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Psalms 73:27 — Word Study

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WLCכִּֽי־ הִנֵּ֣ה רְחֵקֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּה כָּל־ זוֹנֶ֥ה מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

BSAThose farrâchêq [who are distant, removed] from Youkîy [the Lord, your God] will surelyhinnêh [be destroyed, come to an end] perishʼâbad You destroytsâmath [completely, utterly, cut off, eliminate] allkôl [every single one, everything] who are unfaithfulzânâh [faithless, going astray] to Youmin [abandoning, turning away from]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 73
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 27 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 (mi.Me.ka) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 73:27quick helps
In a sentenceThe psalmist warns that those who distance themselves from God will face destruction.
Who is speakingThe psalmist, reflecting on the fate of the unfaithful.
Where we areIn a meditation on the consequences of turning away from God.
The hard wordזוֹנֶ֥ה
Take awayThe fate of the unfaithful is destruction.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָבַד The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 8 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 73:27

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

Context — The Consequences of Turning Away from Godgenerated

25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

Psalm 73:27 reflects on the fate of those who distance themselves from God. The psalmist emphasizes that those who are far from the Lord will surely perish, contrasting their fate with the security found in drawing near to God. This is part of a larger meditation on faithfulness and the consequences of unfaithfulness, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 119:155Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not seek Your statutes.
2Job 21:14–15Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.
3Isaiah 29:13Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
4Jeremiah 12:2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.
5Matthew 15:7–8You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word זוֹנֶ֥ה, zo.Nehgenerated

The word זוֹנֶ֥ה (zanah) is a participle that means 'one who acts as a prostitute' or 'to fornicate.' It conveys unfaithfulness, particularly in a figurative sense regarding one's relationship with God. The term is often used to describe idolatry or moral defection.

In this verse, it highlights the nature of those who turn away from God, emphasizing their betrayal and the consequences that follow. The psalmist uses this term to underscore the seriousness of abandoning faithfulness to the Lord.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the meaning of זוֹנֶ֥ה as unfaithful or faithless.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse contains two main clauses connected by a conjunction. The first clause states the fate of those far from God, while the second clause describes God's action against the unfaithful. The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between distance from God and destruction.

The finite verbs יֹאבֵ֑דוּ (they will perish) and הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּה (you destroy) govern the clauses, indicating the actions taken against the unfaithful.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, זוֹנֶ֥ה is rendered with a term that conveys a similar meaning of unfaithfulness or betrayal. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the moral implications of the Hebrew term.

The Greek translation emphasizes the seriousness of turning away from God and aligns with the Hebrew's warning about the consequences of such actions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 73:27 warns that those who are far from God will perish, as God destroys all who are unfaithful to Him. This verse emphasizes the serious consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining faithful.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be unfaithful to God?

Being unfaithful to God means turning away from Him, engaging in idolatry, or not adhering to His commandments.

What are the consequences of being far from God?

The psalmist warns that those who are distant from God will face destruction, highlighting the importance of maintaining a close relationship with Him.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Psalm 73?

This verse serves as a conclusion to the psalmist's reflections on the fate of the wicked versus the righteous, emphasizing the ultimate justice of God.

What does the term 'destroy' imply in this context?

The term 'destroy' implies a complete and utter end to those who are unfaithful, indicating the seriousness of their actions against God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I might be distancing myself from God in my life?
  2. How can I ensure that I remain faithful to God and avoid the fate described in this verse?
  3. In what ways can I encourage others to draw closer to God instead of turning away?
  4. What does this verse teach me about the nature of God's justice and mercy?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the consequences of turning away from God. Their comments emphasize the moral implications of unfaithfulness.

Ambrose of MilanInterrogation of Job and David, Book 3, Chapter XI c. 339–397
“Behold,” [the psalmist] says, “people who separate themselves far from you [God] will perish.” For every individual either unites or separates himself from your mercy by his deeds.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 73 →
John ChrysostomHOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF John 68 c. 347–407
Indeed, when we are abandoned by God, we are given over to the devil. When we have been given over to the devil, we are afflicted with countless terrible consequences.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 73 →
Augustine of HippoExposition on Psalms 73 354–430
"Behold, they that put themselves afar from You shall perish" [Psalms 73:27].
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 73 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 73:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

For, lo, they that are far from thee,.... Who are alienated from the life of God, far from the law of God, and subjection and obedience to it; and from righteousness either moral or evangelical, and

Read John Gill on Psalms 73 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. -His joy in God as his portion, in contrast to the final destruction of all who go from God. Verse 25. Whom have I in heaven (but thee)?

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 73 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They that are far from thee; they that forsake thee and thy ways, preferring the prosperity of this present evil world before thy love, and favour, and service; they who estrange themselves from the love, and life, and acquaintance of God; that say to God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways, as they did, . Thou hast destroyed; thou will certainly and dreadfully destroy them. Them that go a whoring from thee; those who having professed subjection to thee, shall afterwards revolt from thee, and sell themselves to work wickedness; which is called whoredom in Scripture. For none are more hateful to God, than willful and wicked apostates from the principles and practice…

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 73 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.Ver. 27. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish] How can they do otherwise, when as salvation is far from them? Psalms 119:155. And upon this ground it is that I do so earnestly desire to be with thee; since Thou hast destroyed (or shut up from punishment) all them that go a whoring from thee] Having their hearts full of harlotry, as appeareth by their courting the creature.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 73 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 27. They that are far from thee shall perish] The term perish is generally used to signify a coming to nothing, being annihilated; and by some it is thus applied to the finally impenitent, they shall all be annihilated. But where is this to be found in the Scriptures? In no part, properly understood. In the new heavens and the new earth none of the wicked shall be found; for therein dwells righteousness-nothing but God and righteous spirits; but at the same time the wicked shall be in their own place. And to suppose that they shall be annihilated, is as great a heresy, though scarcely so absurd, as to believe that the pains of damnation are emendatory, and that hell-fire shall burn…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 73 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15–28. Faith triumphant in the conviction of an ultimate judgement and the consciousness of the supreme blessedness of fellowship with God.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 73 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish - All that are estranged from thee; all who are not thy friends. They will certainly be destroyed. For them there can be no hope.

Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 73 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

27. They that are far from thee—The far-off ones. Exactly the New Testament description of the heathen world without the knowledge of God. Acts 2:39; Ephesians 2:13; Ephesians 2:17.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 73 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 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

Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, departing from thee.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go astray from thee.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For, lo, those far from Thee do perish, Thou hast cut off every one, Who is going a whoring from Thee.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For behold, those far from You perish, || You have cut off everyone, || Who is going whoring from You.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For, lo, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away from thee.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Those who are far from you will perish; you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those people who are far from God will die. You destroy all those unfaithful to you.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.

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.

כִּֽי(dm)clauseclauseהִנֵּ֣הthere!clausenoun phrase · subjectרְחֵקֶ֣י[people].farךָfrom.youverbיֹאבֵ֑דוּthey.will.perishclauseverbהִ֝צְמַ֗תָּהyou.destroynoun phrase · objectכָּלeverynoun phraseclauseverbזוֹנֶ֥ה[one.who].acts.as.a.prostituteprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּֽfromךָּyou

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with 7 of the 8 words matched. This consistency highlights the shared understanding of the consequences of unfaithfulness across these texts.

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

כִּֽי־ הִנֵּ֣ה רְחֵקֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּה כָּל־ זוֹנֶ֥ה מִמֶּֽךָּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּֽי־ὅτιהִנֵּ֣הἰδοὺרְחֵקֶ֣יךָσοῦיֹאבֵ֑דוּἀπολοῦνταιהִ֝צְמַ֗תָּהἐχωλέθρευσαςכָּל־πάνταמִמֶּֽךָּ׃σοῦ

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

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


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

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

Psalms 73:27כִּיforforכִּיהִנֵּהthere!there!הִנֵּהרָחֵק[people] fa[people] far frרָחֵקאָבַדthey will pthey will perisאָבַדצָמַתyou destroyyou destroyצָמַתכֹּלeveryeveryכֹּלזָנָה[one who] a[one who] acts זָנָהמִן־from youfrom youמִן־רָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלהֵןlook!look!הֵןמֵןstringstringמֵןיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהשָׁמַדto destroyto destroyשָׁמַדעֹ֫רֶףneckneckעֹ֫רֶףעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהאֶתְנַןwageswagesאֶתְנַןזְנוּנִיםfornicatiofornicationזְנוּנִיםיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַר
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 73:27

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.

for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Amplified meaning
the Lord, your God
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

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

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

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

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

that if

for if

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

limiting the prec. clause, except

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

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

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

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

. Because, since

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

. for if

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

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

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

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

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
הִנֵּ֣הhi.Neh there! H2009 Particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
be destroyed, come to an end
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTj
for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
רְחֵקֶ֣יךָre.che.Kei.cha [people] far from you H7369 Suffix
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means something or someone is far away or removed. It is used to describe people or things that are distant. In the Bible, it appears in verses about those who are far from God.
Amplified meaning
who are distant, removed
Tyndale gloss
removed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָחֵק (racheq) is an adjective and verb meaning 'remote' or 'far.' It conveys the idea of removing or departing, and can also refer to those who are departing. The word is used in Psalm 73:27.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָחֵק] adj.verb. removing, departing;—pl. sf., as subst., ψ 73:27

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7369 רָחֵק

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7369 racheq raw-khake'

from 7368; remote:--that are far.

see HEBREW for 07368

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָחֵק (ra.cheq) — removed.

1) removing, departing

1a) ones departing (as subst)

2) (TWOT) remote, far

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj | Suff — Suffix
HAampc/Sp2ms
for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
יֹאבֵ֑דוּyo.Ve.du they will perish H6 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
184× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Tyndale gloss
to perish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—

Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals

. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory

. be lost, strayed

. . cause to perish, destroy, kill

. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with

. cause to stray, lose

. . destroy, put to death, in judgment

. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6 'abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose

oneself; by implication to perish (causative,

destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,

lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be

undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.

1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) perish, die, be exterminated

1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)

1a3) be lost, strayed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate

1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)

1b3) cause to stray, lose

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to destroy, put to death

1c1a) of divine judgment

1c2) object name of kings (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּהhitz.Ma.tah you destroy H6789 Verb · Hiphil · perfect second person masculine singular
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To destroy something means to completely get rid of it, like God destroying evil in Psalm 37:38. This word appears in the Bible to describe total annihilation. It is often used in a literal sense, such as in war, but also figuratively, like in Ezekiel 28:16.
Amplified meaning
completely, utterly, cut off, eliminate
Tyndale gloss
to destroy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָמַת (tsamath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to put an end to or exterminate. It encompasses various forms, including to destroy, cut off, or vanish, with nuances in different stems indicating actions like being annihilated or causing annihilation. The entries highlight its use in contexts of termination and destruction, but do not present any significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צָמַת] vb. put an end to, exterminate

Qal they have put an end to my life

Niph. be ended, annihilated

Pi. hath put an end to me

Pi‛lēl thine alarms have annihilated me

Hiph. exterminate, annihilate

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6789 צָמַת put an end to, exterminate .they have put an end to my life

. be ended, annihilated

. hath put an end to me

.thine alarms have annihilated me

. exterminate, annihilate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6789 tsamath tsaw-math'

a primitive root; to extirpate (literally or

figuratively):--consume, cut off, destroy, vanish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָמַת (tsa.mat) — to destroy.

1) to put an end to, cut off, destroy, exterminate, extirpate

1a) (Qal) to put an end to, terminate

1b) (Niphal) to be ended, be annihilated, be exterminated

1c) (Piel) to put an end to

1d) (Pilel) to be exterminated, be annihilated

1e) (Hiphil) to exterminate, annihilate

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect second person masculine singular
HVhp2ms
for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
כָּל־kol- every 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.
Amplified meaning
every single one, everything
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
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
זוֹנֶ֥הzo.Neh [one who] acts as a prostitute H2181 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To fornicate means to commit adultery or be unfaithful, often used to describe idolatry in the Bible. It can also refer to a person being a cult prostitute or causing others to be unfaithful.
Amplified meaning
faithless, going astray
Tyndale gloss
to fornicate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָנָה (zanah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to commit fornication or to be a harlot. It encompasses a range of actions, including adultery and idolatry, with a focus on unfaithfulness, particularly in a figurative sense regarding one's relationship with God. The entries indicate that it can also refer to cult prostitution and moral defection, with various grammatical forms expressing different nuances of the term.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָנָה vb. commit fornication, be a harlot

Qal

be or act as a harlot

fig. of improper intercourse with foreign nations

of intercourse with other deities

of moral defection

Pu. fornication was not done (in going) after thee

Hiph.

cause to commit fornication

commit fornication

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2181 זָנָה commit fornication, be a harlot

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2181 zanah zaw-naw'

a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit

adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple

fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively,

to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the

spouse of Jehovah):--(cause to) commit fornication, X

continually, X great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be,

play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go

a-whoring, whorish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָנָה (za.nah) — to fornicate.

1) to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication

1a2) to commit adultery

1a3) to be a cult prostitute

1a4) to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.)

1b) (Pual) to play the harlot

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to commit adultery

1c2) to force into prostitution

1c3) to commit fornication

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
for there! [people] far from you they will perish you destroy every [one who] acts as a prostitute from you
מִמֶּֽךָּ׃mi.Me.ka from you H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Amplified meaning
abandoning, turning away from
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
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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