a wise leader in my own life?
  4. How can I apply this mother’s wisdom to my decisions about relationships?

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

Early commentators like Bede draw from this verse to discuss the importance of guarding one's virtues and resources against corrupt influences.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Do not give your substance to women. The sense of the letter is clear, but we are also forbidden to contaminate the substance of our virtues with the corruptions of vices.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
And your riches to destroy kings. He gives his riches to destroy kings, who corrupts the hearts of men with earthly delights, so that they do not seek the heavenly goods, in which they can reign perpetually with Christ.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 31 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 31:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Give not thy strength unto women,.... Strength of body, which is weakened by an excessive use of venery (b) with a multiplicity of women; see, Proverbs 5:9; and strength of mind, reason, and wisdom,

Read John Gill on Proverbs 31 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 31 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thy strength; the rigour of thy mind and body, which is greatly impaired by inordinate lusts, as all physicians agree, and frequent experience showeth. Thy ways; thy conversation or course of life. To that which destroyeth kings; the same thing repeated in other words, as is very usual in these books; to the immoderate love of women, which is most destructive to kings and kingdoms, as was well known to Solomon by the example of his father David, and by many other sad instances left upon record in all histories.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 31 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.Ver. 3. Give not thy strength to women.] Waste not unworthily the fat and marrow of thy dear and precious time, the strength of thy body, the vigour of thy spirits, in sinful pleasures and sensual delights. See Proverbs 5:9. Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.] Venery is called by one death’ s best harbinger. It was the destruction of Alexander the Great, of Otho the emperor (called for his good parts otherwise Miraculum mundi), of Pope Sextus the Fourth ( qui decessit tabidus voluptate, saith the historian, died of a wicked waste), and of Pope Paul the Fourth, of whom it passed for a…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 31 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.—A slight change in the punctuation will give a better sense, “to those that destroy kings,” i.e., women. Give not thy life to dissipation at their bidding. (Comp. Proverbs 6:24, sqq.; 1 Kings 11:1).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 31 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. Give not thy strength] Do not waste thy substance on women. In such intercourse the strength of body, soul and substance is destroyed. Such connections are those which destroy kings, מלכין melachin, the Chaldee termination instead of the Hebrew.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 31 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. that which] Or, with a slight change in the Heb., “them that”; thus preserving more exactly the parallelism with the first clause of the verse. Comp. Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Kings 11:1-8.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 31 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To that which destroyeth - The temptations of the harem were then, as now, the curse of all Eastern kingdoms.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 31 →

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

Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Give not thy strength to women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy Kings.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to them that destroy kings.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not give your strength to women, || And your ways to wiping away of kings.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to those who destroy kings.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.

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.

clauseclauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתִּתֵּ֣ןgiveprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtonoun phrase(the)נָּשִׁ֣יםwomennoun phrase · objectחֵילֶ֑strengthךָyourוּ֝andclausenoun phrase · objectדְרָכֶ֗יwaysךָyourprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַֽtoclauseverbמְח֥וֹתwiping.outobjectמְלָכִֽיןkings

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts, indicating a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses.

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

אַל־ תִּתֵּ֣ן לַנָּשִׁ֣ים חֵילֶ֑ךָ וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָ לַֽמְח֥וֹת מְלָכִֽין׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־μὴתִּתֵּ֣ןδῷςלַנָּשִׁ֣יםγυναιχὶחֵילֶ֑ךָσὸνוּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָσὸνלַֽמְח֥וֹתβίονמְלָכִֽין׃ὑστεροβουλίαν

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 31:3אַלmay notmay notאַלנָתַןyou giveyou giveנָתַןאִשָּׁהto womento womenאִשָּׁהחַ֫יִלstrength yostrength yourחַ֫יִלדֶּ֫רֶךְand ways yoand ways yourדֶּ֫רֶךְמָחָהto wiping oto wiping outמָחָהמֶ֫לֶךְkingskingsמֶ֫לֶךְחוּלto twist: to twist: trembחוּלדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְלֹאnotnotלֹאאִישׁmanmanאִישׁאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהזֶ֫רַעseedseedזֶ֫רַעטַףchildchildטַףנָכְרִיforeignforeignנָכְרִיגִּבּוֹרmighty manmighty manגִּבּוֹרשַׂרrulerrulerשַׂרפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןזֵ֫כֶרmemorialmemorialזֵ֫כֶרנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר
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 31:3

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.

may not you give to women strength your and ways your to wiping out kings
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
under no circumstances
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you give to women strength your and ways your to wiping out kings
תִּתֵּ֣ןti.Ten you give H5414 Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
2,011× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Tyndale gloss
to give: give
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set

Qal 1917

give

Put, set

Make, constitute

Niph.

82be given

Be put, set

Hoph.

be given, bestowed

= be given to one for wife

be put upon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give

. Put, set

. Make, constitute

. . be given

. Be put, set

. . . be given, bestowed

. = be given to one for wife

. be put upon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5414 nathan naw-than'

a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of

application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,

assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,

hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +

cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X

without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),

grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),

(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,

occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X

pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send

(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,

strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,

turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)

God, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.

: give/deliver/send/produce

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend

1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate

1a3) to make, constitute

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned

1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up

1c2) to be put upon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.

: put/set/apppoint

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
HVqj2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may not you give to women strength your and ways your to wiping out kings
לַנָּשִׁ֣יםla.na.Shim to women H802 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
781× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Amplified meaning
those who destroy kings
Tyndale gloss
woman
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִשָּׁה (ishshah) means 'woman,' 'wife,' or 'female.' It can refer to a woman in general, a wife in relation to a man, or the female of animals. The term also has distributive and reciprocal uses, indicating 'each woman' from her neighbor. The word is derived from the masculine forms אִישׁ (ish) and אִישָׁה (ishah), indicating a broad range of meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female

woman

Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

Female of animals

With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H802 אִשָּׁה woman, wife, female . woman

. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

. Female of animals

. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

802 'ishshah ish-shaw'

feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym

{naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as

582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none,

one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0582

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman.

: woman

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: wife.

: wife/widow

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: another.

: another

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HRd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

The position of women in the Hebrew commonwealth contrasts favorably with that which in the present day is assigned to them generally in eastern countries. The most salient point of contrast in the usages of ancient as compared with modern Oriental society was the large amount of liberty enjoyed by women. Instead of being immured in a harem, or appearing in public with the face covered. The wives and maidens of ancient times mingled freely and openly with the other sex in the duties and amenities of ordinary life. Rebekah travelled on a camel with her face unveiled until she came into the presence of her affianced. (Genesis 24:64,65) Jacob saluted Rachel with a kiss in the presence of the shepherds. (Genesis 29:11) Women played no inconsiderable part in public celebrations (

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Creation of Ge 1:27; 2:21,22

→ Named Ge 2:23

→ Fall of, and curse upon Ge 3:1-16; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14

→ Promise to Ge 3:15

→ Had separate apartments in dwellings Ge 24:67; 31:33; Es 2:9,11

→ Veiled the face Ge 24:65

→ See VAIL

→ Vows of Nu 30:3-16

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(A) MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS relating to (Select Reading Prov. 31)

Pr 31:1-31

(1) Creation and Temptation of

Ge 1:27; 2:22; 3:1,6,13; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14

(2) Rights of

Nu 27:1-8

(3) The Subjection of

Ge 3:16; 1Co 11:3; 14:34; Eph 5:22; 1Ti 2:11; 1Pe 3:1,5

(4) As Wives

may not you give to women strength your and ways your to wiping out kings
חֵילֶ֑ךָchei.Le.kha strength your H2428 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
246× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word represents strength, might, or power, whether physical, financial, or military. In the Bible, it's used to describe the strength of God or the wealth of a nation, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:17-18.
Amplified meaning
vigor, power, or might
Tyndale gloss
Helech
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חַ֫יִל (*chayil*) encompasses meanings related to strength, efficiency, wealth, and army. It is derived from a root meaning force and can refer to physical might, moral virtue, or resources. The entries consistently highlight its application to soldiers and military forces, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַ֫יִל 244 n.m. strength, efficiency, wealth, army

strength, usu. physical

ability, efficiency, often involving moral worth

wealth

force, army

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2428 חַ֫יִל strength, efficiency, wealth, army

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2428 chayil khah'-yil

from 2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other

resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:--able,

activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great)

forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong,

substance, train, (+)valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war,

worthy(-ily).

see HEBREW for 02342

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army

חֵילֵךְ (che.lek) — Helech.

§ Helech = "your army"

a place near Arvad and Gammad

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength.

: strong

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army, soldiers/army

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: rich.

: rich/wealth

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength: worthy.

: worthy

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

1a) strength

1b) ability, efficiency

1c) wealth

1d) force, army

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
may not you give to women strength your and ways your to wiping out kings
וּ֝דְרָכֶ֗יךָu.de.ra.Khei.kha and ways your H1870 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
energy, or ability
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-cp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms
may not you give to women strength your and ways your to wiping out kings
לַֽמְח֥וֹתlam.Chot to wiping out H4229 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to erase or wipe something away. In Psalm 51:1, David asks God to blot out his sins. It can also mean to reach out or touch something.
Amplified meaning
destroy, or wipe away
Tyndale gloss
to wipe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מָחָה (machah) primarily means to wipe or erase, with implications of obliteration or destruction. It can denote actions like striking or smoothing, and has various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as being wiped out or blotted from memory. Notably, it appears in Numbers 34:11 and Isaiah 25:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָחָה vb. wipe, wipe out

Qal

wipe

blot out = obliterate from the memory

blot out = exterminate

Niph.

be wiped out

be blotted out

be exterminated

Hiph. blot out, from the memory

base

מָחָה vb. strike;—Nu 34:11 (P)

ref

מָחָה vb. denom. only Pu. Pt. in Is 25:6 fat pieces full of marrow

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4229a מָחָה wipe, wipe out H4229b מָחָה strike H4229c מָחָה vb. denom. only Pu. Pt. fat pieces full of marrow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4229 machah maw-khaw'

a primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub; by implication,

to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or make

fat; also to touch, i.e. reach to:--abolish, blot out,

destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, X utterly, wipe

(away, out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָחָה (ma.chah) — to wipe.

1) to wipe, wipe out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to wipe

1a2) to blot out, obliterate

1a3) to blot out, exterminate

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be wiped out

1b2) to be blotted out

1b3) to be exterminated

1c) (Hiphil) to blot out (from memory)

מָחָה (ma.chah) — to strike.

(Qal) to strike

מָחָה (ma.chah) — be marrow.

(Pual) full of marrow (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
may not you give to women strength your and ways your to wiping out kings
מְלָכִֽין׃me.la.Khin kings H4428 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Amplified meaning
royal persons, or rulers
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

of Judah and Israel. For the list see table at the end of this volume.

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Israel warned against seeking

1Sa 8:9-18

- Sin of Israel in seeking

1Sa 12:17-20

- Israel in seeking, rejected God as their king

1Sa 8:7; 10:19

- Israel asked for, that they might be like the nations

1Sa 8:5,19,20

- First given to Israel in anger

Ho 13:11

- God reserved to himself the choice of

De 17:14,15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12

- When first established in Israel, not hereditary

De 17:20; 1Sa 13:13,14; 15:28,29

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

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

Donate