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Proverbs 8:6 — Word Study

Depth

WLCשִׁ֭מְעוּ כִּֽי־ נְגִידִ֣ים אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וּמִפְתַּ֥ח שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י מֵישָׁרִֽים׃

BSAListenshâmaʻ [give ear, hearken] forkîy I speakdâbar [declare, utter] of noble thingsnâgîyd [excellent, valuable] and the openingmiphtâch [utterance, doorway] of my lipssâphâh [language, speech] [will reveal] rightmêyshâr [be opened to preach, teach, uprightness, what is fair and just]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 8
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 (mei.sha.Rim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 8:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe speaker invites listeners to pay attention to noble truths and declares that their words will reveal what is just.
Who is speakingThe speaker is a wise figure, likely personified wisdom, addressing an audience.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger discourse on wisdom and instruction in Proverbs.
The hard wordנְגִידִ֣ים
Take awayListening leads to understanding noble truths and justice.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁמַע The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 8:6

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 — The Call of Wisdomgenerated

5O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.

Proverbs 8:6 is part of a passage where wisdom personified speaks to the simple and foolish, urging them to learn and gain understanding. The speaker emphasizes the importance of listening to wise instruction, which is portrayed as valuable and essential for living rightly. This section highlights the contrast between wisdom and folly, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 2:6–7For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
2Proverbs 4:2–20For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3Proverbs 22:20–21Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
4Psalm 19:7–11The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
5Psalm 49:3My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

The Key Word נְגִידִ֣ים, ne.gi.Dimgenerated

The word נְגִיד (nagiyd) refers to princely or noble things, indicating matters of high value or importance. It is derived from a root meaning to lead or command, suggesting a focus on leadership and authority in the context of the speaker's message.

In this verse, the use of נְגִידִ֣ים emphasizes the nobility of the truths being presented, aligning them with the speaker's authority and wisdom. The plural form indicates a range of noble matters that the speaker intends to discuss.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses noble things for נְגִידִ֣ים.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses: the first is introduced by the imperative verb שִׁ֭מְעוּ (Listen), commanding the audience to pay attention, and the second describes what the speaker will do, indicated by אֲדַבֵּ֑ר (I will speak). The structure emphasizes the action of listening as a prerequisite to understanding the noble truths being presented.

The word order reflects the Hebrew style, where the imperative verb comes first, highlighting the urgency of the call to listen.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שִׁ֭מְעוּ as εἰσακούσατέ (listen), which captures the imperative nature of the command. This choice aligns with the intention of drawing the audience's attention to the speaker's words.

For נְגִידִ֣ים, the Septuagint uses σεμνὰ (noble), which conveys a sense of dignity and importance, consistent with the original Hebrew meaning.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 8:6 invites listeners to pay attention because the speaker will talk about important and noble things. The speaker promises that their words will reveal what is right and just.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to listen in this context?

Listening here implies not just hearing but paying attention and being ready to learn from wise instruction.

What are 'noble things' referring to?

Noble things refer to truths and principles that are valuable, upright, and worthy of consideration.

Why is the speaker emphasizing the opening of their lips?

The opening of the lips signifies the act of speaking, suggesting that the words spoken will reveal important truths.

How can this verse apply to my life?

This verse encourages us to listen to wise counsel and seek understanding of what is just and right in our actions.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What noble truths have I learned from wise instruction in my life?
  2. How can I practice listening more attentively to those who offer wisdom?
  3. In what ways can I apply the principles of uprightness in my daily decisions?
  4. How does understanding the importance of noble things influence my perspective on justice?

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

Early commentators, including Bede, reflect on the significance of this verse, interpreting it as a call to listen to the profound truths of faith and wisdom.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Listen, for I will speak of great things. Great indeed, because he both promised and gave the kingdom of heaven, and taught the faith of the holy Trinity, and innumerable other things which the prophets left to be spoken by him.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 8 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
And my lips will be open, etc. His lips are the two Testaments, concordant in the truth, joined in attestation, which, with his flesh appearing through the gift of the Holy Spirit, were opened to preach salvation throughout the whole world.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 8 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 8:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things,.... Such are the things of the Gospel; they not only excel what the light of nature dictates and directs to, but even what the law of Moses commands and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things - literally, 'princely things' ( nªgiydiym (H5057)).

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 8 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Of excellent things, Heb. of princely things, worthy of princes to learn and practise them; or such as excel common things as much as princes do ordinary persons.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.Ver. 6. I will speak of excellent things.] ηγεμονικα; ruling cases, master sentences, axioms of state, principles for princes. "I have written for them the great things of my law." Solomon calls the Scriptures "lords of collections," as some sense that text, Ecclesiastes 12:11. Shall be right things.] Right for each man’ s particular purposes and occasions. The Scriptures are so penned, that every man may think they speak de se, in re sua of him and his affairs. In all the commandments of God, there is so much rectitude and good reason, could we but see it, that if God did not command…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 8 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) The opening of my lips shall be right things.—That is, I will open my mouth to speak them.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 8 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things] נגידים negidim, things which are pre-eminent, and manifestly superior to all others. The teaching is not trifling, though addressed to triflers. The opening of my lips shall be right things.] מישרים meysharim, things which are calculated to correct your false notions, and set straight your crooked ways. Hence she declares,

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. excellent things] The word is always used elsewhere of persons, princes, or leaders. Here, poetically, my words shall march forth, instinct with the nobility of truth and rectitude.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 8 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Excellent - literally, “princely things.” The word is not the same as in marginal reference, and is elsewhere always used of persons (compare “captain” in 1 Samuel 9:16; 2 Samuel 5:2).

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 8 →

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

Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Hear, for I will speak excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Giue eare, for I will speake of excellent things, and the opening of my lippes, shall teache things that be right.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Hearken, for noble things I speak, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Listen, for I speak noble things, || And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.

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.

clauseverbשִׁ֭מְעוּlistenכִּֽי(dm)clauseobjectנְגִידִ֣יםprincely.thingsverbאֲדַבֵּ֑רI.will.speakוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectמִפְתַּ֥חthe.openingnoun phraseשְׂ֝פָתַ֗my.lipsיmypredicateמֵישָׁרִֽים[will.be].uprightness(es)

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 8:6 reads, "שִׁ֭מְעוּ כִּֽי־ נְגִידִ֣ים אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וּמִפְתַּ֥ח שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י מֵישָׁרִֽים׃" which translates to, "Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right." The Septuagint, while not providing a direct translation here, matches six out of the seven words in the Masoretic Text, indicating a strong agreement in content, though the exact phrasing and order may differ due to the nature of translation. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide alternative readings for this verse, thus further supporting the alignment of the Masoretic Text with these ancient witnesses.

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

שִׁ֭מְעוּ כִּֽי־ נְגִידִ֣ים אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וּמִפְתַּ֥ח שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י מֵישָׁרִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שִׁ֭מְעוּεἰσακούσατέנְגִידִ֣יםσεμνὰאֲדַבֵּ֑רἐρῶוּמִפְתַּ֥חἀνοίσωשְׂ֝פָתַ֗יξειλέωνמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ὀρθά

6 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 8:6שָׁמַעlistenlistenשָׁמַעכִּיforforכִּינָגִידprincely thprincely thingsנָגִידדָבַרI will speaI will speakדָבַרמִפְתָּחand [the] uand [the] utterמִפְתָּחשָׂפָהlips mylips myשָׂפָהמֵישָׁר[will be] u[will be] uprigמֵישָׁרנָגַדto tellto tellנָגַדפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָהיָשַׁרto smoothto smoothיָשַׁרלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁביָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעמָשַׁחto anointto anointמָשַׁחצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁהיְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהמַעְגָּלtracktrackמַעְגָּלצֶ֫דֶקRighteousnRighteousnessצֶ֫דֶק
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 8:6

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.

listen for princely things I will speak and [the] utterance of lips my [will be] uprightness
שִׁ֭מְעוּShim.'u listen H8085 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Amplified meaning
give ear, hearken
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
HVqv2mp
listen for princely things I will speak and [the] utterance of lips my [will be] uprightness
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
listen for princely things I will speak and [the] utterance of lips my [will be] uprightness
נְגִידִ֣יםne.gi.Dim princely things H5057 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a leader or commander, someone who is in charge or has authority. In the Bible, it is used to describe military, civil, or religious leaders, such as princes or governors.
Amplified meaning
excellent, valuable
Tyndale gloss
leader
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגִיד (nagiyd) refers to a leader or ruler, often implying someone in a prominent position, such as a prince or captain. The word encompasses various types of leadership, including civil, military, and religious roles, and can also denote honorable themes or princely matters. It is derived from a root meaning to be in front, suggesting a position of command.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָגִיד n.m. leader (lit. prob. one in front), ruler, prince

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5057 נָגִיד leader (lit. prob. one in front), ruler, prince

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5057 nagiyd naw-gheed'

or nagid {naw-gheed'}; from 5046; a commander (as occupying

the front), civil, military or religious; generally

(abstractly, plural), honorable themes:--captain, chief,

excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince,

(chief) ruler.

see HEBREW for 05046

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגִיד (na.gid) — leader.

1) leader, ruler, captain, prince

1a) ruler, prince

1b) prince-overseer

1c) ruler (in other capacities)

1d) princely things

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
listen for princely things I will speak and [the] utterance of lips my [will be] uprightness
אֲדַבֵּ֑ר'a.da.Ber I will speak H1696 Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
1,142× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Amplified meaning
declare, utter
Tyndale gloss
to speak: speak
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)

Qal speak

Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk

Pi. speak

Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for

Hithp. speaking this word

Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1696 dabar daw-bar'

a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used

figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive

sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,

declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,

say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,

use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.

: speak/tell/command

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.

: subdue

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.

: promise/declare

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Piel · imperfect first person common singular
HVpi1cs
listen for princely things I will speak and [the] utterance of lips my [will be] uprightness
וּמִפְתַּ֥חu.mif.Tach and [the] utterance of H4669 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A miphtach is an opening or an utterance, referring to a doorway or a spoken word, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
utterance, doorway
Tyndale gloss
opening
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִפְתָּח (miph.tach) means 'opening' or 'utterance.' It is derived from the root meaning to open (H6605). The term is used in a figurative sense to refer to an aperture or a way of expressing something. Brown-Driver-Briggs notes its use in Proverbs 8:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מִפְתָּח] n.[m.] opening, utterance;—cstr. Pr 8:6

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4669 מִפְתָּח

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4669 miphtach mif-tawkh'

from 6605; an aperture, i.e. (figuratively)

utterance:--opening.

see HEBREW for 06605

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִפְתָּח (miph.tach) — opening.

opening, utterance

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

listen for princely things I will speak and [the] utterance of lips my [will be] uprightness
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יSe.fa.Tai lips my H8193 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
176× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Amplified meaning
language, speech
Tyndale gloss
lips
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge

lip

language

edge: shore of sea; bank of river

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip

. language

. edge: shore of sea; bank of river

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8193 saphah saw-faw'

or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from

5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by

analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,

bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,

prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.

see HEBREW for 05595

see HEBREW for 08192

see HEBREW for 05490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.

: lips/mouth

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.

: words/language

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.

: edge/border/opening

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.

: shore/bank(of_sea/river)

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bs
listen for princely things I will speak and [the] utterance of lips my [will be] uprightness
מֵישָׁרִֽים׃mei.sha.Rim [will be] uprightness H4339 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Uprightness refers to being fair and just, as seen in the Bible. It can also mean smoothness or straightness, often used to describe doing things rightly.
Amplified meaning
be opened to preach, teach, uprightness, what is fair and just
Tyndale gloss
uprightness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֵישָׁר (meyshar) refers to concepts of evenness, uprightness, and equity. It is derived from a root meaning 'to be straight' and can figuratively denote prosperity or concord. The term is used in various contexts to express rectitude and fairness, often appearing in plural form with a singular sense.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מֵישָׁר] n.m. evenness, uprightness, equity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4339 [מֵישָׁר] evenness, uprightness, equity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4339 meyshar may-shawr'

from 3474; evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or

concord; also straightness, i.e. (figuratively) rectitude

(only in plural with singular sense; often

adverbially):--agreement, aright, that are equal, equity,

(things that are) right(-eously, things), sweetly,

upright(-ly, -ness).

see HEBREW for 03474

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֵישָׁר (me.shar) — uprightness.

1) evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity

1a) evenness, level, smoothness

1b) uprightness, equity

1c) rightly (as adv)

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

→ See RIGHTEOUSNESS

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God is perfect in

Isa 26:7

- God has pleasure in

1Ch 29:17

- God created man in

Ec 7:29

- Man has deviated from

Ec 7:29

- SHOULD BE IN

. Heart

2Ch 29:34; Ps 125:4

. Speech

Isa 33:15

. Walk

Pr 14:2

. Judging

Ps 58:1; 75:2

. Ruling

Ps 78:72

- The being kept from presumptuous sins is necessary to

Ps 19:13

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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