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Song of Solomon 2:11 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּֽי־ הִנֵּ֥ה הַסְּתָ֖יו עָבָ֑ר הַגֶּ֕שֶׁם חָלַ֖ף הָלַ֥ךְ לֽוֹ׃

BSAForkîy nowhinnêh [behold, see] the winterçᵉthâv [cold season, dark and rainy time] is pastʻâbar [has passed by, gone away] the raingeshem [shower, refreshing downpour] is overchâlaph [has changed, stopped] and gonehâlak [passed away, slid by quickly]

Word
Listen & take awaySong of Solomon 2
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 (lo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Song of Solomon 2:11quick helps
In a sentenceThe speaker declares that winter is over and the rain has passed.
Who is speakingThe beloved, inviting the listener to recognize the change in seasons.
Where we areIn a poetic reflection on the transition from winter to spring.
The hard wordעָבָר
Take awayThe harshness of winter has ended, making way for new life.
clause verbעָבַר 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 — Song of Solomon 2:11

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 Arrival of Springgenerated

10My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.
11For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
12The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.
13The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”

Song of Solomon 2:11 portrays a vibrant transition from winter to spring, symbolizing renewal and hope. The beloved invites the listener to acknowledge that the cold, dark season has passed, and with it, the rain that often brings gloom. This imagery resonates with themes of love and rejuvenation found throughout the Song of Solomon.


The Key Word עָבָר, 'a.Vargenerated

The verb עָבַר ('a.Var) means 'to pass' and is used here in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action: winter has passed. This word captures the essence of transition, suggesting a movement from one state to another, often associated with time.

In this context, it emphasizes the end of a difficult season, marking a shift towards warmth and growth. The choice of this verb reflects the broader themes of change and renewal, central to the imagery of the passage.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of a main clause introduced by the conjunction כִּי, for, followed by a series of phrases that describe what has happened: the passing of winter and the rain. The structure is straightforward, emphasizing the completion of these seasonal changes.

The verbs עָבָר, חָלַף, and הָלַךְ are all in the perfect tense, indicating that the actions have been completed. This reinforces the finality of winter's departure and the arrival of a new season.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עָבָר as παρῆλθεν, which means 'has passed by.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the idea of something that has transitioned or moved on.

The use of ὑετὸς for הַגֶּשֶׁם indicates a direct correspondence in meaning, focusing on the rain as a significant element of the changing season.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Song of Solomon 2:11 expresses that winter is over and the rain has passed. This marks a time of renewal and change, inviting the beloved to recognize the beauty of the new season.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the winter is past?

It signifies the end of a difficult or cold period, making way for warmth, growth, and new beginnings.

Why is the rain mentioned in this verse?

The rain symbolizes the challenges or hardships that have now passed, allowing for a fresh start.

How does this verse reflect themes of love?

The transition from winter to spring can symbolize the blossoming of love and the joy that comes with new beginnings.

What is the significance of the imagery in this verse?

The imagery of changing seasons highlights the cyclical nature of life, love, and renewal, central themes in the Song of Solomon.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What seasons of change have I experienced in my own life, and how have they shaped me?
  2. In what ways can I recognize and celebrate new beginnings in my relationships?
  3. How can the imagery of spring inspire me to embrace renewal and growth?
  4. What challenges have I overcome that now allow me to appreciate the beauty of the present?

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

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Look! The winter has passed, the winter rains are over and gone.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For, lo, the winter is past; The rain is over and gone;

RVARevised Version, American1894

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For beholde, winter is past: the raine is changed, and is gone away.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over, it is gone:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

For lo, the winter hath passed by, The rain hath passed away — it hath gone.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

For behold, the winter has passed by, || The rain has passed away—it has gone.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone its way.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Look, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Winter has finished; the rains are over and gone.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For, see, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

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)clauseclauseהִנֵּ֥הthere!clausenoun phrase · subjectהַtheסְּתָ֖יוwinterverbעָבָ֑רit.has.passedclausenoun phrase · subjectהַtheגֶּ֕שֶׁםrainverbחָלַ֖ףit.has.passed.awayclauseverbהָלַ֥ךְit.has.goneprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֽ(forוֹitself

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads, "For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, matching all eight words, though it presents them in a different order and structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q107) also align closely with the Masoretic Text, containing four words, of which one is partly restored and three are supplied by an editor. Overall, the key elements of the verse are consistent across these witnesses, affirming the same message about the changing seasons.

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

כִּֽי־ הִנֵּ֥ה הַסְּתָ֖יו עָבָ֑ר הַגֶּ֕שֶׁם חָלַ֖ף הָלַ֥ךְ לֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּֽי־ὅτιהִנֵּ֥הἰδοὺהַסְּתָ֖יוξειμὼνעָבָ֑רπαρῆλθενהַגֶּ֕שֶׁםὑετὸςחָלַ֖ףἀπῆλθενהָלַ֥ךְἐπορεύθηלֽוֹ׃ἑαυτῷ

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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q107a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[כי] [הנה] [הסתו] עבר הגשם חלף הלך ל׳ו

4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Song of Solomon 2:11כִּיforforכִּיהִנֵּהthere!there!הִנֵּהסתוthe winterthe winterסתועָבַרit has passit has passedעָבַרגֶּ֫שֶׁםthe rainthe rainגֶּ֫שֶׁםחָלַףit has passit has passed aחָלַףהָלַךְit has goneit has goneהָלַךְוֹitselfitselfוֹגשׁםto rainto rainגשׁםהֵןlook!look!הֵןהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץמַלְקוֹשׁspring raispring rainמַלְקוֹשׁמָטַרrainrainמָטַרמַשְׂכֹּ֫רֶתwagewageמַשְׂכֹּ֫רֶתשִׂמְלָהmantlemantleשִׂמְלָהדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּה
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 Song of Solomon 2:11

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! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
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'.
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! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
הִנֵּ֥הhi.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
behold, see
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! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
הַסְּתָ֖יוha.se.tav the winter H5638 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew term for winter, emphasizing the dark and rainy season, as mentioned in the KJV as winter.
Amplified meaning
cold season, dark and rainy time
Tyndale gloss
winter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סתיו (seth-awv') refers to winter, described as the dark season. The term is associated with the rainy season as well. It appears in the context of Song of Solomon 2:11, where it is noted in both the Kt and Qr forms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סתו Kt, סְתָיו Qr n.m. winter;—Ct 2:11.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5638 סתו, סְתָיו, סְתָו

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5638 cthav seth-awv'

from an unused root meaning to hide; winter (as the dark

season):--winter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סְתָיו (se.tav) — winter.

winter, rainy season

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

win'-ter (choreph, from charaph, "to inundate," "overflow"): The rainy season, also the autumn harvest season (Ge 8:22; Ps 74:17; Zec 14:8). It is also the time of cold (Jer 36:22; Am 3:15). The verb "to winter" occurs in Isa 18:6. Cethaw has the same meaning as Choreph (So 2:11). cheimon, corresponds to choreph as the rainy season, and the verb paracheimazo, signifies "to pass the winter" (Ac 27:12), the noun from which is paracheimasia (same place).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CANAAN.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Annual return of, will never cease Ge 8:22

→ Plowing in, in Canaan, (margin) Pr 20:4

→ Rainy season in, in Canaan So 2:11

→ Shipping suspended in, on the Mediterranean Sea Ac 27:12; 28:11

→ Paul remains for one, at Nicopolis Tit 3:12

→ Summer and winter houses Jer 36:22; Am 3:15

→ See METEOROLOGY

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God makes

Ps 74:17

- Yearly return of, secured by covenant

Ge 8:22

- Coldness and inclemency of, noticed

Pr 20:4; Joh 10:22

- UNSUITED FOR

. Travelling

Mt 24:20; 2Ti 4:21

. Navigation

Ac 27:9

- Ships were laid up in port during

Ac 27:12; 28:11

- The Jews frequently had special houses for

Jer 36:22; Am 3:15

- Illustrative of seasons of spiritual adversity

for there! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
עָבָ֑ר'a.Var it has passed H5674 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
556× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Amplified meaning
has passed by, gone away
Tyndale gloss
to pass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָבַר (abar) is a versatile verb meaning to pass over, through, or by, and it encompasses a range of actions including crossing, traversing, and alienating. It can also imply causing something to pass or be transferred, as well as emotional states like anger in its Hithpael form. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, though they do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on

Qal

pass over

Pass beyond

Pass through, traverse

pass along by

pass by

sweep by, of scourge

be past, over, of time

pass along (from hand to hand)

Pass on, go on

Pass away

Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

Pi.

his bull impregnateth

cause one to cross river

cause something to pass over

make over to

devote children to (לְ) heathen god

pass along (from hand to hand)

cause to pass through

let pass through

cause to pass by

let pass by

cause arrow to pass beyond

cause to pass under rod, for counting

cause to pass away, take away

Hiph.

cause to pass over, bring over

he made to pass across with chains of gold

base

[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5674a עָבַר pass over, through, by, pass on .. pass over

. Pass beyond

. Pass through, traverse

. . pass along by

. pass by

. sweep by, of scourge

. be past, over, of time

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. Pass on, go on

. Pass away

. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

. . his bull impregnateth . cause one to cross river

. cause something to pass over

. make over to

. devote children to (לְ) heathen god

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. . cause to pass through

. let pass through

. . cause to pass by

. let pass by

. cause arrow to pass beyond

. cause to pass under rod, for counting

. cause to pass away, take away

. . cause to pass over, bring over

. he made to pass across with chains of gold

H5674b עָבַר vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5674 `abar aw-bar'

a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any

transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive,

intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over,

through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over),

convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail,

gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way,

in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle,

overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over)

pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over,

through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish,

provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove,

send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X

speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to)

transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be

wrath.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַר (a.var) — to pass.

1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over

1a2) to pass beyond

1a3) to pass through, traverse

1a3a) passers-through (participle)

1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)

1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by

1a4a) passer-by (participle)

1a4b) to be past, be over

1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance

1a6) to pass away

1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory)

1a6b) to vanish

1a6c) to perish, cease to exist

1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)

1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands

1b) (Niphal) to be crossed

1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
for there! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
הַגֶּ֕שֶׁםha.Ge.shem the rain H1653 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a shower or rain, like a refreshing downpour from the sky. It appears in the Bible to describe weather. In the KJV, it is translated as rain or shower.
Amplified meaning
shower, refreshing downpour
Tyndale gloss
rain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גֶּ֫שֶׁם (geshem) refers to rain or a shower. It is derived from a related word and is consistently defined across sources. The entries indicate its use in contexts involving precipitation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גֶּ֫שֶׁם n.m. rain, shower

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1653 גֶּ֫שֶׁם rain, shower

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1653 geshem gheh'-shem

from 1652; a shower:--rain, shower.

see HEBREW for 01652

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גֶּ֫שֶׁם (ge.shem) — rain.

rain, shower

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

ran (maTar, Arabic (?), maTar, "rain" geshem, "heavy rain" moreh, "early rain," yoreh, "former rain," malqosh, "latter rain"; brecho, huetos):

1. Water-Supply in Egypt and Palestine:

In Egypt there is little or no rainfall, the water for vegetation being supplied in great abundance by the river Nile; but in Syria and Palestine there are no large rivers, and the people have to depend entirely on the fall of rain for water for themselves, their animals and their fields. The children of Israel when in Egypt were promised by Yahweh a land which "drinketh water of the rain of heaven" (De 11:11). Springs and fountains are found in most of the valleys, but the flow of the springs depends directly on the fall of rain or snow in the mountains.

2. Importance of Rain in Season:

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Rain

There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Hos. 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain. (2.) Melqosh, the “latter rain” (Prov. 16:15). (3.) Geshem, the winter rain, “the rains.” The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Gen. 7:12; Ezra 10:9; Cant. 2:11. The “early” or “former” rains commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of November (Deut. 11:14; Joel 2:23; comp.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In the Bible "early rain" signifies the rain of the autumn, (11:14) and "latter rain" the rain of spring. (Proverbs 16:1,5) For six months in the year, from May to October, no rain falls, the whole land becomes dry, parched and brown. The autumnal rains are eagerly looked for, to prepare the earth for the reception of the seed. These, the early rains, commence about the latter end of October continuing through November and December. January and February are the coldest months, and snow falls, sometimes to the depth of a foot or more, at Jerusalem, but it does not lie long; it is very seldom seen along the coast and in the low plains. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March it is very rare in April. Robinson observes that there are not, at the present day, "any particular periods of rain or succession of showers…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Scripture the "early" and the "latter" rain of Palestine is spoken of, De 11:14 Ho 6:3. The former falls in the latter part of October, the seed-time of Palestine; and the weather then continues variable, with more or less rain the whole winter, until after the latter or spring rain in April. Afterwards, the weather becomes serene, and the crops ripen. The wheat harvest takes place in May; by the middle of August, the fruits are gathered in; and from that time to the coming of the first or October rains, prevail the scorching heats and droughts of summer. Nothing can more expressively represent spiritual blessings than copious showers of rain after this trying season is past, De 32:2

for there! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
חָלַ֖ףcha.Laf it has passed away H2498 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to pass or change, like something sliding by quickly. It is used in the Bible to describe things like grass growing, time passing, or people moving on. It can also mean to overstep or transgress.
Amplified meaning
has changed, stopped
Tyndale gloss
to pass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָלַף (chalaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pass on or away, with various nuances including to hasten, sprout anew, or change. It can refer to physical movement, such as passing through, as well as metaphorical changes like transgression or renewal. The word appears in poetic contexts and has different forms indicating causation or transformation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָלַף vb. pass on or away, pass through (mostly poet.)

Qal

pass on quickly

pass away, vanish

of grass, come on anew, i.e. sprout again

trans.

pass through, i.e. pierce

overstep, transgress

Pi. (cause to pass) change

Hiph.

change (trans.)

shew newness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2498 חָלַף pass on or away, pass through (mostly poet.) .. . pass on quickly

. pass away, vanish

. of grass, come on anew, i.e. sprout again

. trans. . pass through, i.e. pierce

. overstep, transgress

. (cause to pass) change

. . change (trans.)

. shew newness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2498 chalaph khaw-laf'

a primitive root; properly, to slide by, i.e. (by

implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or

change:--abolish, alter, change, cut off, go on forward, grow

up, be over, pass (away, on, through), renew, sprout, strike

through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלַף (cha.laph) — to pass.

1) to pass on or away, pass through, pass by, go through, grow up, change, to go on from

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pass on quickly

1a2) to pass away (vanish)

1a3) to come on anew, sprout again (of grass)

1a4) to pass through

1a5) to overstep, transgress

1b) (Piel) to cause to pass, change

1c) (Hiph)

1c1) to change, substitute, alter, change for better, renew

1c2) to show newness (of tree)

Aramaic equivalent: cha.laph (חֲלַף "to pass" H2499)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
for there! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
הָלַ֥ךְha.Lakh it has gone H1980 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Amplified meaning
passed away, slid by quickly
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
for there! the winter it has passed the rain it has passed away it has gone itself
לֽוֹ׃lo itself H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
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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