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1 Samuel 17:6 — Word Study

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WLCוּמִצְחַ֥ת נְחֹ֖שֶׁת עַל־ רַגְלָ֑יו וְכִיד֥וֹן נְחֹ֖שֶׁת בֵּ֥ין כְּתֵפָֽיו׃

BSAand [he had] armormitschâh [greaves, protective coverings] of bronzenᵉchôsheth [a copper alloy] onʻal his legsregel [feet, the lower extremities] and a javelinkîydôwn [a throwing spear, a dart] of bronzenᵉchôsheth [a metal often used for weapons] slung betweenbêyn [hung, placed, in the middle of, amidst] his shoulderskâthêph [the upper back, the area where burdens are carried]

Word
Listen & take away1 Samuel 17
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 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.te.Fav) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Samuel 17:6quick helps
In a sentenceGoliath is described as heavily armored, with bronze greaves on his legs and a javelin slung across his shoulders.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes Goliath's armor in the context of the battle with Israel.
Where we areThis verse is part of the account of Goliath's challenge to the Israelites.
The hard wordמִצְחָה
Take awayThe details of Goliath's armor highlight his formidable presence.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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

Deep Study — 1 Samuel 17:6

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Armor of Goliathgenerated

5and he had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a bronze coat of mail weighing five thousand shekels,
6and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.
7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. In addition, his shield bearer went before him.
8And Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and array yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose one of your men and have him come down against me.

1 Samuel 17:6 describes Goliath, the Philistine giant, as wearing heavy armor made of bronze, which included greaves on his legs and a javelin slung across his shoulders. This detailed description emphasizes his intimidating appearance as he challenges the Israelite army. The context of this verse is pivotal in the narrative of David and Goliath, showcasing the stark contrast between Goliath's might and David's faith in God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 10:16King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield.
22 Chronicles 9:15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield.

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


The Key Word מִצְחָה, u.mitz.Chatgenerated

The word מִצְחָה (mitzChat) refers specifically to greaves, a type of leg armor that protects the shins. It is used in the feminine singular construct form, indicating its role as part of a soldier's protective gear in battle.

In this verse, the greaves are made of bronze, highlighting the strength and durability of Goliath's armor. This word is derived from a root meaning related to protection, reinforcing the idea of Goliath as a heavily armed warrior.


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 main clause is governed by the subject וּמִצְחַ֥ת, and armor, with two prepositional phrases detailing what the armor is made of and where it is worn. The sentence structure emphasizes Goliath's formidable presence through the description of his armor.

The finite verb is implied in the context, with the noun phrases following it indicating the specific elements of Goliath's armor, creating a vivid image of his battle readiness.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מִצְחָה as κνημῖδες, which also means greaves. This choice indicates a direct correlation in the understanding of protective leg armor between the Hebrew and Greek texts.

The use of ξαλκαῖ for bronze further aligns with the material's significance in weaponry, showing continuity in the description of Goliath's armor.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Samuel 17:6 describes Goliath's armor, stating that he had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. This highlights his intimidating appearance as he prepared for battle against the Israelites.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of Goliath's armor?

Goliath's armor signifies his strength and readiness for battle, illustrating the challenge faced by the Israelites.

Why is bronze mentioned in the context of Goliath's armor?

Bronze is a strong metal used for weapons and armor, emphasizing Goliath's formidable nature as a warrior.

What does the javelin represent in this verse?

The javelin represents Goliath's offensive capabilities and readiness to engage in combat.

How does Goliath's appearance affect the Israelite army?

Goliath's intimidating appearance and heavy armor likely instilled fear in the Israelite army, making them hesitant to confront him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn about the nature of fear from Goliath's challenge to the Israelites?
  2. How does the description of Goliath's armor enhance our understanding of the battle narrative?
  3. In what ways can we prepare ourselves spiritually, as Goliath prepared himself physically?
  4. What does this passage teach us about facing seemingly insurmountable challenges?

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

Bede comments on this verse, interpreting Goliath's armor as symbolic of various arguments or reasoning methods in spiritual battles.

BedeCommentary on Samuel c. 673–735
And he had bronze greaves on his legs, etc. Helmet, mail, shield, and greaves, are different types of arguments or reasoning methods, by which the devil rebelling against the Lord, or defending the foolishness of his own head, namely,
Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 17 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 17:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs,.... Which were a sort of boots, or leg harnesses, which covered the thighs and legs down to the heels; such as Iolaus (k) and the Grecians usually wore, as

Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 17 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 17 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Samuel 17:6 And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. Ver. 6. And he had greaves (or leg-harness) of brass.] So that he was substantially armed cap-a-pie, as they say, and might seem to be a walking armory.

Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 17 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. Greaves of brass upon his legs] This species of armour may be seen on many ancient monuments. It was a plate of brass (though perhaps sometimes formed of laminae or plates, like the mail) which covered the shin or fore part of the leg, from the knee down to the instep, and was buckled with straps behind the leg. From ancient monuments we find that it was commonly worn only on one leg. VEGETIUS, de Re Militari, says, Pedites Scutati etiam ferreas ocreas in dextris cruribus copebantur accipere. "The foot soldiers, called Scutati, from their particular species of shield, were obliged to use iron greaves on their right legs." One of these may be seen in the monument of the gladiator…

Read AdamClarke on 1 Samuel 17 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. greaves] Armour for the legs and feet: from Fr. grève, ‘the shin.’ “Greaves” from the Assyrian monuments are figured in Layard’s Nineveh II. 337. The following passage from Philemon Holland’s translation of Pliny’s Nat. Hist. VII. 20, quoted in the Bible Word-Book, illustrates both the matter and the language: “My selfe haue seene one named Athanatus do wonderful strange matters in the open shew and face of the world, namely to walke his stations vpon the stage with a cuirace of lead weighing 500 pound [= 360 lbs. avoirdupois], booted besides with a pair of buskins or greiues (cothurni) about his legges that came to as much in weight.” brass] The word translated brass means copper in…

Read Cambridge on 1 Samuel 17 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A target ... - Rather, “a javelin.” as in 1 Samuel 17:45, and placed between the shoulders, as the quiver was.

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Samuel 17 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

6. Greaves of brass upon his legs — Rather, upon his feet. These were shin covers bound by thongs around and above the ankles. Among the ancient Greeks they were elastic behind, and extended upward above the knees.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Samuel 17 →

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 he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He had bronze shin armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

and he had armor of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He had bronze shin guards on his legs, and a bronze javelin was slung over his shoulders.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he had bootes of brasse vpon his legs, and a shield of brasse vpon his shoulders.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he had greaves of bronze upon his legs, and a javelin of bronze between his shoulders.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and a frontlet of brass [is] on his feet, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and a frontlet of bronze [is] on his feet, and a javelin of bronze between his shoulders,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he had greaves of copper upon his legs, and a javelin of copper between his shoulders.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He had bronze armor on his legs and a javelin of bronze between his shoulders.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And he had greaves of brass on his legs, and a buckler of brass covered his shoulders.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

On his legs he wore bronze armor, and he carried a javelin slung between his shoulders.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

His legs were covered with plates of brass and hanging on his back was a javelin of brass.

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.

וּandclausenoun phrase · subjectמִצְחַ֥תleg.armorנְחֹ֖שֶׁתof.bronzeprepositional phrase · predicateעַל[was].onnoun phraseרַגְלָ֑יfeetוhisוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectכִיד֥וֹןa.javelinנְחֹ֖שֶׁתof.bronzeprepositional phrase · predicateבֵּ֥ין[was].betweennoun phraseכְּתֵפָֽיshouldersוhis

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 agree on the wording of this verse, with the Septuagint providing a direct translation of the Hebrew terms used for Goliath's armor. The Dead Sea Scrolls fragment confirms the presence of key words, although some words were supplied by an editor due to damage.

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

וּמִצְחַ֥ת נְחֹ֖שֶׁת עַל־ רַגְלָ֑יו וְכִיד֥וֹן נְחֹ֖שֶׁת בֵּ֥ין כְּתֵפָֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּמִצְחַ֥תκνημῖδεςנְחֹ֖שֶׁתξαλκαῖעַל־ἐπάνωרַגְלָ֑יוαὐτοῦוְכִיד֥וֹןἀσπὶςנְחֹ֖שֶׁתξαλκῆבֵּ֥יןμέσονכְּתֵפָֽיו׃αὐτοῦ

8 of the 8 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q51a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ומצחת] [נחשת] [על] [רגלי׳ו] [וכדון] בין כתפי׳ו

7 words of the verse are on this fragment — 5 supplied entire by an editor.

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 Samuel 17:6מִצְחָהand leg armand leg armor oמִצְחָהנְחֹ֫שֶׁתbronzebronzeנְחֹ֫שֶׁתעַל[was] on[was] onעַלרֶ֫גֶלfeet hisfeet hisרֶ֫גֶלכִּידוֹןand a javeland a javelin oכִּידוֹןנְחֹ֫שֶׁתbronzebronzeנְחֹ֫שֶׁתבַּ֫יִן[was] betwe[was] betweenבַּ֫יִןכָּתֵףshoulders hshoulders hisכָּתֵףנְחוּשָׁהbronzebronzeנְחוּשָׁהרָגַלto spyto spyרָגַלבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןמֵ֫צַחforeheadforeheadמֵ֫צַחעַלheightheightעַלכִּידruinruinכִּידחֲניִתspearspearחֲניִתבַּרְזֶלironironבַּרְזֶלאֶ֫דֶןsocketsocketאֶ֫דֶןיְמָנִיrightrightיְמָנִיכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאבֹּ֫הֶןthumb/big thumb/big toeבֹּ֫הֶןאַכְזָרִיcruelcruelאַכְזָרִיקֶ֫שֶׁתbowbowקֶ֫שֶׁתבָּדַלto separatto separateבָּדַלמוּלoppositeoppositeמוּל
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 Samuel 17:6

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
וּמִצְחַ֥תu.mitz.Chat and leg armor of H4697 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A type of armor that protects the shin, prominent and only used in plural form. In the Bible, greaves are part of a soldier's armor, like in 1 Samuel 17:6. They are used for battle.
Amplified meaning
greaves, protective coverings
Tyndale gloss
greave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִצְחָה (mitschah) refers to greaves, a type of leg armor. It is derived from a related word and is noted to appear in the singular construct form in 1 Samuel 17:6. The term specifically denotes protective gear for the legs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מִצְחָה] n.f. greave(s);—only sg. cstr. 1 S 17:6

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4697 מִצְחָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4697 mitschah mits-khaw'

from the same as 4696; a shin-piece of armor (as prominent),

only plural:--greaves.

see HEBREW for 04696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִצְחָה (mits.chah) — greave.

greave(s), leg armour

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
HC/Ncfsc
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 leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
נְחֹ֖שֶׁתne.Cho.shet bronze H5178 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to copper or something made of it, like a coin or chain. It can also symbolize something base or impure, as in lust or filthiness. It appears in various KJV translations, including brasen and brass.
Amplified meaning
a copper alloy
Tyndale gloss
bronze
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (nechosheth) refers to copper or bronze, often indicating items made from these metals, such as fetters. It is noted for being less valuable than gold but more than wood. Additionally, it can figuratively represent a harsh sky or, in specific contexts, suggest meanings related to lust or harlotry, as seen in Ezekiel 16:36.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת 137 n.m. copper, bronze

copper

fetters of copper or bronze

as less in value than gold but more than wood

fig. of pitiless sky

base

[נְחֹ֫שֶׁת] n.[f.] Ez 16:36 where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5178a נְחֹ֫שֶׁת copper, bronze . copper

. fetters of copper or bronze

. as less in value than gold but more than wood

. fig. of pitiless sky

H5178b נְחֹ֫שֶׁת where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5178 nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth

for 5154; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e.

coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or

silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass),

filthiness, steel.

see HEBREW for 05154

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — bronze.

1) copper, bronze

1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)

1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)

1c) copper (as value)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — lust.

lust, harlotry

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
and leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
עַל־'al- [was] on H5921 Preposition
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 — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
רַגְלָ֑יוrag.Lav feet his H7272 Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a foot, like when God says he will tread on the wicked in Malachi 4:3. It's used to describe human and animal feet, as well as the base of objects like tables or idols.
Amplified meaning
feet, the lower extremities
Tyndale gloss
foot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot

foot

three times (feet, paces)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot

. three times (feet, paces)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7272 regel reh'-gel

from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a

step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X

according as, X after, X coming, X follow,

((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X

journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.

see HEBREW for 07270

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.

1) foot

1a) foot, leg

1b) of God (anthropomorphic)

1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table

1d) according to the pace of (with prep)

1e) three times (feet, paces)

Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HNcfdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
וְכִיד֥וֹןve.khi.Don and a javelin of H3591 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A javelin is a type of spear or dart used for throwing. In the Bible, it's also used to describe a piece of armor that protects the throat. Goliath wore one before fighting David.
Amplified meaning
a throwing spear, a dart
Tyndale gloss
javelin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּידוֹן (kiydown) refers to a javelin or dart, something used for striking. It may also denote a short sword or a piece of armor for the throat. The word is derived from a root meaning to strike, and it appears in contexts related to weaponry, such as in 1 Samuel 17:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּידוֹן n.[m.] dart, javelin

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3591 כִּידוֹן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3591 kiydown kee-dohn'

from the same as 3589; properly, something to strike with,

i.e. a dart (perhaps smaller that 2595):--lance, shield,

spear, target.

see HEBREW for 03589

see HEBREW for 02595

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּידוֹן (ki.don) — javelin.

1) javelin, short sword, dart

2) gorget, a piece of armour for the throat (1Sa 17.6)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
נְחֹ֖שֶׁתne.Cho.shet bronze H5178 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to copper or something made of it, like a coin or chain. It can also symbolize something base or impure, as in lust or filthiness. It appears in various KJV translations, including brasen and brass.
Amplified meaning
a metal often used for weapons
Tyndale gloss
bronze
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (nechosheth) refers to copper or bronze, often indicating items made from these metals, such as fetters. It is noted for being less valuable than gold but more than wood. Additionally, it can figuratively represent a harsh sky or, in specific contexts, suggest meanings related to lust or harlotry, as seen in Ezekiel 16:36.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת 137 n.m. copper, bronze

copper

fetters of copper or bronze

as less in value than gold but more than wood

fig. of pitiless sky

base

[נְחֹ֫שֶׁת] n.[f.] Ez 16:36 where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5178a נְחֹ֫שֶׁת copper, bronze . copper

. fetters of copper or bronze

. as less in value than gold but more than wood

. fig. of pitiless sky

H5178b נְחֹ֫שֶׁת where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5178 nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth

for 5154; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e.

coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or

silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass),

filthiness, steel.

see HEBREW for 05154

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — bronze.

1) copper, bronze

1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)

1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)

1c) copper (as value)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — lust.

lust, harlotry

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
and leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
בֵּ֥יןbein [was] between H996 Prep
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Between is the meaning of this preposition, used to show a location or a choice, like either or, as seen in Exodus where it describes the space between two objects.
Amplified meaning
hung, placed, in the middle of, amidst
Tyndale gloss
between
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between

always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

996 beyn bane

(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,

the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a

distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before

each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,

either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +

from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.

: between

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.

: among

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Prep
HAcmsc
and leg armor of bronze [was] on feet his and a javelin of bronze [was] between shoulders his
כְּתֵפָֽיו׃ke.te.Fav shoulders his H3802 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for shoulder describes the upper end of the arm, where garments hang, and is used in Exodus 28:7 to describe the shoulder pieces of the ephod.
Amplified meaning
the upper back, the area where burdens are carried
Tyndale gloss
shoulder
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּתֵף (katheph) means 'shoulder' and can refer to the shoulder-blade, side, or slope of a mountain. It is derived from a root meaning to clothe, indicating the shoulder as the place where garments hang. The term can also describe shoulder-pieces of animals and supports, as well as lateral projections.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּתֵף n.f. shoulder, shoulder-blade, side

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3802 כָּתֵף shoulder, shoulder-blade, side

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3802 katheph kaw-thafe'

from an unused root meaning to clothe; the shoulder (proper,

i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the

garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection

of anything:--arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side,

undersetter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּתֵף (ka.teph) — shoulder.

1) shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope

1a) shoulder, shoulder-blade (of man)

1b) shoulder, shoulder-pieces (of animals)

1c) side, slope (of mountain)

1d) supports (of laver)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

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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