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2 Kings 2:24 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּ֤פֶן אַֽחֲרָיו֙ וַיִּרְאֵ֔ם וַֽיְקַלְלֵ֖ם בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָה שְׁתַּ֤יִם דֻּבִּים֙ מִן־ הַיַּ֔עַר וַתְּבַקַּ֣עְנָה מֵהֶ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁנֵ֖י יְלָדִֽים׃

BSAThen he turnedpânâh aroundʼachar [facing them, looking back] looked at themrâʼâh and called down a curse on themqâlal [to bring judgment, pronounce a divine sentence] in the nameshêm [character, reputation, authority] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the self-existent God] Suddenly twoshᵉnayim [a pair, a dual number] female bearsdôb [wild, fierce animals] came outyâtsâʼ [emerged, departed] ofmin the woodsyaʻar [forest, wilderness] and mauledbâqaʻ [tore, attacked violently] forty-twoʼarbâʻîym [a numerous, large group] of the boysyeled [youths, young people]

Word
Listen & take away2 Kings 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ye.la.Dim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Kings 2:24quick helps
In a sentenceElisha turns to the boys, curses them in the name of the LORD, and two bears come out to attack.
Who is speakingElisha, the prophet of God, addressing the boys.
Where we areThe moment after Elisha's encounter with a group of boys who mock him.
The hard wordוַיִּרְאֵ֔ם
Take awayThe curse is a divine response to mockery, resulting in a severe judgment.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbפָּנָה 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 Kings 2:24

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 — Elisha's Encounter with Mocking Boysgenerated

22And the waters there have been healthy to this day, according to the word spoken by Elisha.
23From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”
24Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.
25And Elisha went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 2:24 describes Elisha's confrontation with a group of boys who jeer at him, calling him 'baldhead.' In response, Elisha turns to them and calls down a curse in the name of the LORD. This action leads to two bears emerging from the forest, which maul forty-two of the boys. This incident illustrates the seriousness of mocking God's prophets and the swift judgment that can follow.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Kings 1:10–12Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.
2Genesis 9:25he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”
3Deuteronomy 28:15–26If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
4Judges 9:20–57But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
5Jeremiah 28:16Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”

The Key Word וַיִּרְאֵ֔ם, vai.yir.'Emgenerated

The verb רָאָה (ra'ah) means 'to see' and is used here to indicate Elisha's act of looking at the boys. This word encompasses both literal sight and the figurative idea of understanding or perceiving, which adds depth to Elisha's response to their mockery.

In this context, Elisha's seeing is not just a physical action; it signifies his awareness of their disrespect and sets the stage for his subsequent curse. The parsing indicates that this is a sequential imperfect verb, showing that his action of seeing is part of a narrative unfolding.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the wording of this verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וַיִּרְאֵ֔ם (and he saw them) governs the verse, with several clauses and phrases hanging off it. The structure emphasizes Elisha's actions: turning, seeing, cursing, and the resulting attack by the bears.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on Elisha's actions first, highlighting the immediacy of his response to the boys' mockery before the narrative shifts to the bears.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb וַיִּרְאֵ֔ם is rendered as αὐτὰ (auta), meaning 'them.' This choice reflects a straightforward translation without additional interpretive nuance, maintaining the focus on Elisha's act of seeing the boys.

The translation aligns closely with the Hebrew, emphasizing the directness of Elisha's interaction with the boys.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Kings 2:24 tells us that Elisha turned to the boys who were mocking him and called down a curse in the name of the LORD. As a result, two female bears came out of the forest and mauled forty-two of the boys. This story highlights the seriousness of disrespecting God's prophet.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Elisha's curse signify?

Elisha's curse represents a divine judgment against the mocking of God's prophet, illustrating the seriousness of such disrespect.

Why did the bears attack the boys?

The bears' attack serves as a swift judgment from God in response to the boys' mockery of Elisha, emphasizing the consequences of their actions.

What does this event teach about respect for God's prophets?

This event teaches that mocking or disrespecting God's prophets can lead to severe consequences, as demonstrated by the boys' fate.

How does this story connect to themes of judgment in the Bible?

The story connects to broader biblical themes of judgment, where disrespect for God's authority often results in immediate and severe consequences.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can show respect for those who speak God's truth today?
  2. How do I respond when I see others mocking or disrespecting spiritual leaders?
  3. What does this story reveal about God's protection over His servants?
  4. In what ways can I learn from Elisha's example in dealing with mockery?

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

The early commentary on this verse highlights the nature of Elisha's curse as a divine response to mockery, emphasizing zeal for God's honor.

Richard Challoner 1691–1781
Cursed them: This curse, which was followed by so visible a judgment of God, was not the effect of passion, or of a desire of revenging himself; but of zeal for religion, which was insulted by these boys, in the person of the prophet;
Early Church Fathers on 2 Kings 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Kings 2:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And he turned back, and looked on them,.... With a stern countenance, thereby reproving them, and in order to intimidate them, and make them ashamed, and cause them to leave off, but to no purpose;

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

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. He ... cursed them in the name of the Lord.

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

Cursed them; nor was this punishment too great for the offence, if it be considered that these children were grown up to some maturity; (See Poole "";) that their mocking proceeded from a great malignity of mind against God; that they mocked not only a man, and an ancient man, whose very age commanded reverence, and a prophet; but even God himself, and that most admirable and glorious work of God, the assumption of Elijah into heaven, which makes it in some degree resemble the sin against the Holy Ghost; that they might be guilty of many other heinous crimes, which God and the prophet knew; and were guilty of idolatry, which by God’ s law deserved death; that the idolatrous parents were…

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

2 Kings 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.Ver. 24. And cursed them.] By his spirit of prayer and prophecy: not out of private revenge. And there came forth two she bears.] So Dr Whittington returning from martyring a good woman at Chipping Sadbury, was gored by a bull. Dr Story, who vaunted that he had burnt so many earwigs - heretics he meant, - was hanged at Tyburn for treason. Hemingius telleth of a lewd fellow in Denmark, who showing great contempt against a preacher, as he passed out of the Church was brained with a tile. Luther telleth of such…

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

(24) He turned back.—The boys were following him with their jeers. Thenius says, “The wanton young people, who had not courage to attack except in the rear, had stolen round him.” Cursed them.—“To avenge the honour of Jehovah, violated in his person” (Keil). (Comp. Exodus 16:8; Acts 5:4.) And there came forth.—Whether at once, and in the presence of Elisha, or not, is uncertain. Thenius supposes that on some occasion or other a terrible calamity had fallen on some person or persons after such a mockery of Elisha, or of some other prophet (!); and that in the desire to magnify the divinely maintained inviolability of the prophetic office, the author of the above narrative has overlooked the…

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

24. And he turned back, and looked on them] R.V. And he looked behind him and saw them. The young lads had come forth from the city, and Elisha had, as it seems, passed by them, before they began their mockery. The word translated ‘turned’ in A.V. is used specially of turning the face toward any object. It is so rendered by A.V. in Genesis 18:22, ‘And the men turned their faces’. Elisha turned about and saw in them the malice and evil spirit of their parents and kindred. and cursed them in the name of the Lord] It was not to avenge himself. Their insult to him was but a symptom of their hatred of all that was connected with the pure worship of Jehovah. It was as Jehovah’s servant and in…

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

On this occasion only do we find Elisha a minister of vengeance.

Read Albert Barnes on 2 Kings 2 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

24. Cursed them in the name of the Lord — It would not do to let such malice and blasphemy go unnoticed before the people of Beth-el, and so the insulted prophet called down on those young

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Kings 2 →

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

Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of those youths.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

NETBNew English Translation2006

When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them. Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tore forty and two children of them.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he turned backe, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two beares came out of the forest, and tare in pieces two and fourtie children of them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tore forty-two children of them.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And he looketh behind him, and seeth them, and declareth them vile in the name of Jehovah, and two bears come out of the forest, and rend of them forty and two lads.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And he looks behind him, and sees them, and declares them vile in the Name of YHWH, and two bears come out of the forest and ripped apart forty-two of the boys.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord; and there came forth two she-bears out of the forest, and tore of them forty and two boys.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Elisha looked behind him and saw them; he called on Yahweh to curse them. Then two female bears came out of the woods and injured forty-two of the boys.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And looking back, he saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord: and there came forth two bears out of the forest, and tore of them two and forty boys.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Turning around, he looked at them and called down a curse on them in the Lord's name. Suddenly two female bears came out of the forest and mauled forty-two of them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And turning back, he saw them, and put a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the wood and put forty-two of the children to death.

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּ֤פֶןhe.turnedprepositional phrase · prepositionalאַֽחֲרָיbehindו֙himוַandclauseverbיִּרְאֵ֔heobjectםsaw.themוַֽandclauseverbיְקַלְלֵ֖heobjectםcursed.themprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseשֵׁ֣םthe.nameיְהוָ֑הof.Yahwehוַandclauseverbתֵּצֶ֨אנָהthey.came.outnoun phrase · subjectשְׁתַּ֤יִםtwoדֻּבִּים֙[female].bearsprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִןfromnoun phraseהַtheיַּ֔עַרforestוַandclauseverbתְּבַקַּ֣עְנָהthey.tore.in.piecesprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵofהֶ֔םthemnoun phrase · objectnumeral phraseאַרְבָּעִ֥יםfortyוּandשְׁנֵ֖יtwoיְלָדִֽיםboys

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 all sixteen words matched in the Hebrew text. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of the text across these two witnesses.

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

וַיִּ֤פֶן אַֽחֲרָיו֙ וַיִּרְאֵ֔ם וַֽיְקַלְלֵ֖ם בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָה שְׁתַּ֤יִם דֻּבִּים֙ מִן־ הַיַּ֔עַר וַתְּבַקַּ֣עְנָה מֵהֶ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁנֵ֖י יְלָדִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּ֤פֶןἐχένευσενאַֽחֲרָיו֙αὐτῶνוַיִּרְאֵ֔םαὐτὰוַֽיְקַלְלֵ֖םαὐτοῖςבְּשֵׁ֣םὀνόματιיְהוָ֑הκυρίουוַתֵּצֶ֨אנָהἐχῆλθονשְׁתַּ֤יִםδύοדֻּבִּים֙ἄρκοιמִן־ἐκהַיַּ֔עַרδρυμοῦוַתְּבַקַּ֣עְנָהἀνέρρηχανמֵהֶ֔םαὐτῶνאַרְבָּעִ֥יםτεσσαράκονταוּשְׁנֵ֖יδύοיְלָדִֽים׃παῖδας

16 of the 16 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 Kings 2:24פָּנָהand he turnand he turnedפָּנָהאַחַרbehind himbehind himאַחַררָאָהand he saw and he saw themרָאָהקָלַלand he cursand he cursed tקָלַלשֵׁםin [the] nain [the] name oשֵׁםיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהיָצָאand they caand they came oיָצָאשְׁנַ֫יִםtwotwoשְׁנַ֫יִםדֹּב[female] be[female] bearsדֹּבמִן־fromfromמִן־יַ֫עַרthe forestthe forestיַ֫עַרבָּקַעand they toand they tore iבָּקַעהֶםof themof themהֶםאַרְבָּעִיםfortyfortyאַרְבָּעִיםשְׁנַ֫יִםand twoand twoשְׁנַ֫יִםיֶ֫לֶדboysboysיֶ֫לֶדאָחַרto delayto delayאָחַרשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםהָיָהto beto beהָיָהשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִידָּבַבדָּבַביָלַדto begetto begetיָלַדמֵןstringstringמֵןאַרְבַּעfourfourאַרְבַּעעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןרָדַףto pursueto pursueרָדַףזָנָהto fornicato fornicateזָנָהעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטבֶּן־יְמִינִיBenjaminitBenjaminiteבֶּן־יְמִינִיעֹלyokeyokeעֹלקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָא
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 Kings 2:24

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 turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
וַיִּ֤פֶןvai.Yi.fen and he turned H6437 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
135× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to turn or face something, like looking at a corner or a gate. It appears in descriptions of daily life and interactions, like in Genesis and Psalms. It's about changing direction or focus.
Tyndale gloss
Corner (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּנָה (panah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn, with various implications such as turning toward, away, or doing something. It can refer to both physical and figurative actions, like looking or regarding something. The entries indicate it can also mean to decline or approach, and it has different forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, each with specific nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּנָה 135 vb. turn

Qal 117

turn toward

turn from

turn and do a thing

turn, decline

turn toward, approach

turn and look, look

of inanimate things, face

esp. fig. look at, regard

look for = expect

fig. look at = consider

Hiph.

turn

make a turn, shew (signs of) turning

Hoph. be ye turned back!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6437 פָּנָה turn .. . turn toward

. turn from

. turn and do a thing

. turn, decline

. turn toward, approach

. . turn and look, look

. of inanimate things, face

. esp. fig. look at, regard

. look for = expect

. fig. look at = consider

. . turn

. make a turn, shew (signs of) turning

. be ye turned back!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6437 panah paw-naw'

a primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e.

appear, look, etc.:--appear, at (even-)tide, behold, cast

out, come on, X corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look,

mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to),

(re-)turn (aside, away, back, face, self), X right (early).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנָה (pa.nah) — to turn.

1) to turn

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn toward or from or away

1a2) to turn and do

1a3) to turn, decline (of day)

1a4) to turn toward, approach (of evening)

1a5) to turn and look, look, look back or at or after or for

1b) (Piel) to turn away, put out of the way, make clear, clear away

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to turn

1c2) to make a turn, show signs of turning, turn back

1d) (Hophal) to be turned back

פָּנָה (pa.nah) — Corner (Gate).

This name means corner, to turn, to turn back

Another spelling of pin.nah (פִּנָּה "Corner( Gate)" H6438)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
אַֽחֲרָיו֙'a.cha.Rav behind him H310 Suffix
716× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Achar means backwards or after, used to describe something that happens later or in the rear. It is used in various senses in the Bible, including in 1 Kings 12:18.
Amplified meaning
facing them, looking back
Tyndale gloss
after
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַחַר (*achar*) primarily denotes the concept of 'after' or 'behind' in both spatial and temporal contexts. It functions as a substantive, adverb, preposition, and conjunction, indicating a following part or time. The related form אַחֲרַי (*acharai*) refers to a person who turns backwards. There is a reference to Proverbs 28:23 in relation to the latter.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part

adv.

of place, behind

of time, afterwards

prep.

of place, behind, after

of time, after

conj. after that.

base

אַחֲרַי adj. Pr 28:23 a man that turneth backwards.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H310a אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part . adv. . of place, behind

. of time, afterwards

. prep. . of place, behind, after

. of time, after

. conj. after that.

H310b אַחֲרַי a man that turneth backwards.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

310 'achar akh-ar'

from 309; properly, the hind part; generally used as an

adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses):--after

(that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side),

behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from,

hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute,

posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth),

when, with.

see HEBREW for 0309

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַחַר (a.char) — after.

1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time)

1a) as an adverb

1a1) behind (of place)

1a2) afterwards (of time)

1b) as a preposition

1b1) behind, after (of place)

1b2) after (of time)

1b3) besides

1c) as a conjunction

1c) after that

1d) as a substantive

1d1) hinder part

1e) with other prepositions

1e1) from behind

1e2) from following after

אַחֲרַי (a.cha.ray) — backwards.

backwards (of a man that turns backwards)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Suffix
HAcmpc/Sp3ms
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
וַיִּרְאֵ֔םvai.yir.'Em and he saw them H7200 Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
וַֽיְקַלְלֵ֖םvay.ka.Lem and he cursed them H7043 Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word qalal means to make something light or easy, but it can also mean to curse or bring into contempt. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in the books of Exodus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
to bring judgment, pronounce a divine sentence
Tyndale gloss
to lighten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָלַל (qalal) is a primitive root meaning to be light or trifling, covering a range of senses from being swift to being of little account. It can also mean to curse or treat with contempt. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances such as making light or being lightly esteemed.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָלַל] 82 vb. be slight, swift, trifling

Qal

be slight, of water, be abated

be swift

trifling, i.e. of little account

Niph.

shew oneself swift

appear trifling

be lightly esteemed

Pi. curse (prop. make contemptible)

Pu. be cursed

Hiph.

make light, lighten

treat with contempt

Pilp.

shake

(peculiarly) whet

Hithpalp. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7043 קָלַל be slight, swift, trifling .. be slight, of water, be abated

. be swift

. trifling, i.e. of little account

. . shew oneself swift

. appear trifling

. be lightly esteemed

. curse (prop. make contemptible)

. be cursed

. . make light, lighten

. treat with contempt

. . shake

. (peculiarly) whet

. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7043 qalal kaw-lal'

a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) light, literally

(swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling,

vile, etc.):--abate, make bright, bring into contempt,

(ac-)curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make

somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly

afflict, -ly esteem, thing), X slight(-ly), be swift(-er),

(be, be more, make, re-)vile, whet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָלַל (qa.lal) — to lighten.

1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water)

1a2) to be swift

1a3) to be trifling, be of little account

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift

1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant

1b3) to be lightly esteemed

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make despicable

1c2) to curse

1d) (Pual) to be cursed

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make light, lighten

1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour

1f) (Pilpel)

1f1) to shake

1f2) to whet

1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
בְּשֵׁ֣םbe.Shem in [the] name of H8034 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
character, reputation, authority
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
יְהוָ֑הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the self-existent God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָהva.te.Tze.nah and they came out H3318 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
1,067× 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 to go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
emerged, departed
Tyndale gloss
to come out: come
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָצָא (yatsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to go or come out, with various applications including departure, escape, and emergence. It can refer to both animate and inanimate subjects and emphasizes the idea of origin or source. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating actions like leading out or being brought forth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out

Qal

go or come out or forth

from (מִן) a place

go forth from (the presence of) a person

in technical senses

of flight, involving escape

depart

of inanimate things

with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source

of children as going forth from loins (of father)

go forth to a place

go forward, proceed to or toward something

come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result

of combinations

Hiph.

cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.

bring out animals

inanimate obj.

fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)

Hoph. be brought forth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3318 יָצָא go or come out .. go or come out or forth . from (מִן) a place

. go forth from (the presence of) a person

. in technical senses

. of flight, involving escape

. depart

. of inanimate things

. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source

. of children as going forth from loins (of father)

. . go forth to a place

. go forward, proceed to or toward something

. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result

. of combinations

. . cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.

. bring out animals

. inanimate obj.

. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)

. be brought forth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'

a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great

variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct

and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X

begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come

(abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned,

depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact,

fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence,

out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out),

going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out,

lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X

scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring

out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any

time, X to (and fro), utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: come.

: come/go_out/escape

1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart

1a2) to go forth (to a place)

1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)

1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)

1a5) to come out of

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

1b2) to bring out of

1b3) to lead out

1b4) to deliver

1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth

יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: send.

: send/take_out/release

1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart

1a2) to go forth (to a place)

1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)

1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)

1a5) to come out of

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

1b2) to bring out of

1b3) to lead out

1b4) to deliver

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
Hc/Vqw3fp
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
שְׁתַּ֤יִםshe.Ta.yim two H8147 Noun common · feminine dual absolute
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
a pair, a dual number
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · feminine dual absolute
HNcfda
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
דֻּבִּים֙du.Bim [female] bears H1677 Noun common · both plural absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The bear is described in the Bible as a slow-moving animal, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:34-37 where David fights a bear. The word for bear is also used in Proverbs 28:15.
Amplified meaning
wild, fierce animals
Tyndale gloss
bear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֹּב (dob) means 'bear' and is derived from a root suggesting a soft or gliding motion. The entries consistently define it as a bear, with a mention of its Aramaic equivalent. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֹּב n.m., f. bear (from soft or gliding motion)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1677 דֹּב bear (from soft or gliding motion)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1677 dob dobe

or (fully) dowb {dobe}; from 1680; the bear (as slow):--

bear.

see HEBREW for 01680

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֹּב (dov) — bear.

bear

Aramaic equivalent: dov (דֹּב "bear" H1678)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · both plural absolute
HNcbpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
מִן־min- from H4480 Preposition
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
הַיַּ֔עַרhai.Ya.'ar the forest H3293 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
59× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word Yaar refers to a forest or a copse of bushes, and also to a honeycomb. It is associated with Kiriath-jearim, a place name in the Bible. This word is used to describe natural environments.
Amplified meaning
forest, wilderness
Tyndale gloss
Jaar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַ֫עַר (ya'ar) refers to both a wood or forest and a honeycomb. The word is derived from a root suggesting thick vegetation. It encompasses meanings related to wooded areas and also has a specific reference to honeycomb, possibly due to its association with trees. Some entries connect it to specific locations or phrases in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַ֫עַר n.m. wood, forest, thicket

base

יַ֫עַר n.[m.] honeycomb

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3293a יַ֫עַר wood, forest, thicket H3293b יַ֫עַר honeycomb

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3293 ya`ar yah'-ar

from an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure;

a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb

(as hived in trees):--(honey-)comb, forest, wood.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — wood.

forest, wood, thicket, wooded height

Also means: ya.or (יָעוֹר "wood" H3264)

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — honeycomb.

honeycomb

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — Jaar.

honeycomb

Another name of qir.yat ye.a.rim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים "Kiriath-jearim" H7157)

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — (Ephraim) Forest.

Combined with eph.ra.yim (אֶפְרַ֫יִם " of Ephraim" H0669K)

§ honeycomb

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — (House of) the Forest.

Combined with ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת "House" H1004J)

§ honeycomb

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

for'-est:

(1) choresh (compare proper name Harosheth), 2Ch 27:4. In 1Sa 23:15 ff translated "wood"; in Isa 17:9, "wood"; in Eze 31:3, "forest-like shade." Applied to any thick growth of vegetation but not necessarily so extensive as (3).

(2) pardec: Ne 2:8, margin "park"; Ec 2:5, the King James Version "orchards," the Revised Version (British and American) "parks"; So 4:13, English Versions of the Bible "orchard," the Revised Version, margin "paradise." A word of Persian origin signifying probably an enclosure.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Forest

Heb. ya’ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great primeval forests of Syria (Eccl. 2:6; Isa. 44:14; Jer. 5:6; Micah 5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2 Sam. 18:6, 8; Josh. 17:15, 18), which is probably the same as the wood of Ephratah (Ps. 132:6), some part of the great forest of Gilead. It was in this forest that Absalom was slain by Joab. David withdrew to the forest of Hareth in the mountains of Judah to avoid the fury of Saul (

and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
וַתְּבַקַּ֣עְנָהva.te.va.Ka'.nah and they tore in pieces H1234 Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to break or open something, like a door or a wall, and is used in the Bible to describe God breaking through to help his people, as seen in Psalm 107:16.
Amplified meaning
tore, attacked violently
Tyndale gloss
to break up/open
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּקַע (baqa`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cleave or break open. It encompasses a range of actions, including splitting, tearing, and breaking through, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as being cleft or bursting open. The entries highlight its use in contexts like breaking into or through something, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּקַע vb. cleave, break open or through

Qal

cleave, cleave open

break through or into

Niph.

be cleft, rent open

be broken into

Pi. cleave, cut to pieces, or rend open

Pu. be ripped open

Hiph. break into

Hoph. the city was broken into

Hithp. burst (themselves) open, of wine-skins; cleave asunder, of valleys

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1234 בָּקַע cleave, break open or through

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1234 baqa` baw-kah'

a primitive root; to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip

or open:--make a breach, break forth (into, out, in pieces,

through, up), be ready to burst, cleave (asunder), cut out,

divide, hatch, rend (asunder), rip up, tear, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּקַע (ba.qa) — to break up/open.

1) to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cleave, cleave open

1a2) to break through, break into

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cleft, be rent open, be split open

1b2) to be broken into

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cleave, cut to pieces, rend open

1c2) to break through, break down

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be ripped open, be torn open

1d2) to be rent

1d3) to be broken into

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to break into

1e2) to break through

1f) (Hophal) to be broken into

1g) (Hithpael) to burst (themselves) open, cleave asunder

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
Hc/Vpw3fp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pieces

(1) of silver. In Ps. 68:30 denotes “fragments,” and not properly money. In 1 Sam. 2:36 (Heb. agorah), properly a “small sum” as wages, weighed rather than coined. Josh. 24:32 (Heb. kesitah, q.v.), supposed by some to have been a piece of money bearing the figure of a lamb, but rather simply a certain amount. (Comp. Gen. 33:19).

(2.) The word pieces is omitted in many passages, as Gen. 20:16; 37:28; 45:22, etc. The passage in Zech. 11:12, 13 is quoted in the Gospel (Matt. 26:15), and from this we…

and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
מֵהֶ֔םme.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 turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
אַרְבָּעִ֥ים'ar.ba.'Im forty H705 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
136× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The number forty is what this Hebrew word represents, often used in the Bible to mark significant periods of time, like the 40 days of rain in Genesis or the 40 years of Israel's wilderness journey.
Amplified meaning
a numerous, large group
Tyndale gloss
forty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבָּעִים (arba`iym) simply means 'forty' in Hebrew. It is a multiple of the number 702 and is consistently defined across various lexicons. There are no significant disagreements among the entries regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבָּעִים a forty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H705 אַרְבָּעִים a forty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

705 'arba`iym ar-baw-eem'

multiple of 702; forty:---forty.

see HEBREW for 0702

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבָּעִים (ar.ba.im) — forty.

forty

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

for'-ti ('arba`im; tessarakonta).

See FOUR (5); NUMBER.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Remarkable coincidences in the number

→ DAYS

Of rain, at the time of the flood Ge 7:17

Of flood, before sending forth the raven Ge 8:6

For embalming Ge 50:3

Of fasting

By Moses Ex 24:18; 34:28; De 9:9,25

By Elijah 1Ki 19:8

By spies in the land of promise Nu 13:25

Of probation, given to the Ninevites Jon 3:4

By Jesus Mt 4:2

Christ's stay after the resurrection Ac 1:3

and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
וּשְׁנֵ֖יu.she.Nei and two H8147 Conjunction · noun common both dual construct
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

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

too.

See NUMBER.

and he turned behind him and he saw them and he cursed them in [the] name of Yahweh and they came out two [female] bears from the forest and they tore in pieces of them forty and two boys
יְלָדִֽים׃ye.la.Dim boys H3206 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
89× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a young person, like a child or teenager, such as the youth who helped David in 1 Samuel 20:1. It can also mean offspring or descendants, like the children of Israel in Exodus 12:37.
Amplified meaning
youths, young people
Tyndale gloss
youth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יֶ֫לֶד (yeled) refers to a child, son, or youth, encompassing meanings like offspring and young man. It can also figuratively denote apostate Israelites. The word is derived from a root meaning something born, indicating its connection to birth and lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יֶ֫לֶד 89 n.m. child, son, boy, youth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3206 יֶ֫לֶד child, son, boy, youth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3206 yeled yeh'-led

from 3205; something born, i.e. a lad or offspring:--boy,

child, fruit, son, young man (one).

see HEBREW for 03205

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יֶ֫לֶד (ye.led) — youth.

1) child, son, boy, offspring, youth

1a) child, son, boy

1b) child, children

1c) descendants

1d) youth

1e) apostate Israelites (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
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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