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1 Kings 1:3 — Word Study

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WLCוַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה יָפָ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּ אֶת־ אֲבִישַׁג֙ הַשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔ית וַיָּבִ֥אוּ אֹתָ֖הּ לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

BSAThen they searchedbâqash throughoutkôl [throughout all the borders] IsraelYisrâʼêl [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] for a beautifulyâpheh [fair, lovely] girlnaʻărâh [maiden, young unmarried woman] and they foundmâtsâʼ AbishagʼĂbîyshag [my father is a wanderer] the ShunammiteShûwnammîyth [a woman from the city of Shunem] and broughtbôwʼ herʼêth to the kingmelek [a royal person, like King David]

Word
Listen & take away1 Kings 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (la.Me.lekh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Kings 1:3quick helps
In a sentenceThe search for a beautiful girl leads to the finding of Abishag the Shunammite, who is brought to care for King David.
Who is speakingThe servants of King David, discussing how to care for him in his old age.
Where we areThe narrative unfolds in the context of King David's declining health and the need for a caretaker.
The hard wordיָפָ֔ה
Take awayThe search for beauty and care reflects the concerns of leadership and the human condition.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבָּקַשׁ 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 — 1 Kings 1:3

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 Search for Abishaggenerated

2So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”
3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.
5At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

1 Kings 1:3 describes how King David’s servants sought a beautiful girl to care for him during his old age. They searched throughout Israel and found Abishag, a Shunammite, who was brought to the king. This event highlights the importance of care and companionship in times of need, as well as the cultural values surrounding beauty and youth in the biblical narrative.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Esther 2:2–4Then the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king,
21 Kings 2:17–25Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
3Joshua 19:18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
41 Samuel 28:4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
52 Kings 4:8–25One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יָפָ֔ה, ya.Fahgenerated

The Hebrew word יָפֶה (yapheh) means 'beautiful' and is often used to describe something that is aesthetically pleasing. It can refer to people, places, or things that evoke joy and admiration. In this context, it emphasizes the physical beauty of the girl sought for King David, reflecting societal values of the time.

This adjective is used in various contexts throughout the Bible, often in relation to love and relationships, as seen in poetic literature like the Song of Solomon. The parsing as an adjective indicates its role in describing the noun that follows, which in this case is נַעֲרָה (na`arah), a young woman.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term beautiful to describe the girl sought for the king. This is consistent with the KJV and other versions that also use beautiful.

Where translations differ is in the rendering of יָפָ֔ה: the ASV, KJV, and others use fair, while the BSB and others opt for beautiful, showing a preference for different nuances of the term.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb וַיְבַקְשׁוּ (vay.vak.Shu), meaning 'and they sought,' governs the sentence, with several phrases detailing the search. The structure emphasizes the action of seeking and the object of that search.

The sentence is built around the actions of searching, finding, and bringing, with the verbs וַיִּמְצְא֗וּ (vai.yim.tze.'U) and וַיָּבִ֥אוּ (vai.ya.Vi.'u) following the initial seeking, showing a clear progression of events.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיְבַקְשׁוּ as ἐζήτησαν, which means 'they sought.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the act of searching.

For יָפָ֔ה, the Septuagint uses καλὴν, which also means 'beautiful,' indicating a consistent interpretation of the girl's beauty across both texts.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Kings 1:3 tells how King David's servants searched all over Israel for a beautiful young woman to care for him. They found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. This illustrates the importance of care and beauty in the context of leadership.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Why did they search for a beautiful girl?

They sought a beautiful girl to care for King David in his old age, as he needed someone to keep him warm and attend to him.

What does the name Abishag mean?

Abishag means 'my father is a wanderer,' reflecting a personal or familial connection.

What role did Abishag play in King David's life?

Abishag cared for King David during his old age, serving as a companion and nurse.

What does this verse reveal about beauty in the biblical context?

The verse highlights the cultural value placed on beauty and youth, especially in the context of care and companionship.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What qualities do you think made Abishag a suitable choice for the king's care?
  2. How does this story reflect the values of beauty and youth in biblical times?
  3. In what ways can we seek to provide care for those in need around us?
  4. What can we learn from the way the servants approached the task of finding a companion for the king?

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

Jerome comments on the search for Abishag, interpreting the narrative as a reflection of King David's declining health and the need for warmth and care.

JeromeLETTER 52 (TO NEPOTIAN) 2-3 c. 347–420
Once David had been a man of war, but at seventy, age had chilled him so that nothing would make him warm. A girl is accordingly sought from the coasts of Israel—Abishag the Shunammite—to sleep with the king and warm his aged frame.
Early Church Fathers on 1 Kings 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 1:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel,.... Not only a damsel, but a beautiful one, that she might be the more acceptable to the king; who otherwise, if deformed and

Read John Gill on 1 Kings 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. A Shunammite.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

A fair damsel; whose beauty might engage his affections, and refresh his spirits, and invite him to those embraces which might communicate some of her natural heat to him, as was designed. A Shunammite, of the city of Shunem in Issachar, . See .

Read Matthew Poole on 1 Kings 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.Ver. 3. So they sought for a fair damsel.] The natural cause why they went this way to work rather than by wines, furs, &c., was quia ille calor humanus in substantia erat simillimus calori hominis naturali, eiusque gradum non superabat, saith Valesius: because her heat would be likest to his in substance and degree. Virgins also have more natural heat than women who have had children. Sac. Theol, cap. 29. Gal., lib. 7. Method.

Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) A Shunammite.—Shunem is in the territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), and in the plain of Jezreel (1 Samuel 28:4), near Mount Gilboa. As Eusebius, describing its position carefully, calls it “Sulem,” and as this variation of name is confirmed by its ready identification with the modern village of Solam, it has been conjectured , ingeniously and not improbably, that Abishag is the “fair Shulamite” of the Song of Solomon (1 Kings 6:13). The conjecture certainly throws some light on the occurrences of 1 Kings 2:13-25. Probably the whole notice of Abishag is only introduced on account of her subsequent connection with the fate of Adonijah.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. a fair damsel] Such as might be fitted to be one of the royal wives. A similar direction is given when Vashti has been deposed, and a new queen is to be sought for Ahasuerus (Esther 2:2). all the coasts] In the English of the Bible this word has no necessary reference to sea-board land, as it has in our modern use, but often signifies, as here, borders, territories. Abishag a Shunammite] The Hebrew has ‘the Shunammite’, as though she either was already, or from subsequent events became, well known. She was a native of Shunem, a city belonging to the tribe of Issachar and lying north of Jezreel and south of Mt Gilboa (see Joshua 19:18; 1 Samuel 28:4). The Syriac and Arabic read Sulamite…

Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3. Abishag a Shunammite — So called from her native city Shunem, in the tribe of Issachar, the modern Solam, at the base of the Little Hermon. See on Joshua 19:18.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 1 →

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

Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

RVARevised Version, American1894

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunamite, and brought her to the king.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So they sought for a faire young maide thoroughout all the coastes of Israel, and founde one Abishag a Shunamite, and brought her to the king.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they sought for a fair damsel throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And they seek a fair young woman in all the border of Israel, and find Abishag the Shunammite, and bring her in to the king,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they seek [for] a beautiful young woman in all the border of Israel, and find Abishag the Shunammite, and bring her to the king,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

So they sought for a fair maiden throughout all the territory of Israel; and they found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So they searched for a beautiful girl within all the borders of Israel. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

So they sought a beautiful young woman in all the coasts of Israel, and they found Abisag a Sunamitess, and brought her to the king.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

So they searched the whole country of Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag from the town of Shunem and took her to the king.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So after searching through all the land of Israel for a fair young girl, they saw Abishag the Shunammite, and took her to the king.

Word by word, the decisions they made

יָפָ֔הya.Fah beautiful H3303 2 different renderings
fairASV BBE DBY ILT KJV NWB RVA YLT
beautifulBSB DRA FBV LSV MSB NETB ULB WEB

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.

וַandclauseverbיְבַקְשׁוּ֙they.soughtnoun phrase · objectנַעֲרָ֣הa.young.womanיָפָ֔הbeautifulprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseכֹ֖לallnoun phraseגְּב֣וּלthe.territoryיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לof.Israelוַֽandclauseverbיִּמְצְא֗וּthey.foundnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseאֲבִישַׁג֙Abishagnoun phraseהַtheשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔יתShunammiteוַandclauseverbיָּבִ֥אוּthey.broughtnoun phrase · objectאֹתָ֖הּherprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtonoun phrasetheמֶּֽלֶךְking

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in this verse, with the Septuagint matching 12 of the 13 words in the Hebrew text. This shows a strong consistency in the narrative across these ancient witnesses.

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

וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה יָפָ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּ אֶת־ אֲבִישַׁג֙ הַשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔ית וַיָּבִ֥אוּ אֹתָ֖הּ לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ἐζήτησανנַעֲרָ֣הνεάνιδαיָפָ֔הκαλὴνבְּכֹ֖לπαντὸςגְּב֣וּלὁρίουיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לισραηλוַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּεὗρονאֲבִישַׁג֙αβισακהַשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔יתσωμανῖτινוַיָּבִ֥אוּἤνεγκανאֹתָ֖הּαὐτὴνלַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃βασιλέα

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.

1 Kings 1:3בָּקַשׁand they soand they soughtבָּקַשׁנַעֲרָהa young woma young womanנַעֲרָהיָפֶהbeautifulbeautifulיָפֶהכֹּלin allin allכֹּלגְּבוּל[the] terri[the] territoryגְּבוּליִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלמָצָאand they foand they foundמָצָאאֵתthe object the object markאֵתאֲבִישַׁגAbishagAbishagאֲבִישַׁגשׁוּנַמִּיתthe Shunammthe Shunammiteשׁוּנַמִּיתבּוֹאand they brand they broughבּוֹאאֵתthe object the object markאֵתמֶ֫לֶךְto the kingto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתיָפָהbe beautifbe beautifulיָפָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלגָּבַלto borderto borderגָּבַלשָׂרָהto striveto striveשָׂרָהאָבfatherfatherאָבשׁוּנֵםShunemShunemשׁוּנֵםמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְנַ֫עַרyouthyouthנַ֫עַרמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁאֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּAdonijahAdonijahאֲדֹנִיָּ֫הוּנֶ֫פֶשׁsoulsoulנֶ֫פֶשׁדָּרַשׁto seekto seekדָּרַשׁאָרַשׂto betrothto betrothאָרַשׂבְּתוּלָהvirginvirginבְּתוּלָהרַעְיָהdarlingdarlingרַעְיָהתֹּ֫אַרappearanceappearanceתֹּ֫אַרעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָה
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 1 Kings 1:3

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.

and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙vay.vak.Shu and they sought H1245 Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
225× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to seek or search for something. In Psalm 105:4, it's used to encourage seeking God's face. It's also used in 1 Samuel 28:8 where Saul seeks a medium.
Tyndale gloss
to seek
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek

Pi.

seek to find

seek to secure

seek the face

desire, demand

require, exact

exact equivalent or penalty for

(late) ask, request

Pu. be sought

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1245 baqash baw-kash'

a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically

in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,

beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,

(make) request, require, seek (for).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.

1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to seek to find

1a2) to seek to secure

1a3) to seek the face

1a4) to desire, demand

1a5) to require, exact

1a6) to ask, request

1b) (Pual) to be sought

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vpw3mp
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
נַעֲרָ֣הna.'a.Rah a young woman H5291 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A maiden is a young, unmarried woman, often described as a servant or attendant. In the Bible, it refers to women like the maidens who served in the temple or the young women who were eligible for marriage.
Amplified meaning
maiden, young unmarried woman
Tyndale gloss
maiden
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נַעֲרָה (*na`arah*) means 'girl' or 'damsel' and refers to a young female from infancy to adolescence. It can also denote a young woman, including terms like maid or female servant. The entries indicate a range of meanings that include marriageable young women and even concubines or prostitutes.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נַעֲרָה n.f. girl, damsel

girl, damsel

of female attendants, maids

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5291 נַעֲרָה girl, damsel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5291 na`arah nah-ar-aw'

feminine of 5288; a girl (from infancy to

adolescence):--damsel, maid(-en), young (woman).

see HEBREW for 05288

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נַעֲרָה (na.a.rah) — maiden.

1) girl, damsel, female servant

1a) girl, damsel, little girl

1a1) of young woman, marriageable young woman, concubine, prostitute

1b) maid, female attendant, female servant

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

woom'-an ('ishshah, "a woman" (feminine of 'ish, "a man"]; gune, "a woman" "wife"):

I. IN THE CREATIVE PLAN

II. IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES

1. Prominence of Women

2. Social Equality

3. Marriage Laws

4. Inheritance

5. Domestic Duties

6. Dress and Ornaments

7. Religious Devotion and Service

(1) in Idolatry and False Religion

(2) in Spiritual Religion

III. INTER-TESTAMENTAL ERA

IV. IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

1. Mary and Elisabeth

2. Jesus and Women

3. In the Early Church

4. Official Service

5. Widows

6. Deaconesses

IV. LATER TIMES

1. Changes in Character and Condition

2. Notable Examples of Christian Womanhood

3. Woman in the 20th Century

The generic term "man" includes woman. In the narrative of the creation (Ge 1:26,27) Adam is a collective term for mankind. It may signify human being, male or female, or humanity entire. "God said, Let us make man .... and let them"…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Woman

Was “taken out of man” (Gen. 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. “The head of the woman is the man;” but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, “as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Cor. 11:3, 8, 9; 1 Pet. 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36, 37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is spoken of in Scripture as the beloved and honored companion and helpmeet, not the servant, of man, Ge 2:23,24, created as the necessary completion of man, Ge 3:16 1Co 11:3,8,9 14:34,35 1Ti 2:11-14, yet specially qualified for that sphere, and as necessary in it as man in his. Man and woman are indeed essentially one, the natural qualities of each so responding to those of the other as to lay the foundation of the most tender and abiding unity. The Bible thus raised the Jewish woman high above the woman of heathenism; and the Old Testament contains some of the finest portraitures of female character. But still greater is the contrast between the women of heathenism and…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Origin and cause of the name

Ge 2:23

- ORIGINALLY MADE

. By God in his own image

Ge 1:27

. From one of Adam's ribs

Ge 2:21,22

. For man

1Co 11:9

. To be an helpmeet for man

Ge 2:18,20

. Subordinate to man

1Co 11:3

. To be the glory of man

1Co 11:7

- Deceived by Satan

Ge 3:1-6; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14

- Led man to disobey God

and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
יָפָ֔הya.Fah beautiful H3303 Adj
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Beautiful things in the Bible are described as fair, lovely, and pleasant, as seen in the Song of Solomon, which celebrates the beauty of love and relationships. The term is used to describe people, places, and things that bring joy and delight.
Amplified meaning
fair, lovely
Tyndale gloss
beautiful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָפֶה (yapheh) means 'fair' or 'beautiful,' and can describe something that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive. It is derived from the root word יָפָה (yafah). The entries consistently emphasize its use in both literal and figurative contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָפֶה adj. fair, beautiful

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3303 יָפֶה fair, beautiful

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3303 yapheh yaw-feh'

from 3302; beautiful (literally or figuratively):--+

beautiful, beauty, comely, fair(-est, one), + goodly,

pleasant, well.

see HEBREW for 03302

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָפֶה (ya.pheh) — beautiful.

fair, beautiful, handsome

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafsa
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
בְּכֹ֖לbe.Khol in 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
throughout all the borders
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
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
גְּב֣וּלge.Vul [the] territory of H1366 Noun common · masculine singular construct
240× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a boundary or border, like the borders of the Promised Land in Numbers 34:1-12. It can also mean a region or territory, as in the borders of Israel in 1 Kings 8:65.
Tyndale gloss
border: boundary
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גְּבוּל (gbuwl) refers to a border or boundary, often implying a defined territory. It can denote a physical limit, such as a coast or landmark, and can also have figurative uses, like a region of darkness. The word is derived from a root meaning 'cord' and encompasses various meanings related to boundaries and territories.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גְּבוּל 240 n.m. border, boundary, territory

border, boundary

territory (enclosed within boundary)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1366 גְּבוּל border, boundary, territory

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1366 gbuwl gheb-ool'

or (shortened) gbul {gheb-ool'}; from 1379; properly, a cord

(as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extens. the

territory inclosed:--border, bound, coast, X great, landmark,

limit, quarter, space.

see HEBREW for 01379

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: boundary.

: boundary

1) border, territory

1a) border

1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)

1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)

Also means: ge.vul (גְּבוּל ": area" H1366H)

גְּבוּל (ge.vul) — border: area.

: area

1) border, territory

1a) border

1b) territory (enclosed within boundary)

1c) region, territory (of darkness) (fig.)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'El Israel H3478 Noun proper
2,508× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Amplified meaning
the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants
Tyndale gloss
Israel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)

n.pr.m. second name of Jacob

n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob

. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'

from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical

name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:

--Israel.

see HEBREW for 08280

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);

father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently

§ Israel = "God prevails"

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel

2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob

2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

iz'-ra-el.

See JACOB.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Israel

The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).

This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
וַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּvai.yim.tze.'U and they found H4672 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
455× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Tyndale gloss
to find
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find

Qal

find

find out

= come upon, light upon

noteworthy phrases

Niph. pass. of Qal, be found

Hiph.

cause to find, attain

cause to light upon, come upon, come

cause to encounter

present unto

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4672 מָצָא attain to, find

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'

a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or

exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;

figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,

befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to

hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,

out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,

light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,

ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.

1) to find, attain to

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to find

1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)

1a1b) to find (what is lost)

1a1c) to meet, encounter

1a1d) to find (a condition)

1a1e) to learn, devise

1a2) to find out

1a2a) to find out

1a2b) to detect

1a2c) to guess

1a3) to come upon, light upon

1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with

1a3b) to hit

1a3c) to befall

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be found

1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered

1b1b) to appear, be recognised

1b1c) to be discovered, be detected

1b1d) to be gained, be secured

1b2) to be, be found

1b2a) to be found in

1b2b) to be in the possession of

1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be

1b2d) to be left (after war)

1b2e) to be present

1b2f) to prove to be

1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to find, attain

1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come

1c3) to cause to encounter

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM | Suff — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
אֲבִישַׁג֙'a.vi.Shag Abishag H49 Noun proper feminine
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Abishag was a young woman who took care of King David in his old age. Her name means my father is a wanderer, and she is mentioned in 1 Kings 1:3 as a beautiful nurse. Abishag played an important role in David's life.
Amplified meaning
my father is a wanderer
Tyndale gloss
Abishag
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲבִישַׁג (Abiyshag) refers to a woman mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically as a concubine of King David. The name is interpreted to mean 'my father is a wanderer.' The entries indicate that the name is built from elements meaning 'father' and 'error' or 'blundering,' though the exact derivation is not clear.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲבִישַׁג n.pr.f. (my father is a wanderer (שׁגג) ?) a handmaid of David

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H49 אֲבִישַׁג

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

49 'Abiyshag ab-ee-shag'

from 1 and 7686; father of error (i.e. blundering); Abishag,

a concubine of David:--Abishag.

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 07686

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲבִישַׁג (a.vi.shag) — Abishag.

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.1.3

§ Abishag = "my father is a wanderer"

David's beautiful young nurse

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper feminine
HNpf
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ab'-i-shag, a-bi'-shag ('abhishagh, apparently, "father of wandering," that is, "cause of wandering," or "my father wanders"): The Shunammite woman who became nurse to King David (1Ki 1-4,15; 2:17,21,22). She was chosen for the service with great care on account of her youth and beauty and physical vigor. She ministered to the king, that is, waited on him as personal attendant and nurse. She also "cherished" him in his feebleness--gave to him through physical contact the advantage of her superabundant vitality. This was a mode of medical treatment recommended by the servants of the king, and it appears to have been not wholly unsuccessful. She had an intimate knowledge of the condition of David, and was present at the interview of Bathsheba with David which resulted in the placing of Solomon on the throne. If that act had been questioned she would have been a most important witness. By…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Abishag

Father of (i.e., “given to”) error, a young woman of Shunem, distinguished for her beauty. She was chosen to minister to David in his old age. She became his wife (1 Kings 1:3,4,15). After David’s death Adonijah persuaded Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, to entreat the king to permit him to marry Abishag. Solomon suspected in this request an aspiration to the throne, and therefore caused him to be put to death (1 Kings 2:17-25).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a beautiful Shunammite (from Shunem, in the tribe of Issachar), taken into David’s harem to comfort him in his extreme old age. (1 Kings 1:1-4)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A beautiful virgin of Shunem, in Issachar, chosen to marry David in his old age and cherish him. After his death, Adonijah sought her hand to promote his treasonable aspirations, and was punished by death, 1Ki 1:1-2:46.

and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
הַשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔יתha.Shu.na.Mit the Shunammite H7767 Particle · noun gentilic feminine singular absolute
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Shunammitess was a woman from the city of Shunem, a place in Issachar. The Shunammite is first mentioned in 1 Kings 1:3, referring to a female inhabitant of this city.
Amplified meaning
a woman from the city of Shunem
Tyndale gloss
Shunammites
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שׁוּנַמִּית (Shuwnammiyth) refers to a female inhabitant of Shunem, known as a Shunamite. It is derived from the root word for Shunem, which means 'double resting place.' The term is used in the context of people descended from Shunam, first mentioned in 1 Kings 1:3.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּנַמִּית adj.gent. f. of foregoing [v.bu.ah]

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7767 שׁוּנַמִּית

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7767 Shuwnammiyth shoo-nam-meeth'

patrial from 7766; a Shunammitess, or female inhabitant of

Shunem:--Shunamite.

see HEBREW for 07766

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּנַמִּית (shu.nam.mit) — Shunammites.

People descended from Shunam(?), first mentioned at 1Ki.1.3

§ Shunammite, of Shunen "double resting place"

an inhabitant of Shunem

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Ngfsa — Particle · noun gentilic feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ngfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

shoo'-na-mit (shunammith, shunammith; Codex Vaticanus Somaneitis; Codex Alexandrinus Soumanites): Applied to natives of Shunem.

(1) Abishag, who was brought to minister to the aged king David, love for whom led Adonijah to his doom (1Ki 1:3,15; 2:17, etc.).

(2) The woman, name unknown, whose son Elisha raised from the dead (2Ki 4:12, etc.). Later when apparently she had become a widow, after seven years' absence on account of famine, in the land of the Philistines, she returned to find her property in the hands of others. Elisha's intervention secured its restoration (2Ki 8:1-6).

(3) The Shulammite (So 6:13). In this name there is the exchange of "l" for "n" which is common.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Shunammite

A person of Shunem (1 Kings 1:3; 2 Kings 4:12). The Syr. and Arab. read “Sulamite.”

Nave's Topical Bible

1. A person from the city of Shunem

Abishag, the girl who took care of David 1Ki 1:3

Desired by Adonijah as wife 1Ki 2:13-25

2. A woman who gave hospitality to Elisha, and whose son he raised to life 2Ki 4:8-37

Thompson Chain Reference topics

an inhabitant of Shunem

2Ki 4:8,12,16,20,27,36

and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
וַיָּבִ֥אוּvai.ya.Vi.'u and they brought H935 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vhw3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
אֹתָ֖הּ'o.Tah the object marker her H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo/Sp3fs — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they sought a young woman beautiful in all [the] territory of Israel and they found the object marker Abishag the Shunammite and they brought the object marker her to the king
לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃la.Me.lekh to the king H4428 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Amplified meaning
a royal person, like King David
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

King

Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).

This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called KING OF KINGS Ezr 7:12; Eze 26:7; Da 2:37

→ Divinely authorized De 17:15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12; 1Ch 22:10; 2Ch 2:11,12; Pr 8:15; Da 2:21,37; 4:17; 5:20; Ho 8:4; 13:11

→ How chosen

By divine appointment, Saul 1Sa 10:1

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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