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1 Kings 11:30 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּתְפֹּ֣שׂ אֲחִיָּ֔ה בַּשַּׂלְמָ֥ה הַחֲדָשָׁ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֑יו וַיִּ֨קְרָעֶ֔הָ שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר קְרָעִֽים׃

BSAAnd AhijahʼĂchîyâh [brother of Jehovah, a prophet] took holdtâphas of the newchâdâsh [recently created, fresh] cloaksalmâh [garment, outer clothing] he was wearingʻal tore itqâraʻ [rent, ripped] into twelveshᵉnayim piecesqeraʻ [rags, torn fragments]

Word
Listen & take away1 Kings 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 30 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 (ke.ra.'Im) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Kings 11:30quick helps
In a sentenceAhijah seizes his new cloak and tears it into twelve pieces.
Who is speakingAhijah, a prophet of the Lord.
Where we areIn a prophetic act that symbolizes the division of the kingdom of Israel.
The hard wordתָּפַשׂ
Take awayThe act of tearing symbolizes a significant change in leadership.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectאֲחִיָּה verbתָּפַשׂ 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 11:30

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 Prophecy of the Division of the Kingdomgenerated

29During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.
30And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,
31and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.
32But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.

1 Kings 11:30 describes a pivotal moment when Ahijah the prophet meets Jeroboam and performs a symbolic act by tearing his new cloak into twelve pieces. This act foreshadows the division of the kingdom of Israel into two parts, reflecting God's judgment on Solomon's reign due to his disobedience. The context highlights the tension between divine authority and human leadership, as seen in the preceding verses where God communicates His intentions regarding the future of Israel.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Samuel 15:27–28As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.
21 Samuel 24:4–5So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תָּפַשׂ, vai.yit.Posgenerated

The verb תָּפַשׂ (taphas) means to seize or take hold of something firmly. It indicates a deliberate action of capturing or grasping, which can be both literal and figurative.

In this verse, Ahijah seizes the new cloak he is wearing, which emphasizes the importance of the garment as a prophetic symbol. The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular indicates that this action is part of a narrative unfolding in the moment.


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 finite verb וַיִּתְפֹּ֣שׂ governs the main action of the verse, with two phrases following: a noun phrase indicating what is seized, and a clause describing the action taken with it. The Hebrew structure places emphasis on Ahijah's action as the focal point.

The word order highlights the importance of the cloak, as it is mentioned immediately after the subject, indicating its significance in the prophetic act.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תָּפַשׂ with ἐπελάβετοhe seized. This choice maintains the sense of a strong grasping action, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.

The translation reflects a consistent understanding of the act as one of taking hold, emphasizing the importance of the cloak in the prophetic message.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Kings 11:30 tells us that Ahijah, a prophet, took hold of his new cloak and tore it into twelve pieces. This act symbolizes the division of the kingdom of Israel, as he later instructs Jeroboam to take ten pieces for himself, indicating a significant change in leadership.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the tearing of the cloak symbolize?

The tearing of the cloak symbolizes the division of the kingdom of Israel, representing God's judgment on Solomon's reign.

Who is Ahijah?

Ahijah is a prophet known for predicting the revolt of the Northern tribes and conveying God's messages to leaders in Israel.

Why is the number twelve significant?

The number twelve represents the twelve tribes of Israel, indicating the complete division of the nation.

What does the new cloak represent?

The new cloak represents fresh beginnings and the seriousness of the prophetic message being delivered.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does God's judgment manifest in leadership changes in my life?
  2. What symbols do I see around me that represent significant changes?
  3. In what ways can I be attentive to prophetic messages in my community?
  4. How can I respond to changes in leadership with faith and trust in God's plan?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 11:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him,.... This looks as if it was Jeroboam's garment, having got a new one to appear before the king in; though the sense may be this, that the prophet

Read John Gill on 1 Kings 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces. This is the first symbolical action recorded of a prophet.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 11:30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that [was] on him, and rent it [in] twelve pieces:Ver. 30. And rent it.] This he did for a sign. See 1 Kings 11:11, where the kingdom is likened unto a glorious mantle upon the king’ s shoulders, as 1 Samuel 15:28.

Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(30) Rent it in twelve pieces.—The use of symbolical acts is frequent in subsequent prophecy (especially see Jeremiah 13:1; Jeremiah 19:1; Jeremiah 27:2; Ezekiel 4, 5, Ezekiel 12:1-7; Ezekiel 24:3; Ezekiel 24:15), often alternating with symbolical visions and symbolical parables or allegories. The object is, of course, to arrest attention, and call out the inquiry (Ezekiel 24:19): “Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us?” Ahijah’s rending of his own new garment is used, like Saul’s rending of Samuel’s mantle (1 Samuel 15:27-28), to symbolise the rending away of the kingdom. (See 1 Kings 11:11-13.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

30. and Ahijah caught] R.V. laid hold of. The word is frequently used of the taking prisoners captive.

Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 11 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The first instance of the “acted parable.” Generally this mode was adopted upon express divine command (see Jeremiah 13:1-11; Ezekiel 3:1-3).

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 11 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

30. Twelve pieces — The numbers used in this symbolical prophecy have themselves a sacred symbolism; and yet, like all symbols, must not be supposed capable of being pressed into a relation to all

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 11 →

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

And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Ahijah took the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,

NETBNew English Translation2006

and he grabbed the robe and tore it into twelve pieces.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then Ahiiah caught the newe garment that was on him, and rent it in twelue pieces,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Then Ahijah seized the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and Ahijah layeth hold on the new garment that [is] on him, and rendeth it — twelve pieces,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and Ahijah lays hold on the new garment that [is] on him, and tears it [into] twelve pieces,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Achiyah caught hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then Ahijah grabbed hold of the new garment that was on him and tore it into twelve pieces.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Ahias taking his new garment, wherewith he was clad, divided it into twelve parts:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were by themselves in the countryside. Ahijah took the new cloak he was wearing and ripped it up into twelve pieces.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Ahijah took his new robe in his hands, parting it violently into twelve.

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּתְפֹּ֣שׂhe.seizedsubjectאֲחִיָּ֔הAhijahprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּ(in)noun phrasethenoun phrasenoun phraseשַּׂלְמָ֥הcloakadjective phraseהַ(the)חֲדָשָׁ֖הnewrelpאֲשֶׁ֣רwhichclauseprepositional phrase · predicateעָלָ֑י[was].onוhimוַandclauseverbיִּ֨קְרָעֶ֔heobjectהָtore.itnoun phrase · adverbialnumeral phraseשְׁנֵ֥יםtwo.plusעָשָׂ֖רtenקְרָעִֽיםpieces

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


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

The Masoretic Text is preserved in the Septuagint, with 9 of the 10 words matched. This indicates a strong agreement between these ancient witnesses regarding the content of the verse.

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

וַיִּתְפֹּ֣שׂ אֲחִיָּ֔ה בַּשַּׂלְמָ֥ה הַחֲדָשָׁ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֑יו וַיִּ֨קְרָעֶ֔הָ שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר קְרָעִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּתְפֹּ֣שׂἐπελάβετοאֲחִיָּ֔הαξιαבַּשַּׂלְמָ֥הἱματίουהַחֲדָשָׁ֖הκαινοῦאֲשֶׁ֣רτοῦעָלָ֑יוαὐτῷוַיִּ֨קְרָעֶ֔הָαὐτὸעָשָׂ֖רδώδεκαקְרָעִֽים׃ῥήγματα

9 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Kings 11:30תָּפַשׂand he seizand he seizedתָּפַשׂאֲחִיָּ֫הוּAhijahAhijahאֲחִיָּ֫הוּשַׂלְמָהthe cloakthe cloakשַׂלְמָהחָדָשׁnewnewחָדָשׁאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרעַל[was] on hi[was] on himעַלקָרַעand he toreand he tore itקָרַעשְׁנַ֫יִםtwo [plus]two [plus]שְׁנַ֫יִםעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂרקֶ֫רַעpiecespiecesקֶ֫רַעקָרַעto tearto tearקָרַעאָחbrother: mbrother: male-sאָחחָדַשׁto renewto renewחָדַשׁשִׂמְלָהmantlemantleשִׂמְלָהעַלheightheightעַלשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיעֶשֶׂרtentenעֶשֶׂרמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןשִׁילֹנִיShiloniteShiloniteשִׁילֹנִיבַּעְשָׁאBaashaBaashaבַּעְשָׁאבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהנֶ֫שֶׁקweaponweaponנֶ֫שֶׁקעֲגָלָהcartcartעֲגָלָהצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאמְעִילroberobeמְעִילבֶּ֫גֶדtreacherytreacheryבֶּ֫גֶד
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 11:30

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 he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
וַיִּתְפֹּ֣שׂvai.yit.Pos and he seized H8610 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To capture or seize something, like in 1 Kings 13:4, where a prophet grabs the king's altar. It means to take hold of or grasp something firmly.
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּפַשׂ (taphas) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lay hold of or seize. It encompasses actions like capturing, wielding, and handling, with nuances in different forms such as being seized or caught. The entries suggest a range of physical and figurative uses, including the idea of manipulation or unwarranted use.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּפַשׂ vb. lay hold of, wield

Qal

lay hold of, seize

grasp in order to wield, wield, use skilfully

Niph. be seized, arrested, caught

Pi. a lizard thou mayest grasp with the hands

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8610 תָּפַשׂ lay hold of, wield

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8610 taphas taw-fas'

a primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to

capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use

unwarrantably:--catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over),

stop, X surely, surprise, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּפַשׂ (ta.pha.s) — to capture.

1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch

1a2) to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully

1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured

1c) (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
אֲחִיָּ֔ה'a.chi.Yah Ahijah H281 Noun proper masculine
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ahijah means brother of Jehovah, and was the name of several Israelites, including a prophet who predicted the revolt of the Northern tribes in 1 Samuel 14.
Amplified meaning
brother of Jehovah, a prophet
Tyndale gloss
Ahijah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ (*Achiyah*) means 'brother of Jehovah' and is associated with various figures in the Old Testament. It is built from the roots for 'brother' and 'Yah.' The entries highlight multiple individuals named Ahijah, including a prophet, a scribe, and the father of King Baasha. The lexicons provide overlapping details about these figures, with some variations in their roles and lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ, אֲחִיָה (always, exc. where other form noted), אֲחִי n.pr.m. (brother of Yah(u))

a priest

a scribe

a prophet

father of king Baasha

grandson of Hezron

son of Ehud, of Benj.

one of Dvd’s heroes

a Levite, Dvd’s time

a chief man under Nehem.

a Gadite

a man of Asher

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H281 אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ, אֲחִיָה, אֲחִי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

281 'Achiyah akh-ee-yaw

or (prolonged) pAchiyahuw {akh-ee-yaw'-hoo}; from 251 and

3050; brother (i.e. worshipper) of Jah; Achijah, the name of

nine Israelites:--Ahiah, Ahijah.

see HEBREW for 0251

see HEBREW for 03050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ (a.chiy.yah) — Ahijah.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.4.3;

son of: Seraiah (H8304);

brother of: Elihoreph (H0456)

§ Ahiah or Ahijah = "brother of Jehovah (Yahu)"

1) grandson of Phinehas

2) scribe of Solomon

3) a prophet who predicted the revolt of the Northern tribes

4) father of Baasha, who usurped the Northern throne

5) grandson of Hezron (or mother of 1-4 above)

6) a Benjamite, son of Ehud

7) one of David's heroes

8) a Levite during David's time

9) a chief man under Nehemiah

אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ (a.chiy.yah) — Ahijah.

A prophet living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.11.29

§ Ahiah or Ahijah = "brother of Jehovah (Yahu)"

1) grandson of Phinehas

2) scribe of Solomon

3) a prophet who predicted the revolt of the Northern tribes

4) father of Baasha, who usurped the Northern throne

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

a-hi'-ja ('achiyah or 'achiyahu, "brother of Yahweh," "my brother is Yahweh," "Yah is brother." In the King James Version the name sometimes appears as Ahiah):

(1) One of the sons of Jerahmeel the great-grandson of Judah (1Ch 2:25).

(2) A descendant of Benjamin (1Ch 8:7).

(3) The son of Ahitub, priest in the time of King Saul (1Sa 14:3,18). Either he is the same with Ahimelech, who is mentioned later, or he is the father or brother of Ahimelech. He is introduced to us when Saul has been so long on the throne that his son Jonathan is a man grown and a warrior. He is in attendance upon Saul, evidently as an official priest, "wearing an ephod." When Saul wishes direction from God he asks the priest to bring hither the ark; but then…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ahijah

Brother (i.e., “friend”) of Jehovah. (1.) One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 8:7, R.V.). In A.V. called “Ahiah.”

(2.) One of the five sons of Jerahmeel, who was great-grandson of Judah (1 Chr. 2:25).

(3.) Son of Ahitub (1 Sam. 14:3, 18), Ichabod’s brother; the same probably as Ahimelech, who was high priest at Nob in the reign of Saul (1 Sam. 22:11). Some, however, suppose that Ahimelech was the brother of Ahijah, and that they both officiated as high priests, Ahijah at Gibeah or Kirjath-jearim, and Ahimelech at Nob.

(4.) A Pelonite, one of David’s heroes (1 Chr. 11:36); called also Eliam (

A prophet and chronicler of the times of Solomon and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:29 2Ch 9:29. He is thought to be the person who spoke in God’s name to Solomon while building the temple, 1Ki 6:11; and again after he fell into sin, 1Ki 11:11. He notified Jeroboam of the separation of Israel from Judah, and of the foundation of his house-the ruin of which he afterwards foretold, 1Ki 14:1-14.

and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
בַּשַּׂלְמָ֥הba.sal.Mah the cloak H8008 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A salmah is a garment or outer clothing in Hebrew, often translated as 'clothes' or 'raiment' in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
garment, outer clothing
Tyndale gloss
garment
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׂלְמָה (*salmah*) refers to an outer garment or clothing. It is closely related to the word שִׂמְלָה (*simlah*), and its meanings include dress, raiment, and wrapper. The entries consistently emphasize its role as a type of garment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׂלְמָה n.f. id. [שִׂמְלָה] (transp. from שִׂמְלָה);—garment: outer garment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8008 שַׂלְמָה id. [שִׂמְלָה];—garment: outer garment

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8008 salmah sal-maw'

transp. for 8071; a dress:--clothes, garment, raiment.

see HEBREW for 08071

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׂלְמָה (sal.mah) — garment.

1) garment, outer garment, wrapper, mantle

1a) garment, outer garment

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

Cloak

An upper garment, “an exterior tunic, wide and long, reaching to the ankles, but without sleeves” (Isa. 59:17). The word so rendered is elsewhere rendered “robe” or “mantle.” It was worn by the high priest under the ephod (Ex. 28:31), by kings and others of rank (1 Sam. 15:27; Job 1:20; 2:12), and by women (2 Sam. 13:18).

The word translated “cloke”, i.e., outer garment, in Matt. 5:40 is in its plural form used of garments in general (Matt. 17:2; 26:65). The cloak mentioned here and in

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Paul's, left at Troas 2Ti 4:13

→ FIGURATIVE Joh 15:22; 1Pe 2:16

and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
הַחֲדָשָׁ֖הha.cha.da.Shah new H2319 Particle
53× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for new or fresh, used to describe something recently created or renewed, as seen in God's creation of a new heaven and earth. It emphasizes the idea of something being recent or modern.
Amplified meaning
recently created, fresh
Tyndale gloss
new
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָדָשׁ (chadash) means 'new' or 'fresh.' It is derived from the root word represented by Strong's H2318. The entries indicate that it covers meanings related to novelty and freshness, with an Aramaic equivalent noted as חֲדַ֑ת (cha.dat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2319 חָדָשׁ new

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2319 chadash khaw-dawsh'

from 2318; new:--fresh, new thing.

see HEBREW for 02318

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָדָשׁ (cha.dash) — New (Gate).

§ new, new thing, fresh

חָדָשׁ (cha.dash) — new.

new, new thing, fresh

Aramaic equivalent: cha.dat (חֲדַ֑ת "new" H2323)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Adj — Particle
HTd/Aafsa
and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher which H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTr — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
עָלָ֑יו'a.Lav [was] on him H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
וַיִּ֨קְרָעֶ֔הָvai.Yik.ra.'E.ha and he tore it H7167 Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to tear or rend something, and can be used literally or figuratively, as in the case of reviling or enlarging the eyes. In the book of the Prophet Joel, it describes the heavens being torn open. It can also describe the action of wild beasts.
Amplified meaning
rent, ripped
Tyndale gloss
to tear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרַע (qara`) means to tear or rend, both literally and figuratively. It is often used in the context of tearing garments, but can also refer to tearing away sovereignty or opening the heavens. The word has various applications, including tearing in pieces, making something wide, and being rent, as seen in the usage of wild beasts and altars.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרַע 63 vb. tear

Qal tear, rend

usu. (39 t.) of rending garment

tear away or out

tear away sovereignty (under fig. of garment)

tear, rend asunder

book

= make wide, large

rend open heavens, and descend

tear, rend, of wild beasts

Niph. be rent, of garments; be rent, split asunder, of altar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7167 קָרַע tear .tear, rend . . usu. (39 t.) of rending garment

. tear away or out

. tear away sovereignty (under fig. of garment)

. tear, rend asunder . book

. = make wide, large

. rend open heavens, and descend

. tear, rend, of wild beasts

. be rent, of garments; be rent, split asunder, of altar

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7167 qara` kaw-rah'

a primitive root; to rend, literally or figuratively (revile,

paint the eyes, as if enlarging them):--cut out, rend, X

surely, tear.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרַע (qa.ra) — to tear.

1) to tear, tear in pieces

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tear, rend

1a2) to tear away or out

1a3) to tear, rend asunder

1a3a) to make wide or large (of eyes)

1a3b) to rend open (of heavens)

1a4) to tear, rend (of wild beasts)

1b) (Niphal) to be rent, be split asunder

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vqw3ms/Sp3fs
and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
שְׁנֵ֥יםshe.Neim two [plus] H8147 Noun common · both dual absolute
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · both dual absolute
HNcbda
and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
עָשָׂ֖ר'a.Sar ten H6240 Noun common · both singular construct
339× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word means ten, and is used to form numbers like eleven or thirteen, as seen in Genesis 31:41. It is always used in combination with other numbers.
Tyndale gloss
ten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂר (asar) means 'ten' and is used exclusively in combination with other numbers to form the teen numbers (11-19), both as cardinal and ordinal forms. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew root, but do not elaborate on its etymology.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6240 עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6240 `asar aw-sawr'

for 6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also

(ordinal) -teenth:--(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-,

six-, thir-)teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, +

twelve(-th).

see HEBREW for 06235

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂר (a.sar) — ten.

1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers)

1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19

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

(`eser; deka).

See NUMBER.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Used for an indefinite number) Ge 31:7; Le 26:26; Nu 14:22; Zec 8:23

and he seized Ahijah the cloak new which [was] on him and he tore it two [plus] ten pieces
קְרָעִֽים׃ke.ra.'Im pieces H7168 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This noun refers to rags or torn pieces of fabric, often used to describe old or worn-out clothing. In the book of Judges, the prophet Elijah uses this word to describe the state of the Israelites' garments.
Amplified meaning
rags, torn fragments
Tyndale gloss
rags
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קֶ֫רַע (qera`) refers to a torn piece of garment or rag. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe ragged fabric or torn pieces. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to rags and torn materials.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קֶ֫רַע] n.m. torn piece of garment, rag

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7168 קֶ֫רַע

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7168 qera` keh'-rah

from 7167; a rag:--piece, rag.

see HEBREW for 07167

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קֶ֫רַע (qe.ra) — rags.

rag, torn pieces of garment or fabric

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pieces

(1) of silver. In Ps. 68:30 denotes “fragments,” and not properly money. In 1 Sam. 2:36 (Heb. agorah), properly a “small sum” as wages, weighed rather than coined. Josh. 24:32 (Heb. kesitah, q.v.), supposed by some to have been a piece of money bearing the figure of a lamb, but rather simply a certain amount. (Comp. Gen. 33:19).

(2.) The word pieces is omitted in many passages, as Gen. 20:16; 37:28; 45:22, etc. The passage in Zech. 11:12, 13 is quoted in the Gospel (Matt. 26:15), and from this we…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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