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Psalms 12:3 — Word Study

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WLCיַכְרֵ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ שִׂפְתֵ֣י חֲלָק֑וֹת לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃

BSAflatteringchelqâh [smooth, deceitful] lipssâphâh [language, speech] and [every] boastfuldâbar [each, all, proud, arrogant]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 12
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ge.do.Lot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 12:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist calls upon the LORD to remove deceitful speech from among the people.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, addressing God directly.
Where we areIn a lament about the prevalence of falsehood and arrogance.
The hard wordיַכְרֵ֣ת
Take awayThe psalmist desires the elimination of insincere words.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectדָבַר verbשָׁוְא 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 — Psalms 12:3

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

Context — A Lament About Deceitful Speechgenerated

2They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.
4They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”
5“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Psalm 12:3 expresses a deep concern for the integrity of speech in society, highlighting the danger of flattering and boastful words. The psalmist contrasts the deceitful speech of the wicked with the righteousness that the LORD upholds. This lament reflects a broader theme in the Psalms regarding the need for divine intervention against falsehood and pride, as seen in the surrounding verses that emphasize the plight of the oppressed and the need for God's justice.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 32:22For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.
2Psalm 17:10They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
3Psalm 73:8–9They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
4Exodus 15:9The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’
51 Samuel 2:3Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.

The Key Word יַכְרֵ֣ת, yakh.Retgenerated

The verb יַכְרֵ֣ת (yakh.Ret) is a Hiphil jussive form meaning 'may he cut off.' It indicates a desire for action, specifically the cutting off or elimination of something undesirable. In this context, it refers to the removal of flattering lips and boastful tongues, emphasizing the psalmist's plea for divine intervention against deceit.

This word is built from the root כָּרַת (karath), which means to cut or destroy. The usage here suggests a strong desire for the LORD to act decisively against falsehood, reflecting the seriousness of the psalmist's request.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יַכְרֵ֣ת governs the entire verse, with the subject יְ֭הוָה (the LORD) performing the action. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's direct appeal to God for intervention.

The sentence is built around the desire for the LORD to act, with multiple noun phrases detailing what is to be cut off: שִׂפְתֵ֣י חֲלָק֑וֹת (flattering lips) and לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת גְּדֹלֽוֹת (boastful tongue).


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יַכְרֵ֣ת as μάταια (empty, vain), which shifts the focus slightly from a literal cutting off to the idea of rendering speech void of substance. This choice suggests a broader interpretation of the psalmist's desire for not just elimination but also the futility of such speech.

This reflects a narrowing of the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the emptiness of deceitful words rather than their outright removal.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 12:3 expresses a plea to the LORD to remove all flattering and boastful speech. The psalmist is concerned about the deceitful words that people use and seeks God's intervention to eliminate such dishonesty.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the LORD to cut off flattering lips?

It signifies a desire for God to eliminate deceitful and insincere speech from among people, reflecting a longing for truth and integrity.

Why is the psalmist concerned about boastful tongues?

Boastful tongues represent pride and arrogance, which can lead to harm and division among people; the psalmist seeks God's justice against such behavior.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding verses?

This verse is part of a lament that highlights the prevalence of falsehood and the need for divine intervention to restore truth and justice.

What can we learn from this psalm about speech?

The psalm teaches the importance of speaking truthfully and the consequences of deceitful speech, encouraging us to seek integrity in our words.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some examples of flattering speech I have encountered, and how did it affect me?
  2. How can I ensure that my words reflect honesty and integrity?
  3. In what ways can I support others in speaking truthfully and avoiding boastfulness?
  4. How does seeking God's help in my speech change the way I communicate with others?

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

Early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss the nature of speech and the importance of truthfulness. Their quotations illustrate the ongoing relevance of the psalmist's plea.

Clement of RomeClement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 15 d. c. 99
Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 12 →
Origen of AlexandriaSELECTIONS FROM THE Psalms 12:4 c. 185–253
When the Lord wipes out those things that are base, he will destroy those very things, so that when those things that have come on a person unexpectedly have been destroyed,
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 12 →
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE Psalms 12:1-2 c. 347–407
Do you see the solicitude of the inspired author, how he prays for them? The remark is not against them, no, but on their behalf. He did not ask for them to be destroyed, note, but for the evil to be done away with.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 12 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 12:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips,.... This is either a prophecy or a prayer, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi observe; that God either would or should cut off such who used flattery with their lips,

Read John Gill on Psalms 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips - the expression of confident faith that the Lord will hear the

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 12 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Or great things, or great words, either bragging or threatening what they will do, and what great things they will effect, to wit, by their tongues, as they themselves explain it in the next verse, which they will use so cunningly and powerfully, that they shall not need to use their hands, or strike a stroke.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 12:3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:Ver. 3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips] As a rotten member is cut off from the body - Ne pars sincera trahatur, or as a barren tree is stocked up, that it cumber not the ground. There is a wonderful sympathy between princes and parasites, whose song is Mihi placet, quicquid regi placet, and whose practice is to speak suavia potius quam sans, sweet rather than sound things. But God will cut off such lips (taking notice of the offending member), as he dealt by Doeg, Ahithophel, Shebna, Shemaiah the Nehelamite, Jeremiah 29:32, and as it were to be wished that Christian princes would…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 12 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) The Lord shall.—Translate, May Jehovah cut off.Proud things.—Literally, great things. Vulg., linguam magniloquam.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 12 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 3. Proud things] גדלות gedoloth, great things; great swelling words, both in their promises and in their commendations.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 12 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3, 4. The prayer for help passes into a prayer for the excision of these false-hearted braggarts. Cp. Psalms 5:10.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 12 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Lord shall cut off - This might be rendered, “May the Lord cut off,” implying a wish on the part of the psalmist that it might occur. But probably the common rendering is the correct one.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 12 →

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

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

NETBNew English Translation2006

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;

RVARevised Version, American1894

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh great things:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The Lord cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Jehovah doth cut off all lips of flattery, A tongue speaking great things,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

YHWH cuts off all lips of flattery, || A tongue speaking great things,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(12:4) May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh boastful things:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Yahweh, cut off all flattering lips, every tongue declaring great things.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Stop their flattery, Lord, and silence their boasts—

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.

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.

clauseverbיַכְרֵ֣תmay.he.cut.offsubjectיְ֭הוָהYahwehnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseכָּלallnoun phraseשִׂפְתֵ֣י[the].lipsחֲלָק֑וֹתof.flattering.[words]noun phraseלָ֝שׁ֗וֹןa.tongueadjective phraseclauseverbמְדַבֶּ֥רֶת[which].speaksobjectגְּדֹלֽוֹתgreat.[things]

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads: יַכְרֵ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ שִׂפְתֵ֣י חֲלָק֑וֹת לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃. The Septuagint aligns closely with this text, with 6 of the 8 words matched, indicating a strong agreement on the core message of the verse.

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

יַכְרֵ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ שִׂפְתֵ֣י חֲלָק֑וֹת לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יַכְרֵ֣תμάταιαיְ֭הוָהἐλάλησενכָּל־ἕκαστοςלָ֝שׁ֗וֹןαὐτοῦמְדַבֶּ֥רֶתξείληגְּדֹלֽוֹת׃δόλια

6 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.

Psalms 12:3כָּרַתmay he cut may he cut offכָּרַתיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהכֹּלallallכֹּלשָׂפָה[the] lips [the] lips ofשָׂפָהחֶלְקָהflatteriflatteriחֶלְקָהלָשׁוֹןa tonguea tongueלָשׁוֹןדָבַר[which] spe[which] speaksדָבַרגָּדוֹלgreat [thingreat [things]גָּדוֹלהָיָהto beto beהָיָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָהלָשַׁןto slanderto slanderלָשַׁןגָּדַלto magnifyto magnifyגָּדַלחֵ֫לֶקportionportionחֵ֫לֶקלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתאֲשֵׁרָהAsherahAsherahאֲשֵׁרָהנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהיְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהמָטַרto rainto rainמָטַרחֵךְpalatepalateחֵךְהָגָהto mutterto mutterהָגָהמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁה
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 Psalms 12:3

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

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

may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
יַכְרֵ֣תyakh.Ret may he cut off H3772 Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singular
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to cut or destroy something, but it also has a special meaning related to making a covenant or agreement. In Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abram, symbolized by cutting animals in half, showing the seriousness of the promise. This word is used to describe important agreements and alliances.
Tyndale gloss
to cut: cut
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּרַת (karath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut off, cut down, or make a covenant. It encompasses a range of actions from physically cutting to forming alliances, often implying destruction or elimination. The verb appears in various forms, indicating different nuances such as being cut off or destroyed. Notably, it can also refer to the act of making a covenant, which traditionally involved cutting flesh.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּרַת 291 vb. cut off, cut down

Qal

cut off

cut down

hew, timber

cut, or make a covenant

Niph.

be cut off

be cut down

be chewed between the teeth

be cut off, in a more general sense fail

Pual

be cut off

be cut down

Hiph.

cut off, flattering lips

cut off, destroy the life of

cut down, destroy, cities

take away

permit to perish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3772 כָּרַת cut off, cut down .. cut off

. cut down

. hew, timber

. cut, or make a covenant

. . be cut off

. be cut down

. be chewed between the teeth

. be cut off, in a more general sense fail

.. be cut off

. be cut down

. . cut off, flattering lips

. cut off, destroy the life of

. cut down, destroy, cities

. take away

. permit to perish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3772 karath kaw-rath'

a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by

implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant

(i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh

and passing between the pieces):--be chewed, be

con-(feder-)ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail,

feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ((covenant)), X

lose, perish, X utterly, X want.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: cut.

: cut/fell

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be cut off

1c2) to be cut down

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cut off

1d2) to cut off, destroy

1d3) to cut down, destroy

1d4) to take away

1d5) to permit to perish

1e) (Hophal) cut off

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: make(covenant).

: make(covenant)

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhj3ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive third person masculine singular
HVhj3ms
may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
יְ֭הוָהYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
שִׂפְתֵ֣יsif.Tei [the] lips of H8193 Noun common · feminine dual construct
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-fs — Noun common · feminine dual construct
HNcfdc
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…

may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
חֲלָק֑וֹתcha.la.Kot flatteri H2513 Adj
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to smoothness, but can also imply flattery or slippery behavior. In some cases, it describes a plot of land or a portion of ground. The Bible uses this word to warn against smooth talk and deceitful actions.
Amplified meaning
smooth, deceitful
Tyndale gloss
portion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶלְקָה (chelqah) primarily means a portion or parcel of ground, but it also refers to smoothness and can imply flattery. The word is built from the concept of smoothness, which can extend to slippery places. It encompasses both literal and figurative meanings, highlighting its versatility in describing land and characteristics like flattery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶלְקָה n.f. portion of ground

base

[חֶלְקָה] n.f. smooth part, smoothness, flattery

smoothness, smooth part

pl. slippery places

smoothness = flattery

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2513a חֶלְקָה portion of ground H2513b חֶלְקָה smooth part, smoothness, flattery

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2513 chelqah khel-kaw'

feminine of 2506; properly, smoothness; figuratively,

flattery; also an allotment:--field, flattering(-ry), ground,

parcel, part, piece of land (ground), plat, portion, slippery

place, smooth (thing).

see HEBREW for 02506

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶלְקָה (chel.qah) — portion.

1) portion, parcel

1a) of ground

חֶלְקָה (chel.qah) — smoothness.

1) smooth part, smoothness, flattery

1a) smoothness, smooth part

1b) slippery places

1c) smoothness, flattery

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafpa
may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
לָ֝שׁ֗וֹןla.Shon a tongue H3956 Noun common · both singular absolute
117× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The tongue, used for eating, speaking, or describing a language. In the Bible, it appears in many books, including Genesis 11:1 and Acts 2:4.
Tyndale gloss
tongue
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָשׁוֹן (*lashon*) primarily means 'tongue,' referring to both the organ of speech in humans and animals. It can also denote 'language' and has figurative uses, such as a 'tongue-shaped' wedge or bay. The entries highlight its literal and metaphorical applications, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָשׁוֹן n.m. and (more oft.) f. tongue

tongue of men

= language

tongue of animals

tongue of fire

= (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold

= (tongue-shaped) bay of sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3956 לָשׁוֹן tongue . tongue of men

. = language

. tongue of animals

. tongue of fire

. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold

. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3956 lashown law-shone'

or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah

{lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used

literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech),

and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of

water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker,

tongue, wedge.

see HEBREW for 03960

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue.

: tongue/words

1) tongue

1a) tongue (of men)

1a1) tongue (literal)

1a2) tongue (organ of speech)

1b) language

1c) tongue (of animals)

1d) tongue (of fire)

1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: language.

: language

1) tongue

1a) tongue (of men)

1a1) tongue (literal)

1a2) tongue (organ of speech)

1b) language

1c) tongue (of animals)

1d) tongue (of fire)

1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: bar.

: bar/projection/bay

1) tongue

1a) tongue (of men)

1a1) tongue (literal)

1a2) tongue (organ of speech)

1b) language

1c) tongue (of animals)

1d) tongue (of fire)

1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tung: Almost invariably for either lashon, or glossa the latter word with the cognates heteroglossos, "of strange tongues" (1Co 14:21), glossodes, "talkative," English Versions of the Bible "full of tongue" (Sirach 8:3; 9:18), glossotomeo, "to cut out the tongue" (2 Macc 7:4), diglossos, "double-tongued" (Sirach 5:9; 28:13). In 1Ti 3:8, however, "double-tongued" is for dilogos, literally, "two-worded." Where "tongue" in the King James Version translates dialektos (Ac 1:19; 2:8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14), the Revised Version (British and American) has "language," while for the King James Version "in the Hebrew tongue" in Joh 5:2; Re…

→ Language Ge 10:5,20; Isa 66:18; Re 7:9

→ Confusion of Ge 11:1-9

→ Gift of Ac 2:1-18,33; 10:46; 19:6; 1Co 12:10,28,30; 14

→ Loquacious Pr 10:8,19

→ Restrained by wisdom Pr 17:27; 21:23; Ec 3:7

→ Hasty Pr 29:20

→ An evil

See SPEAKING, EVIL

→ See SLANDER

may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
מְדַבֶּ֥רֶתme.da.Be.ret [which] speaks H1696 Verb · Piel · participle (active) feminine 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
each, all, proud, arrogant
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-3mp — Verb · Piel · participle (active) feminine singular
HVprfsa
may he cut off Yahweh all [the] lips of flatteri a tongue [which] speaks great [things]
גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ge.do.Lot great [things] H1419
526× 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 something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Tyndale gloss
Great (Sea)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great

in magnitude and extent

in number

in intensity

in sound, loud

in age

in importance

in phrases

cstr.

as subst. concr. do great things

† as subst. neut. greatness of arm

base

הַגְּדוֹלִים n.pr.m. father of Zabdiel Ne 11:14 (RV & so most; but 𝔊 RVm al. the great).

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent

. in number

. in intensity

. in sound, loud

. in age

. in importance

. in phrases

. cstr.

. as subst. concr. do great things

. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm

H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1419 gadowl gaw-dole'

or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any

sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +

exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,

thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,

proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.

see HEBREW for 01431

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

1e) older (in age)

1f) in importance

1f1) important things

1f2) great, distinguished (of men)

1f3) God Himself (of God)

subst

1g) great things

1h) haughty things

1i) greatness

Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).

adj

great

Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAafpa
HAafpa
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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