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Song of Solomon 3:6 — Word Study

Depth

WLCמִ֣י זֹ֗את עֹלָה֙ מִן־ הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר כְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹת עָשָׁ֑ן מְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת מוֹר֙ וּלְבוֹנָ֔ה מִכֹּ֖ל אַבְקַ֥ת רוֹכֵֽל׃

BSAWhomîy [this one, the beloved] is thiszôʼth coming upʻâlâh [ascending, rising] frommin the wildernessmidbâr [the desert, a place of testing] like a columntîymârâh [pillars, a cloud] of smokeʻâshân [a fragrant vapor] scentedqâṭar with myrrhmôr [a bitter resin] and frankincenselᵉbôwnâh [a sweet incense] from allkôl [every kind, the entirety] the spicesʼăbâqâh [aromatic powders, fragrant spices] of the merchantrâkal [a trader, one who exchanges goods]

Word
Listen & take awaySong of Solomon 3
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 (ro.Khel) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Song of Solomon 3:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe beloved emerges from the wilderness, fragrant and majestic, like a cloud of smoke.
Who is speakingThe speaker is addressing the daughters of Jerusalem, asking about the identity of the beloved.
Where we areThis verse is part of a poetic dialogue in the Song of Solomon, celebrating love and beauty.
The hard wordמְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת
Take awayThe beloved's arrival is marked by beauty and fragrance, evoking a sense of wonder.
clause verbעָלָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 13 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 3:6

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 Beloved's Arrivalgenerated

5O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
6Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?
7Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.
8All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.

Song of Solomon 3:6 describes the beloved coming from the wilderness, evoking imagery of beauty and fragrance. This verse is part of a larger poetic expression that emphasizes the allure of the beloved, who is compared to a cloud of smoke filled with delightful scents. The surrounding verses depict the admiration of the daughters of Jerusalem, who are captivated by this figure's presence, as seen in Song of Solomon 3:5 and Song of Solomon 3:7.


The Key Word מִי, migenerated

The word מִי (mi) is an interrogative pronoun meaning 'who?' It is used to inquire about a person or to express a wish. In this verse, it serves to draw attention to the identity of the beloved, inviting curiosity and intrigue.

This pronoun appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts that emphasize personal relationships or inquiries about identity. Its usage here sets the tone for the poetic exploration of love and beauty.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the rendering of מִי as 'who?' in this context.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is עֹלָה, is coming up, which governs the entire clause. The structure is built around this verb, with various phrases providing details about the subject's origin and characteristics.

The phrase מִן־ הַמִּדְבָּר specifies the source of the beloved's ascent, while the participial phrases describe the beloved's appearance and fragrance, creating a vivid image in the reader's mind.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מִי as τίς (tis), maintaining the interrogative nature of the original Hebrew. This choice emphasizes the inquiry into the identity of the beloved.

The word καπνοῦ is used for עָשָׁן, indicating a direct connection to the imagery of smoke, further enhancing the visual and sensory elements present in the verse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Song of Solomon 3:6 asks who is coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke. This figure is described as being scented with myrrh and frankincense, highlighting their beauty and the fragrances associated with them. The verse captures the attention of the daughters of Jerusalem, who are intrigued by this arrival.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the wilderness symbolize in this verse?

The wilderness often symbolizes a place of testing or solitude, and in this context, it may represent the beloved's journey or transformation before their arrival.

Why are myrrh and frankincense mentioned?

Myrrh and frankincense are valuable resins used in perfumes and incense, symbolizing beauty, luxury, and the sacred, which enhances the allure of the beloved.

What does the imagery of smoke represent?

Smoke can symbolize the presence of God or divine revelation, and in this verse, it evokes a sense of mystery and beauty surrounding the beloved.

Who are the daughters of Jerusalem?

The daughters of Jerusalem represent a group of women who admire and inquire about the beloved, serving as a voice of curiosity and admiration in the poetic dialogue.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What qualities do you find most captivating in a person, similar to the beloved's attributes in this verse?
  2. How can the imagery of the wilderness relate to personal journeys or transformations in your life?
  3. In what ways do scents and fragrances play a role in your experiences or memories?
  4. How can you express admiration for those who inspire you, like the daughters of Jerusalem do for the beloved?

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

Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?

NETBNew English Translation2006

Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, like a fragrant billow of myrrh and frankincense, every kind of fragrant powder of the traveling merchants?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Who is shee that commeth vp out of the wildernes like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrhe and incense, and with all the spices of the marchant?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Who is this, [she] that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant? ...

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Who [is] this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Who [is] this coming up from the wilderness, || Like palm-trees of smoke, || Perfumed [with] myrrh and frankincense, || From every powder of the merchant?

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spicy powders of the merchant?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

What is that coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders sold by merchants?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Who is she that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of aromatical spices, of myrrh, and frankincense, and of all the powders of the perfumer?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Who is this coming in from the wilderness like a plume of smoke, like a burning sacrifice scented with myrrh and frankincense, with all kinds of imported perfumed powders?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Who is this coming out of the waste places like pillars of smoke, perfumed with sweet spices, with all the spices of the trader?

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.

clausepredicateמִ֣יwho?noun phrase · subjectזֹ֗אתthisnoun phraseclauseverbעֹלָה֙[is].coming.upprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִןfromnoun phraseהַtheמִּדְבָּ֔רwildernessprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּlikenoun phraseתִֽימֲר֖וֹתcolumnsעָשָׁ֑ןof.smokeclauseverbמְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת[she.is].perfumednoun phrase · adverbialמוֹר֙of.myrrhוּandלְבוֹנָ֔הfrankincenseprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseכֹּ֖לallnoun phraseאַבְקַ֥ת[the].scent-powderרוֹכֵֽלof.a.trader

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, "Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?" The Septuagint closely matches the Masoretic Text, differing primarily in word order and the use of articles, but it retains the essential elements of the verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variants for this verse, so they align with the Masoretic Text in meaning and content.

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

מִ֣י זֹ֗את עֹלָה֙ מִן־ הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר כְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹת עָשָׁ֑ן מְקֻטֶּ֤רֶת מוֹר֙ וּלְבוֹנָ֔ה מִכֹּ֖ל אַבְקַ֥ת רוֹכֵֽל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מִ֣יτίςזֹ֗אתαὕτηמִן־ἀπὸהַמִּדְבָּ֔רἐρήμουכְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹתστελέξηעָשָׁ֑ןκαπνοῦמְקֻטֶּ֤רֶתτεθυμιαμένηמוֹר֙σμύρνανוּלְבוֹנָ֔הλίβανονמִכֹּ֖לπάντωνאַבְקַ֥תκονιορτῶνרוֹכֵֽל׃μυρεψοῦ

12 of the 13 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.

Song of Solomon 3:6מִיwho?who?מִיזֶהthisthisזֶהעָלָה[is] coming[is] coming upעָלָהמִן־fromfromמִן־מִדְבָּרthe wildernthe wildernessמִדְבָּרתִּימָרָהlike columnlike columns ofתִּימָרָהעָשָׁןsmokesmokeעָשָׁןקָטַר[who is] pe[who is] perfumקָטַרמֹרmyrrhmyrrhמֹרלְבֹנָהand frankinand frankincensלְבֹנָהכֹּלfrom allfrom allכֹּלאֲבָקָה[the] scent[the] scent-powאֲבָקָהרָכַלa tradera traderרָכַלדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרעָשַׁןbe angrybe angryעָשַׁןמָרַרto provoketo provokeמָרַרלָבָןwhitewhiteלָבָןכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלמָהwhat?what?מָהשֶׂהשֶׂהמֵןstringstringמֵןתָּמָרpalmpalmתָּמָרקָטַרto encloseto encloseקָטַראָבָקdustdustאָבָקיָעַדto appointto appointיָעַדכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹתּוֹרָהinstructioinstructionתּוֹרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁירעֹלָהburnt offeburnt offeringעֹלָהיְאֹרstreamstreamיְאֹררָחַקto removeto removeרָחַק
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 3:6

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.

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
מִ֣יmi who? H4310 Pronoun
423× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to ask questions like who, whose, or whom. It can also be used to express a wish, like would that or whoever. It appears in many forms throughout the Bible, often in phrases like O that or what.
Amplified meaning
this one, the beloved
Tyndale gloss
who?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִי (mi) is an interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about persons, meaning 'who?' or 'whose?'. It can also appear in rhetorical questions and has some idiomatic uses, such as 'who among...?' or 'whosoever'. The word is rarely applied to things, and its forms can vary in emphasis.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִי 423 pron.interrog. who? of persons

מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied

in the gen. whose

in an indirect qu.

מִי ב׳ who among … ?

strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.

various rhetorical uses whose

מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it

once, following a verb, any one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4310 מִי who? of persons . מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied

. in the gen. whose

. in an indirect qu.

. מִי ב׳ who among … ?

. strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.

. various rhetorical uses whose

. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it

. once, following a verb, any one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4310 miy me

an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things,

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also

(indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction

with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that!

what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.

see HEBREW for 04100

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִי (mi) — who?.

who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Pronoun
HPi
who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
זֹ֗אתZot this H2063 Particle
604× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means this or that, often used to point out something specific. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
this
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֹאת (zot) is a demonstrative pronoun and adverb meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone or be used in apposition to a noun, often serving as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns to add emphasis. In poetry, it may function as a relative pronoun, though this is rare.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

standing alone

In appos. to subst.

More oft. as pred.

It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

With prefixes (in special senses)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2063 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone

. In appos. to subst.

. More oft. as pred.

. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

. With prefixes (in special senses)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2063 zo'th zothe'

irregular feminine of 2089; this (often used adverb):--

hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she,

so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing),

thus.

see HEBREW for 02089

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֹאת (zot) — this.

1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, such

1a) (alone)

1a1) this one

1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another

1b) (appos to subst)

1b1) this

1c) (as predicate)

1c1) this, such

1d) (enclitically)

1d1) then

1d2) who, whom

1d3) how now, what now

1d4) what now

1d5) wherefore now

1d6) behold here

1d7) just now

1d8) now, now already

1e) (poetry)

1e1) wherein, which, those who

1f) (with prefixes)

1f1) in this (place) here, then

1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter

1f3) thus and thus

1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus

1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side

1f6) on this account

1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Particle
HTm
who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
עֹלָה֙'o.Lah [is] coming up H5927 Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine singular
890× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ascend means to go up or rise, like the smoke from an altar going up to God, as described in many Bible passages, including Leviticus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
ascending, rising
Tyndale gloss
to ascend: rise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including going up, climbing, and rising in various contexts such as personal, natural, and spiritual. It can refer to actions involving people, animals, vegetation, and even thoughts, and includes nuances of being exalted or offering sacrifices. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various grammatical forms, indicating different aspects of ascent or elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb

Qal

of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

go up, in personal relations

of animals, go or come up

of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

of natural phenom., go up, rise

of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

of thoughts

come up before God, arrogance

go up, extend, of boundary

excel

Niph.

be brought up

be taken up

pass., be taken up, away

reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

reflex.: take oneself away

be exalted, of God

Hiph.

bring up persons

in personal relations

bring up animals

cause to ascend

mentally

offer a present; bring up tithe to

exalt

cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

Hoph.

be carried away

be taken up into, inserted in

be offered

Hithp. lift oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5927 עָלָה go up, ascend, climb .. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

. go up, in personal relations

. of animals, go or come up

. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

. of natural phenom., go up, rise

. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

. of thoughts

. come up before God, arrogance

. go up, extend, of boundary

. excel

. . . be brought up

. be taken up

. . pass., be taken up, away

. reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

. reflex.: take oneself away

. be exalted, of God

. . bring up persons

. in personal relations

. bring up animals

. cause to ascend

. mentally

. offer a present; bring up tithe to

. exalt

. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

. . be carried away

. be taken up into, inserted in

. be offered

. lift oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5927 `alah aw-law'

a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or

actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary

and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise

(up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up),

bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb

(up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart,

exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up);

grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,

(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect,

prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise

(up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring

(up), stir up, take away (up), work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָלָה (a.lah) — to ascend: rise.

: rise/go

1) to go up, ascend, climb

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go up, ascend

1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat

1a3) to go up, come up (of animals)

1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)

1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)

1a6) to come up (before God)

1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)

1a8) to excel, be superior to

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away

1b2) to take oneself away

1b3) to be exalted

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up

1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away

1c3) to bring up, draw up, train

1c4) to cause to ascend

1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)

1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)

1c7) to exalt

1c8) to cause to ascend, offer

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be carried away, be led up

1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in

1d3) to be offered

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine singular
HVqrfsa
who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
מִן־min- from H4480 Preposition
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

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

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

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

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

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

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

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

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

. with a temporal force, since, after

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

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

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

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

1b) out of

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

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

1b3) (of source or origin)

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

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

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

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

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

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

conj

2) that

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

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
הַמִּדְבָּ֔רha.mid.Bar the wilderness H4057 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
271× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Amplified meaning
the desert, a place of testing
Tyndale gloss
mouth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִדְבָּר (midbar) primarily means 'mouth' in the sense of an organ of speech, but it also refers to 'wilderness' or 'desert.' The word is derived from a root meaning to drive, suggesting open fields for pasturing cattle. It encompasses various forms of uninhabited land and is notably used in contexts related to the wilderness, such as the Wilderness of Sinai.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מִדְבָּר] n.m. mouth, as organ of speech, Ct 4:3

ref

מִדְבָר 270 n.m. wilderness

tracts of land, used for the pasturage of flocks and herds

uninhabited land

large tracts of such land bearing various names, in certain districts of which there might be towns and cities

fig.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4057a מִדְבָּר mouth, as organ of speech H4057b מִדְבָר wilderness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4057 midbar mid-bawr'

from 1696 in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open

field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert;

also speech (including its organs):--desert, south, speech,

wilderness.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — mouth.

1) mouth

1a) mouth (as organ of speech)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — wilderness.

1) wilderness

1a) pasture

1b) uninhabited land, wilderness

1c) large tracts of wilderness (around cities)

1d) wilderness (fig.)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — Wilderness (of Sinai).

This name means wilderness, uninhabited land

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

wil'-der-nes.

See DESERT; JUDAEA, WILDERNESS OF; WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wilderness

(1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer. 23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place. This word is used of the wilderness of Beersheba (Gen. 21:14), on the southern border of Palestine; the wilderness of the Red Sea (Ex. 13:18); of Shur (15:22), a portion of the Sinaitic peninsula; of Sin (17:1), Sinai (Lev. 7:38), Moab (Deut. 2:8), Judah (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See DESERT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Wandering of the Israelites in, see ISRAEL

→ Typical of the sinner' s state De 32:10

→ Jesus' temptation in Mt 4:1; Mr 1:12,13; Lu 4:1

→ See DESERT

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
כְּתִֽימֲר֖וֹתke.ti.ma.Rot like columns of H8490 Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A column or pillar, often referring to a cloud or palm-like structure. In the Bible, it describes a visible symbol of God's presence. The KJV translates it as pillar.
Amplified meaning
pillars, a cloud
Tyndale gloss
column
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תִּימָרָה (tiymarah) refers to a column or pillar, specifically one that resembles a palm tree with a spreading top. It is derived from a related term that emphasizes its structure, and the entries consistently describe it in this way.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תִּימָרָה] n.f. (palm-like) column (spreading at top)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8490 תִּימָרָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8490 tiymarah tee-maw-raw'

or timarah {tee-maw-raw'}; from the same as 8558; a column,

i.e. cloud:--pillar.

see HEBREW for 08558

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תִּימָרָה (ti.ma.rah) — column.

1) pillar, column

1a) palm-like spreading at top

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct
HR/Ncfpc
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…

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
עָשָׁ֑ן'a.Shan smoke H6227 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for smoke, whether literal or figurative, is used throughout the Bible. In Exodus, God appears to Moses in a cloud of smoke, while in other places it represents God's anger or judgment. Smoke can also symbolize prayer rising to God.
Amplified meaning
a fragrant vapor
Tyndale gloss
smoke
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׁן (ashan) means smoke, and can refer to both literal smoke and metaphorical uses, such as vapor or anger. It is derived from the root word for 'to smoke' and is used in various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6227 עָשָׁן smoke

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6227 `ashan aw-shawn'

from 6225; smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust,

anger):--smoke(-ing).

see HEBREW for 06225

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׁן (a.shan) — smoke.

1) smoke

1a) smoke

1b) in metaphor, simile

1c) smoke (fig.)

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

smok: Used figuratively of the divine jealousy (De 29:20) and anger (Ps 74:1); symbolic of the glory of the divine holiness (Isa 4:5; 6:4; Re 15:8).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 6:4; Ho 13:3

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
מְקֻטֶּ֤רֶתme.ku.Te.ret [who is] perfumed of H6999 Verb · Pual · participle (passive) feminine singular common
116× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the act of burning incense as an act of worship, often using a special altar. It involves turning something into a fragrant smoke, and is an important part of Old Testament rituals and sacrifices.
Tyndale gloss
to offer: burn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָטַר (*qatar*) is a verb meaning to smoke or burn, particularly in the context of sacrifices and incense. It has various forms, including nouns for incense (מֻקְטָר, *muqtar*) and incense-altar (מְקַטֵרָה, *meqaterah*). The entries indicate its use in worship practices, with a focus on creating fragrance through fire.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָטַר] 116 vb. denom. Pi. Hiph. make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke

Pi. make sacrifices smoke, offer them by burning

Pu. fumigated with myrrh

Hiph.

make sacrifices smoke

cause incense to smoke, offer incense

make smoke upon

Hoph. be made to smoke as a sacrifice

base

מֻקְטָר n.m. incense;—abs. Mal 1:11

ref

[מְקַטֵרָה] n.f. incense-altar;—pl. abs. 2 Ch 30:14.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6999a קָטַר vb. denom. Pi. Hiph. make sacrifices smoke, send them up in smoke H6999b מֻקְטָר incense H6999c מְקַטֵרָה incense-altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6999 qatar kaw-tar'

a primitive root (identical with 7000 through the idea of

fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the

occupants); to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire

(especially as an act of worship):--burn (incense, sacrifice)

(upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a

sacrifice).

see HEBREW for 07000

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: burn.

: burn

v

1) to sacrifice, burn incense, burn sacrifices, make sacrifices smoke

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to make sacrifices smoke

1a2) to sacrifice

1b) (Pual) to smoke a sacrifice

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make sacrifices smoke

1c2) to cause incense to smoke, offer incense

1c3) to make smoke upon

1d) (Hophal) to be made to smoke

מֻקְטָר (muq.tar) — incense.

v

incense

מְקַטֵרָה (me.qa.te.rah) — incense-altar.

incense-altar

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: offer.

: offer

v

1) to sacrifice, burn incense, burn sacrifices, make sacrifices smoke

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to make sacrifices smoke

1a2) to sacrifice

1b) (Pual) to smoke a sacrifice

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make sacrifices smoke

1c2) to cause incense to smoke, offer incense

1c3) to make smoke upon

1d) (Hophal) to be made to smoke

קָטַר (qa.tar) — to offer: to perfume.

: perfume

v

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Pual-Inf-c — Verb · Pual · participle (passive) feminine singular common
HVPsfsc
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…

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
מוֹר֙mOr myrrh H4753 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mor is the Hebrew word for myrrh, a bitter resin used in perfume and sacred oil. It is mentioned in the Bible as a valuable commodity.
Amplified meaning
a bitter resin
Tyndale gloss
myrrh
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֹר (mor) refers to myrrh, a gum from a tree's bark, known for its bitter taste and used in sacred oil and perfume. The entries indicate that it is associated with distillation and has a connection to the Hebrew root for bitterness. It appears in contexts such as Song of Solomon 6:5.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֹר, מוֹר n.m. Ct 6:5 myrrh (fr. bitter taste)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4753 מֹר, מוֹר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4753 more mor

or mowr {more}; from 4843; myrrh (as distilling in drops, and

also as bitter):--myrrh.

see HEBREW for 04843

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֹר (mor) — myrrh.

1) myrrh

1a) an Arabian gum from the bark of a tree, used in sacred oil and in perfume

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

mur:

(1) (mor or mowr; Arabic murr]): This substance is mentioned as valuable for its perfume (Ps 45:8; Pr 7:17; So 3:6; 4:14), and as one of the constituents of the holy incense (Ex 30:23; see also So 4:6; 5:1,5,13). Mor is generally identified with the "myrrh" of commerce, the dried gum of a species of balsam (Balsamodendron myrrha). This is a stunted tree growing in Arabia, having a light-gray bark; the gum resin exudes in small tear-like drops which dry to a rich brown or reddish-yellow, brittle substance, with a faint though agreeable smell and a warm, bitter taste. It is still used as medicine (

Myrrh

Heb. mor. (1.) First mentioned as a principal ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Ex. 30:23). It formed part of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east, who came to worship the infant Jesus (Matt. 2:11). It was used in embalming (John 19:39), also as a perfume (Esther 2:12; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17). It was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion “wine mingled with myrrh” to produce insensibility. This drugged wine was probably partaken of by the two malefactors, but when the Roman soldiers pressed it upon Jesus “he…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

This substance is mentioned in (Exodus 30:23) as one of the ingredients of the "oil of holy ointment:" in (Esther 2:12) as one of the substances used in the purification of women; in (Psalms 45:8; Proverbs 7:17) and in several passages in Canticles, as a perfume. The Greek occurs in (Matthew 2:11) among the gifts brought by the wise men to the infant Jesus and in (Mark 15:23) it is said that "wine mingled with myrrh" was offered to but refused by, our Lord on the cross. Myrrh was also used for embalming. See John 19;39 and Herod. ii. 86. The Balsamodendron myrrha…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A precious gum yielded by a tree common in Africa and Arabia, which is about eight or nine feet high; its wood hard, and its trunk thorny. It was of several kinds, and various degrees of excellence. The best was an ingredient in the holy ointment, Ex 30:23. It was also employed in perfumes, Es 2:12 Ps 45:8 So 4:6 5:5,13; and in embalming, to preserve the body from corruption, Joh 19:39. The magi, who came from the East to worship Christ, offered him myrrh, Mt 2:11.

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
וּלְבוֹנָ֔הu.le.vo.Nah and frankincense H3828 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Frankincense is a white resin used for incense, often burned in ceremonies and rituals. It was used in the holy incense, as seen in Exodus 30. The KJV translates it as frankincense.
Amplified meaning
a sweet incense
Tyndale gloss
frankincense
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לְבֹנָה (lebownah) refers to frankincense, a fragrant resin known for its white color. It is used both ceremonially and personally, particularly in the preparation of holy incense. The term is derived from another Hebrew word related to whiteness, indicating its appearance or the color of its smoke.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לְבֹנָה, לְבוֹנָה n.f. frankincense

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3828 לְבֹנָה, לְבוֹנָה frankincense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3828 lbownah leb-o-naw'

or lbonah {leb-o-naw'}; from 3836; frankincense (from its

whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke): -(frank-)incense.

see HEBREW for 03836

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לְבֹנָה (le.vo.nah) — frankincense.

1) frankincense

1a) a white resin burned as fragrant incense

1a1) ceremonially

1a2) personally

1a3) used in compounding the holy incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

frants'-in-sens (lebhonah, from root meaning "whiteness," referring to the milky color of the fresh juice: Ex 30:34; Le 2:1 f,15 f; 5:11; 6:15; 24:7; Nu 5:15; 1Ch 9:29; Ne 13:5,9; So 3:6; 4:6,14; Isa 43:23; 60:6; 66:3; Jer 6:20; 17:26; 41:5; translated in the last six references "incense" in the King James Version, but correctly in the Revised Version (British and American); libanos: Mt 2:11;

Frankincense

(Heb. lebonah; Gr. libanos, i.e., “white”), an odorous resin imported from Arabia (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 6:20), yet also growing in Palestine (Cant. 4:14). It was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Ex. 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of the meat-offering (Lev. 2:1, 16; 6:15; 24:7). When burnt it emitted a fragrant odour, and hence the incense became a symbol of the Divine name (Mal. 1:11; Cant. 1:3) and an emblem of prayer (Ps.…

a vegetable resin, brittle, glittering, and of a bitter taste, used for the purpose of sacrificial fumigation. (Exodus 30:34-36) It was called frank because of the freeness with which, when burned, it gives forth its odor. It burns for a long time, with a steady flame. It is obtained by successive incisions in the bark of a tree called Arbor thuris . The first incision yields the purest and whitest resin, while the product of the after incisions is spotted with yellow, and loses its whiteness altogether as it becomes old. The Hebrews imported their frankincense from Arabia, (Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20) and more particularly from Saba; but it is remarkable that at present the Arabian libanum or olibanum is a very inferior kind, and that the finest frankincense imported into Turkey…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See INCENSE.

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
מִכֹּ֖לmi.Kol from all H3605 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
every kind, the entirety
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

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

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
אַבְקַ֥ת'av.Kat [the] scent-powder of H81 Noun common · feminine singular construct
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Abaqah means aromatic powder, referring to light particles that are volatile. It is translated as powder in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
aromatic powders, fragrant spices
Tyndale gloss
aromatic powder
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲבָקָה (abaqah) is a feminine noun likely referring to aromatic powders or scent-powders, as noted in the context of Song of Solomon 3:6. It is derived from the related word for powder, אֲבָק (abaq). The entries consistently emphasize its association with fragrance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֲבָקָה or אַבְקָה] n.f. prob. coll. Ct 3:6 powders of merchant = scent-powders

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H81 אֲבָקָה, אַבְקָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

81 'abaqah ab-aw-kaw'

feminine of 80:--powder.

see HEBREW for 080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲבָקָה (a.va.qah) — aromatic powder.

aromatic powders, powder

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…

who? this [is] coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke [who is] perfumed of myrrh and frankincense from all [the] scent-powder of a trader
רוֹכֵֽל׃ro.Khel a trader H7402 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To trade means to travel for business, exchanging goods or services. In the Bible, it describes a merchant or trader who goes about selling spices or other commodities. The KJV translates it as merchant.
Amplified meaning
a trader, one who exchanges goods
Tyndale gloss
to trade
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָכַל (rakal) is a primitive root meaning to travel for trading. It primarily refers to a trafficker or trader, indicating movement from one place to another for the purpose of commerce. The exact nuances of the term are uncertain, but it is consistently linked to the concept of trading.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָכַל] vb. prob. go about, from one to another

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7402 רָכַל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7402 rakal raw-kal'

a primitive root; to travel for trading:--(spice) merchant.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָכַל (ra.khal) — to trade.

1) to go about (meaning uncertain)

1a) (Qal) trafficker, trader (participle) (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
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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