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Psalms 141:4 — Word Study

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WLCאַל־ תַּט־ לִבִּ֨י לְדָבָ֪ר׀ רָ֡ע לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל עֲלִל֨וֹת׀ בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־ אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־ אָ֑וֶן וּבַל־ אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם׃

BSADo not letʼal [under no circumstances] my heartlêb [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] be drawnnâṭâh [incline, stretch] to any evilraʻ [bad, wicked] thingdâbâr or take partʻâlal [join, participate] in worksʻălîylâh [deeds, actions] of wickednessreshaʻ [wrong, immoral actions] withʼêth menʼîysh [individuals, people] who dopâʻal [practice, commit] iniquityʼâven [evil, wickedness] let me notbal [prevent me from] feastlâcham [eat, consume] on their delicaciesmanʻam [dainty foods, pleasant things]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 141
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (be.man.'a.mei.Hem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 141:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist asks God to guard his heart from evil and to keep him from participating in wickedness.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, expressing a personal plea to God.
Where we areIn a prayer asking for divine protection against moral corruption.
The hard wordרָ֡ע
Take awayThe desire to engage in wrongdoing.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָטָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 15 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 — Psalms 141:4

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 Prayer for Protectiongenerated

3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.
5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.
6When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

Psalm 141:4 is a heartfelt plea from the psalmist, asking God to protect his heart from being drawn to evil and to keep him from associating with those who commit wicked acts. This verse is part of a larger prayer for guidance and protection, reflecting the psalmist's desire to remain pure and righteous in a world filled with temptation and moral decay.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:36Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.
2Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.
3Deuteronomy 29:4Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
41 Kings 8:58May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers.
51 Kings 22:22And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’

The Key Word רָ֡ע, ra'generated

The word רָע (ra') means evil or bad, and it encompasses a range of negative qualities such as moral wrongdoing and distress. In this verse, it signifies the harmful things the psalmist wishes to avoid, particularly in relation to his heart's inclinations.

This word is used to express a strong aversion to evil, highlighting the psalmist's desire for moral integrity. It is a common term in Hebrew literature, often used to describe both personal and societal wrongs.


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. The BSB uses evil for רָע, and this is consistent with the ASV, BBE, and other translations.

Where others part company is with the rendering of רָעwicked (KJV, GNV) versus evil (ASV, BSB).


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is תַּט־, you turn, which governs the request to God not to allow the psalmist's heart to be drawn toward evil. The structure emphasizes a plea for divine intervention.

The verse contains multiple clauses, including a prohibition against the heart's inclination and a request regarding participation in wicked deeds, illustrating the complexity of the psalmist's concerns.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates רָע as πονηρίας, which also conveys the idea of moral wickedness. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a slightly broader connotation in the Greek context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 141:4 expresses a desire for protection from evil influences. The psalmist asks God not to let his heart be drawn to wickedness or to participate in the actions of those who do wrong. He seeks to avoid indulging in the pleasures associated with such people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to have a heart drawn to evil?

It refers to the inclination or desire to engage in wrongdoing or immoral actions, which the psalmist is asking God to prevent.

Why does the psalmist mention not feasting on delicacies?

The delicacies symbolize the tempting pleasures associated with wickedness, which the psalmist wishes to avoid.

What is the significance of asking God to guard the heart?

The heart is seen as the center of emotions and will; guarding it is crucial for maintaining moral integrity.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Psalm 141?

It reflects the psalmist's plea for divine help in living a righteous life amidst temptations and moral challenges.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can guard my heart against evil influences in my life?
  2. How do I respond to temptations that draw me away from righteousness?
  3. In what ways can I support others in avoiding wickedness?
  4. What role does prayer play in helping me resist evil?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 141:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing,.... Or "evil word" (z), as the Targum; since out of the abundance of that the mouth speaketh, Matthew 12:34; or to any sinful thing, to the commission of any

Read John Gill on Psalms 141 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth ... Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works - (cf.

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 141 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Incline not; suffer it not to be inclined or led aside, either by my own errors or lusts, or by the temptations of the world or of the devil. Thus God is frequently said to harden men’ s hearts, not positively, for he can do no evil, nor tempt any man to it, ; but privatively, by denying softening grace. My heart; keep me not only from wicked speeches, , but from all evil motions of my heart, which otherwise will draw me to many evil speeches and actions. To practice wicked works with men that work iniquity; either, 1. To join with them in their sinful courses; or, 2. To do wickedly, as they do. Let me not eat of their dainties; let me never enjoy or desire worldly comforts upon such terms…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 141 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 141:4 Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.Ver. 4. Incline not my heart] Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. For the better ordering of his words, therefore, he prayeth, not to be delivered up to Satan, and to his own heart’ s lust (as he was, 1 Chronicles 21:1, with 2 Samuel 24:1), for God tempteth no man, but the devil and his own concupiscence, James 1:13-14, but to be bent the better way by God’ s overpowering, efficacious grace, and to be stablished with his free spirit. To practise wicked works] The Vulgate rendereth it, ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis, to…

Read John Trapp on Psalms 141 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) To practise wicked works . . .—The Vulg., ad excusandas excusationes, following the LXX., not only preserves the expressive assonance of the original, but probably conveys its meaning better than the somewhat tame English version. Evidently the danger to be guarded against was not so much a sinful act as a sinful utterance, and the expression “to make pretexts or excuses” may possibly refer to the casuistries by which some of the laxer Jews excused their participation in heathen rites or licentious banquets. Symmachus has, “to devise wicked devices.” Dainties.—The word is peculiar to this passage, but derived from a root meaning “pleasant.” The LXX. and Vulg. refer it to persons instead…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 141 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Let me eat not of their dainties.] This may refer either to eating things forbidden by the law; or to the partaking in banquets or feasts in honour of idols.

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 141 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. Incline not my heart &c.] Leave me not by the withdrawal of Thy grace, to turn aside from the path of right. Cp. Psalms 119:10; Psalms 119:133. to practise &c.] To occupy myself in wicked practices with men who are workers of iniquity. The word for men implies that they are men of rank and position who set this bad example. Cp. Psalms 4:2, note. let me not eat of their dainties] Let me not share their life of sensual luxury, the means for which are procured by violence and injustice. Cp. Proverbs 4:17, “For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence”: Psalms 24:1-2. There does not seem to be any allusion to participation in idolatrous sacrifices.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 141 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Incline not my heart to any evil thing - Hebrew, to a word that is evil; that is, wrong. The connection seems to demand that the term should be thus explained.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 141 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, To practise deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to be occupied in deeds of wickedness with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Incline not mine heart to euill, that I should commit wicked workes with men that worke iniquitie: and let me not eate of their delicates.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise deeds of wickedness with men that are workers of iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Incline not my heart to an evil thing, To do habitually actions in wickedness, With men working iniquity, Yea, I eat not of their pleasant things.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not incline my heart to an evil thing, || To habitually do actions in wickedness, || Working iniquity with men, || Indeed, I do not eat of their pleasant things.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Permit not my heart to incline after any evil thing, to practise deeds in wickedness with men that are doers of wrong: and let me not eat of their dainties.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not let my heart desire any evil thing or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. May I not eat any of their delicacies.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

When my spirit failed me, then thou newest my paths.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't let me think about evil things or take part in doing anything wrong with wicked people. I won't join in eating fancy food at their feasts.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Keep my heart from desiring any evil thing, or from taking part in the sins of the evil-doers with men who do wrong: and let me have no part in their good things.

Word by word, the decisions they made

רָ֡עra' evil H7451 2 different renderings
evilASV BBE BSB DBY ILT LSV MSB NETB RVA ULB WEB YLT
wickedFBV GNV KJV NWB

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.

clauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתַּטinclinenoun phrase · objectלִבִּ֨heartיmyprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseדָבָ֪רanythingרָ֡עevilprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤לpracticenoun phrase · objectעֲלִל֨וֹתpracticesprepositional phraseבְּinרֶ֗שַׁעwickednessprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶתwithnoun phraseאִישִׁ֥יםpeoplenoun phraseפֹּֽעֲלֵי[who].doאָ֑וֶן(of).wickednessוּandclauseadverbialבַלnotverbאֶ֝לְחַ֗םI.will.eatprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseמַנְעַמֵּיdelicaciesהֶֽםtheir

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 Psalms 141:4 reads: 'Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.' The Septuagint closely matches the Masoretic Text in meaning, with 13 of the 15 words corresponding directly, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls are not specifically mentioned here, so their agreement or differences cannot be assessed for this verse.

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

אַל־ תַּט־ לִבִּ֨י לְדָבָ֪ר׀ רָ֡ע לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤ל עֲלִל֨וֹת׀ בְּרֶ֗שַׁע אֶת־ אִישִׁ֥ים פֹּֽעֲלֵי־ אָ֑וֶן וּבַל־ אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־μὴתַּט־ἐκκλίνῃςלִבִּ֨יμουלְדָבָ֪ר׀λόγουςרָ֡עπονηρίαςלְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤לπροφασίζεσθαιעֲלִל֨וֹת׀προφάσειςבְּרֶ֗שַׁעἁμαρτίαιςאִישִׁ֥יםἀνθρώποιςפֹּֽעֲלֵי־ἐργαζομένοιςאָ֑וֶןἀνομίανוּבַל־οὐאֶ֝לְחַ֗םσυνδυάσω

13 of the 15 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 141:4אַלmay notmay notאַלנָטָהyou turnyou turnנָטָהלֵבheart myheart myלֵבדָּבָרto anythingto anythingדָּבָררַעevilevilרַעעָלַלto practiceto practiceעָלַלעֲלִילָהpracticespracticesעֲלִילָהרֶ֫שַׁעin wickednein wickednessרֶ֫שַׁעאֵתwithwithאֵתאִישׁpeoplepeopleאִישׁפָּעַל[who] do[who] doפָּעַלאָ֫וֶןwickednesswickednessאָ֫וֶןבַּלand notand notבַּללָחַםI will eatI will eatלָחַםמַנְעַמִּיםin delicaciin delicacies tמַנְעַמִּיםדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַררָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעעָלַלto abuseto abuseעָלַלרָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁעאָנָהto meetto meetאָנָהבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהנָעֵםbe pleasanbe pleasantנָעֵםלֹאnotnotלֹאלֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהאַ֫יִןnothingnothingאַ֫יִןחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקזְרוֹעַarmarmזְרוֹעַחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָם
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 141:4

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

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

may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
under no circumstances
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

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

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

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

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

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

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

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

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
תַּט־tat- you turn H5186 Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stretch or spread out, often used to describe physical movement, but also moral deflection, as seen in the story of Israel's decline in the book of Judges.
Amplified meaning
incline, stretch
Tyndale gloss
to stretch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

stretch out, extend, hand, rod

stretch line and plummet

= offer

Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent

Bend, turn, incline

Niph. be stretched out

Hiph.

rarely stretch out, hand

rarely spread out cloth on rock

usu. turn, incline

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. stretch line and plummet

. = offer

. Spread out, i.e. pitch, tent

. Bend, turn, incline

. be stretched out

. . rarely stretch out, hand

. rarely spread out cloth on rock

. usu. turn, incline

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5186 natah naw-taw'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

wrest, cause to yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָטָה (na.tah) — to stretch.

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

1a) (Qal)

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

1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent)

1a3) to bend, turn, incline

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

1a3b) to bend, bow

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

1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to stretch out

1c2) to spread out

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Juss-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · jussive second person masculine singular
HVhj2ms
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
לִבִּ֨יli.Bi heart my H3820 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Amplified meaning
the seat of feelings, will, and intellect
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
לְדָבָ֪ר׀le.da.Var to anything H1697 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
רָ֡עra' evil H7451 Adj
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
bad, wicked
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),

distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X

great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),

+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not

please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,

wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.

(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ev'-'-l, e'-vil ra`; poneros, @kakos, @kakon:

In the Bible it is represented as moral and physical. We choose to discuss the subject under these heads. Many of the evils that come upon men have not been intended by those who suffer for them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food, may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Many times the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is apparent. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which come upon them. Neither is God the author of moral evil. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man" (Jas 1:13).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ APPEARANCE OF, TO BE AVOIDED Ro 14:1-23; 1Co 8:7-13; 10:28-33; 1Th 4:11,12; 5:22

→ INSTANCES OF

Paul, in refusing to eat what had been offered to idols 1Co 8:13

In supporting himself 1Co 9:7-23

may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
לְהִתְע֘וֹלֵ֤לle.hit.'o.Lel to practice H5953 Preposition · verb hithpael infinitive construct common
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To thrust or push something is what this Hebrew word means, and it can also imply treating someone poorly. It is used in various ways in the Bible, including to describe abuse or mocking. The KJV translates it as abuse or mock.
Amplified meaning
join, participate
Tyndale gloss
to abuse
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָלַל (alal) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings including to act severely, to glean, and to mock. It can imply maltreatment or abusive behavior, as well as engaging in wicked practices. The word may also refer to inserting or thrusting something in. Notably, it appears in contexts that suggest both negative and neutral actions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָלַל] vb. Po‛ēl, act severely

Pō‛al my pain which is severely dealt out to me

Hithpa.

busy, divert oneself with

Hithpō‛. to practise practices in wickedness (perhaps denom.)

base

[עָלַל] vb. denom. Pō‛. glean

base

[עָלַל] vb. denom. act or play the child;—only Pō‛. Is 3:12

ref

[עָלַל] vb. insert, thrust in;—only Pō‛. Jb 16:15 fig. of humiliation.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5953a [עָלַל] Po‛ēl, act severely .my pain which is severely dealt out to me

. . busy, divert oneself with

. to practise practices in wickedness (perhaps denom.)

H5953b עָלַל vb. denom. Pō‛. glean H5953c עָלַל vb. denom. act or play the child H5953d עָלַל insert, thrust in

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5953 `alal aw-lal'

a primitive root; to effect thoroughly; specifically, to

glean (also figuratively); by implication (in a bad sense) to

overdo, i.e. maltreat, be saucy to, pain, impose (also

literal):--abuse, affect, X child, defile, do, glean, mock,

practise, thoroughly, work (wonderfully).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָלַל (a.lal) — to abuse.

1) to act severely, deal with severely, make a fool of someone

1a) (Poel) to act severely

1b) (Poal) to be severely dealt with

1c) (Hithpael) to busy oneself, divert oneself, deal wantonly, deal ruthlessly, abuse (by thrusting through)

1d) (Hithpoel) to practise practices, thrust forth (in wickedness)

עָלַל (a.lal) — to glean.

(Poel) to glean

עָלַל (a.lal) — to mock.

(Poel) to act or play the child

עָלַל (a.lal) — to thrust.

(Poel) to insert, thrust, thrust in, thrust upon

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-r-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hithpael infinitive construct common
HR/Vtcc
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
עֲלִל֨וֹת׀a.li.Lot practices H5949 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean wantonness or evil deeds, but also a great exploit or achievement. It's used to describe God's mighty acts and human actions, both good and bad, like in Psalm 9.
Amplified meaning
deeds, actions
Tyndale gloss
wantonness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֲלִילָה (aliylah) refers to wantonness or a deed, often implying negative connotations such as evil practices. It is derived from the root meaning to effect or perform, and can denote an act, work, or occasion. The entries consistently emphasize its association with bad deeds.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲלִילָה n.f. wantonness, deed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5949 עֲלִילָה wantonness, deed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5949 `aliylah al-ee-law'

or malilah {al-ee-law'}; from 5953 in the sense of effecting;

an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad

sense); by implication, an opportunity:--act(-ion), deed,

doing, invention, occasion, work.

see HEBREW for 05953

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲלִילָה (a.li.lah) — wantonness.

1) wantonness, deed, doing

1a) wantonness

1b) deed

1c) practices, evil deeds

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
בְּרֶ֗שַׁעbe.Re.sha' in wickedness H7562 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for wickedness, describing wrong or immoral actions, as seen in the wickedness of enemies or those hostile to God. It appears in various forms, such as iniquity or wickedness. This concept is discussed in biblical books like Psalms and Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
wrong, immoral actions
Tyndale gloss
wickedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫שַׁע (resha`) refers to wickedness or moral wrong. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including violence, crime against civil law, and ethical violations. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be wrong' and is used in contexts relating to both personal and societal morality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫שַׁע n.m. wickedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7562 רֶ֫שַׁע wickedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7562 resha` reh'-shah

from 7561; a wrong (especially moral):--iniquity,

wicked(-ness).

see HEBREW for 07561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫שַׁע (re.sah) — wickedness.

1) wrong, wickedness, guilt

1a) wickedness (as violence and crime against civil law)

1b) wickedness (of enemies)

1c) wickedness (in ethical relations)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wik'-ed-nes:

1. In the Old Testament:

The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality. See SIN. Many words are rendered "wickedness." There are many synonyms for wickedness in English and also in the Hebrew. Pride and vanity lead to it: "All the proud, and all that work wickedness (rish`ah) shall be stubble" (Mal 4:1). Akin to this is the word `awen, "iniquity," "vanity": "She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness" (Pr 30:20). Then we have the word hawwah, meaning "mischief," "calamity," coming from inward intent upon evil: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in…

may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
אֶת־'et- with H854 Preposition
929× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

Of companionship, together with

Of localities

אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

in one's possession or keeping

in one's knowledge or memory

מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with

. Of localities

. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping

. in one's knowledge or memory

. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

854 'eth ayth

probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a

preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,

at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,

in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional

prefix.

see HEBREW for 0579

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — with.

1) with, near, together with

1a) with, together with

1b) with (of relationship)

1c) near (of place)

1d) with (poss.)

1e) from...with, from (with other prep)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
אִישִׁ֥ים'i.Shim people H376 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Amplified meaning
individuals, people
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

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

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
פֹּֽעֲלֵי־po.'a.lei- [who] do H6466 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To work or do something is the meaning of this Hebrew verb, often used to describe habitual or systematic actions. It can also mean to make or practise something.
Amplified meaning
practice, commit
Tyndale gloss
to work
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּעַל (pa'al) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, often used in a systematic or habitual sense. It encompasses actions like committing, ordaining, and working, with a poetic nuance compared to the more common verb for 'to do' (עָשָׂה). The entries consistently highlight its usage in the Qal stem, emphasizing its foundational role in expressing action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּעַל 67 vb. do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)

Qal

do

make

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6466 פָּעַל do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6466 pa`al paw-al'

a primitive root; to do or make (systematically and

habitually), especially to practise:--commit, (evil-)

do(-er), make(-r), ordain, work(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּעַל (pa.al) — to work.

1) to do, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do

1a2) to make

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
אָ֑וֶן'A.ven wickedness H205 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
77× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to evil, wickedness, or trouble, often describing idolatry or iniquity, and is used in various KJV translations to convey a sense of wrongdoing.
Amplified meaning
evil, wickedness
Tyndale gloss
evil: wickedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָ֫וֶן (aven) encompasses meanings related to trouble, sorrow, and wickedness. It may also refer to idolatry and the concept of vanity or nothingness. The entries suggest a range of negative connotations, including affliction and iniquity, indicating a strong moral or ethical dimension. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָ֫וֶן 85 n.m. trouble, sorrow, wickedness

trouble, sorrow

idolatry

trouble of iniquity, wickedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H205 אָ֫וֶן trouble, sorrow, wickedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

205 'aven aw-ven'

from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence,

to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught);

strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness;

specifically an idol:--affliction, evil, false, idol,

iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust,

unrighteous, vain ,vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare 369.

see HEBREW for 0369

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: wickedness.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

Also means: a.ven (אָ֫וֶן ": trouble" H0205H)

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) — evil: trouble.

1) trouble, wickedness, sorrow

1a) trouble, sorrow

1b) idolatry

1c) trouble of iniquity, wickedness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wik'-ed-nes:

1. In the Old Testament:

The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality. See SIN. Many words are rendered "wickedness." There are many synonyms for wickedness in English and also in the Hebrew. Pride and vanity lead to it: "All the proud, and all that work wickedness (rish`ah) shall be stubble" (Mal 4:1). Akin to this is the word `awen, "iniquity," "vanity": "She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness" (Pr 30:20). Then we have the word hawwah, meaning "mischief," "calamity," coming from inward intent upon evil: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in…

may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
וּבַל־u.val- and not H1077 Conjunction · particle
73× 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 not or nothing, often used to show something is absent or non-existent. It appears in various forms, like lest or neither. The KJV Bible translates it in different ways, including not or none.
Amplified meaning
prevent me from
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּל (bal) is an adverb meaning 'not' or 'none.' It conveys a sense of negation, indicating absence or failure. The word is derived from a root that implies nothingness and can also be used in contexts like 'lest' or 'neither.' The entries consistently emphasize its function as a negation in various forms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּל 69 adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1077 בַּל not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1077 bal bal

from 1086; properly, a failure; by implication nothing;

usually (adverb) not at all; also lest:--lest, neither, no,

none (that...), not (any), nothing.

see HEBREW for 01086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּל (bal) — not.

not, hardly, else

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
אֶ֝לְחַ֗ם'el.Cham I will eat H3898 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
177× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to feed on or consume something, often referring to eating food or battling against someone. It's used in stories like David's battles and the Israelites' struggles in the wilderness.
Amplified meaning
eat, consume
Tyndale gloss
to fight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָחַם (lacham) has two primary meanings: to fight or do battle, and to eat or use as food. It is a primitive root that conveys both the act of engaging in combat and the act of consuming food. The entries indicate that the word can imply destruction in the context of battle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָחַם] 171 vb. fight, do battle

Qal fight, do battle

Niph. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

base

[לָחַם] vb. use as food, eat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3898a לָחַם fight, do battle .fight, do battle

. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

H3898b לָחַם use as food, eat

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3898 lacham law-kham'

a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by

implication, to battle (as destruction):--devour, eat, X ever,

fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָחַם (la.cham) — to fight.

1) to fight, do battle, make war

1a) (Qal) to fight, do battle

1b) (Niphal) to engage in battle, wage war

לָחַם (la.cham) — to feed on.

(Qal) to eat, use as food

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
may not you turn heart my to anything evil to practice practices in wickedness with people [who] do wickedness and not I will eat in delicacies their
בְּמַנְעַמֵּיהֶֽם׃be.man.'a.mei.Hem in delicacies their H4516 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a delicacy or dainty food, often served at special occasions like the feast in Esther 5:6.
Amplified meaning
dainty foods, pleasant things
Tyndale gloss
delicacy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַנְעַמִּים (man`am) refers to delicacies or dainties, indicating a type of fine food. It is derived from the root word found in H5276. This term appears only in Psalm 141:4.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַנְעַמִּים] n.[m.]pl. delicacies, dainties;—only sf. ψ 141:4.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4516 מַנְעַמִּים, מַנְעַם

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4516 man`am man-am'

from 5276; a delicacy:--dainty.

see HEBREW for 05276

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַנְעַמִּים (man.am) — delicacy.

delicacies, dainties

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
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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