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2 Chronicles 4:9 — Word Study

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WLCוַיַּ֙עַשׂ֙ חֲצַ֣ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים וְהָעֲזָרָ֖ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה וּדְלָת֧וֹת לָעֲזָרָ֛ה וְדַלְתוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם צִפָּ֥ה נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃

BSAHe madeʻâsâh [constructed, built] the courtyardchâtsêr [open space, enclosure] of the priestskôhên [spiritual leaders, ministers] and the largegâdôwl [great, expansive] courtʻăzârâh [outer court, public area] with its doorsdeleth [gates, entrances] and he overlaidtsâphâh [covered, plated] the doorsdeleth with bronzenᵉchôsheth [brass, copper alloy]

Word
Listen & take away2 Chronicles 4
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 9 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 (ne.Cho.shet) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Chronicles 4:9quick helps
In a sentenceSolomon constructed the courtyard for the priests and the large outer court, overlaying the doors with bronze.
Who is speakingThe narrator describes Solomon's construction efforts in the temple.
Where we areThis verse is part of the account detailing Solomon's temple construction.
The hard wordצִפָּה
Take awayThe physical structure of the temple is being established with care and detail.
5 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause verbעָשָׂה 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 4:9

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

Context — The Construction of Solomon's Templegenerated

8Additionally, he made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold bowls.
9He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.
10He put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner.
11Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:

2 Chronicles 4:9 describes the construction efforts of Solomon as he builds the temple. This verse highlights specific areas of the temple, particularly the courtyard for the priests and the large court, emphasizing the attention to detail in the construction process. This aligns with the broader narrative of 1 Kings, where similar details of the temple's construction are recorded, showing the significance of the temple in Israel's worship and community life.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 6:36Solomon built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone and one row of trimmed cedar beams.
21 Kings 7:12The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD.

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


The Key Word עָשָׂה, vai.Ya.'asgenerated

The verb עָשָׂה (asah) means to make or do, and is foundational in describing actions taken in the biblical narrative. It is used frequently throughout the Scriptures, indicating a wide range of activities from creation to construction.

In this verse, it specifically refers to Solomon's act of making the courtyard, indicating deliberate and purposeful action in the context of building the temple. The verb's use here underscores the significance of the temple as a central place of worship.


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 וַיַּ֙עַשׂ֙, and he made, governs the entire verse, with several noun phrases detailing what Solomon constructed. The structure emphasizes the sequential actions taken in the construction process.

The Hebrew word order places the subject and verb at the beginning, highlighting Solomon's active role in the temple's construction, followed by the specific areas he built.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עָשָׂה as ἐποίησεν, which carries a similar meaning of making or doing. This choice reflects a direct correspondence in the action described, maintaining the focus on Solomon's construction efforts.

The term used in the Septuagint for חָצֵר is αὐλὴν, which also means court or enclosure, indicating a consistent understanding of the space within the temple complex.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Chronicles 4:9 states that Solomon made the courtyard for the priests and the large court, and he covered the doors with bronze. This shows the detailed work involved in building the temple, emphasizing its importance in Israel's worship.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the courtyard represent?

The courtyard represents a sacred space where the priests could perform their duties and where worship could take place.

Why is bronze significant in the temple's construction?

Bronze symbolizes strength and durability, reflecting the temple's importance and the seriousness of worship.

What is the role of the priests mentioned here?

The priests served as mediators between God and the people, performing sacrifices and leading worship.

How does this verse connect to the overall narrative of Solomon's temple?

This verse highlights the careful planning and execution of the temple's construction, which was central to Israel's worship and identity.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What aspects of worship do I prioritize in my life, similar to the priests in the temple?
  2. How can I ensure that my actions reflect the importance of my faith, like Solomon's careful construction?
  3. In what ways can I create sacred spaces in my own life for worship and reflection?
  4. What materials or resources do I have that I can use to honor God in my life?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Chronicles 4:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Chronicles 4 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Chronicles 4:9 Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.Ver. 9. Furthermore he made the court.] See 1 Kings 6:30. And the great court,] i.e., The people’ s court, called here gnazarah: haply because here God helped the people, when he heard their prayers, or when here they took sanctuary. Forte ex azar fit azirum, et inde asilum.

Read John Trapp on 2 Chronicles 4 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) The court of the priests.—See 1 Kings 6:36; 1 Kings 7:12, “the inner court;” Jeremiah 36:10, “the higher court.” And the great court.—‘Azβrβh, “court,” a late word, common in the Targums for the classical hβqηr, which has just occurred. The ‘azβrβh was the outer court of the temple. It is not mentioned at all in the parallel narrative. The LXX. calls it “the great court;” the Vulg., “the great basilica.” The Syriac renders the whole verse: “And he made one great court for the priests and Levites, and covered the doors and bolts with bronze.” (Comp. Note on 2 Chronicles 4:3 for this plating of the doors with bronze.) The bronze plated doors of Shalmaneser’s palace at Balawat were…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Chronicles 4 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 9. He made the court of the priests] This was the inner court. And the great court] This was the outer court, or place for the assembling of the people.

Read AdamClarke on 2 Chronicles 4 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9, 10. The Two Courts 9. the court of the priests, and the great court] There is a difficulty in this mention of two Temple courts by the Chronicler, for it may be doubted whether Solomon’s Temple, strictly speaking, had more than one court, for in “the other court” stood Solomon’s house (1 Kings 7:8). This “other court” seems to be called the “middle court” (2 Kings 20:4), and the “higher court” (Jeremiah 36:10). The “great court” (1 Kings 7:12) was perhaps a third court containing not only the king’s house, but all the royal buildings as well. The Heb. word for “court” in all the above passages is ḥ ?βηer, but here the “court (ḥ ?βηηr) of the priests” is distinguished from a court called…

Read Cambridge on 2 Chronicles 4 →

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

He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He made the courtyard of the priests and the large court with its doors, and he overlaid the doors with bronze.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He made the courtyard of the priests and the large enclosure and its doors; he plated their doors with bronze.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he made the court of the Priests, and the great court and doores for the court, and ouerlayd the doores thereof with brasse.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors thereof with bronze.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And he maketh the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and their doors he hath overlaid with brass.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And he makes the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and he has overlaid their doors with bronze.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he made the court of the priests, and the great out-court, and doors for the out-court, and their doors he overlaid with copper.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Furthermore he made the courtyard of the priests, and the great court and the doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He made also the court of the priests, and a great hall, and doors in the hall, which he covered with brass.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Solomon also built a courtyard of the priests, and the large courtyard and doors for the courtyard, and he covered the doors with bronze.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then he made the open space for the priests, and the great open space and its doors, plating the doors with brass.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיַּ֨עַשׂ֙he.madenoun phrase · objectnoun phraseחֲצַ֣רthe.courtnoun phraseהַofכֹּהֲנִ֔יםthe.priestsוְandnoun phraseהָthenoun phraseעֲזָרָ֖הprecinctadjective phraseהַ(the)גְּדוֹלָ֑הgreatוּandnoun phraseדְלָת֧וֹתdoorsprepositional phraseלָfornoun phrasetheעֲזָרָ֛הprecinctוְandclausenoun phrase · objectדַלְתוֹתֵיdoorsהֶ֖םtheirverbצִפָּ֥הhe.overlaidadverbialנְחֹֽשֶׁתbronze

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with a precise word-for-word correspondence, indicating that the construction details were preserved across these traditions.

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

וַיַּ֙עַשׂ֙ חֲצַ֣ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֔ים וְהָעֲזָרָ֖ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה וּדְלָת֧וֹת לָעֲזָרָ֛ה וְדַלְתוֹתֵיהֶ֖ם צִפָּ֥ה נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּ֙עַשׂ֙ἐποίησενחֲצַ֣רαὐλὴνהַכֹּהֲנִ֔יםἱερέωνוְהָעֲזָרָ֖הαὐλὴνהַגְּדוֹלָ֑הμεγάληνוּדְלָת֧וֹתθύραςלָעֲזָרָ֛הαὐλῇוְדַלְתוֹתֵיהֶ֖םαὐτῶνצִפָּ֥הκατακεξαλκωμέναנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ξαλκῷ

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

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


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

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

2 Chronicles 4:9עָשָׂהand he madeand he madeעָשָׂהחָצֵר[the] court[the] court ofחָצֵרכֹּהֵןthe prieststhe priestsכֹּהֵןעֲזָרָהand the preand the precincעֲזָרָהגָּדוֹלgreatgreatגָּדוֹלדָּלand doorsand doorsדָּלעֲזָרָהfor the prefor the precincעֲזָרָהדָּלand doors tand doors theirדָּלצָפָהhe overlaidhe overlaidצָפָהנְחֹ֫שֶׁתbronzebronzeנְחֹ֫שֶׁתעָזַרto helpto helpעָזַרדָּלָהto draw (uto draw (up/outדָּלָהחצצרto blowto blowחצצרגָּדַלto magnifyto magnifyגָּדַלכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןצָפָהto watchto watchצָפָהנְחוּשָׁהbronzebronzeנְחוּשָׁהדָּלdoordoorדָּלבְּרִיחַbarbarבְּרִיחַסָגַרto shutto shutסָגַרמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהמַטָּרָהguardhouseguardhouseמַטָּרָהחִיצוֹןouterouterחִיצוֹןאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרצָדוֹקZadokZadokצָדוֹקקָטָןsmallsmallקָטָןמְאֹדmuchmuchמְאֹד
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 4:9

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 made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
וַיַּ֙עַשׂ֙vai.Ya.'as and he made 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.
Amplified meaning
constructed, built
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
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
חֲצַ֣רcha.Tzar [the] court of H2691 Noun common · both singular construct
191× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A village in the Bible is a small settlement surrounded by walls. In Matthew 21:2, Jesus sends his disciples to a village to find a donkey, while in Mark 6:6, Jesus travels from village to village teaching.
Amplified meaning
open space, enclosure
Tyndale gloss
court
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָצֵר (chatser) refers to an enclosure or court, and can also mean a settled abode, settlement, or village, typically appearing in the plural form חֲצֵרִים. The word is derived from a root meaning to enclose, indicating spaces that are surrounded by walls or fences.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָצֵר 145 n.m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court

base

[חָצֵר] 46 n.m. settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2691a חָצֵר n. m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court H2691b חָצֵר settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2691 chatser khaw-tsare'

(masculine and feminine); from 2690 in its original sense; a

yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly

surrounded with walls):--court, tower, village.

see HEBREW for 02690

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָצֵר (cha.tser) — court.

1) court, enclosure

1a) enclosures

1b) court

חָצֵר (cha.tser) — village.

settled abode, settlement, village, town

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
הַכֹּהֲנִ֔יםha.ko.ha.Nim the priests H3548 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
spiritual leaders, ministers
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- First notice of persons acting as

Ge 4:3,4

- During patriarchal age heads of families acted as

Ge 8:20; 12:8; 35:7

- After the exodus young men (first-born) deputed to act as

Ex 24:5; 19:22

- The sons of Aaron appointed as, by perpetual statute

Ex 29:9; 40:15

- All except seed of Aaron excluded from being

Nu 3:10; 16:40; 18:7

- Sanctified by God for the office

Ex 29:44

- Publicly consecrated

Ex 28:3; Nu 3:3

- CEREMONIES AT CONSECRATION OF

. Washing in water

and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
וְהָעֲזָרָ֖הve.ha.'a.za.Rah and the precinct H5835 Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to an enclosure or border, such as the outer court of the temple in Ezekiel's vision. It can also mean a ledge or a surrounding area.
Amplified meaning
outer court, public area
Tyndale gloss
enclosure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֲזָרָה (azarah) refers to an enclosure or border, particularly in a religious context. It can denote the ledge surrounding Ezekiel's altar or the outer court of the temple. The term is derived from the root meaning to surround, indicating its function as a boundary or defined area.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲזָרָה n.f. appar. enclosure

ledge surrounding Ezekiel’s altar

outer court of temple

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5835 עֲזָרָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5835 `azarah az-aw-raw'

from 5826 in its original meaning of surrounding; an

inclosure; also a border:--court, settle.

see HEBREW for 05826

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲזָרָה (a.za.rah) — enclosure.

1) enclosure

1a) ledge (surrounding Ezekiel's altar)

1b) court (outer one of temple)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Art | N-fs — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Td/Ncfsa
and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
הַגְּדוֹלָ֑הha.ge.do.Lah great H1419 Particle
526× 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 something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Amplified meaning
great, expansive
Tyndale gloss
Great (Sea)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great

in magnitude and extent

in number

in intensity

in sound, loud

in age

in importance

in phrases

cstr.

as subst. concr. do great things

† as subst. neut. greatness of arm

base

הַגְּדוֹלִים n.pr.m. father of Zabdiel Ne 11:14 (RV & so most; but 𝔊 RVm al. the great).

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent

. in number

. in intensity

. in sound, loud

. in age

. in importance

. in phrases

. cstr.

. as subst. concr. do great things

. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm

H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1419 gadowl gaw-dole'

or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any

sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +

exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,

thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,

proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.

see HEBREW for 01431

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

1e) older (in age)

1f) in importance

1f1) important things

1f2) great, distinguished (of men)

1f3) God Himself (of God)

subst

1g) great things

1h) haughty things

1i) greatness

Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).

adj

great

Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Adj — Particle
HTd/Aafsa
and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
וּדְלָת֧וֹתu.de.la.Tot and doors H1817 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural absolute
88× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A door is something that swings, like the valve of a door or gate. In the Bible, doors can represent entrance or access, as seen in Psalm 141:3 where David asks God to set a door on his lips.
Amplified meaning
gates, entrances
Tyndale gloss
door
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּל (dal), דָּלָה (da.lah), and דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) all refer to a 'door' or 'gate' in Hebrew. The entries indicate various uses, including literal doors and figurative meanings, such as a door of a chamber or even metaphorical doors in poetry. Notably, dal is mentioned in Psalm 141:3.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָּל] n.[m.] door only fig.: ψ 141:3.

ref

[דָּלָה] n.f. door, Is 26:20 fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hides

ref

דֶּ֫לֶת n.f. door

door of house

door of room

gates of city

in other senses

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1817a דָּל door H1817b דָּלָה door H1817c דֶּ֫לֶת door

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1817 deleth deh'-leth

from 1802; something swinging, i.e. the valve of a

door:--door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid. (In Psa. 141:3,

dal, irreg.).

see HEBREW for 01802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּל (dal) — door.

door (fig.)

דָּלָה (da.lah) — door.

door (fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hide)

דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) — door.

1) door, gate

1a) a door

1b) a gate

1c) (fig.)

1c1) of chest lid

1c2) of crocodile jaws

1c3) of doors of the heavens

1c4) of an easily-accessible woman

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural absolute
HC/Ncfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Doors

Moved on pivots of wood fastened in sockets above and below (Prov. 26:14). They were fastened by a lock (Judg. 3:23, 25; Cant. 5:5) or by a bar (Judg. 16:3; Job 38:10). In the interior of Oriental houses, curtains were frequently used instead of doors.

The entrances of the tabernacle had curtains (Ex. 26:31-33, 36). The “valley of Achor” is called a “door of hope,” because immediately after the execution of Achan the Lord said to Joshua, “Fear not,” and from that time Joshua went forward in a career of uninterrupted conquest. Paul speaks of a “door opened” for…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[GATE]

and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
לָעֲזָרָ֛הla.'a.za.Rah for the precinct H5835 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to an enclosure or border, such as the outer court of the temple in Ezekiel's vision. It can also mean a ledge or a surrounding area.
Tyndale gloss
enclosure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֲזָרָה (azarah) refers to an enclosure or border, particularly in a religious context. It can denote the ledge surrounding Ezekiel's altar or the outer court of the temple. The term is derived from the root meaning to surround, indicating its function as a boundary or defined area.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲזָרָה n.f. appar. enclosure

ledge surrounding Ezekiel’s altar

outer court of temple

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5835 עֲזָרָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5835 `azarah az-aw-raw'

from 5826 in its original meaning of surrounding; an

inclosure; also a border:--court, settle.

see HEBREW for 05826

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲזָרָה (a.za.rah) — enclosure.

1) enclosure

1a) ledge (surrounding Ezekiel's altar)

1b) court (outer one of temple)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncfsa — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HRd/Ncfsa
and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
וְדַלְתוֹתֵיהֶ֖םve.dal.to.tei.Hem and doors their H1817 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
88× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A door is something that swings, like the valve of a door or gate. In the Bible, doors can represent entrance or access, as seen in Psalm 141:3 where David asks God to set a door on his lips.
Tyndale gloss
door
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּל (dal), דָּלָה (da.lah), and דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) all refer to a 'door' or 'gate' in Hebrew. The entries indicate various uses, including literal doors and figurative meanings, such as a door of a chamber or even metaphorical doors in poetry. Notably, dal is mentioned in Psalm 141:3.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָּל] n.[m.] door only fig.: ψ 141:3.

ref

[דָּלָה] n.f. door, Is 26:20 fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hides

ref

דֶּ֫לֶת n.f. door

door of house

door of room

gates of city

in other senses

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1817a דָּל door H1817b דָּלָה door H1817c דֶּ֫לֶת door

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1817 deleth deh'-leth

from 1802; something swinging, i.e. the valve of a

door:--door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid. (In Psa. 141:3,

dal, irreg.).

see HEBREW for 01802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּל (dal) — door.

door (fig.)

דָּלָה (da.lah) — door.

door (fig., door of chamber in which people (personified) hide)

דֶּ֫לֶת (de.let) — door.

1) door, gate

1a) a door

1b) a gate

1c) (fig.)

1c1) of chest lid

1c2) of crocodile jaws

1c3) of doors of the heavens

1c4) of an easily-accessible woman

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
צִפָּ֥הtzi.Pah he overlaid H6823 Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tsaphah can also mean to overlay or cover something, often with metal. It involves laying something over another material, like plating or coating.
Amplified meaning
covered, plated
Tyndale gloss
to overlay
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָפָה (tsaphah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lay out, overlay, or cover. It can refer to actions like plating or laying over materials, particularly metals. The entries suggest a focus on the physical act of covering or overlaying, with examples including pillars overlaid with gold. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צָפָה] 47 vb. lay out, lay over

Qal they lay out the rug!

Pi. overlay, plate

Pu. impure silver laid over a sherd; pillars overlaid with gold.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6823 [צָפָה] lay out, lay over .they lay out the rug!

. overlay, plate

. impure silver laid over a sherd; pillars overlaid with gold.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6823 tsaphah tsaw-faw'

a primitive root (probably identical with 6822 through the

idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action); to

sheet over (especially with metal):--cover, overlay.

see HEBREW for 06822

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָפָה (tsa.phah) — to overlay.

1) to lay out, lay over, overlay, cover

1a) (Piel) to overlay, plate, stud

1b) (Pual) to be laid over

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
HVpp3ms
and he made [the] court of the priests and the precinct great and doors for the precinct and doors their he overlaid bronze
נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ne.Cho.shet bronze H5178 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to copper or something made of it, like a coin or chain. It can also symbolize something base or impure, as in lust or filthiness. It appears in various KJV translations, including brasen and brass.
Amplified meaning
brass, copper alloy
Tyndale gloss
bronze
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת 137 n.m. copper, bronze

copper

fetters of copper or bronze

as less in value than gold but more than wood

fig. of pitiless sky

base

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

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5178a נְחֹ֫שֶׁת copper, bronze . copper

. fetters of copper or bronze

. as less in value than gold but more than wood

. fig. of pitiless sky

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5178 nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth

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

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

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

filthiness, steel.

see HEBREW for 05154

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — bronze.

1) copper, bronze

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

1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)

1c) copper (as value)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — lust.

lust, harlotry

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
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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