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Psalms 78:49 — Word Study

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WLCיְשַׁלַּח־ בָּ֨ם׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃

BSAHe unleashedshâlach [poured out, sent forth] His furychârôwn [burning anger, intense wrath] wrathʻebrâh [fierce anger] indignationzaʻam [intense displeasure] and calamitytsârâh [trouble, distress] a bandmishlachath [deputation, group] of destroyingraʻ [evil, bad] angelsmălʼâk [messengers, representatives of God]

Word
Listen & take awayPsalms 78
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 49 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 (ra.'Im) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Psalms 78:49quick helps
In a sentenceGod unleashed His fury through a group of angels, expressing His intense wrath and calamity.
Who is speakingThe psalmist recounts God's actions against those who disobeyed Him.
Where we areThis verse is part of a reflection on God's judgment against Egypt.
The hard wordחָרוֹן
Take awayGod's anger is serious, and it results in dire consequences.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁלַח The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Psalms 78:49

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 Judgment on Egyptgenerated

48He abandoned their cattle to the hail and their livestock to bolts of lightning.
49He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity— a band of destroying angels.
50He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.
51He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.

Psalm 78:49 describes how God unleashed His fury against the Egyptians, sending a band of angels to carry out His judgment. This verse highlights the seriousness of God's anger and the consequences of disobedience. It reflects on God's past actions during the Exodus, emphasizing His power and authority over nations that oppose Him.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 11:6On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.
2Job 20:23When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.
3Isaiah 42:25So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
4Lamentations 4:11The LORD has exhausted His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, and it has consumed her foundations.
5Zephaniah 3:8Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation— all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְשַׁלַּח־, ye.sha.lach-generated

The verb שָׁלַח (shalach) means 'to send' and is used here in the Piel stem, indicating a more intense action of sending forth. The parsing shows it is in the imperfect aspect, which conveys a continuous or repeated action, emphasizing God's active role in unleashing His fury.

This word has a wide range of applications in the Bible, from sending messages to sending people away. In this context, it signifies God sending forth His anger through agents, in this case, angels.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses unleashed for יְשַׁלַּח־.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is יְשַׁלַּח־, He sent, governing the entire clause. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the target of God's action, followed by a series of nouns that describe the nature of His fury and the agents involved.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of sending, followed by the attributes of that action, illustrating the severity of God's response.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְשַׁלַּח־ as ἐχαπέστειλεν, which carries a similar meaning of sending forth. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of God's active judgment.

The use of ἀγγέλων for מַלְאֲכֵ֥י indicates that the translators recognized these beings as messengers of God's wrath, aligning with the Hebrew context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Psalm 78:49 shows how God sent His anger against the Egyptians through a group of angels. This verse emphasizes the seriousness of God's judgment and the consequences of disobedience.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God unleashed His fury?

It means that God expressed His intense anger towards those who disobeyed Him, resulting in judgment.

Who are the destroying angels?

They are messengers sent by God to carry out His judgment and express His wrath.

Why does God express anger?

God's anger is a response to sin and disobedience, reflecting His holiness and justice.

What can we learn from this verse?

We learn about the seriousness of God's judgment and the consequences of turning away from Him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I understand God's anger in the context of His love and justice?
  2. In what ways have I seen God's judgment in the world today?
  3. How can I ensure that I am living in obedience to God to avoid His wrath?
  4. What role do I believe angels play in God's plans and actions?

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

Hippolytus of Rome comments on this verse, interpreting it as God's expression of wrath through angels as a form of punishment.

Hippolytus of RomeFragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture - On Psalm LXXVII. Or LXXVIII. c. 170–235
"He discharged upon them the wrath of His anger;-anger, and wrath, and tribulation, a visitation by evil angels." Under anger, wrath, and tribulation, he intended bitter punishments; for God is without passion.
Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:49 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger,.... This with the following words, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, are thought by some to intend the other plagues, which are not particularly

Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Indignation and trouble; other most grievous plagues, which were mixed with and were the effects of his anger and wrath; whereby their miseries were greatly aggravated, and distinguished from the afflictions which God sent upon the Israelites in Egypt, which were only fatherly chastisements, and the effects of God’ s love and occasions of their deliverance. By sending evil angels, Heb. the sending (or the operation or effects) of evil angels, or of the angels or messengers of evil things; either of the angels whom God employed in producing these plagues; or of Moses and Aaron, who were to the Egyptians messengers of evil, and by whom these judgments were sent to and inflicted upon them.

Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Psalms 78:49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels [among them].Ver. 49. By sending evil angels among them] i.e. Some messengers of his wrath and displeasure, whether good or evil angels it skills not.

Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(49) Evil angels.—So LXX. and Vulg., but in the Hebrew angels (or messengers) of ills (so Symmachus), with evident reference to the destruction of the firstborn.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 78 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 49. By sending evil angels] This is the first mention we have of evil angels. There is no mention of them in the account we have of the plagues of Egypt in the Book of Exodus, and what they were we cannot tell: but by what the psalmist says here of their operations, they were the sorest plague that God had sent; they were marks of the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble. Some think the destroying angel that slew all the first-born is what is here intended; but this is distinctly mentioned in Psalms 78:51. An angel or messenger may be either animate or inanimate; a disembodied spirit or human being; any thing or being that is an instrument sent of God for the…

Read AdamClarke on Psalms 78 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

40–55. But as God multiplied His mercies, Israel multiplied its acts of rebellion: and in order to set the heinousness of their ingratitude in a still stronger light, the Psalmist goes back to recount the miracles which preceded and prepared for the Exodus.

Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger ... - This verse is designed to describe the last, and the most dreadful of the plagues that came upon the Egyptians, the slaying of their first-born;

Read Albert Barnes 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity— a band of destroying angels.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity—a band of destroying angels.

NETBNew English Translation2006

His raging anger lashed out against them, He sent fury, rage, and trouble as messengers who bring disaster.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A band of angels of evil.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, a band of angels of evil.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them .

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Hee cast vpon them the fiercenesse of his anger, indignation and wrath, and vexation by the sending out of euill Angels.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and distress, — a mission of angels of woes.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

He sendeth on them the fury of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and distress — A discharge of evil messengers.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He sends on them the fury of His anger, || Wrath, and indignation, and distress—A discharge of evil messengers.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He let loose against them the fierceness of his anger, wrath and indignation, and distress, a host of angels of misfortune.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The fierceness of his anger lashed out against them. He sent wrath, fury, and trouble like agents who bring disaster.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He poured out on them his fierce anger—rage and hostility and anguish—sending a band of destroying angels against them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He sent on them the heat of his wrath, his bitter disgust, letting loose evil angels among them.

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.

clauseverbיְשַׁלַּחhe.sentprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּ֨onםthemnoun phrase · objectnoun phrasenoun phraseחֲר֬וֹןthe.burningnoun phraseאַפּ֗his.angerוֹhisnoun phraseעֶבְרָ֣הfuryוָandזַ֣עַםindignationוְandצָרָ֑הtroublenoun phraseמִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַתa.deputationnoun phraseמַלְאֲכֵ֥יof.angelsרָעִֽיםof.calamities

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity—a band of destroying angels." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning and content, matching all ten words in a word-by-word correspondence. There are no significant differences between these two ancient witnesses for this verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls are not specifically mentioned in this context, so their readings are not available for comparison here.

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

יְשַׁלַּח־ בָּ֨ם׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְשַׁלַּח־ἐχαπέστειλενבָּ֨ם׀αὐτοὺςחֲר֬וֹןὀργὴνאַפּ֗וֹαὐτοῦעֶבְרָ֣הθυμὸνוָזַ֣עַםὀργὴνוְצָרָ֑הθλῖψινמִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַתἀποστολὴνמַלְאֲכֵ֥יἀγγέλωνרָעִֽים׃πονηρῶν

10 of the 10 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 78:49שָׁלַחhe senthe sentשָׁלַחהֶםon themon themהֶםחָרוֹן[the] burni[the] burning oחָרוֹןאַףanger hisanger hisאַףעֶבְרָהfuryfuryעֶבְרָהזַ֫עַםand indignaand indignationזַ֫עַםבַּצָּרָהand troubleand troubleבַּצָּרָהמִשְׁלַ֫חַתa band ofa band ofמִשְׁלַ֫חַתמַלְאָךְangels ofangels ofמַלְאָךְרַעcalamitiescalamitiesרַעחָרָהto be inceto be incensedחָרָהאָנֵףbe angrybe angryאָנֵףזָעַםbe indignabe indignantזָעַםרָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעעֵ֫בֶרside: beyoside: beyondעֵ֫בֶרצַרnarrownarrowצַרמִשְׁלַחsendingsendingמִשְׁלַחחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןזַ֫עַםindignatioindignationזַ֫עַםחָפְשִׁיfreefreeחָפְשִׁימַלְאָךְmessengermessengerמַלְאָךְאַףfacefaceאַףאָרֵךְslowslowאָרֵךְעֶבְרָהfuryfuryעֶבְרָהעֵתtimetimeעֵתיָשַׁעto saveto saveיָשַׁעמָנוֹחַManoahManoahמָנוֹחַשָׁלַחto send: dto send: departשָׁלַח
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 78:49

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.

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
יְשַׁלַּח־ye.sha.lach- he sent H7971 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
847× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Amplified meaning
poured out, sent forth
Tyndale gloss
to send: depart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלַח 814 vb. send

Qal

send: human subj.

send: subj. י׳ (God)

stretch out, esp. acc. hand

rarely send away: human subj.

let loose

Niph. letters were sent

Pi.

send off, away, human subj.

send away, subj. י׳

give over

cast out

send out, forth

let go, set free

shoot forth branches

let down

shoot

Phrases

Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)

Hiph. and I (י׳) will send

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.

. send: subj. י׳ (God)

. stretch out, esp. acc. hand

. rarely send away: human subj.

. let loose

. letters were sent

. . send off, away, human subj.

. . send away, subj. י׳

. give over

. cast out

. send out, forth

. let go, set free

. shoot forth branches

. let down

. shoot

. Phrases

. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)

. and I (י׳) will send

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7971 shalach shaw-lakh'

a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great

variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the

way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give

(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),

push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send

(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,

stretch forth (out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.

: depart/send

1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to send

1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct

1a3) to send away

1a4) to let loose

1b) (Niphal) to be sent

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out

1c2) to let go, set free

1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)

1c4) to let down

1c5) to shoot

1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled

1e) (Hiphil) to send

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.

: let_go/free

1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to send

1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct

1a3) to send away

1a4) to let loose

1b) (Niphal) to be sent

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out

1c2) to let go, set free

1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)

1c4) to let down

1c5) to shoot

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVpi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(shalach; apostello): "Sent" in the Old Testament is the translation of shalach, "to send" (of presents, messengers, etc., Ge 32:18; 44:3; Jud 6:14; 1Ki 14:6; Es 3:13; Pr 17:11; Jer 49:14; Eze 3:5; 23:40; Da 10:11; Ob 1:1); of shelach, Aramaic (Ezr 7:14; Da 5:24); of shilluchim, "sending" (

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
בָּ֨ם׀bam on them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3mp
he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
חֲר֬וֹןcha.Ron [the] burning of H2740 Noun common · masculine singular construct
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes God's burning anger or fierce wrath, often used in the Bible to convey His intense emotions. It is used to describe God's anger towards sin and disobedience, and appears in various translations as sore displeasure or fury. This word emphasizes the seriousness of God's emotions.
Amplified meaning
burning anger, intense wrath
Tyndale gloss
burning anger
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרוֹן (charown) refers to a burning anger or fierce wrath, primarily associated with God's displeasure. It is derived from the root meaning 'to burn' and is consistently used to denote intense emotional states of anger. The term captures the severity of divine fury, emphasizing its potency in contexts of judgment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָרוֹן n.m. (burning of) anger

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2740 חָרוֹן (burning of) anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2740 charown khaw-rone'

or (shortened) charon {khaw-rone'}; from 2734; a burning of

anger:--sore displeasure, fierce(-ness), fury, (fierce)

wrath(-ful).

see HEBREW for 02734

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרוֹן (cha.ron) — burning anger.

1) anger, heat, burning (of anger)

1a) always used of God's anger

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
אַפּ֗וֹ'a.Po anger his H639 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
276× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word can mean face, but also anger or nose. It is used to describe someone's countenance or emotions, like anger or patience. In the Bible, it appears in various contexts, including descriptions of God's emotions.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַף (aph) primarily means nostril or nose, but it also refers to the face and is often associated with anger. It can denote a person's countenance or expressions of ire. The entries highlight its connection to rapid breathing in passionate states, indicating its use in contexts of anger or wrath.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַף 277 n.m. nostril, nose, face, anger

nostril, as organ of breathing

Dn. face

mostly anger

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H639 אַף nostril, nose, face, anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

639 'aph af

from 599; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and

occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in

passion) ire:--anger(-gry), + before, countenance, face, +

forebearing, forehead, + (long-)suffering, nose, nostril,

snout, X worthy, wrath.

see HEBREW for 0599

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַף (aph) — face: anger.

: anger

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

אַף (aph) — face: nose.

: nose

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

אַף (aph) — face.

: face

1) nostril, nose, face

2) anger

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
עֶבְרָ֣ה'ev.Rah fury H5678 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
34× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means an outburst of passion, such as anger, rage, or wrath, often describing God's response to sin. It's used to convey intense emotions in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
fierce anger
Tyndale gloss
fury
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶבְרָה (*'ebrah*) is a feminine noun derived from the root word for overflow. It encompasses meanings such as outburst, excess, and fury, often relating to intense emotions like anger and arrogance. The entries consistently highlight its association with passionate outpourings, particularly in contexts of rage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶבְרָה n.f. overflow, arrogance, fury

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5678 עֶבְרָה overflow, arrogance, fury

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5678 `ebrah eb-raw'

feminine of 5676; an outburst of passion:--anger, rage,

wrath.

see HEBREW for 05676

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶבְרָה (ev.rah) — fury.

1) outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, wrath, arrogance

1a) overflow, excess, outburst

1b) arrogance

1c) overflowing rage or fury

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fu'-ri (alastor, "not to forget," "significant of revenge"):

Occurs only in /APC 2Macc 7:9 the King James Version, "Thou like a fury (the Revised Version (British and American) "Thou, miscreant") takest us out of this present life."

See also WRATH; FIERCENESS; ANGER.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fury

As attributed to God, is a figurative expression for dispensing afflictive judgments (Lev. 26:28; Job 20:23; Isa. 63:3; Jer. 4:4; Ezek. 5:13; Dan. 9:16; Zech. 8:2).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Attributed to God metaphorically, or speaking after the manner of men; that is, God’s providential actions are such as would be performed by a man in a state of anger; so that, when he is said to pour out his fury on a person, or on a people, it is a figurative expression for dispensing afflictive providences. But we must be cautious not to attribute human infirmities, passions, or malevolence to the Deity.

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
וָזַ֣עַםva.Za.'am and indignation H2195 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to intense anger or fury, often used to describe God's displeasure with sin. In Deuteronomy 9:19, it is used to describe God's indignation towards the Israelites for worshiping a golden calf. It is a strong feeling of anger or rage.
Amplified meaning
intense displeasure
Tyndale gloss
indignation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זַ֫עַם (za`am) refers to indignation or anger, particularly in the context of God's displeasure with sin. It is derived from the root word for frothing at the mouth, emphasizing a strong emotional response. The entries consistently highlight its use to convey fury and rage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זַ֫עַם n.m. indignation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2195 זַ֫עַם indignation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2195 za`am zah'-am

from 2194; strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively)

fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin):--angry,

indignation, rage.

see HEBREW for 02194

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זַ֫עַם (za.am) — indignation.

anger, indignation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
וְצָרָ֑הve.tza.Rah and trouble H6869 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A vexer is someone who causes trouble or distress, like a rival wife, used in the Bible to describe relationships or situations that cause anguish or affliction, as seen in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
trouble, distress
Tyndale gloss
dearth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word צָרָה (*tsarah*) is built from the root meaning tightness or trouble. It covers a range of meanings including dearth, distress, and adversary, as well as specifically referring to a rival wife. The entries note its use in contexts of adversity and anguish, with a specific reference to 1 Samuel 1:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּצָּרָה n.f. dearth, destitution

base

צָרָה 72 n.f. id. [r.dz.ac] straits, distress

base

[צָרָה] n.f. vexer, rival-wife;—sf. 1 S 1:6.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6869a בַּצָּרָה dearth, destitution H6869b צָרָה id. [6862b] H6869c צָרָה vexer, rival-wife

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6869 tsarah tsaw-raw'

feminine of 6862; tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble);

transitively, a female rival:--adversary, adversity,

affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble.

see HEBREW for 06862

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּצָּרָה (bats.tsa.rah) — dearth.

death, destitution

צָרָה (tsa.rah) — distress.

straits, distress, trouble

צָרָה (tsa.rah) — vexer.

vexer, rival wife

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ BORROWING Mt 6:25-34; Mr 5:35,36; Joh 14:1; 16:6,7; Php 4:6; 1Pe 5:7

See AFFLICTION

See SUFFERING

→ INSTANCES OF

Israelites at the Red Sea Ex 14:10-12

About water Ex 15:23-25; 17:2,3; Nu 20:1-13

Food Ex 16:2,3; Nu 11:4-33

When Moses waited upon the mountain Ex 32:1

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַתmish.La.chat a band of H4917 Noun common · feminine singular construct
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a mission or a group of people sent to do something, like an army or a team. It can also mean release or discharge from a task. The word is used in the Bible to describe various missions and tasks.
Amplified meaning
deputation, group
Tyndale gloss
deputation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִשְׁלַ֫חַת (mishlachath) is a feminine noun derived from מִשְׁלַח (mishlach). It covers meanings related to discharge or sending, both in favorable and unfavorable contexts, including the idea of a mission or deputation. The term appears in various contexts, but specific verse references are not provided.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁלַ֫חַת n.f. 1. discharge; 2. deputation, sending

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4917 מִשְׁלַ֫חַת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4917 mishlachath mish-lakh'-ath

feminine of 4916; a mission, i.e. (abstractly) and favorable)

release, or (concretely and unfavorable) an army:--discharge,

sending.

see HEBREW for 04916

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁלַ֫חַת (mish.la.chat) — deputation.

1) discharge, sending, sending away, deputation

1a) discharge

1b) deputation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
מַלְאֲכֵ֥יmal.'a.Khei angels of H4397 Noun common · masculine plural construct
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A messenger or representative, often of God, like an angel, prophet, or priest, as seen in Isaiah 42:19 and Haggai 1:13, carrying out God's will.
Amplified meaning
messengers, representatives of God
Tyndale gloss
messenger
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַלְאָךְ (mal'ak) means 'messenger' and can refer to an angel, particularly as a messenger of God. It is derived from a root meaning to dispatch as a deputy and encompasses roles such as ambassador, prophet, and teacher. The term is used in contexts that include divine communication.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְאָךְ 214 n.m. messenger

messenger

angel, as messenger of God

the theophanic angel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4397 מַלְאָךְ messenger . messenger

. angel, as messenger of God

. the theophanic angel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4397 mal'ak mal-awk'

from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a

messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a

prophet, priest or teacher):--ambassador, angel, king,

messenger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger.

: messenger

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger: angel.

: angel

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

he sent on them [the] burning of anger his fury and indignation and trouble a band of angels of calamities
רָעִֽים׃ra.'Im calamities 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
evil, bad
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
HAampa
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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