Psalms 78:27 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃
BSAHe rainedmâṭar▸ [sent down abundantly] meatshᵉʼêr [flesh, food] on themʻal like dustʻâphâr [as plentiful as, dry earth, clay] and wingedkânâph [feathered] birdsʻôwph [fowl, creatures of the air] like the sandchôwl [as numerous as, round particles, desert soil] of the seayâm [a large body of water]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר | and he rained down | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם | on them | Preposition, suffix |
| כֶּעָפָ֣ר | like dust | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| שְׁאֵ֑ר | meat | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וּֽכְח֥וֹל | and like [the] sand of | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| יַ֝מִּ֗ים | [the] seas | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| ע֣וֹף | bird[s] of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| כָּנָֽף׃ | wing | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea. |
| KJV | He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: |
| ASV | He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, And winged birds as the sand of the seas: |
| YLT | And He raineth on them flesh as dust, And as sand of the seas — winged fowl, |
| WEB | He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas. |
| BBE | He sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the sea, |
Where they part company is in the translation of שְׁאֵר — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause with two subordinate phrases that expand on the nature and quantity of the provisions.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָטַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 78:27
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 — God's Provision in the Wildernessgenerated
Psalm 78:27 describes how God rained down meat and birds for the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. This event highlights God's miraculous provision for His people, ensuring they had enough to eat as they journeyed through the desert. It connects with earlier accounts in Exodus 16:12-13 and Numbers 11:18-19, where similar provisions are mentioned, illustrating God's care and sustenance.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 16:12–13 | “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” |
| 2 | Numbers 11:18–19 | And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, because you have cried out in the hearing of the LORD, saying: ‘Who will feed us meat? For we were better off in Egypt!’ Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר, vai.yam.Tergenerated
The verb מָטַר (matar) means 'to rain' and is used here in the Hiphil stem, indicating that God actively caused the meat to rain down upon the people. It conveys the sense of abundance, as it is not merely a sprinkle but a significant outpouring.
This verb appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often depicting God's control over nature and His ability to provide for His people. The use of this term emphasizes the miraculous nature of the event, showcasing God's power and generosity.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase He rained meat on them, a rendering shared by the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר governs the clause, indicating the action of raining down. The structure includes prepositional phrases that describe the recipients and the nature of what was provided.
The phrase כֶּעָפָ֣ר connects the quantity of meat to dust, emphasizing abundance, while the phrase וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים describes the multitude of birds, likening them to the sand of the sea.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר as ἔβρεχεν (ebrechēn), which also means 'to rain'. This choice maintains the meaning of divine provision but may suggest a more general sense of abundance rather than the specific act of sending down.
The use of πετεινὰ for birds indicates a focus on the creatures themselves, aligning with the Hebrew's emphasis on winged creatures.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:27 tells us that God provided meat and birds to the Israelites in the wilderness. He rained down these provisions abundantly, comparing the meat to dust and the birds to the sand of the sea, illustrating His generous care for His people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase indicates that God provided an abundant supply of food for the Israelites, showcasing His power and care during their journey.
The comparison emphasizes the vast quantity of meat provided, suggesting that it was as plentiful as dust on the ground.
The term used encompasses all winged creatures, indicating a variety of birds that were provided for the people.
This verse relates to other biblical accounts, such as in Exodus and Numbers, where God provided for the Israelites' needs in miraculous ways.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God's provision in my own life?
- How can I trust God to provide for my needs as He did for the Israelites?
- What does this verse teach me about God's character?
- How can I share the story of God's provision with others?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe rained flesh also upon them as dust,.... By "flesh" is meant fowl, as the following clause shows; for there is flesh of birds, as well as of other creatures, see 1 Corinthians 15:39 and the quails
Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMarvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleFeathered fowls, Heb. winged fowl; which is noted to show that it was a supernatural work, whereby God took away from them the use of their wings, and made them to fall into the hands of the Israelites.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:Ver. 27. He rained flesh also upon them as dust] Dapibus illos compluit. This he had done once before for them; see Exodus 16:12-13, with Numbers 11:18-21; Numbers 11:31-33; their unbelief, therefore, and impatience this second time was the more heinous.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(27) No doubt there is poetical hyperbole here, but for the enormous numbers of quails that are now caught, see the article quoted above.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges27. And he rained flesh upon them as the dust, And winged fowl as the sand of the seas. The sending of quails is connected, as in Exodus 16, with the sending of the manna; but the language of the Psalm follows the description of the second sending of quails in Numbers 11. The verbs in Psalms 78:26 are the same as those in Psalms 78:52. Cp. Exodus 10:13; Numbers 11:31. East and South are separated for the sake of rhythm. A S.E. wind brought up the quails from ‘the sea,’ i.e. the Red Sea. “The period when they were brought to the camp of Israel was in spring, when on their northward migration from Africa. According to their well-known instinct, they would follow up the coast of the Red Sea…
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe rained flesh also upon them as dust - The flesh of quails, Numbers 11:31. The word “rained” means that they seemed to come upon them like a copious shower. The word dust denotes their great abundance.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible27. He rained flesh… as dust—That is, in profusion. The allusion is to the “dust” of the sirocco. In this same desert, further north, Dr.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 78 →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
He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea.
He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.
He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea.
He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.
Tyndale line
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, And winged birds as the sand of the seas:
He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, and winged fowl as the sand of the seas:
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
Hee rained flesh also vpon them as dust, and feathered foule as the sand of the sea.
Strictly literal
And he rained flesh upon them as dust, and feathered fowl as the sand of the seas,
And He raineth on them flesh as dust, And as sand of the seas — winged fowl,
And He rains on them flesh as dust, || And as sand of the seas—winged bird,
And he let rain upon them flesh [as plentiful] as the dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea;
He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sands of the sea.
Simplified
He rained down meat on them as plentiful as dust; birds as numerous as sand on a beach.
He sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the sea,
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.
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 agree on the wording of this verse, with all eight words matched in the Hebrew text. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same meaning, though the order and structure differ.
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃
8 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.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 78:27
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.
מָטַר (matar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to rain.' It can refer to the act of raining or being rained upon, with specific forms indicating whether the subject is causing rain to fall or simply receiving it. The entries highlight its use in both the Niphal and Hiphil stems, covering various aspects of rain.
[מָטַר] vb. denom. [rain]
Niph. be rained upon
Hiph. send rain, rain
base
H4305 מָטַר vb. denom. [rain] . be rained upon
. send rain, rain
4305 matar maw-tar'
a primitive root; to rain:--(cause to) rain (upon).
מָטַר (ma.tar) — to rain.
1) to rain
1a) (Niphal) to be rained on or upon
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to rain, send rain
1b2) to rain hail, send hail
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
עָפָר (aphar) refers to dry earth or dust, encompassing meanings such as powder, ashes, and rubbish. It is derived from a root meaning to be dry and is used in various contexts, including clay and mortar. The entries consistently highlight its association with loose earth and debris.
עָפָר n.m. dry earth, dust
base
H6083 עָפָר dry earth, dust
6083 `aphar aw-fawr'
from 6080; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth,
mud:--ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.
see HEBREW for 06080
עָפָר (a.phar) — dust.
1) dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish
1a) dry or loose earth
1b) debris
1c) mortar
1d) ore
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
dust (`aphar; koniortos, chous): Small particles of earth. The word has several figurative and symbolic meanings:
(1) Dust being the material out of which God is said to have formed man (Ge 2:7), it became a symbol of man's frailty (Ps 103:14, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust"; compare Ge 18:27; Job 4:19, etc.), and of his mortality (Ge 3:19, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"; compare Job 34:15; Ps 104:29; Ec 3:20…
Dust
Storms of sand and dust sometimes overtake Eastern travellers. They are very dreadful, many perishing under them. Jehovah threatens to bring on the land of Israel, as a punishment for forsaking him, a rain of “powder and dust” (Deut. 28:24).
To cast dust on the head was a sign of mourning (Josh. 7:6); and to sit in dust, of extreme affliction (Isa. 47:1). “Dust” is used to denote the grave (Job 7:21). “To shake off the dust from one’s feet” against another is to renounce all future intercourse with him (Matt. 10:14; Acts 13:51). To “lick the dust” is a sign of…
[MOURNING]
Jos 7:6. Dust or ashes put upon the head was a sign of mourning; sitting in the dust, a sign of affliction, La 3:29 Isa 47:1. "Dust" is also put for the grave, Ge 3:19 Job 7:21. It signifies a multitude, Ge 13:16, and a low and mean condition, 1Sa 2:8. We have two remarkable instances of casting dust recorded in Scripture, and they seem to illustrate a practice common in Asia: those who demanded justice against a criminal were accustomed to throw dust upon him, signifying that he deserved to be cast into the grave.…
שְׁאֵר (sh'er) refers to flesh, potentially originating from the inner flesh next to the bones. It encompasses meanings related to food, physical power, and kinship, indicating a connection by blood. The term can also imply self or body. There is a related term, שַׁאֲרָה (sha.a.rah), meaning 'kinswomen'.
שְׁאֵר n.m. flesh (perh. orig. the inner flesh, full of blood, next to the bones)
flesh
as food
fig. for physical power
in HP = flesh- (= blood-) relation (i.e. one near of kin)
= self
base
H7607 שְׁאֵר flesh (perh. orig. the inner flesh, full of blood, next to the bones)
7607 sh'er sheh-ayr'
from 7604; flesh (as swelling out), as living or for food;
generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by blood:--
body, flesh, food, (near) kin(-sman, -swoman), near (nigh) (of
kin).
see HEBREW for 07604
שְׁאֵר (she.er) — flesh.
1) flesh, food, body, near kin, near kinswoman
1a) flesh
1a1) as food
1a2) for physical power (fig)
1b) flesh relation, blood relation
1c) self
Also means: sha.a.rah (שַׁאֲרָה "kinswomen" H7608)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
met (broma, brosis): In the King James Version used for food in general, e.g. "I had my meat of herbs" (2 Esdras 12:51); "his disciples were gone away into the city to buy meat," the Revised Version (British and American) "food" (Joh 4:8). The English word signified whatever is eaten, whether of flesh or other food.
It does not appear that the word "meat" is used in any one instance in the Authorized Version of either the Old or New Testament in the sense which it now almost exclusively bears of animal food. The latter is denoted uniformly by "flesh." The word "meat," when our English version was made, meant food in general; or if any particular kind was designated, it referred to meal, flour or grain. The only real and inconvenient ambiguity caused by the change which has taken place in the meaning of the word is in the case of the "meat offering." [MEAT OFFERING OFFERING]
חוֹל (chol) means 'sand,' possibly derived from the idea of turning or whirling particles. The entries consistently define it as sand, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
חוֹל n.m. sand (perh. as turning or whirling)
base
H2344 חוֹל sand (perh. as turning or whirling)
2344 chowl khole
from 2342; sand (as round or whirling particles):--sand.
see HEBREW for 02342
חוֹל (chol) — sand.
sand
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHC/R/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יָם (yam) means 'sea' and refers to various large bodies of water, including the Mediterranean, Red, and Dead Seas, as well as the Sea of Galilee. It can also denote a mighty river like the Nile and has geographical implications, indicating directions such as west or south. The term is derived from a root meaning to roar, suggesting the noise of breaking surf.
יָם 390 n.m. sea
base
H3220 יָם sea
3220 yam yawm
from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in
noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the
article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or
an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the
south:--sea (X -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern,
side, -ward).
יָם (yam) — sea.
: sea
1) sea
1a) Mediterranean Sea
1b) Red Sea
1c) Dead Sea
1d) Sea of Galilee
1e) sea (general)
1f) mighty river (Nile)
1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)
1h) seaward, west, westward
יָם (yam) — sea: west.
: west
1) sea
1a) Mediterranean Sea
1b) Red Sea
1c) Dead Sea
1d) Sea of Galilee
1e) sea (general)
1f) mighty river (Nile)
1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)
1h) seaward, west, westward
יָם (yam) — (Mt. Ephron in the) West.
This name means sea, seaward, westward
Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
עוֹף (owph) refers to flying creatures, including birds and insects. It is derived from the root meaning to cover with wings, emphasizing the aspect of flight. The term encompasses various types of fowl and winged insects, and it is noted in the Aramaic as well. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.
עוֹף 70 n.m. coll. flying creatures, fowls, insects
fowl, birds
winged insects
base
H5775 עוֹף flying creatures, fowls, insects . fowl, birds
. winged insects
5775 `owph ofe
from 5774; a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as
covering with wings), often collectively:--bird, that flieth,
flying, fowl.
see HEBREW for 05774
עוֹף (oph) — bird.
1) flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds
1a) fowl, birds
1b) winged insects
Aramaic equivalent: oph (עוֹף "bird" H5776)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
כָּנָף (kanaph) means 'wing' or 'extremity' and can refer to various edges or corners, such as those of a bird, garment, or building. It encompasses meanings like border, corner, and skirt, indicating both physical and metaphorical edges. The word is derived from a root that suggests an edge or extremity.
כָּנָף 109 n.f. wing, extremity
base
H3671 כָּנָף wing, extremity
3671 kanaph kaw-nawf'
from 3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or
army) a wing, (of a garment or bed-clothing) a flap, (of the
earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle:--+ bird, border,
corner, end, feather(-ed), X flying, + (one an-)other,
overspreading, X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part,
wing((-ed)).
see HEBREW for 03670
כָּנָף (ka.naph) — wing.
1) wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt
1a) wing
1b) extremity
1b1) skirt, corner (of garment)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa