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1 Kings 12:13 — Word Study

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WLCוַיַּ֧עַן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם קָשָׁ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת־ עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָצֻֽהוּ׃

BSAAnd the kingmelek [ruler, sovereign] answeredʻânâh [responded, spoke harshly] the peopleʻam [nation, crowd] harshlyqâsheh [roughly, severely, with cruelty] He rejectedʻâzab [forsaken, abandoned] the adviceʻêtsâh [counsel, guidance] of the elderszâqên [old men, wise ones, leaders]

Word
Listen & take away1 Kings 12
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (ye.'a.Tzu.hu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Kings 12:13quick helps
In a sentenceThe king responds harshly to the people, rejecting the elders' counsel.
Who is speakingRehoboam, the king of Israel.
Where we areIn the aftermath of Jeroboam's return to the king for counsel.
The hard wordקָשָׁה
Take awayThe king's harshness leads to a significant turning point in Israel's history.
3 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbעָנָה 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 12:13

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 — Rehoboam's Response to the Peoplegenerated

12After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
13And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders
14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

1 Kings 12:13 describes a pivotal moment when King Rehoboam, after consulting with the people, chooses to respond harshly instead of heeding wise counsel. This decision sets the stage for future division within Israel, as he prioritizes the advice of his peers over the wisdom of the elders. This event marks a crucial turning point in the history of the Israelite monarchy, leading to significant consequences for the nation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 20:6–11But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to search your palace and the houses of your servants. They will seize and carry away all that is precious to you.’”
2Genesis 42:7–30And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”
3Exodus 5:2But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
4Exodus 10:28“Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.”
5Judges 12:1–6Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

The Key Word עָנָה, vai.Ya.'angenerated

The verb עָנָה (*anah*) means to answer or respond, and is often used in contexts where one replies to a question or situation. It encompasses a range of meanings, including verbal responses and musical expressions, indicating a depth of interaction.

In this verse, the king's response is characterized as harsh, reflecting his rejection of the elders' advice. The use of this verb emphasizes the nature of his reply and the authority he wields as king.


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 יַּ֧עַן governs the main clause, with two phrases hanging off it: the subject הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ, and the object הָעָ֖ם. The structure indicates that the king's response is central to the action.

The second part of the verse presents another finite verb וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב, which introduces a new action — the rejection of counsel — highlighting the king's decisions as pivotal.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עָנָה as ἀπεκρίθη (*apekrithē*), meaning 'he answered.' This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew verb, maintaining the emphasis on the response.

For עָזַב, the LXX uses ἐγκατέλιπεν (*egkatelipen*), which conveys the idea of forsaking or abandoning, aligning with the Hebrew's implication of rejection.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Kings 12:13 shows King Rehoboam responding harshly to the people after they sought his advice. Instead of listening to the wise counsel of the elders, he chose to follow the advice of his peers, which led to significant consequences for the nation of Israel.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the king answered harshly?

It indicates that Rehoboam chose a severe and unyielding approach in his response to the people's request, which reflects his attitude and decision-making process.

Why did Rehoboam reject the elders' advice?

Rehoboam's decision to reject the elders' counsel suggests a desire to assert his authority and align with the younger advisors, possibly to gain favor with the people.

What were the consequences of the king's harsh response?

The harsh response led to division within Israel, as the people felt disregarded, ultimately resulting in the split of the kingdom.

How does this verse reflect leadership qualities?

Rehoboam's choice illustrates the importance of wise counsel in leadership and the potential pitfalls of ignoring experienced advice.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I learn from Rehoboam's decision to reject wise counsel in my own life?
  2. What are some examples of harsh responses I have seen in leadership, and what were their outcomes?
  3. In what situations might I be tempted to prioritize my peers' advice over experienced counsel?
  4. How can I ensure that I seek and value wise counsel in my decisions?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 12:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the king answered the people roughly,.... In a blustering manner, gave them hard words and severe menaces, being worked up to such a spirit by his young counsellors: and forsook the old men's

Read John Gill on 1 Kings 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 12:13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’ s counsel that they gave him;Ver. 13. And the king answered the people roughly.] But to his great loss; for he lost those ten tribes with a churlish breath, whom he would, and might not, recover with blood: being so much more wilful than his father, as less wise; all head and no heart.

Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 12 →

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 the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders

NETBNew English Translation2006

The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him,

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the king answered the people sharpely, and left the old mens counsell that they gaue him,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the king answereth the people sharply, and forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the king answers the people sharply, and forsakes the counsel of the elderly which they counseled him,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The king answered the people harshly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they had advised him;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The king answered the people roughly and ignored the advice of the old men that they had given him.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the king answered the people roughly, leaving the counsel of the old men, which they had given him,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The king answered the people sharply. Dismissing the advice of the elders,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the king gave them a rough answer, giving no attention to the suggestion of the old men;

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.

וַandclauseverbיַּ֧עַןhe.answerednoun phrase · subjectהַtheמֶּ֛לֶךְkingnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהָtheעָ֖םpeopleadverbialקָשָׁ֑הhardוַֽandclauseverbיַּעֲזֹ֛בhe.abandonednoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phrasenoun phraseעֲצַ֥תthe.counselnoun phraseהַofזְּקֵנִ֖יםthe.eldersrelpאֲשֶׁ֥רwhichclauseverbיְעָצֻֽtheyobjectהוּhad.counseled.him

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 nine of the eleven words matched. The differences in word order and articles in the Septuagint reflect its own stylistic choices rather than substantive variations in meaning.

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

וַיַּ֧עַן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם קָשָׁ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת־ עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָצֻֽהוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּ֧עַןἀπεκρίθηהַמֶּ֛לֶךְβασιλεὺςהָעָ֖םπρὸςקָשָׁ֑הσκληράוַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛בἐγκατέλιπενעֲצַ֥תβουλὴνהַזְּקֵנִ֖יםπρεσβυτέρωνאֲשֶׁ֥ריְעָצֻֽהוּ׃αὐτῷ

9 of the 11 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

1 Kings 12:13עוּןand he answand he answeredעוּןמֶ֫לֶךְthe kingthe kingמֶ֫לֶךְאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעַםthe peoplethe peopleעַםקָשֶׁהhardhardקָשֶׁהעָזַבand he forsand he forsookעָזַבאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעֵצָה[the] couns[the] counsel oעֵצָהזָקֵןthe eldersthe eldersזָקֵןאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁריָעַץthey had cothey had counseיָעַץאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתיָעַץto adviseto adviseיָעַץעָנָהbe occupiebe occupiedעָנָהמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםקָשָׁהto hardento hardenקָשָׁהזָקֵןbe oldbe oldזָקֵןמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶלAhithophelAhithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶלאִיּוֹבJobJobאִיּוֹבשָׁוַעto cryto cryשָׁוַענְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּראַשּׁוּרAsshurAsshurאַשּׁוּרעֹ֫רֶףneckneckעֹ֫רֶףחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסבָּחוּרyouthyouthבָּחוּרשִׁבְעִיםseventyseventyשִׁבְעִים
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 12:13

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 answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
וַיַּ֧עַןvai.Ya.'an and he answered H6030 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
332× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sing or make music, but also to respond or give an answer. In the Bible, it is used to describe praising God in song or responding to a question. The KJV translates it as 'sing' or 'answer'.
Amplified meaning
responded, spoke harshly
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָנָה (*anah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to heed or pay attention, covering a range of meanings including to answer, respond, testify, and sing. It appears in contexts where one responds to speech or circumstances, and can also refer to singing. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both verbal responses and musical expression.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עוּן] vb. dwell

base

עָנָה 316 vb. answer, respond

Qal

answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied

respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances

money meets all demands

specif. respond as a witness, testify

less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)

Niph.

make answer

be answered

Hiph. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart

base

עָנָה vb. sing

Qal sing, utter tunefully

Pi. sing sweetly of it

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6030a עוּן dwell H6030b עָנָה answer, respond .. answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied

. . respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances

. money meets all demands

. . specif. respond as a witness, testify

. less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)

. . make answer

. be answered

. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart

H6030c עָנָה sing

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6030 `anah aw-naw'

a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed,

i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to

begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify,

announce:--give account, afflict (by mistake for 6031),

(cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for 6031), cry,

hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing

(together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.

See also 1042, 1043.

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 01042

see HEBREW for 01043

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוּן (un) — to dwell.

(Qal) to dwell

עָנָה (a.nah) — to answer.

1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to answer, respond to

1a2) to testify, respond as a witness

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to make answer

1b2) to be answered, receive answer

Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)

עָנָה (a.nah) — to sing.

(Qal) to sing, utter tunefully

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekh the king H4428 Particle · 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
ruler, sovereign
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
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/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

and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
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
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
הָעָ֖םha.'Am the people H5971 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
nation, crowd
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

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

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes something or someone as severe or cruel, like the harsh treatment of the Israelites by their enemies in Judges.
Amplified meaning
roughly, severely, with cruelty
Tyndale gloss
severe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָשֶׁה (qasheh) means hard or severe, with applications ranging from physical hardness to emotional severity. It can describe someone as obstinate or cruel, and it is used in contexts like difficult situations or intense emotions. The entries indicate a range of meanings including rigorous and stiff-necked, but do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָשֶׁה adj. hard, severe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7186 קָשֶׁה hard, severe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7186 qasheh kaw-sheh'

from 7185; severe (in various applications):--churlish,

cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, + impudent,

obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful,

stiff((necked)), stubborn, + in trouble.

see HEBREW for 07185

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָשֶׁה (qa.sheh) — severe.

1) hard, cruel, severe, obstinate

1a) hard, difficult

1b) severe

1c) fierce, intense, vehement

1d) stubborn, stiff of neck, stiff-necked

1e) rigorous (of battle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafsa
and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛בvai.ya.'a.Zo and he forsook H5800 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
215× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Amplified meaning
forsaken, abandoned
Tyndale gloss
Forsaken
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָזַב (azab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to leave, forsake, or let loose. It encompasses a range of actions from abandoning or neglecting to setting free. The entries suggest it can also imply restoration or repair, though this aspect is less emphasized. Notably, the term can describe both active and passive states, such as being forsaken or deserted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָזַב 213 vb. leave, forsake, loose

Qal

leave, c. acc.

leave, abandon, forsake

let loose, set free, let go

Niph.

be left to

be forsaken, of house of God

Pu. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

base

[עָזַב] vb. restore, repair (?);—Qal Ne 3:8

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5800a עָזַב leave, forsake, loose .. leave, c. acc.

. leave, abandon, forsake

. let loose, set free, let go

. . be left to

. be forsaken, of house of God

. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

H5800b עָזַב restore, repair(?)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5800 `azab aw-zab'

a primitive root; to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit,

etc.:--commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave

(destitute, off), refuse, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: forsake.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — to restore.

1) to restore, repair

1a) (Qal) to repair

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: release.

1) to leave, loose, forsake

1a) (Qal) to leave

1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone

1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise

1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be left to

1b2) to be forsaken

1c) (Pual) to be deserted

עָזַב (a.zav) — Forsaken.

This name means to restore, repair

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

עָזַב (a.zav) — to leave: neglect.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
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
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
עֲצַ֥ת'a.Tzat [the] counsel of H6098 Noun common · feminine singular construct
89× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means counsel or advice, implying a plan or purpose. It is used in the Bible when describing wise decision-making.
Amplified meaning
counsel, guidance
Tyndale gloss
counsel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵצָה (`etsah) refers to counsel or advice, and can also imply a plan or purpose. It is derived from a root meaning to advise or provide guidance. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts related to providing counsel or making decisions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵצָה n.f. counsel, advice

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6098 עֵצָה counsel, advice

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6098 `etsah ay-tsaw'

from 3289; advice; by implication, plan; also

prudence:--advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.

see HEBREW for 03289

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵצָה (e.tsah) — counsel.

counsel, advice, purpose

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
הַזְּקֵנִ֖יםha.ze.ke.Nim the elders H2205 Particle
178× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means old or elderly, as in the case of the elderly men who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18:11. It can also refer to those in positions of authority, like the elders who helped Moses in Exodus 24:1. The term is used to describe respect and leadership.
Amplified meaning
old men, wise ones, leaders
Tyndale gloss
old
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָקֵן (zaqen) means 'old' and is used to refer to human beings, often as a noun for 'old man' or 'elder.' It encompasses meanings related to age and authority, indicating both age and leadership roles. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be old,' and it is consistently associated with the concept of elders in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָקֵן adj. old

old, of human beings

usu. as subst.

old man (or woman)

elder

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2205 זָקֵן old . old, of human beings

. usu. as subst. . old man (or woman)

. elder

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2205 zaqen zaw-kane'

from 2204; old:--aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man,

men and...women), senator.

see HEBREW for 02204

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָקֵן (za.qen) — old: elder.

: elder/leader

1) old

1a) old (of humans)

1b) elder (of those having authority)

זָקֵן (za.qen) — old.

: old

1) old

1a) old (of humans)

1b) elder (of those having authority)

Also means: za.qen (זָקֵן ": elder" H2205)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Adj — Particle
HTd/Aampa
and he answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
אֲשֶׁ֥ר'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 answered the king the object marker the people hard and he forsook the object marker [the] counsel of the elders which they had counseled him
יְעָצֻֽהוּ׃ye.'a.Tzu.hu they had counseled him H3289 Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
79× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to advise or counsel someone, like giving guidance or planning something. It is used in the Bible to describe people seeking advice or working together to make a plan. The KJV translates it as advise or counsel.
Tyndale gloss
to advise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָעַץ (ya`ats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to advise or counsel. It encompasses various forms, including advising, consulting, and deliberating, with nuances in different stems such as Qal, Niphal, and Hithpael. The word can also imply conspiracy in certain contexts. The entries suggest a focus on guidance and decision-making.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָעַץ vb. advise, counsel

Qal advise, counsel

Niph. consult together, exchange counsel

Hithp. conspire against

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3289 יָעַץ advise, counsel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3289 ya`ats yaw-ats'

a primitive root; to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or

resolve:--advertise, take advise, advise (well), consult,

(give, take) counsel(-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָעַץ (ya.ats) — to advise.

1) to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to advise, counsel, give counsel, consult

1a2) counsellor (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate, counsel together

1c) (Hithpael) to conspire

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3cp/Sp3ms — Verb qal perfect third person common plural · suffix
HVqp3cp/Sp3ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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