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2 Chronicles 15:7 — Word Study

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WLCוְאַתֶּ֣ם חִזְק֔וּ וְאַל־ יִרְפּ֖וּ יְדֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֛י יֵ֥שׁ שָׂכָ֖ר לִפְעֻלַּתְכֶֽם׃ ס

BSABut as for youʼattâh [be strong in the Lord] be strongchâzaq [and courageous] do notʼal be discouragedrâphâh [or weak] forkîy your workpᵉʻullâh [labor, service to God] will beyêsh rewardedsâkâr [with wages, a divine recompense]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 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 (lif.'u.lat.Khem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Chronicles 15:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe Lord encourages His people to be strong and not to lose heart, assuring them that their efforts will be rewarded.
Who is speakingA message from the Lord to His people, likely through a prophet.
Where we areIn a time of adversity, the Lord reassures His people amid challenges.
The hard wordחִזְק֔וּ
Take awayStrength and perseverance are necessary, as the Lord promises a reward for their labor.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאַתֶּם verbחָזַק 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 — 2 Chronicles 15:7

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 — Encouragement Amidst Adversitygenerated

6Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity.
7But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
8When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple.
9And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

2 Chronicles 15:7 comes during a time when the nation faced challenges and adversity. The Lord, through His messenger, calls His people to be strong and not to be discouraged, assuring them that their work will be rewarded. This verse serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of steadfastness in the face of difficulties, similar to the encouragement found in Joshua 1:7-9 and Psalm 27:14.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Joshua 1:7–9Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
21 Chronicles 28:20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
3Psalm 27:14Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
4Isaiah 35:3–4Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
5Daniel 10:19“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

The Key Word חִזְק֔וּ, chiz.Kugenerated

The verb חָזַק (chazaq) is an imperative form meaning to be strong or to strengthen. It conveys a sense of urgency and encouragement, calling the audience to take action and exhibit courage.

This form is directed at a plural audience, indicating that the strength required is not just individual but collective. The call to strength is often linked to reliance on God, emphasizing that true strength comes from Him.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses be strong and do not be discouraged, aligning closely with the KJV and ASV in conveying the imperative nature of the message.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse centers around two main clauses: the first imperative clause חִזְק֔וּ (be strong) and the second clause אַל־ יִרְפּ֖וּ (do not be discouraged). Each clause is followed by a reason clause that provides assurance of reward.

The Hebrew word order emphasizes the imperatives, placing them at the forefront to highlight the urgency of the call to strength and courage.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חִזְק֔וּ as ἰσξύσατε (be strong), which retains the imperative nature of the command. This choice reflects a direct encouragement to the audience, similar to the Hebrew.

The translation of יֵ֥שׁ as ἔστιν (there is) aligns with the Hebrew's assertion of the existence of a reward, maintaining the promise of divine recompense.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 15:7 encourages the people to be strong and not to be discouraged, assuring them that their work will be rewarded. This message is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of perseverance in challenging times.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be strong in this context?

To be strong means to have courage and resilience, relying on God's strength to face challenges.

Why does the verse say not to be discouraged?

Discouragement can lead to inaction; the verse encourages steadfastness and faithfulness despite difficulties.

What kind of work is being referred to?

The work refers to the labor and service to God, which includes obedience and faithfulness in following His commands.

What does the promise of reward signify?

The promise of reward signifies God's acknowledgment of their efforts and His commitment to recompense them for their faithfulness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to be strong and courageous, trusting in God's promises?
  2. How can I encourage others who may be feeling discouraged in their work for God?
  3. What specific actions can I take to remain steadfast in my faith during challenging times?
  4. How does the assurance of reward motivate me to serve and labor for God?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 15:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak,.... Be hearty, earnest, and vigorous, and not languid and remiss in reforming the worship of God, which Asa had begun: for your work shall be

Read John Gill on 2 Chronicles 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. Be ye strong.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Be ye strong therefore; go on therefore courageously and resolutely to maintain God’ s worship, and to root out idolatry, as you have begun to do; for this is the only right method of preserving yourselves from such calamities as your predecessors have felt. Let not your hands be weak; be not discouraged with the opposition which you may possibly meet with. Your work shall be rewarded; what you do for God and for his honour and service shall not go unrequited.

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Chronicles 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.Ver. 7. Be ye strong therefore.] Since God hath dealt better with you, and brought you back with victory and much spoil, set lustily and vigorously to work, be active for God, in reforming things amiss amongst us: your labour cannot be in vain in the Lord. Those viperous gunpowder traitors had, while they were digging in their vault of villainy, a psalter composed by some of their padres, and secretly passed from hand to hand, whereof this was a part, "Confirm your hearts with hope, for your redemption is not far off. The year of visitation draweth to an end, and jubilation is at hand.…

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 15 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Be ye strong therefore.—Rather, But ye, be ye strong.Be weak.—Droop, or hang down (Zephaniah 3:16; 2 Samuel 4:1). Your work shall be rewarded.—Literally, there is indeed a reward for your work; words occurring in Jeremiah 31:16. We have here the moral of the prophet’s address. The ruinous results of not “seeking,” and “forsaking,” Jehovah (2 Chronicles 15:2) have been briefly but powerfully sketched from the past history of the nation. The conclusion is, Do not ye fall away like your forefathers; but let your allegiance to Jehovah be decided and sincere. Your work.—Of rooting out idolatry.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 15 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. Be ye strong therefore] R.V. But be ye strong. The prophet’s warning is continued in this verse. be weak] R.V. be slack.

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 15 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7. Be ye, strong therefore — This was the direct application of Azariah’s prophecy — counsel and exhortation for the king and people to be firm in obedience to Jehovah and in maintaining the honour of his name and law.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Chronicles 15 →

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

But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

But you be strong! Don’t let your hands be slack, for your work will be rewarded.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

But as for you, be strong and don’t get discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded.

RVARevised Version, American1894

But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack: for your work shall be rewarded.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak; for your work shall be rewarded.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your handes be weake: for your worke shall haue a rewarde.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But as for you, be firm and let not your hands be weak; for there is a reward for your deeds.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and ye, be ye strong, and let not your hands be feeble, for there is a reward for your work.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and you, be strong, and do not let your hands be feeble, for there is a reward for your work.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But as for you, be ye strong, and let not your hands be weak; for there is a reward for your doing.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

But be strong, and do not let your hands be weak, for your work will be rewarded.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Do you therefore take courage, and let not your hands he weakened: for there shall be a reward for your work.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But you need to be strong, not weak, for you will be rewarded for the work you do.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But be you strong and let not your hands be feeble, for your work will be rewarded.

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.

וְandclausesubjectאַתֶּ֣םyouverbחִזְק֔וּbe.strongוְandclauseadverbialאַלnotverbיִרְפּ֖וּlet.them.dropnoun phrase · subjectיְדֵיhandsכֶ֑םyourכִּ֛י(dm)clausepredicateיֵ֥שׁthere.[is]subjectשָׂכָ֖רrewardprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִfornoun phraseפְעֻלַּתְworkכֶֽםyour

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 closely in the wording of 2 Chronicles 15:7, with 9 out of 9 words matched in the Septuagint's word-by-word correspondence. Both texts encourage strength and perseverance, assuring that the work will be rewarded. There are no significant differences in meaning or content between these witnesses for this verse.

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

וְאַתֶּ֣ם חִזְק֔וּ וְאַל־ יִרְפּ֖וּ יְדֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֛י יֵ֥שׁ שָׂכָ֖ר לִפְעֻלַּתְכֶֽם׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאַתֶּ֣םὑμεῖςחִזְק֔וּἰσξύσατεוְאַל־μὴיִרְפּ֖וּἐκλυέσθωσανיְדֵיכֶ֑םὑμῶνכִּ֛יὅτιיֵ֥שׁἔστινשָׂכָ֖רμισθὸςלִפְעֻלַּתְכֶֽם׃ סὑμῶν

9 of the 9 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.

2 Chronicles 15:7אַתָּ֫הand youand youאַתָּ֫החָזַקbe strongbe strongחָזַקאַלand may notand may notאַלרָפָהthey dropthey dropרָפָהיָדhands yourhands yourיָדכִּיforforכִּייֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁשָׂכָר[is] reward[is] rewardשָׂכָרפְּעֻלָּהfor work yofor work yourפְּעֻלָּהכַּףpalmpalmכַּףסָכַרto hireto hireסָכַרלֹאnotnotלֹארָפָאto healto healרָפָאהָיָהto beto beהָיָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלשָׂכָרwageswagesשָׂכָריָרַשׁto possessto possess: posיָרַשׁבֶ֫דֶקbreachbreachבֶ֫דֶקאָמֵץto strengtto strengthenאָמֵץחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאעָזַבForsakenForsakenעָזַבחָזַקto strengtto strengthen: חָזַקחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָצַלto rescueto rescueנָצַליָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָה
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 2 Chronicles 15:7

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 you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
וְאַתֶּ֣םve.'a.Tem and you H859 Conjunction · pronoun
1,094× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Amplified meaning
be strong in the Lord
Tyndale gloss
you(m.s.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou

base

אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)

base

אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)

base

אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)

base

אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

859 'attah at-taw'

or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine

(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem

{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah

{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun

of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and

you:--thee, thou, ye, you.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).

you (second pers. sing. masc.)

אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).

you (second pers. pl. masc.)

Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)

אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).

you (second pers. pl. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pp2mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
חִזְק֔וּchiz.Ku be strong H2388 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
291× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To strengthen means to be strong or courageous, and can also mean to seize or conquer, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
and courageous
Tyndale gloss
to strengthen: strengthen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm, as well as to seize or hold fast. The word can be used in various forms, such as to strengthen oneself or to display strength. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָזַק 291 vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen

Qal

intrans. be or grow strong

transit. only strengthened him not

Pi.

make strong (physically)

strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage

make strong = bold, encourage

make firm

make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden

Hiph.

make strong, strengthen

make firm, the kingdom

display strength

make severe, of battle

support

= repair

prevail

esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp

Hithp.

strengthen oneself

put forth strength, use one's strength

withstand

hold strongly with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2388 חָזַק be or grow firm, strong, strengthen .. intrans. be or grow strong

. transit. only strengthened him not

. . make strong (physically)

. strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage

. make strong = bold, encourage

. make firm

. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden

. . . make strong, strengthen

. make firm, the kingdom

. display strength

. make severe, of battle

. support

. = repair

. prevail

. esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp

. . strengthen oneself

. put forth strength, use one's strength

. withstand

. hold strongly with

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2388 chazaq khaw-zak'

a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong

(figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help,

repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid,

amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant,

constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly),

encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make

hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play

the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered,

repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be

stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold),

be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָזַק (cha.zaq) — to strengthen: strengthen.

: strengthen/support/encourage

1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be strong, grow strong

1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon

1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure

1a1c) to press, be urgent

1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)

1a1e) to be severe, be grievous

1a2) to strengthen

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to make strong

1b2) to restore to strength, give strength

1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage

1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage

1b5) to make firm

1b6) to make rigid, make hard

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make strong, strengthen

1c2) to make firm

1c3) to display strength

1c4) to make severe

1c5) to support

1c6) to repair

1c7) to prevail, prevail upon

1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support

1c9) to hold, contain

1d) (Hithpael)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
HVqv2mp
and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
וְאַל־ve.'al- and may not H408 Conjunction · particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
יִרְפּ֖וּyir.Pu they drop H7503 Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine plural
46× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to slacken or relax, and is used in many contexts, such as feeling disheartened or abandoning something. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in Psalms and Proverbs. The word can also mean to let go or be idle.
Amplified meaning
or weak
Tyndale gloss
to slacken
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָפָה (raphah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to slacken or relax. It encompasses a range of actions including sinking down, abating, and withdrawing. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to drop or refraining from action. It appears in different contexts, indicating both literal and figurative meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָפָה vb. sink, relax

Qal

sink down

sink, drop

sink, relax, abate

relax, withdraw

Niph. idle

Pi. causat.: let wings drop

Hiph. causat.

let drop

let go

refrain

Hithp. hast shewn thyself slack

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7503 רָפָה sink, relax .. sink down

. sink, drop

. sink, relax, abate

. relax, withdraw

. idle

. causat.: let wings drop

. causat. . let drop

. let go

. refrain

. hast shewn thyself slack

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7503 raphah raw-faw'

a primitive root; to slacken (in many applications, literal

or figurative):--abate, cease, consume, draw (toward

evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle,

leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be

slothful, (be) weak(-en). See 7495.

see HEBREW for 07495

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָפָה (ra.phah) — to slacken.

1) to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sink down

1a2) to sink, drop

1a3) to sink, relax, abate

1a4) to relax, withdraw

1b) (Niphal) idle (participle)

1c) (Piel) to let drop

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake

1d2) to let go

1d3) to refrain, let alone

1d4) to be quiet

1e) (Hithpael) to show oneself slack

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-3mp — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine plural
HVqj3mp
and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
יְדֵיכֶ֑םye.dei.Khem hands your H3027 Noun common both dual construct · suffix
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbdc/Sp2mp — Noun common both dual construct · suffix
HNcbdc/Sp2mp
and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
כִּ֛יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
יֵ֥שׁyesh there H3426 Part
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'there is' or 'there are', used to show existence or being. It appears in various forms, like 'to be' or 'to have'. In the Bible, it's used in Genesis and Psalms to describe God's presence.
Tyndale gloss
there
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יֵשׁ (yesh) refers to being, substance, or existence. It is used to assert existence, functioning as a copula for the verb 'to be' in various forms. The word can mean 'there is' or 'there are,' and its Aramaic equivalent is אִיתַי (itay).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יֵשׁ 137 subst. being, substance, existence

substance

elsewhere (prop. as a subst. in in the st. c.), it asserts existence, and so corresponds to the verb substantive, is (are, was, were, will be), lit. the being, presence of …

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3426 יֵשׁ subst. being, substance, existence . substance

. elsewhere (prop. as a subst. in in the st. c.), it asserts existence, and so corresponds to the verb substantive, is (are, was, were, will be), lit. the being, presence of …

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3426 yesh yaysh

perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist;

entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive

verb (1961); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to

be, as may suit the connection):--(there) are, (he, it, shall,

there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had,

hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is,

substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt,

wouldest.

see HEBREW for 01961

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יֵשׁ (yesh) — there.

1) being, existence, substance, there is or are

1a) substance

1b) existence

1c) there is or are

Aramaic equivalent: i.tay (אִיתַי "there is" H0383)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Part
HAcbsa
and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
שָׂכָ֖רsa.Khar [is] reward H7939 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Payment for work or services, like the wages paid to the laborers in Matthew 20:8. This word encompasses various forms of compensation, including salary, fare, or maintenance. It is about receiving payment for something.
Amplified meaning
with wages, a divine recompense
Tyndale gloss
wages
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂכָר (sakar) refers to hire or wages, encompassing payment for work, rewards for faithfulness, and even fare for travel. It is derived from a root meaning 'to hire' and includes concepts of compensation and worth. The term appears in contexts related to employment and remuneration.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂכָר n.m. hire, wages

wages, of a servant

= reward, for work done, faithfulness, etc.

passage-money, fare

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7939 שָׂכָר hire, wages

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7939 sakar saw-kawr'

from 7936; payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare,

maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit:--hire,

price, reward(-ed), wages, worth.

see HEBREW for 07936

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂכָר (sa.khar) — wages.

1) hire, wages

1a) wages

1b) reward, pay

1c) fare, fee, passage-money

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

re-word': In modern English (except when influenced by the Biblical forms) a "reward" is something given in recognition of a good act. In English Versions of the Bible, however, "reward" is used quite generally for anything given, and the term covers the recompense of evil (Ps 91:8), wages (1Ti 5:18 the King James Version), bribes (Mic 7:3), and gifts (Jer 40:5 the King James Version). The Revised Version (British and American) has specialized the meaning in a number of cases (Ps 94:2; Eze 16:34; Jer 40:5, etc.)…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A MOTIVE TO FAITHFULNESS Ex 20:6,12; Le 25:18,19; 26:3-45; De 4:40; 6:3,18; 11:13-16,18-21,26-29; 15:9-11; 22:7; 24:19; 25:15; 27:12-26; Jos 8:33; Isa 1:16-20; 3:10; 40:10,11; Jer 17:24-26; 22:3,4; Mt 10:32; 16:24-27; 20:1-16; 25:34-46; Mr 10:21; 13:13; Lu 6:22,23,35; 12:8; Ac 26:18; Ro 2:10;

and you be strong and may not they drop hands your for there [is] reward for work your
לִפְעֻלַּתְכֶֽם׃ סlif.'u.lat.Khem for work your H6468 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Wages or reward is the meaning of this word, describing the payment or result of someone's work or labour. It is often used to refer to the fruit of one's efforts.
Amplified meaning
labor, service to God
Tyndale gloss
wages
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פְּעֻלָּה (pe'ullah) refers to work or recompense, often associated with wages or labor. It is derived from the root word פָּעַל (pa'al), which relates to actions or deeds. The term appears in a poetic or late context, emphasizing its abstract meanings of reward and effort.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פְּעֻלָּה] n.f. work, recompense (poet. and late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6468 פְּעֻלָּה work, recompense (poet. and late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6468 p`ullah peh-ool-law'

feminine passive participle of 6466; (abstractly)

work:--labour, reward, wages, work.

see HEBREW for 06466

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פְּעֻלָּה (pe.ul.lah) — wages.

1) work, recompense, reward

1a) work

1b) wages

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncfsc/Sp2mp
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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