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Proverbs 5:6 — Word Study

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WLCאֹ֣רַח חַ֭יִּים פֶּן־ תְּפַלֵּ֑ס נָע֥וּ מַ֝עְגְּלֹתֶ֗יהָ לֹ֣א תֵדָֽע׃ פ

BSAShe does notpên [give any thought to, ponder] considerpâlaç the pathʼôrach [road, journey] of lifechay [existence, being alive] she does notlôʼ [realize, have knowledge of] know thatyâdaʻ her waysmaʻgâl [tracks, courses of action] are unstablenûwaʻ [moveable, uncertain, shaken]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 5
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 (te.Da') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 5:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against neglecting the path of life and highlights the instability of one's ways.
Who is speakingA father figure advising his sons about the dangers of a seductive woman.
Where we areThis verse is part of a warning against immoral behavior, emphasizing the consequences of straying from wisdom.
The hard wordאֹ֣רַח
Take awayIgnoring the path of life leads to instability and danger.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbפָּלַס 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 5:6

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 — Warnings Against Adultery in Proverbsgenerated

5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.
6She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable.
7So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.
8Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,

Proverbs 5:6 is part of a section that warns against the dangers of infidelity and the consequences of straying from the path of righteousness. The father advises his sons to be cautious and to recognize the instability of the seductive woman's ways, encouraging them to seek wisdom and discernment in their choices.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 4:26Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
2Psalm 119:59I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies.
3Proverbs 11:19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
4Psalm 16:11You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
5Proverbs 6:12–13A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֹ֣רַח, 'O.rachgenerated

The word אֹ֣רַח ('o.rach) means 'path' or 'way' and can refer to both literal and figurative routes in life. It describes a road or journey, often emphasizing the direction one takes in life, whether in moral, spiritual, or practical terms.

In this verse, it highlights the importance of considering one's life choices and the potential consequences of neglecting wisdom. The parsing as a masculine singular construct indicates it is a defined path, suggesting a specific way of living that should be followed.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations consistently render אֹ֣רַח as path, emphasizing the journey of life.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb תְּפַלֵּ֑ס (te.fa.Les) governs the sentence, with two clauses following it: one describing what she does not consider and the other what she does not know. This structure indicates a clear contrast between her ignorance and the reality of her situation.

The word order emphasizes the actions of the subject, leading with her lack of consideration and knowledge, which sets the tone for the warning being given.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֹ֣רַח as ὁδοὺς (hodous), meaning 'ways' or 'paths', which aligns with the Hebrew meaning but broadens the concept to include multiple paths.

This choice suggests a more general understanding of life's journeys, highlighting the various directions one can take and the importance of choosing wisely.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 5:6 warns that a woman does not think about the right path in life and is unaware that her actions lead to instability. This verse serves as a caution against the dangers of straying from wisdom and the consequences of poor choices.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that she does not consider the path of life?

It means she is not thinking about the right way to live or the consequences of her actions.

Why is it important to know that her ways are unstable?

Understanding that her ways are unstable serves as a warning that her choices can lead to danger and destruction.

How can I apply this warning in my own life?

You can reflect on your choices and ensure they align with wisdom and righteousness, avoiding paths that lead to instability.

What role does wisdom play in choosing the right path?

Wisdom helps discern the right path in life, guiding decisions that lead to stability and fulfillment.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What paths in my life do I need to reconsider to ensure I am following wisdom?
  2. How can I better recognize the consequences of my actions?
  3. In what ways can I seek wisdom in my daily decisions?
  4. What are some examples of unstable paths I have encountered or observed?

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

Early Church commentary references this verse to discuss the dangers of heretical deception and the instability of false teachings.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Her ways are unstable, etc. The ways of heretical deception are unstable, because some deny Christ to be God, others to be man; some deny he took flesh, others a soul; some that he was born of a virgin;
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 5 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 5:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life,.... Consider and meditate which is the way to get out of her hands and ways, and escape death, and obtain eternal life; lest those she has drawn into her

Read John Gill on Proverbs 5 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, (that) thou canst not know (them).

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 5 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, to prevent thy serious consideration of the way and manner of rescuing thyself from this deadly course of life. Movable; various and changeable. She transforms herself into several shapes, to accommodate herself to the humours of her lovers, and hath a thousand arts and deceits to ensnare them, and hold them fast. Thou canst not know them; thou canst not discover all her subtle practices, and much less deliver thyself from them.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 5 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, [that] thou canst not know [them].Ver. 6. Lest thou shouldest ponder,] q.d., Lest thou shouldest persuade thyself that thou mayest embrace the bosom of a stranger, and yet lay hold upon the paths of life by repenting thee of thy folly - this was Solomon’ s error sometimes - thou art utterly deceived herein, for her ways are moveable, so that thou observest not whither she tendeth; she wanders here and there (and thou with her), yet not so wide as to miss hell; lo, that is the centre whereunto she is rolling, that is the rendezvous for all her associates in sin.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 5 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Lest thou shouldest ponder . . .—The meaning of the English version appears to be, “To prevent thy choosing the path of life, she leads thee by devious paths that thou knowest not where thou art.” It may also be rendered, “Far from smoothing for herself the path of life, her steps wander without her observing it.” By these words is described the reckless career of a vicious woman, who at last dares not think whither her steps are leading her, but as it were with eyes shut, totters on till she falls to rise no more.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 5 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. Lest thou shouldest ponder] To prevent thee from reflecting on thy present conduct, and its consequences, her ways are moveable - she continually varies her allurements. Thou canst not know them.] It is impossible to conceive all her tricks and wiles: to learn these in all their varieties, is a part of the science first taught in that infernal trade.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 5 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. Lest thou shouldest ponder] The rendering of A.V. or of R.V. marg. (Lest thou find the level path, or, Lest thou weigh carefully the path) is to be preferred to R.V. text which connects the words with the preceding verse and makes them refer to the strange woman: so that she findeth not the level path of life. Having described in Proverbs 5:5 the end to which her ways lead, the wise Teacher in this verse unveils the artful versatility with which she allures her victims from the plain path of life, and keeps them from the reflection which might lead them to return to it. thou canst not know them] So R.V. marg., but R.V. text, making the strange woman still the subject, she knoweth it not…

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 5 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Or (with the Septuagint and Vulgate), Lest she should ponder (or “She ponders not”) the way of life, her paths move to and fro (unsteady as an earthquake); she knows not.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 5 →

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

She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths are unstable but she does not know it.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not.

RVARevised Version, American1894

So that she findeth not the level path of life: her ways are unstable and she knoweth it not.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Lest thou shouldst ponder the path of life, her ways are movable, that thou canst not know them .

GNVGeneva Bible1599

She weigheth not the way of life: her paths are moueable: thou canst not knowe them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not [whither].

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

The path of life — lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths — thou knowest not.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The path of life—lest you ponder, || Her paths have moved—you do not know.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

So that she cannot balance the path of life; her tracks are unsteady, and she knoweth it not.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

She gives no thought to the path of life. Her footsteps wander; she does not know where she is going.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

She doesn't follow the path that leads to life—she wanders away and doesn't even know she's lost.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge.

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.

פֶּןlestclausenoun phrase · objectאֹ֣רַח[the].pathחַ֭יִּיםof.lifeverbתְּפַלֵּ֑סshe.should.observeclauseverbנָע֥וּthey.wandernoun phrase · subjectמַ֝עְגְּלֹתֶ֗יtracksהָherclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbתֵדָֽעshe.knows

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 largely agree in their wording, with seven of the eight words matched. The Septuagint's word order differs, but the core message remains consistent.

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

אֹ֣רַח חַ֭יִּים פֶּן־ תְּפַלֵּ֑ס נָע֥וּ מַ֝עְגְּלֹתֶ֗יהָ לֹ֣א תֵדָֽע׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֹ֣רַחοὐκחַ֭יִּיםὁδοὺςפֶּן־ζωῆςתְּפַלֵּ֑סἐπέρξεταιמַ֝עְגְּלֹתֶ֗יהָαἱלֹ֣אοὐκתֵדָֽע׃ פεὔγνωστοι

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Proverbs 5:6אֹ֫רַח[the] path [the] path ofאֹ֫רַחחַיlifelifeחַיפֶּן־lestlestפֶּן־פָּלַסshe should she should makeפָּלַסנוּעַthey wanderthey wanderנוּעַמַעְגָּלtracks hertracks herמַעְגָּללֹאnotnotלֹאיָדַעshe knowsshe knowsיָדַעאָרַחto journeyto journeyאָרַחחָיָהto liveto liveחָיָהפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהעָגֹלroundroundעָגֹליָשַׁרto smoothto smoothיָשַׁררֶ֫גֶלfootfootרֶ֫גֶלעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףשָׂדַיfieldfieldשָׂדַיפָּגַעto fall onto fall onפָּגַעשָׁכַחto forgetto forgetשָׁכַחמַעְגָּלtracktrackמַעְגָּלשִׁכֹּרdrunkendrunkenשִׁכֹּרנוּדto wanderto wanderנוּדפָּלַסto envyto envyפָּלַסמֵישָׁרuprightnesuprightnessמֵישָׁריָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדאֲנִיIIאֲנִי
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 5:6

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.

[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
אֹ֣רַח'O.rach [the] path of H734 Noun common · masculine singular construct
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A way or path, describing a road or journey, whether physical or metaphorical. This term is used to talk about travel, direction, and life's journey, often in wisdom literature and prophetic writings. It is found in books like Proverbs and Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
road, journey
Tyndale gloss
way
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹ֫רַח (orach) means 'way' or 'path,' and can refer to both literal and figurative routes in life, including one's manner of living or character. It also denotes a traveler or wayfarer. The word is derived from a root meaning a well-trodden road, and it encompasses various aspects of life’s journey.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫רַח n.m. way, path

lit.

fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life

fig. way, of mode of living, or character

by meton. traveller, wayfarer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H734 אֹ֫רַח way, path . lit.

. fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life

. fig. way, of mode of living, or character

. by meton. traveller, wayfarer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

734 'orach o'-rakh

from 732; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively);

also a caravan:--manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop,

(by-, high-)way.

see HEBREW for 0732

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫רַח (o.rach) — way.

1) way, path

1a) path, road

1b) the path, way, passing of life (fig.)

1c) way of living (fig.)

1d) traveller, wayfarer (meton)

Aramaic equivalent: o.rach (אֹ֫רַח "way" H0735)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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…

[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
חַ֭יִּיםChai.yim life H2416 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Amplified meaning
existence, being alive
Tyndale gloss
alive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַי adj. alive, living

of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

of man

of animals, alive, living

animals and man

(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

of water, fresh

(dub.) lively, active

reviving

base

[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18

ref

חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal

animal

in general

wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

living beings, of the cherubic chariot

life, only in late poetry

appetite, activity of hunger

revival, renewal

base

חַיָּה n.f. community

base

חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life

life: physical

life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

sustenance, maintenance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

. of man

. of animals, alive, living

. animals and man

. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

. of water, fresh

. (dub.) lively, active

. reviving

H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general

. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

. living beings, of the cherubic chariot

. life, only in late poetry

. appetite, activity of hunger

. revival, renewal

H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical

. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

. sustenance, maintenance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2416 chay khah'-ee

from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,

year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine

singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether

literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)

beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living

(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)

old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

see HEBREW for 02421

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַי (chay) — alive.

adj

1) living, alive

1a) green (of vegetation)

1b) flowing, fresh (of water)

1c) lively, active (of man)

1d) reviving (of the springtime)

Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)

חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.

kinsfolk

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.

1) living thing, animal

1a) animal

1b) life

1c) appetite

1d) revival, renewal

Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.

community

חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.

1) life (abstract emphatic)

1a) life

1b) sustenance, maintenance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma):

I. THE TERMS

II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING

1. Popular Use of the Term

2. Complexity of the Idea

III. IN THE APOCRYPHA

IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. In the Synoptic Gospels

2. In the Fourth Gospel

3. In the Ac of the Apostles

4. In the Writings of Paul

5. In the Writings of John

6. In the Other Books of the New Testament

LITERATURE

I. The Terms.

Of the Hebrew terms, chayah is the verb which means "to live," "to have life," or the vital principle, "to continue to live," or "to live prosperously." In the Piel it signifies "to give life, or preserve, or quicken and restore life." The Hiphil is much like the Piel. The noun hayyim generally used in the plural is an abstract noun meaning "life," i.e. the possession of the vital principle with its energies and activities. Nephesh often means "living being" or "creature." Sometimes it has the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Life

Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Heb. 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Rom. 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matt. 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Bible, is either natural, Ge 3:17; spiritual, that of the renewed soul, Ro 8:6; or eternal, a holy and blissful immortality, Joh 3:36 Ro 6:23. Christ is the great Author of natural life, Col 1:16; and also of spiritual and eternal life; Joh 14:6 6:47. He has purchased these by laying down his own life; and gives them freely to his people, Joh 10:11,28. He is the spring of all their spiritual life on earth, Ga 2:20; will raise them up at the last day; and…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS

Breath of Ge 2:7

Called SPIRIT OF GOD Job 27:3

Tree of Ge 2:9; 3:22,24; Pr 3:18; 13:12; Re 2:7

→ (SACREDNESS OF, an inference from what is taught in the law concerning murder)

See HOMICIDE

Long life promised to obedient children Ex 20:12; De 5:16

To those who keep the commandments De 4:40; 22:7

Vanity of Ec 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7

Hated Ec 2:17

[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
פֶּן־pen- lest H6435 Particle
133× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to express caution or warning, similar to saying 'lest' or 'beware that'. It is often used in the Bible to advise against certain actions or to warn of potential consequences.
Amplified meaning
give any thought to, ponder
Tyndale gloss
lest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּן־ (pen) is a conjunction meaning 'lest' or 'not,' often used to express a warning or fear of a potential negative outcome. It is derived from a root meaning 'removal' and is typically found in constructions that indicate a precautionary context. The entries consistently emphasize its adverbial use in cautionary statements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּן־ 133 (alw. with Makkeph) conj. (adverting or deprecating), lest

with impf.

with Pf., the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6435 פֶּן־ (alw. with Makkeph) (adverting or deprecating), lest . with impf.

. with Pf., the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6435 pen pane

from 6437; properly, removal; used only (in the construction)

adverb as conjunction, lest:--(lest) (peradventure),

that...not.

see HEBREW for 06437

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּן־ (pen) — lest.

conj

1) lest, not, beware lest

adv

2) lest

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
תְּפַלֵּ֑סte.fa.Les she should make level H6424 Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singular
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to weigh or balance things, like preparing a road or thinking deeply. In the Bible, it can also mean to envy or ponder something. It appears in various forms, like 'make' or 'weigh'.
Tyndale gloss
to envy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּלַס (palas) is a verb that primarily means to weigh or make level. It can also imply preparing a road by rolling it flat or mentally weighing options. The entries highlight its use in the Piel form, emphasizing actions like weighing out or smoothing surfaces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּלַס] vb. Pi. denom. weigh, make level

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6424 פָּלַס vb. Pi. denom. weigh, make level

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6424 palac paw-las'

a primitive root; properly, to roll flat, i.e. prepare (a

road); also to revolve, i.e. weigh (mentally):--make, ponder,

weigh.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּלַס (pa.las) — to envy.

1) (Piel) to weigh, make level, balance

1a) to weigh out

1b) to make level or smooth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVpi2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
נָע֥וּna.'U they wander H5128 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
40× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To shake means to move back and forth, like trembling with fear, as described in the book of Isaiah. It can also mean to be unstable or to wander, like the Israelites in the wilderness.
Amplified meaning
moveable, uncertain, shaken
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נוּעַ (nuwa`) is a primitive root meaning to shake or waver, encompassing a wide range of actions such as quivering, trembling, and moving. It can describe both literal and figurative movements, including being tossed about or causing someone to wander. The entries highlight its various applications, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נוּעַ vb. quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter

Qal

wave

totter, go tottering

Niph. be tossed about

Hiph.

toss about

shake, cause to totter

(shake), disturb

cause to wander

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5128 נוּעַ quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5128 nuwa` noo'-ah

a primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of

applications, literally and figuratively (as

subjoined):--continually, fugitive, X make, to (go) up and

down, be gone away, (be) move(-able, -d), be promoted, reel,

remove, scatter, set, shake, sift, stagger, to and fro, be

vagabond, wag, (make) wander (up and down).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נוּעַ (nu.a) — to shake.

1) to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift, make move, wave, waver, tremble

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to wave, quiver, vibrate, swing, stagger, tremble, be unstable

1a2) to totter, go tottering

1a2a) vagabond (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be tossed about or around

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to toss about

1c2) to shake, cause to totter

1c3) to shake, disturb

1c4) to cause to wander

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
מַ֝עְגְּלֹתֶ֗יהָma'.ge.lo.Tei.ha tracks her H4570 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a path or track, either physical or figurative. It can also describe a circular rampart or entrenchment. In the Bible, it is translated as path, trench, or way.
Amplified meaning
tracks, courses of action
Tyndale gloss
track
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַעְגָּל (ma`gal) refers to a track or entrenchment, with meanings that include a literal path or figurative way. It can also denote a circular rampart or trench. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts related to movement or fortification.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַעְגָּל n.m. 1. entrenchment. 2. track

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4570 מַעְגָּל 1. entrenchment. 2. track

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4570 ma`gal mah-gawl'

or feminine mapgalah {mah-gaw-law'}; from the same as 5696; a

track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as

circular):--going, path, trench, way((-side)).

see HEBREW for 05696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַעְגָּל (ma.gal) — track.

1) entrenchment, track

1a) circumvallation, entrenchment

1b) track

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp3fs
[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
realize, have knowledge of
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[the] path of life lest she should make level they wander tracks her not she knows
תֵדָֽע׃ פte.Da' she knows H3045 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
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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