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2 Chronicles 2:18 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיַּ֨עַשׂ מֵהֶ֜ם שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֙לֶף֙ סַבָּ֔ל וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף חֹצֵ֣ב בָּהָ֑ר וּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת מְנַצְּחִ֖ים לְהַעֲבִ֥יד אֶת־ הָעָֽם׃

BSAand he appointedvai.Ya.'as of themme.Hem seventyshiv.'Im thousand'e.lef burden-bearer[s]sa.Bal and eightyu.she.mo.Nim thousand'E.lef stone-cutter[s]cho.Tzev in the hill countryba.Har and threeu.she.Lo.shet thousand'a.la.Fim and sixve.Shesh hundredme.'ot overseersme.na.tze.Chim to compel to laborle.ha.'a.Vid the object marker'et- the peopleha.'Am

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 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 (ha.'Am) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Chronicles 2:18quick helps
In a sentenceSolomon organized a large workforce for the construction projects, assigning specific roles to thousands.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes Solomon's actions in organizing labor.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger account detailing Solomon's preparations for building the Temple.
The hard wordמְנַצְּחִ֖ים
Take awaySolomon's leadership involved careful planning and delegation of tasks.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Trapp, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbH6213 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 2:18

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 — Solomon's Workforce for the Templegenerated

15Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he promised.
16We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them to you as rafts by sea down to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem.”
17Solomon numbered all the foreign men in the land of Israel following the census his father David had conducted, and there were found to be 153,600 in all.
18Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

2 Chronicles 2:18 describes how Solomon organized a vast workforce for the construction of the Temple. He appointed porters, stonecutters, and supervisors, demonstrating his administrative skills and the scale of the project. This organization reflects the importance of the Temple in Israel's worship and national identity.


Cross References


The Key Word מְנַצְּחִ֖ים, me.na.tze.Chimgenerated

The word מְנַצְּחִ֖ים (me.na.tze.Chim) is a participle form of the verb נָצַח (natsach), meaning to conduct or oversee. It emphasizes the role of leaders who guide and manage others. In this context, it refers to those who were responsible for overseeing the laborers working on the Temple.

This word suggests authority and responsibility, indicating that these supervisors had a significant role in ensuring the work was completed effectively and efficiently.


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 verb governing the verse is וַיַּ֨עַשׂ, and he made, which introduces a series of noun phrases detailing the workforce Solomon organized. The structure is straightforward, listing numbers and roles in a clear manner.

The Hebrew word order emphasizes the roles assigned, with the numerical phrases appearing before the descriptions, highlighting the scale of Solomon's workforce.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מְנַצְּחִ֖ים as ἐπιστάτας, meaning overseers. This choice suggests a focus on authority and management, aligning with the Hebrew sense of supervision.

The LXX's use of ἐπιστάτας indicates a broader interpretation of the role, emphasizing leadership and oversight in the context of labor.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 2:18 tells us that Solomon appointed a large workforce for the Temple's construction. He made 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors. This organization shows Solomon's leadership and the importance of the Temple.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What roles did Solomon assign to the workforce?

Solomon assigned 70,000 porters, 80,000 stonecutters, and 3,600 supervisors to oversee the work.

Why was such a large workforce necessary?

The construction of the Temple was a significant undertaking that required many skilled and unskilled laborers to complete.

What does the term 'supervisors' imply in this context?

The term 'supervisors' implies that these individuals were responsible for managing the laborers and ensuring the work was done correctly.

How does this verse reflect Solomon's leadership?

This verse reflects Solomon's leadership through his ability to organize and delegate tasks effectively for a monumental project.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What qualities do you think are important for a leader when organizing a large project?
  2. How can we apply Solomon's example of organization and delegation in our own lives?
  3. What challenges might arise when managing a large group of people?
  4. How does understanding the scale of Solomon's workforce enhance our appreciation of the Temple's significance?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 2:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And he set threescore and ten thousand of them,.... Which is repeated from 2 Chronicles 2:2, to show how the above number of strangers were disposed of; 70,000 of them bearers of burdens, 80,000 of

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

2 Chronicles 2:18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them [to be] bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand [to be] hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.Ver. 18. And he set threescore and ten thousand of them.] Hereby were shadowed out the several offices in Christ’ s Church: this St Paul setteth forth by the similitude of the diffferent members in man’ s body, &c. To set the people a work.] Heb., To make them to pass, sc., from one business to another.

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

(18) And he set . . .—Literally, and he made seventy thousand of them bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand hewers in the mountains. This exactly agrees with 1 Kings 5:15. And three thousand and six hundred overseers.—The same number was given in 2 Chronicles 2:2. In 1 Kings 5:16 we read of 3,300 officers. In the Hebrew, three (shβlτsh) and six (shκsh) might easily be confused; our reading appears right. The chronicler omits all notice of the levy of 30,000 Israelites, which the parallel passage records (1 Kings 5:13-14); whether by an oversight, or from disapproval, we cannot say. Adding that number to the 70,000 and 80,000 other labourers, we get a grand total of 180,000, which gives a…

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

18. three thousand and six hundred overseers] In 1 Kings 5:16, three thousand and three hundred. Three in Hebrew (which may be represented in English by the letters SLS) is easily corrupted into six (= SS in English). Cp. also 2 Chronicles 8:10 (= 1 Kings 9:23). a work] i.e. on work, to work.

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

On the numbers, see the 1 Kings 5:16 note. To set the people a work - Or, “to set the people to work” - i. e., to compel them to labor.

Read Albert Barnes on 2 Chronicles 2 →

The verse in English, compared — 8 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

Solomon made 70,000 of them porters, 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 supervisors.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens, eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to assign the people their work.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people at work.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he set seuentie thousande of them to the burden, and fourescore thousande to hewe stones in the mountaine, and three thousande and sixe hundreth ouerseers to cause the people to worke.

Simplified

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Seventy thousand he put to the work of transport, eighty thousand to cutting stone in the mountains, and three thousand, six hundred as overseers to put the people to work.

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He allocated 70,000 as laborers, 80,000 as stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 as foremen.

Strictly literal

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and he maketh of them seventy thousand burden-bearers, and eighty thousand hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers, to cause the people to work.

T4T (Translation for Translators) is not shown above. It restates the passage rather than the verse, so there is no line of English to set beside the others — which is a fact about that translation, not a fault in it.

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.

וַandclauseclauseverbיַּ֨עַשׂhe.appointedprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵofהֶ֜םthemnoun phrase · objectnumeral phraseשִׁבְעִ֥יםseventyאֶ֨לֶף֙thousandsecond objectסַבָּ֔לburden-bearer[s]וּandclausenoun phrase · objectnumeral phraseשְׁמֹנִ֥יםeightyאֶ֖לֶףthousandnoun phrase · second objectחֹצֵ֣בstonemason[s]prepositional phraseבָּinnoun phrasethe.hillהָ֑רcountryוּandclausenoun phrase · objectnumeral phrasenumeral phraseשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁתthreeאֲלָפִים֙thousand(s)וְandnumeral phraseשֵׁ֣שׁsixמֵא֔וֹתhundred(s)noun phrase · second objectclauseverbמְנַצְּחִ֖יםoverseersprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהַעֲבִ֥ידcompel.to.labornoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהָtheעָֽםpeople

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


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

The Masoretic Text is confirmed by the other witnesses, which include the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch. Both agree with the structure and content of the verse, maintaining the same roles and numbers assigned by Solomon.

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

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ מֵהֶ֜ם שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֙לֶף֙ סַבָּ֔ל וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף חֹצֵ֣ב בָּהָ֑ר וּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת מְנַצְּחִ֖ים לְהַעֲבִ֥יד אֶת־ הָעָֽם׃

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 2:18עָשָׂהand he appoand he appointeעָשָׂההֶםof themof themהֶםשִׁבְעִיםseventyseventyשִׁבְעִיםאֶ֫לֶףthousandthousandאֶ֫לֶףסַבָלburden-bearburden-bearer[sסַבָלשְׁמֹנִיםand eightyand eightyשְׁמֹנִיםאֶ֫לֶףthousandthousandאֶ֫לֶףחָצַבstone-cuttestone-cutter[s]חָצַבהַרin the hillin the hill couהַרשָׁלֹשׁand threeand threeשָׁלֹשׁאֶ֫לֶףthousandthousandאֶ֫לֶףשֵׁשׁand sixand sixשֵׁשׁמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהנָצַחoverseersoverseersנָצַחעָבַדto compel tto compel to laעָבַדאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעַםthe peoplethe peopleעַםאֶ֫לֶףcattlecattleאֶ֫לֶףסָבַלto bearto bearסָבַלשְׁמֹנֶהeighteightשְׁמֹנֶהנֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםשֶׁ֫בַעsevensevenשֶׁ֫בַעהַרmountainmountainהַרשָׁלִthirdthirdשָׁלִשׂוּשׂto rejoiceto rejoiceשׂוּשׂמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהאֶ֫לֶףthousandthousandאֶ֫לֶףחָמֵשׁfivefiveחָמֵשׁחָצַבto hewto hewחָצַבמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהשֶׁ֫קֶלshekelshekelשֶׁ֫קֶלשְׁמֹנִיםeightyeightyשְׁמֹנִים
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 2:18

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 appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
וַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'as and he appointed H6213 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
מֵהֶ֜םme.Hem of them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3mp
and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
שִׁבְעִ֥יםshiv.'Im seventy H7657 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means the number seventy, like the seventy disciples Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. It appears in phrases like threescore and ten. The KJV Bible uses it to describe groups of seventy people.
Tyndale gloss
seventy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁבְעִים (shib`iym) means 'seventy' in Hebrew. It is derived from a root meaning 'seven' and is used to denote the number seventy, often referenced in contexts involving counting or enumeration.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁבְעִים 91 n.pl. seventy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7657 שִׁבְעִים seventy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7657 shib`iym. shib-eem'

multiple of 7651; seventy:--seventy, threescore and ten

(+ -teen).

see HEBREW for 07651

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁבְעִים (shiv.im) — seventy.

seventy

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sev'-n-ti (shibh`im; hebdomekonta).

See NUMBER.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ The senate of the Israilites composed of seventy elders Ex 24:1,9; Nu 11:16,24,25

→ The seventy disciples sent forth by Jesus (though the best Greek mss. have “seventy-two”) Lu 10:1-17

→ The Jews in captivity in Babylon for seventy years Jer 25:11,12; 29:10; Da 9:2; Zec 1:12; 7:5

→ See ISRAEL

→ 70 Weeks in the vision of Daniel Da 9:24

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
אֶ֙לֶף֙'e.lef thousand H505 Noun common · both singular absolute
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Tyndale gloss
thousand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫לֶף (eleph) means 'thousand' in Hebrew. It can refer to the numeral itself or denote a company or clan, particularly a group of men under one leader. The word is built from the concept of a thousand, and it is associated with the ox's head, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

505 'eleph eh'-lef

prop, the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first

letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral)

a thousand:--thousand.

see HEBREW for 0504

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand.

: thousand

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand: clan.

: clan

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

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

thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).

See NUMBER.

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
סַבָּ֔לsa.Bal burden-bearer[s] H5449 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a person who carries burdens, like a porter, and is translated as 'bearer of burden' in the KJV. It refers to someone who physically or emotionally supports others.
Tyndale gloss
burden
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סַבָל (cabbal) refers to a burden-bearer or porter, derived from the root meaning to bear a burden. The entries indicate that it is a masculine noun, and its usage is noted as being late in the Hebrew language.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סַבָל n.[m.] burden-bearer, (late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5449 סַבָל, סַבָּל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5449 cabbal sab-bawl'

from 5445; a porter:--(to bear, bearer of) burden(-s).

see HEBREW for 05445

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סַבָּל (sab.bal) — burden.

burden-bearer

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
וּשְׁמֹנִ֥יםu.she.mo.Nim and eighty H8084 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means eighty or eightieth, used in numbers and counting. It appears in the Bible to describe quantities and ages. In Genesis and other books, it is used to count people, animals, and years.
Tyndale gloss
eighty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמֹנִים (shmoniym) means eighty, derived from the root for eight. It serves as both a cardinal number (eighty) and an ordinal number (eightieth), and can also combine with other numbers. The entries confirm its usage in contexts related to counting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמֹנִים 38 n.pl.indecl. an eighty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8084 שְׁמֹנִים an eighty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8084 shmoniym shem-o-neem'

or shmowniym {shem-o-neem'}; mult. from 8083; eighty, also

eightieth:--eighty(-ieth), fourscore.

see HEBREW for 08083

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמֹנִים (she.mo.nim) — eighty.

1) eighty, fourscore

1a) eighty (as cardinal number)

1b) eightieth (as ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncmpa — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
אֶ֖לֶף'E.lef thousand H505 Noun common · both singular absolute
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Tyndale gloss
thousand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫לֶף (eleph) means 'thousand' in Hebrew. It can refer to the numeral itself or denote a company or clan, particularly a group of men under one leader. The word is built from the concept of a thousand, and it is associated with the ox's head, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

505 'eleph eh'-lef

prop, the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first

letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral)

a thousand:--thousand.

see HEBREW for 0504

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand.

: thousand

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand: clan.

: clan

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

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

thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).

See NUMBER.

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
חֹצֵ֣בcho.Tzev stone-cutter[s] H2672 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hew means to cut or carve wood, stone, or other materials, like the skilled laborers who built Solomon's Temple in 1 Kings. This word is used to describe various tasks, from quarrying to engraving.
Tyndale gloss
to hew
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָצַב (chatsab) means to hew, cut, or carve materials like wood and stone. It encompasses various actions such as digging, dividing, and engraving. The word appears in different forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, indicating various nuances of cutting and shaping. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָצַב] חָצֵב vb. hew, hew out, cleave

Qal

hew out, (dig)

hew stone

appar. hew wood

metaph. hew in pieces

Niph. be cut, hewn, graven (words on rock)

Pu. fig., hewn out of rock

Hiph. hew in pieces

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2672 [חָצַב] חָצֵב hew, hew out, cleave

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2672 chatsab khaw-tsab'

or chatseb {khaw-tsabe'}; a primitive root ; to cut or carve

(wood), stone or other material); by implication, to hew,

split, square, quarry, engrave:--cut, dig, divide, grave, hew

(out, -er), made, mason.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָצַב (cha.tsav) — to hew.

1) to dig, cleave, divide, hew, make, cut out, dig out, cut down, quarry, hewer, mason

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hew out, dig

1a2) to hew

1a2a) stone

1a2b) wood

1a3) to hew in pieces (metaph.)

1a4) to divide, cleave

1b) (Niphal) to be cut, be hewn, be engraved

1c) (Hiphil) to hew into pieces, cut up into pieces

1d) (Pual) to be cut from, be hewn from

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
בָּהָ֑רba.Har in the hill country H2022 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
546× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Tyndale gloss
mountain: mount
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הַר (har) means 'mountain' or 'hill,' and can refer to a range of hills or hill-country. It is derived from a root that suggests elevation and can be used figuratively. The entries consistently highlight its geographical connotations without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country

mountain, hill

hill-country, mountain-region

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2022 har har

a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills

(sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X

promotion.

see HEBREW for 02042

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הַר (har) — mountain: mount.

: mount/hill

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.

: hill_country

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

A sub-meaning of har (הַר ": mount" H2022)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kun'-tri ('erets, "land," sadheh, "field"; agros, "field," chora, "region"): The foregoing are the principal words rendered "country" in English Versions of the Bible, though we find also 'adhamah, "earth" (Jon 4:2); 'i, "island" (Jer 47:4 the King James Version); gelilah, "circuit" (Eze 47:8 the King James Version); chebhel, "rope" (De 3:14); maqom, "place" (Ge 29:26 the King James Version); nepheth,"hill" or "height" (Jos 17:11 the King James Version); genos, "race" (Ac 4:36 the King James Version); ge, "earth"…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ LOVE OF Jud 5:1-31; 2Sa 10:12; Ne 1:1-11; 2:1-20; 5:1-18; Ps 137:1-6

The Jews held religion and country as one (a theocracy), therefore

See CHURCH, LOVE OF

→ See also PATRIOTISM

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
וּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁתu.she.Lo.shet and three H7969 Conjunction · noun common both singular construct
432× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means three or thrice, and is used to describe quantities or repetitions in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including three, third, and thirteen.
Tyndale gloss
three
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'

or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};

or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;

occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,

+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.

Compare 7991.

see HEBREW for 07991

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.

1) three, triad

1a) 3, 300, third

Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncbsc — Conjunction · noun common both singular construct
HC/Ncbsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(shalosh; treis).

See NUMBER.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
אֲלָפִים֙'a.la.Fim thousand H505 Noun common · both plural absolute
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A thousand, as in Exodus 20:6 where God shows love to thousands of people. It represents a large number or a company of people under one leader, like an army or a group of soldiers.
Tyndale gloss
thousand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫לֶף (eleph) means 'thousand' in Hebrew. It can refer to the numeral itself or denote a company or clan, particularly a group of men under one leader. The word is built from the concept of a thousand, and it is associated with the ox's head, which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫לֶף n.m. thousand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H505 אֶ֫לֶף thousand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

505 'eleph eh'-lef

prop, the same as 504; hence (the ox's head being the first

letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral)

a thousand:--thousand.

see HEBREW for 0504

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand.

: thousand

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) — thousand: clan.

: clan

1) a thousand

1a) as numeral

2) a thousand, company

2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbpa — Noun common · both plural absolute
HNcbpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

thou'-zand ('eleph; chilioi).

See NUMBER.

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
וְשֵׁ֣שׁve.Shesh and six H8337 Conjunction · noun common both singular absolute
216× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means the number six, and is often used in the Bible to describe measurements, like the six days of creation in Genesis 1.
Tyndale gloss
six
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שֵׁשׁ, transliterated as shesh, means 'six' and can function as both a cardinal and ordinal number, indicating the sixth position. It is a primitive number that signifies an excess beyond five, as noted in the entries. The Aramaic equivalent is שֵׁת (shet).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה 216 n.m. et f. six

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8337 שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה six

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8337 shesh shaysh

masculine shishshah {shish-shaw'}; a primitive number; six

(as an overplus (see 7797) beyond five or the fingers of the

hand); as ord. sixth:--six((-teen, -teenth)), sixth.

see HEBREW for 07797

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — six.

1) six

1a) six (cardinal number)

1b) sixth (ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Ncbsa — Conjunction · noun common both singular absolute
HC/Ncbsa
and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
מֵא֔וֹתme.'ot hundred H3967 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means a hundred, used as a simple number or part of a larger number in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including fractions like one one-hundredth. Found in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Tyndale gloss
hundred
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֵאָה (me'ah) means 'hundred' in Hebrew. It can refer to a simple number, a component of a larger number, or a fraction representing one one-hundredth. The entries consistently describe its use as a numeral without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֵאָה 583 n.f. hundred

as simple number

as part of larger number

a hundredth part

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3967 מֵאָה hundred . as simple number

. as part of larger number

. a hundredth part

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3967 me'ah may-aw'

or metyah {may-yaw'}; properly, a primitive numeral; a

hundred; also as a multiplicative and a

fraction:--hundred((-fold), -th), + sixscore.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֵאָה (me.ah) — hundred.

1) hundred

1a) as simple number

1b) as part of larger number

1c) as a fraction-one one-hundredth (1/100)

Aramaic equivalent: me.ah (מְאָה "hundred" H3969)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hun'-dred (me'-ah; hekaton).

See NUMBER.

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
מְנַצְּחִ֖יםme.na.tze.Chim overseers H5329 Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine plural
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To conduct or oversee, this word describes a leader or chief musician. In the Bible, it is used in the book of Psalms to describe the role of a music director. The word implies a sense of leadership and guidance.
Tyndale gloss
to conduct
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָצַח (natsach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to excel or be pre-eminent, with connotations of endurance and oversight, particularly in the context of Temple services and music. It can denote a role as a chief musician or overseer. The entries highlight its various uses, including a participle form that emphasizes enduring qualities.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָצַח] vb. be pre-eminent, enduring

Niph. enduring

Piel = act as overseer, superintendent, director

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5329 [נָצַח] be pre-eminent, enduring . enduring

.= act as overseer, superintendent, director

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5329 natsach naw-tsakh'

a primitive root; properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be

eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple

services and its music); also (as denominative from 5331), to

be permanent:--excel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r),

set forward.

see HEBREW for 05331

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָצַח (na.tsach) — to conduct.

1) to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring

1a) (Niphal) enduring (participle)

1b) (Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief

Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsach (נְצַח "to distinguish oneself" H5330)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVprmpa — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine plural
HVprmpa
and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
לְהַעֲבִ֥ידle.ha.'a.Vid to compel to labor H5647 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To serve or work is the meaning of this verb, which can also imply slavery or bondage, as seen in the story of the Israelites in Egypt. It is used to describe various types of work or service, including serving God or other people. The word has different forms and meanings in different contexts.
Tyndale gloss
to serve
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve

Qal

labour, work, do work

work for another, serve him by labour

serve as subjects

serve God

serve י׳ with Levitical service

Niph.

be tilled, of land

dub. cultivated field

Pu. worked

Hiph.

compel to labour as slaves

make to serve as subjects

cause to serve God

Hoph. be led or enticed to serve

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work

. work for another, serve him by labour

. serve as subjects

. serve God

. serve י׳ with Levitical service

. . be tilled, of land

. dub. cultivated field

. worked

. . compel to labour as slaves

. make to serve as subjects

. cause to serve God

. be led or enticed to serve

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5647 `abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to

serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in

bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,

execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,

(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)

servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from

margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.

: serve[someone]

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve

1d2) to cause to serve as subjects

1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.

: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vhcc — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

la'-ber (yeghia`, `amal; kopos): The word (noun and verb) denoting hard work or "toil" (thus in the Revised Version (British and American) of De 26:7; Jos 7:3; Re 2:2) represents several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly those above. Occasionally, as in Hab 3:17 (ma`aseh), it stands for "fruit of labor." Sometimes, in conjunction with "travail," it refers to childbirth (Ge 35:16,17, yaladh; compare 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8). Examples of the word in the ordinary sense are: of yeghia`,

and he appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
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 appointed of them seventy thousand burden-bearer[s] and eighty thousand stone-cutter[s] in the hill country and three thousand and six hundred overseers to compel to labor the object marker the people
הָעָֽם׃ha.'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.
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
HTd/Ncmsa — 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…

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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