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Proverbs 4:5 — Word Study

Depth

WLCקְנֵ֣ה חָ֭כְמָה קְנֵ֣ה בִינָ֑ה אַל־ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח וְאַל־ תֵּ֝֗ט מֵֽאִמְרֵי־ פִֽי׃

BSAGetqânâh [acquire, obtain] wisdomchokmâh [skill, prudence, or good judgment] getqânâh [purchase, gain] understandingbîynâh [discernment, knowledge] do notʼal [refrain from, avoid] forgetshâkach [be oblivious to, mislay] my wordsʼêmer [speech, promises, or commands] or turn from themnâṭâh [stretch, spread out, morally deflect, the words of my mouth, my teachings]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 4
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (Fi) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 4:5quick helps
In a sentenceThe teacher urges his student to acquire wisdom and understanding while warning against forgetting his words.
Who is speakingA father figure, likely Solomon, instructing his son.
Where we areIn a section of Proverbs focused on the importance of wisdom and understanding.
The hard wordקְנֵ֣ה
Take awayWisdom and understanding are to be actively sought and retained.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbקָנָה 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 4:5

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 Pursuit of Wisdomgenerated

4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

Proverbs 4:5 is part of a series of teachings that emphasize the value of wisdom and understanding. The verses surrounding this one encourage the listener to embrace and hold onto these qualities, which are essential for a fulfilling life. Wisdom is portrayed not just as knowledge, but as a skill that guides one’s actions and decisions, as seen in the broader context of Proverbs.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 1:22–23“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
2Proverbs 2:2–4if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
3Proverbs 3:13–18Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
4Proverbs 8:5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
5Proverbs 17:16Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

The Key Word קְנֵ֣ה, ke.Nehgenerated

The verb קָנָה (*qanah*) means to acquire or buy, indicating an active pursuit of wisdom. It suggests not only obtaining knowledge but also taking ownership of it, similar to how one would purchase something valuable.

This imperative form calls for immediate action, emphasizing the necessity of actively seeking wisdom and understanding as essential components of a wise life.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the imperative call to acquire wisdom and understanding.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse consists of several clauses, with the main action being the imperative verbs קְנֵ֣ה, acquire, repeated for both wisdom and understanding. This repetition emphasizes the importance of both qualities.

The verbs govern the objects חָ֭כְמָה and בִינָ֑ה, while the negative commands that follow serve as warnings against forgetting or turning away from these teachings.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 4:5 encourages the pursuit of wisdom and understanding while cautioning against forgetting the teachings given. It highlights the importance of actively seeking these qualities for a successful life.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to acquire wisdom?

To acquire wisdom means to actively seek and gain knowledge and understanding that can guide one’s actions and decisions.

Why is it important not to forget the words of the teacher?

Forgetting the teacher's words can lead to poor decisions and a lack of guidance in life, which is why retention of wisdom is emphasized.

What are the consequences of turning away from wisdom?

Turning away from wisdom can result in a loss of discernment and understanding, leading to negative outcomes in life.

How can one actively pursue wisdom and understanding?

One can pursue wisdom by studying, seeking advice from knowledgeable individuals, and applying learned principles in daily life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I actively sought wisdom in my own life?
  2. How do I ensure that I remember and apply the teachings I receive?
  3. What steps can I take to avoid turning away from wisdom in difficult situations?
  4. How can I encourage others to pursue wisdom and understanding?

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

Early commentators reflect on the pursuit of wisdom in this verse, emphasizing its importance in guiding one's life and decisions.

Ephrem the SyrianHYMNS PRESERVED IN ARMENIAN 1:1 c. 306–373
Open up the treasury door for us, Lord, at the prayers of our supplications; let our prayers serve as our ambassador, reconciling us with your Divinity.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 4 →
JeromeLETTER 52.3 c. 347–420
Almost all bodily excellences alter with age, and while wisdom alone increases all other functions decay. Fasting, sleeping on the ground, moving from place to place, hospitality to travelers, pleading for the poor,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 4 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 4:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Get wisdom, get understanding,.... Not only moral and political wisdom and understanding, but that which is spiritual and evangelical; Christ, and the knowledge of him; he being the only happy man

Read John Gill on Proverbs 4 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom, get understanding.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 4 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

From the belief and practice of my word.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 4 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.Ver. 5. Get wisdom, get understanding.] Compara sapientiam, compara intelligentiam - so Chrysostom. Comparate saeculares, comparate vobis biblia, animae pharmaca. Get you Bibles by all means, whatever they cost you. You may better want bread, light, &c., than the knowledge of the Scriptures. Augustine makes mention of some that neglected the means of knowledge, because knowledge puffeth up; and so would be ignorant, that they might be humble, and want knowledge, that they might want pride. This was to do as that foolish philosopher that plucked out his eyes to avoid the danger of…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 4 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Get wisdom, get understanding.—Like the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 4 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. Get wisdom] True religion is essential to thy happiness; never forget its teachings, nor go aside from the path it prescribes.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 4 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Seventh Address. Chap. Proverbs 4:1-9 Resuming, after the parenthesis (Proverbs 3:27-35) the style and tone of fatherly address of the preceding sections, the Teacher commends Wisdom to his scholars as his children, by the example of his own early education. Mr Horton happily remarks, “This chapter begins with a charming little piece of autobiography,” and quotes Wordsworth’s words, “Wisdom doth live with children round her knees.”

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 4 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

VARIOUS , Proverbs 4:5-27. 5. Get wisdom — Or, buy wisdom. The repetition of the verb makes it more vehement. It is thought to be the imitation of a merchant offering his wares. Decline — Turn away from.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 4 →

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

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

RVARevised Version, American1894

Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Get wisedom: get vnderstading: forget not, neither decline from the woordes of my mouth.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Get wisdom, get understanding, || Do not forget, nor turn away || From the sayings of my mouth.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding: forget not, and depart not from the sayings of my mouth.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Get wisdom, get prudence: forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.

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.

clauseverbקְנֵ֣הacquireobjectחָ֭כְמָהwisdomclauseverbקְנֵ֣הacquireobjectבִינָ֑הunderstandingclauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתִּשְׁכַּ֥חforgetוְandclauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתֵּ֝֗טturn.asideprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵֽfromnoun phraseאִמְרֵיthe.wordsnoun phraseפִֽmy.mouthיmy

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 in the wording of this verse, confirming the same imperative structure and the call to acquire wisdom and understanding.

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

קְנֵ֣ה חָ֭כְמָה קְנֵ֣ה בִינָ֑ה אַל־ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח וְאַל־ תֵּ֝֗ט מֵֽאִמְרֵי־ פִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
קְנֵ֣ה’’חָ֭כְמָה’’קְנֵ֣ה’’בִינָ֑ה’’אַל־μὴתִּשְׁכַּ֥חἐπιλάθῃוְאַל־μηδὲתֵּ֝֗טπαρίδῃςמֵֽאִמְרֵי־ῥῆσινפִֽי׃ἐμοῦ

10 of the 10 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 4:5קָנָהacquireacquireקָנָהחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהקָנָהacquireacquireקָנָהבִּינָהunderstandiunderstandingבִּינָהאַלmay notmay notאַלשָׁכַחyou forgetyou forgetשָׁכַחאַלand may notand may notאַלנָטָהyou turn asyou turn asideנָטָהאֹמֶרfrom [the] from [the] utteאֹמֶרפֶּהmouth mymouth myפֶּהחָכַםbe wisebe wiseחָכַםבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןלֹאnotnotלֹאאָמַרto sayto sayאָמַרפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָהמַחְצֵבhewinghewingמַחְצֵבבִּינָהunderstandunderstandingבִּינָהחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאתְּבוּנָהunderstandunderstandingתְּבוּנָהדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתשֵׂ֫כֶלunderstandunderstandingשֵׂ֫כֶלחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהנֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקזְרוֹעַarmarmזְרוֹעַצָפַןto treasurto treasureצָפַןאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶר
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 4:5

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.

acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
קְנֵ֣הke.Neh acquire H7069 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
84× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to buy or acquire something, and is used to describe God's redemption of His people. It emphasizes ownership and possession, as seen in the stories of God's creation and redemption.
Amplified meaning
acquire, obtain
Tyndale gloss
to buy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָנָה (*qanah*) primarily means to get, acquire, or buy. It can also imply creating or procuring something, often in a poetic context. The entries indicate various usages, including God acquiring His people and Eve acquiring knowledge. There is an Aramaic equivalent, קְנָא (*qe.na*), which also means 'to buy.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָנָה 84 vb. get, acquire

Qal 81

get, acquire (all poet.)

elsewhere buy

Niph. be bought

Hiph. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7069 קָנָה get, acquire .. get, acquire (all poet.)

. elsewhere buy

. be bought

. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7069 qanah kaw-naw'

a primitive root; to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to

procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by

implication to own:--attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle,

get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover,

redeem, X surely, X verily.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָנָה (qa.nah) — to buy.

1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to get, acquire, obtain

1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people

1a1a1) possessor

1a1b) of Eve acquiring

1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom

1a2) to buy

1b) (Niphal) to be bought

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess

Aramaic equivalent: qe.na (קְנָא "to buy" H7066)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
חָ֭כְמָהchokh.mah wisdom H2451 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
153× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
skill, prudence, or good judgment
Tyndale gloss
wisdom
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom

skill in war

wisdom, in administration

shrewdness, wisdom

wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

wisdom, ethical and religious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war

. wisdom, in administration

. shrewdness, wisdom

. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs

. wisdom, ethical and religious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2451 chokmah khok-maw'

from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,

wisely, wit.

see HEBREW for 02449

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.

1) wisdom

1a) skill (in war)

1b) wisdom (in administration)

1c) shrewdness, wisdom

1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)

1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wiz'-dum:

1. Linguistic

2. History

3. Religious Basis

4. Ideals

5. Teaching of Christ

6. Remainder of the New Testament

(1) James

(2) Paul

7. Hypostasis

LITERATURE

1. Linguistic:

In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of Joseph Ge 41:16,25-39; Ac 7:10

→ Of Moses Ac 7:22

→ Of Bezaleel Ex 31:3-5; 35:31-35; 36:1

→ Of Aholiab Ex 31:6; 35:34,35; 36:1

→ Of other skilled artisans Ex 36:2

→ Of women Ex 35:26

→ Of Hiram 1Ki 7:14; 2Ch 2:14

→ Of Solomon 1Ki 3:12,16-28; 4:29-34; 5:12; 10:24

acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
קְנֵ֣הke.Neh acquire H7069 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
84× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to buy or acquire something, and is used to describe God's redemption of His people. It emphasizes ownership and possession, as seen in the stories of God's creation and redemption.
Amplified meaning
purchase, gain
Tyndale gloss
to buy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָנָה (*qanah*) primarily means to get, acquire, or buy. It can also imply creating or procuring something, often in a poetic context. The entries indicate various usages, including God acquiring His people and Eve acquiring knowledge. There is an Aramaic equivalent, קְנָא (*qe.na*), which also means 'to buy.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָנָה 84 vb. get, acquire

Qal 81

get, acquire (all poet.)

elsewhere buy

Niph. be bought

Hiph. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7069 קָנָה get, acquire .. get, acquire (all poet.)

. elsewhere buy

. be bought

. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7069 qanah kaw-naw'

a primitive root; to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to

procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by

implication to own:--attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle,

get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover,

redeem, X surely, X verily.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָנָה (qa.nah) — to buy.

1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to get, acquire, obtain

1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people

1a1a1) possessor

1a1b) of Eve acquiring

1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom

1a2) to buy

1b) (Niphal) to be bought

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess

Aramaic equivalent: qe.na (קְנָא "to buy" H7066)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
בִינָ֑הvi.Nah understanding H998 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means understanding or discernment, like having wisdom or knowledge. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms, guiding people to make good decisions.
Amplified meaning
discernment, knowledge
Tyndale gloss
understanding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּינָה (biynah) means understanding and encompasses the act, faculty, and object of knowledge, even personified in some contexts. It is derived from the root meaning to discern or comprehend. The Aramaic equivalent is בִּינָה (H0999).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּינָה n.f. understanding

the act

the faculty

the object of knowledge

personified

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H998 בִּינָה understanding . the act

. the faculty

. the object of knowledge

. personified

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

998 biynah bee-naw'

from 995; understanding:--knowledge, meaning, X perfectly,

understanding, wisdom.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּינָה (bi.nah) — understanding.

1) understanding, discernment

1a) act

1b) faculty

1c) object

1d) personified

Aramaic equivalent: bi.nah (בִּינָה "understanding" H0999)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
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
refrain from, avoid
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
acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
תִּשְׁכַּ֥חtish.Kach you forget H7911 Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Amplified meaning
be oblivious to, mislay
Tyndale gloss
to forget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget

Qal 86 forget

Niph. be forgotten

Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget

Hiph. to make my people forget my name

Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7911 שָׁכַח forget

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7911 shakach shaw-kakh'

or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,

i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X

at all, (cause to) forget.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.

1) to forget, ignore, wither

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to forget

1a2) to cease to care

1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten

1c) (Piel) to cause to forget

1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget

1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten

Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
HVqj2ms
acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
וְאַל־ve.'al- and may not H408 Conjunction · 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.
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
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
תֵּ֝֗טTet you turn aside H5186 Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stretch or spread out, often used to describe physical movement, but also moral deflection, as seen in the story of Israel's decline in the book of Judges.
Amplified meaning
stretch, spread out, morally deflect, the words of my mouth, my teachings
Tyndale gloss
to stretch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָטָה (natah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stretch out, spread out, or extend. It encompasses a wide range of actions, including bending, inclining, and pitching a tent. The word can also imply moral deflection or turning aside. The entries suggest various applications, from physical actions to metaphorical uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָטָה 215 vb. stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

Qal

stretch out, extend, hand, rod

stretch line and plummet

= offer

Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent

Bend, turn, incline

Niph. be stretched out

Hiph.

rarely stretch out, hand

rarely spread out cloth on rock

usu. turn, incline

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5186 נָטָה stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend .. . stretch out, extend, hand, rod

. stretch line and plummet

. = offer

. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent

. Bend, turn, incline

. be stretched out

. . rarely stretch out, hand

. rarely spread out cloth on rock

. usu. turn, incline

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5186 natah naw-taw'

a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication,

to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great

variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow

(down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down,

be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched,

overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread

(out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away),

wrest, cause to yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.

1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer

1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)

1a3) to bend, turn, incline

1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down

1a3b) to bend, bow

1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.)

1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to stretch out

1c2) to spread out

1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away

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

a-sid': "Distinct from others," "privately," such is the sense of the word in 2Ki 4:4; Mr 7:33. Also "to withdraw" (Lu 9:10 the King James Version; Ac 23:19: hupochoreo, also anachoreo). One is said to have turned aside when he departs from the path of rectitude (Ps 14:3; Sirach 2:7; 1Ti 1:6). In a figurative sense it is used to express the thought of putting aside, to renounce, every hindrance or impediment to a consecrated earnest Christian life (Heb 12:1: apotithemi).

acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
מֵֽאִמְרֵי־me.'im.rei- from [the] utterances of H561 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a word or speech, like a promise or command from God. It is used in books like Genesis and Exodus to describe God's conversations with people.
Amplified meaning
speech, promises, or commands
Tyndale gloss
word
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֹמֶר (*'omer*) refers to an utterance, speech, or word, often used in a poetic or exalted context. It is derived from the root meaning 'to say' and encompasses meanings like saying, promise, and command. The entries collectively emphasize its use in elevated language.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹמֶר n.m. utterance, speech, word, only poet., & exalted style

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H561 אֹמֶר utterance, speech, word, only poet., & exalted style

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

561 'emer ay'-mer

from 559; something said:--answer, X appointed unto him,

saying, speech, word.

see HEBREW for 0559

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵמֶר (e.mer) — word.

utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HR/Ncmpc
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…

acquire wisdom acquire understanding may not you forget and may not you turn aside from [the] utterances of mouth my
פִֽי׃Fi mouth my H6310 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. external organ

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

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

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

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

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

1e) extremity, end pim

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

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

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

1e) extremity, end pim

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

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

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

1e) extremity, end pim

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp1bs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
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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