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Song of Solomon 6:5 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהָסֵ֤בִּי עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ מִנֶּגְדִּ֔י שֶׁ֥הֵ֖ם הִרְהִיבֻ֑נִי שַׂעְרֵךְ֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר הָֽעִזִּ֔ים שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּ מִן־ הַגִּלְעָֽד׃

BSATurn your eyesʻayin [away from me, avert your gaze, the windows of your soul] awayçâbab from meneged for theyhêm have overcome merâhab [completely, utterly] Your hairsêʻâr [locks, tresses] is like a flockʻêder [resembling, similar to, a group, a herd] of goatsʻêz [female goats, she-goats] streaming downgâlash [flowing, descending] frommin [out of, originating in] GileadGilʻâd [a mountainous region, a rocky terrain]

Word
Listen & take awaySong of Solomon 6
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 (ha.gil.'Ad) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Song of Solomon 6:5quick helps
In a sentenceThe speaker expresses a desire for the listener to look away, overwhelmed by their beauty.
Who is speakingThe beloved, addressing their lover with intimate admiration.
Where we areIn a poetic exchange highlighting beauty and longing.
The hard wordהִרְהִיבֻ֑נִי
Take awayThe imagery of hair as a flock of goats emphasizes natural beauty and grace.
clause subjectהֵם verbסָבַב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

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

Deep Study — Song of Solomon 6:5

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 Beauty of the Belovedgenerated

4You are as beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners.
5Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.
6Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost.
7Your brow behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.

Song of Solomon 6:5 captures a moment of longing and admiration, where the beloved implores their lover to turn away their gaze, feeling overwhelmed by their beauty. This passage highlights the intimate connection between the two, as the beloved compares their hair to a flock of goats descending from Gilead, a metaphor that evokes both grace and natural beauty.


The Key Word הִרְהִיבֻ֑נִי, hir.hi.Vu.nigenerated

The verb הִרְהִיבֻ֑נִי (hir.hi.Vu.ni) is a Hiphil perfect form, indicating that the subject has caused an effect on the speaker. This word conveys a sense of being overcome or confused, emphasizing the powerful impact of the beloved's presence.

The root of this word, רָהַב (rahav), suggests assertiveness or overwhelming force. In this context, it reflects the emotional turmoil the speaker feels, as they are captivated and rendered speechless by the beauty of their lover.


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 is structured around a main clause initiated by the verb הָסֵ֤בִּי (turn), with several phrases following: a noun phrase for the subject's eyes, a prepositional phrase indicating the direction of the gaze, and a clause describing the effect on the speaker. This structure emphasizes the action of turning away and the emotional response it elicits.

The use of the participial phrase שַׂעְרֵךְ֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר (your hair is like a flock) serves to enrich the imagery, connecting the beloved's physical attributes to the natural world, enhancing the poetic quality of the verse.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הָסֵ֤בִּי as ἀπόστρεψον (turn away), which carries a similar imperative sense. This choice reflects a direct and clear command, maintaining the emotional intensity of the original Hebrew.

The Greek term ἀνεφάνησαν is used for the phrase שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּ (that they have descended), suggesting a visual appearance, which aligns with the imagery of flowing hair, but may carry a more static connotation than the original Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Song of Solomon 6:5 shows the beloved asking their lover to turn their eyes away, feeling overwhelmed by their beauty. The comparison of their hair to a flock of goats flowing down from Gilead emphasizes natural beauty and grace, creating a vivid image of admiration.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the beloved to ask the lover to turn their eyes away?

The beloved feels overwhelmed by the intensity of the lover's gaze, suggesting a deep emotional response to their beauty.

Why is the hair compared to a flock of goats?

This comparison evokes imagery of grace and beauty, as goats are often seen as agile and flowing in their movements, enhancing the poetic nature of the description.

What is the significance of Gilead in this verse?

Gilead is known for its rugged beauty and natural landscapes, which adds depth to the metaphor, suggesting that the beloved's hair is as beautiful and captivating as the region itself.

How does this verse reflect the themes of love and beauty?

The verse captures the admiration and longing between lovers, using vivid imagery to express the profound impact of beauty on the speaker.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I experience beauty in my life, similar to the way the beloved describes it?
  2. In what ways can I express my admiration for those I love?
  3. What metaphors resonate with me when I think about beauty?
  4. How can I cultivate a deeper appreciation for the beauty around me?

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

Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats, that lie along the side of Gilead.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Turn your eyes away from me – they overwhelm me! Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, that lie along the side of Gilead.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Turn away thy eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thy teeth are like a flocke of sheepe, which goe vp from the washing, which euery one bring out twinnes, and none is barren among them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Turn away thine eyes from me, For they overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats On the slopes of Gilead.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Turn round thine eyes from before me, Because they have made me proud. Thy hair [is] as a row of the goats, That have shone from Gilead,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Turn around your eyes from before me, || Because they have made me proud. Your hair [is] as a row of the goats, || That have shone from Gilead,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Turn away thy eyes from me, for they have excited me: thy hair is like a flock of goats that come quietly down from mount Gil'ad.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Turn your eyes away from me, for they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats going down from the slopes of Gilead.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Thy teeth as a flock of sheep, which come up from the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Please turn your eyes away from me—they're driving me insane! Your hair flows down like a flock of goats descending Mount Gilead.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Let your eyes be turned away from me; see, they have overcome me; your hair is as a flock of goats which take their rest on the side of Gilead.

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.

clauseclauseverbהָסֵ֤בִּיturnnoun phrase · objectעֵינַ֨יִeyesךְ֙yourprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseמִfromנֶּגְדִּ֔beforeיmeclauserelpשֶׁ֥thatclausesubjectהֵ֖םtheyverbהִרְהִיבֻ֑theyobjectנִיhave.confused.meclausenoun phrase · subjectשַׂעְרֵhairךְ֙yourprepositional phrase · predicateכְּ[is].like.(the)noun phraseעֵ֣דֶרflocknoun phraseהָֽof.(the)noun phraseעִזִּ֔יםshe-goatsrelpשֶׁwhichclauseverbגָּלְשׁ֖וּthey.have.descendedprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִןfromnoun phraseהַ(the)גִּלְעָֽדGilead

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Song of Solomon 6:5 reads: 'Turn your eyes away from me, for they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead.' The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text, matching all 11 words in a word-by-word correspondence, although the order and articles may differ. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong consistency across these ancient witnesses.

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

הָסֵ֤בִּי עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ מִנֶּגְדִּ֔י שֶׁ֥הֵ֖ם הִרְהִיבֻ֑נִי שַׂעְרֵךְ֙ כְּעֵ֣דֶר הָֽעִזִּ֔ים שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּ מִן־ הַגִּלְעָֽד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הָסֵ֤בִּיἀπόστρεψονעֵינַ֙יִךְ֙σουמִנֶּגְדִּ֔יμουשֶׁ֥הֵ֖םαὐτοὶהִרְהִיבֻ֑נִיμεשַׂעְרֵךְ֙σουכְּעֵ֣דֶרἀγέλαιהָֽעִזִּ֔יםαἰγῶνשֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּἀνεφάνησανמִן־ἀπὸהַגִּלְעָֽד׃γαλααδ

11 of the 11 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 6:5סָבַבturnturnסָבַבעַ֫יִןeyes youreyes yourעַ֫יִןנֶ֫גֶדfrom beforefrom before meנֶ֫גֶדהֵ֫מָּהthat theythat theyהֵ֫מָּהרָהַבthey have cthey have confuרָהַבשֵׂעָרhair yourhair yourשֵׂעָרעֵ֫דֶר[is] like [[is] like [the]עֵ֫דֶרעֵזshe-goatsshe-goatsעֵזגָּלַשׁthat they hthat they have גָּלַשׁמִן־fromfromמִן־גִּלְעָדGileadGileadגִּלְעָדנָגַדto tellto tellנָגַדהֲלַךְto goto goהֲלַךְשָׂעַרto shudderto shudderשָׂעַרעָדַרto helpto helpעָדַרעָזַזbe strongbe strongעָזַזגַּלְעֵדGaleedGaleedגַּלְעֵדמֵןstringstringמֵןדָּלdoordoorדָּלחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרבְּלִיַּ֫עַלBelial: woBelial: worthleבְּלִיַּ֫עַלמְרִיrebellionrebellionמְרִיסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶררֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַאִישׁmanmanאִישׁלָבָןwhitewhiteלָבָןשָׁפָלlowlowשָׁפָלרָבַץto stretchto stretchרָבַץ
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 6:5

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.

turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
הָסֵ֤בִּיha.Se.bi turn H5437 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person feminine singular
161× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn or surround is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can be used literally or figuratively. It appears in the Bible to describe changing direction or surrounding something.
Tyndale gloss
to turn: turn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word סָבַב (savav) means to turn or go around, encompassing a range of actions such as surrounding, marching, and changing direction. It is built from a primitive root and has various applications, both literal and figurative, including transforming or enclosing. The entries detail its uses in different verbal forms, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָבַב vb. turn about, go around, surround

Qal

turn, intrans.

march, or walk, around

go partly round, circle, skirt

make a round, or circuit, go about to

surround, encompass

Niph.

turn oneself against, close round upon

turn round (from a direct course)

esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward

pass. be turned over to, into the power of

Pi. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter

Po‛.

encompass (with protection)

come about, assemble round

march or go about

enclose, envelop

Hiph.

turn (trans.), cause to turn

bring over (i.e. to allegiance)

turn into, of changing name

= bring round, of changing name

cause to go around

surround with (acc.) wall

perh. also encompass (as foe)

Hoph.

be turned, of cart wheel

surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5437 סָבַב turn about, go around, surround .. turn, intrans.

. . march, or walk, around

. go partly round, circle, skirt

. make a round, or circuit, go about to

. surround, encompass

. . . turn oneself against, close round upon

. turn round (from a direct course)

. esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward

. pass. be turned over to, into the power of

. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter

. . encompass (with protection)

. come about, assemble round

. march or go about

. enclose, envelop

. . . turn (trans.), cause to turn

. bring over (i.e. to allegiance)

. turn into, of changing name

. = bring round, of changing name

. . cause to go around

. surround with (acc.) wall

. perh. also encompass (as foe)

. . be turned, of cart wheel

. surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5437 cabab saw-bab'

a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in

various applications, literally and figuratively (as

follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X

round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset

(about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to

come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round),

drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass,

go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit

down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: turn.

: turn/bring_around

1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change

1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round

1b2) to be turned over to

1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform

1d) (Poel)

1d1) to encompass, surround

1d2) to come about, assemble round

1d3) to march, go about

1d4) to enclose, envelop

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round

1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass

1f) (Hophal)

1f1) to be turned

1f2) to be surrounded

סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: surround.

: surround/go_round

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2fs — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person feminine singular
HVhv2fs
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙'ei.Na.yikh eyes your H5869 Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
away from me, avert your gaze, the windows of your soul
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HNcfdc/Sp2fs
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
מִנֶּגְדִּ֔יmi.neg.Di from before me H5048 Preposition · suffix
151× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Before or in front of something, as in Genesis 18:22 where Abraham stands before the Lord. It describes a position of being face to face or in someone's presence.
Tyndale gloss
before
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֶ֫גֶד (neged) refers to something that is conspicuous or in front, functioning as both a noun and an adverb. It denotes a position opposite or before someone, often used to indicate presence or visibility. The word can imply a counterpart or mate, and it appears in contexts emphasizing sight or proximity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫גֶד 151 subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5048 נֶ֫גֶד subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5048 neged neh'-ghed

from 5046; a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a

counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with

preposition) over against or before:--about, (over) against,

X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side,

sight, X to view.

see HEBREW for 05046

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫גֶד (ne.ged) — before.

subst

1) what is conspicuous, what is in front of

adv

2) in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of

3) in front of oneself, straightforward

4) before your face, in your view or purpose

with prep

5) what is in front of, corresponding to

6) in front of, before

7) in the sight or presence of

8) parallel to

9) over, for

10) in front, opposite

11) at a distance

prep

12) from the front of, away from

13) from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from

14) from before, in front of

15) as far as the front of

Aramaic equivalent: ne.ged (נֶ֫גֶד "before" H5049)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Acmsc/Sp1bs
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
שֶׁ֥הֵ֖םshe.Hem that they H1992 Particle · pronoun
553× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
they(masc.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1992 hem haym

or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from

1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)

many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,

their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.

see HEBREW for 01981

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).

they, these, the same, who

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel | Suff — Particle · pronoun
HTr/Pp3mp
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
הִרְהִיבֻ֑נִיhir.hi.Vu.ni they have confused me H7292 Verb hiphil perfect third person common plural · suffix
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be assertive or act proudly, like in Psalm 138:6 where God resists the proud. It involves urging someone severely or acting insolently. The prophet Isaiah used it to describe God's power.
Amplified meaning
completely, utterly
Tyndale gloss
to be assertive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָהַב (rahav) is a Hebrew verb that conveys a range of meanings related to assertiveness and arrogance. It can imply acting stormily or boisterously, behaving proudly, or even alarming others. The word is built from a primitive root and includes nuances of both insistent behavior and causing disturbance, with specific forms indicating different aspects of these actions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָהַב] vb. act stormily, boisterously arrogantly

Qal storm against

Hiph. of eyes, dub.: alarm me

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7292 [רָהַב] act stormily, boisterously arrogantly

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7292 rahab raw-hab'

a primitive root; to urge severely, i.e. (figuratively)

importune, embolden, capture, act insolently:--overcome,

behave self proudly, make sure, strengthen.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָהַב (ra.hav) — to be assertive.

1) to behave proudly, act stormily or boisterously or arrogantly

1a) (Qal) to act insolently, storm against, beset, importune

1b) (Hiphil) to disturb, alarm, awe, confuse, make bold or proud

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp | Suff — Verb hiphil perfect third person common plural · suffix
HVhp3cp/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
שַׂעְרֵךְ֙sa'.reKh hair your H8181 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to hair on people or animals, like in Leviticus 13:30 where it talks about hair loss. It can also describe a hairy garment.
Amplified meaning
locks, tresses
Tyndale gloss
hair
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׂעָר (se'ar) means 'hair' and can refer to the hair of both animals and humans, as well as hair used in garments. It is derived from the root meaning 'to dishevel' or 'toss,' suggesting a rough or bristly quality. The term is referenced in Isaiah 7:20.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׂעָר 27 n.m. hair

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8181 שֵׂעָר hair

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8181 se`ar say-awr'

or sa.ar (Isaiah 7:20) {sah'-ar}; from 8175 in the sense of

dishevelling; hair (as if tossed or bristling):--hair(-y), X

rough.

see HEBREW for 08175

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׂעָר (se.ar) — hair.

1) hair

1a) hair (of animals, man)

1b) hair (of garment made of hair)

Aramaic equivalent: se.ar (שְׂעַר "hair" H8177)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2fs
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
כְּעֵ֣דֶרke.'E.der [is] like [the] flock of H5739 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A flock refers to a group of animals, like sheep or cattle, that are herded together. In the Bible, it can also mean a herd or a drove of animals. This term is used to describe various scenes in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
resembling, similar to, a group, a herd
Tyndale gloss
flock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵ֫דֶר (eder) refers to a flock or herd of animals. It is derived from a root meaning to arrange or muster, indicating a gathering of livestock. The term encompasses both flocks and herds, highlighting its use in contexts related to groups of animals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵ֫דֶר n.m. flock, herd

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5739 עֵ֫דֶר flock, herd

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5739 `eder ay'-der

from 5737; an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals):--drove,

flock, herd.

see HEBREW for 05737

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵ֫דֶר (e.der) — flock.

1) flock, herd

1a) flock

1b) herds, flocks and herds

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

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…

turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
הָֽעִזִּ֔יםha.'i.Zim she-goats H5795 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to a female goat, often translated as she-goat or kid, and is also related to goat's hair in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
female goats, she-goats
Tyndale gloss
goat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵז (ez) refers to a she-goat or female goat, and can also denote a kid. It is derived from a root meaning strength, and in the plural form, it can refer to goats in general or goat's hair. The word appears in various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵז 74 n.f. she-goat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5795 עֵז she-goat

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5795 `ez aze

from 5810; a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural

(which also is used ellipt. for goat's hair):--(she) goat,

kid.

see HEBREW for 05810

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵז (ez) — goat.

female goat, she-goat, goat, kid

Aramaic equivalent: ez (עֵז "goat" H5796)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
שֶׁגָּלְשׁ֖וּshe.gal.Shu that they have descended H1570 Particle · verb qal perfect third person common plural
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To step down or sit can also mean to caper like a goat, describing the movement of flocks or a woman's hair. It is translated as 'appear' in some versions.
Amplified meaning
flowing, descending
Tyndale gloss
to step down
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּלַשׁ (galash) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to sit or sit up, with a possible additional meaning of reclining. It may also relate to the actions of goats or be used metaphorically for a woman's hair. The entries suggest a connection to movement or posture, but they do not provide extensive detail.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גָּלַשׁ] vb. sit, sit up, possibly also recline

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1570 גָּלַשׁ sit, sit up, possibly also recline

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1570 galash gaw-lash'

a primitive root; probably to caper (as a goat):--appear.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּלַשׁ (ga.lash) — to step down.

1) to sit, sit up, (possibly also) recline

1a) (Qal)

1a1) of flocks of goats

1a2) of a woman's hair (simile)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel | V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Particle · verb qal perfect third person common plural
HTr/Vqp3cp
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
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.
Amplified meaning
out of, originating in
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
turn eyes your from before me that they they have confused me hair your [is] like [the] flock of she-goats that they have descended from Gilead
הַגִּלְעָֽד׃ha.gil.'Ad Gilead H1568 Particle · noun proper
134× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gilead refers to a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, also the name of three Israelites. It means 'rocky region' and is sometimes called 'Mount Gilead'.
Amplified meaning
a mountainous region, a rocky terrain
Tyndale gloss
(Mount) Gilead
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּלְעָד (Gil'ad) refers to a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, known as 'rocky region'. It encompasses both a land area and a city, often divided into northern and southern Gilead. The term also identifies several individuals from the tribe of Manasseh, including a notable figure, Jephthah. The lexicons agree on its geographical significance and historical references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גִּלְעָד n.pr.loc. of mountain-range or hill-country, land & city, E. of Jordan territory S. of Jabboḳ

Northern Gilead

more generally, of all Gilead

name of a city

of Israelites living E. of Jordan (as a whole)

treated as n.pr.m.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1568 גִּלְעָד of mountain-range or hill-country, land & city, E. of Jordan

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1568 Gil`ad ghil-awd'

probably from 1567; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also

the name of three Israelites:--Gilead, Gileadite.

see HEBREW for 01567

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּלְעָד (gil.ad) — Gilead.

Gilead = "rocky region"

a mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon; sometimes called 'Mount Gilead' or the 'land of Gilead' or just 'Gilead'. Divided into north and south Gilead

Also named: gil.a.di (גִּלְעָדִי "Gileadite" H1569)

גִּלְעָד (gil.ad) — Gilead.

A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.26.29;

son of: Machir (H4353);

brother of: daughter_of_Machir (H4353I), Peresh (H6570), Sheresh (H8329) and Hammolecheth (H4447);

father of: Abiezer (H0044I), Helek (H2507), Asriel (H0844), Shechem (H7928), Shemida (H8061) and Hepher (H2660A)

§ Gilead = "rocky region"

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-proper — Particle · noun proper
HTd/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Gilead

Hill of testimony, (Gen. 31:21), a mountainous region east of Jordan. From its mountainous character it is called “the mount of Gilead” (Gen. 31:25). It is called also “the land of Gilead” (Num. 32:1), and sometimes simply “Gilead” (Ps. 60:7; Gen. 37:25). It comprised the possessions of the tribes of Gad and Reuben and the south part of Manasseh (Deut. 3:13; Num. 32:40). It was bounded on the north by Bashan, and on the south by Moab and Ammon (Gen.…

(rocky region). A mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon. (Genesis 31:21; 3:12-17) It is sometimes called "Mount Gilead," (Genesis 31:25) sometimes "the land of Gilead," (Numbers 32:1) and sometimes simply "Gilead." (Psalms 60:7; Genesis 37:25) The name Gilead, as is usual in Palestine, describes the physical aspect of the country: it signifies "a hard rocky region." The mountains of Gilead, including Pisgah, Abarim and Peor, have a real elevation of from 2000 to 3000 feet; but their apparent elevation on the…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

the heap or mass of testimony

Nave's Topical Bible

1. A region east of the Jordan River allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh Nu 32:1-30; De 3:13; 34:1; 2Ki 10:33

Reubenites expel the Hagarites from 1Ch 5:9,10,18-22

Ammonites make war against; defeated by Jephthah Jud 11

The prophet Elijah a native of 1Ki 17:1

David retreats to, at the time of Absalom's rebellion 2Sa 17:16,22,24

Pursued into, by Absalom 2Sa 17:26

Absalom defeated and slain in the forests of 2Sa 18:9

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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