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2 Samuel 1:21 — Word Study

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WLCהָרֵ֣י בַגִּלְבֹּ֗עַ אַל־ טַ֧ל וְאַל־ מָטָ֛ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם וּשְׂדֵ֣י תְרוּמֹ֑ת כִּ֣י שָׁ֤ם נִגְעַל֙ מָגֵ֣ן גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים מָגֵ֣ן שָׁא֔וּל בְּלִ֖י מָשִׁ֥יחַ בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃

BSAO mountainshar [hills, elevated lands] of GilboaGilbôaʻ may you haveʻal noʼal dewṭal [moisture, gentle rain] or rainmâṭar [water from the sky] no fieldssâdeh [plains, cultivated lands] [yielding] offerings [of grain]tᵉrûwmâh [contributions, sacrifices] Forkîy thereshâm [in that place, at that time] the shieldmâgên [protection, defense] of the mightygibbôwr [strong, valiant] was defiledgâʻal [abhorred, rejected] the shieldmâgên [protection, defense] of SaulShâʼûwl no longerbᵉlîy anointedmâshîyach [set apart, consecrated] with oilshemen [olive oil]

Word
Listen & take away2 Samuel 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 21 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 (ba.Sha.men) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Samuel 1:21quick helps
In a sentenceDavid mourns the fallen Saul and Jonathan, cursing the mountains of Gilboa for their lack of life.
Who is speakingDavid, expressing grief and lamentation over the death of Saul and Jonathan.
Where we areA lamentation following the battle at Mount Gilboa, where Saul and Jonathan died.
The hard wordנִגְעַל
Take awayThe mountains are cursed; the mighty shield is no longer anointed.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectטַל verbגָּעַל 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 Samuel 1:21

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 — David's Lament for Saul and Jonathangenerated

20Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

2 Samuel 1:21 captures David's sorrow over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, expressing a deep sense of loss and mourning. The mountains of Gilboa, where they fell, are cursed for their barrenness, symbolizing the devastation of their deaths. David’s lament emphasizes the significance of their lives and the tragedy of their demise, as seen in the surrounding verses that recount their valor and bond.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Samuel 31:1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
21 Chronicles 10:1–8Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
3Judges 5:23‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’
4Job 3:3–10“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’
5Isaiah 5:6I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word נִגְעַל, nig.'Algenerated

The verb נִגְעַל (nig'al) is in the Niphal stem, indicating a passive action, and means 'to be defiled' or 'to abhor.' It conveys a strong sense of rejection or disgust, particularly in this context where it refers to the shield of the mighty being treated with disdain.

This verb is used to express the gravity of the situation, as the shield — a symbol of protection and honor — is rendered defiled, reflecting the loss of dignity and the tragic fate of Saul, the once anointed king.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses defiled for נִגְעַל. The KJV and ASV also use 'defiled,' maintaining the sense of dishonor.

Where translations differ, they do so over the rendering of גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים. The BSB and WEB use mighty, while the DRA opts for valiant and the BBE for strong, showing a range of interpretations for the same Hebrew term.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses, with the first clause expressing a curse on the mountains of Gilboa and the second detailing the defilement of the shield. The structure emphasizes the lamentation and the reasons behind it, highlighting the connection between the land and the fate of its leaders.

The word order places emphasis on the mountains first, indicating their significance in the lament, followed by the reasons for the curse, which relate directly to the fallen heroes.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נִגְעַל as προσωξθίσθη, suggesting a strong interpretation of defilement. This choice reflects a broader understanding of the implications of dishonor associated with the shield of Saul.

The Greek term emphasizes the gravity of the defilement, aligning with the overall tone of mourning in David's lament.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Samuel 1:21 shows David mourning the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, cursing the mountains of Gilboa for being barren. He laments that the shield of the mighty has been defiled, indicating the loss of honor and dignity associated with Saul's death.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does David mean by cursing the mountains of Gilboa?

David curses the mountains because they witnessed the tragic events of Saul and Jonathan's deaths, symbolizing a loss of life and fertility in the land.

Why is the shield of Saul described as defiled?

The shield represents Saul's honor and protection, and its defilement signifies the disgrace brought upon him due to his death and the circumstances surrounding it.

What significance does the term 'anointed' have in this context?

The term 'anointed' refers to Saul's status as the king of Israel, set apart by God, and indicates the tragic fall from grace he experienced.

How does this verse reflect the themes of loss and mourning?

David's lament encapsulates the deep sorrow and mourning for the loss of Saul and Jonathan, highlighting the impact of their deaths on the land and its people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do we respond to loss and mourning in our own lives, as David did?
  2. What symbols in our lives represent honor and dignity, and how can they be affected by our actions?
  3. In what ways can we remember and honor those who have passed, as David did for Saul and Jonathan?
  4. How does the concept of anointing relate to our understanding of leadership and responsibility?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss themes of judgment and mercy in the context of David's lament for Saul and Jonathan.

Ambrose of MilanOn Cain and Abel 2.8.26 c. 339–397
Therefore, nature has justly bestowed judgment upon those places where patricide would occur by depriving them of the gift of her bounty, so that by the condemnation of an innocent land,
Early Church Fathers on 2 Samuel 1 →
Ambrose of MilanOn the Duties of the Clergy 3.9 c. 339–397
What a virtuous action was that when David wished rather to spare the king his enemy, though he could have injured him! How useful, too, it was, for it helped him when he succeeded to the throne.
Early Church Fathers on 2 Samuel 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 1:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Ye mountains of Gilboa,.... On which fell Saul and his sons, and many of the people of Israel, 2 Samuel 1:6; [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain upon you; which is not to understood as

Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you: this is no proper imprecation; which he had no reason to inflict upon those harmless mountains; but only a passionate representation of the horror which he conceived at this public loss; which was such, as if he thought every person or thing which contributed to it were fit to bear the tokens of Divine displeasure, such as this is, when the earth wants the blessed and necessary influences of dew and rain. Nor fields of offerings, i.e. fruitful fields, which may produce fair and goodly fruits fit to be offered unto God. The shield of the mighty; the shields of the valiant men of Israel. Vilely dishonourably; for it was a great…

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Samuel 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Samuel 1:21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.Ver. 21. Ye mountains of Gilboa.] A poetical exclamation, together with a hyperbolical imprecation-which possibly was as effectual as that of our Saviour pronounced upon the barren fig tree - in monumentum tanti mali, as a monument of this disastrous accident: the ground being clad in black as in mourning. Adrichomius and others say that these mountains of Gilboa are to this day rocky, dry, and barren: like unto which was Hesiod’ s country Ascra…

Read John Trapp on 2 Samuel 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) Nor fields of offerings.—This somewhat obscure expression seems to mean, “Let there not be upon you those fruitful fields from which may be gathered the offerings of first-fruits.” Of course, this malediction upon the mountains of Gilboa is to be understood as it was meant, only in a poetical sense. Vilely cast away.—Another sense of this word is defiled. The ancient versions, as well as modern commentators, adopt some one, and some the other meaning, either of which is appropriate. As though he had not been anointed.—This translation follows the Vulg., and makes a good sense = as though Saul had not been a king; but it is more than doubtful if the original can bear this construction.…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 21. As though he had not been] In stead of בלי beli, NOT, I read כלי keley, INSTRUMENTS. Anointed with oil.] See the observations at the end. 2 Samuel 1:18, c.: He bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow, kasheth. The word kasheth is to be understood of the title of the song which immediately follows, and not of the use of the bow, as our translation intimates. Many of David's Psalms have titles prefixed to them some are termed Shosannim, some Maschil, Nehiloth, Neginoth, c., and this one here, Kadesh or The Bow, because it was occasioned by the Philistine archers. 1 Samuel 31:3: "And the archers hit him." But especially respecting the bow of Jonathan, "which returned…

Read AdamClarke on 2 Samuel 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. let there be no dew, &c.] The language is poetical. Nature is as it were summoned to share in the mourning. The scene of such a terrible disaster should be unvisited by fertilizing dew and rain, and lie smitten with eternal barrenness. For the thought that nature can sympathize with man compare Ezekiel 31:15. nor fields of offerings] An expansion of the preceding thought. Gilboa should no longer possess fruitful fields, to produce tithes and offerings for Jehovah. The greatest curse which can befall it is to be cut off from rendering service to Jehovah. Compare the description of extreme famine in Joe 1:9. is vilely cast away] This rendering seems to be an attempt to combine two…

Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let there be no dew ... - For a similar passionate form of poetical malediction, compare Job 3:3-10; Jeremiah 20:14-18.

Read Albert Barnes on 2 Samuel 1 →

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

O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

NETBNew English Translation2006

O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither rain upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Ye mountaines of Gilboa, vpon you be neither dewe nor raine, nor be there fieldes of offrings: for there the shielde of the mightie is cast downe, the shielde of Saul, as though he had not bene anointed with oyle.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, no rain upon you, nor fields of heave-offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, [as] not anointed with oil.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, And fields of heave-offerings! For there hath become loathsome The shield of the mighty, The shield of Saul — without the anointed with oil.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Mountains of Gilboa! No dew nor rain be on you, || And fields of raised-offerings! For there has become loathsome || The shield of the mighty, || The shield of Saul—without the anointed with oil.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

O mountains of Gilboa', no dew, nor rain be upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was stained, the shield of Saul, as though it had not been anointed with oil.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Mountains of Gilboa, let there not be dew or rain on you, nor fields giving grain for offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled. The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with oil.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Ye mountains of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rain come upon you, neither be they fields of firstfruits: for there was cast away the shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you! May you have no fields that produce offerings of grain. For it was there that the shield of the mighty was defiled; Saul's shield, no longer cared for with olive oil.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, you fields of death: for there the arms of the strong have been shamed, the arms of Saul, as if he had not been marked with the holy oil.

Word by word, the decisions they made

גִּבּוֹרִ֔יםgi.bo.Rim [the] mighty [ones] H1368 2 different renderings
valiantDRA
strongBBE

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.

clauseclausenoun phraseהָרֵ֣יO.mountainsprepositional phraseבַinnoun phrase(the)גִּלְבֹּ֗עַGilboaclauseclauseadverbialאַלnotsubjectטַ֧לdewוְandclauseadverbialאַלnotsubjectמָטָ֛רrainprepositional phrase · predicateעֲלֵי[be].onכֶ֖םyouוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectשְׂדֵ֣יfieldsתְרוּמֹ֑תof.contributionsכִּ֣י(dm)clauseadverbialשָׁ֤םthereverbנִגְעַל֙it.was.defilednoun phrase · subjectמָגֵ֣ן[the].shieldגִּבּוֹרִ֔יםof.[the].mighty.[ones]clausenoun phrase · subjectמָגֵ֣ןthe.shieldשָׁא֔וּלof.Sauladverbialבְּלִ֖יnotverbמָשִׁ֥יחַ[was].anointedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּwithnoun phrase(the)שָּֽׁמֶןoil

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 in the wording of this verse, with all 19 words matching. This indicates a consistent transmission of the text regarding the lamentation of David.

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

הָרֵ֣י בַגִּלְבֹּ֗עַ אַל־ טַ֧ל וְאַל־ מָטָ֛ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם וּשְׂדֵ֣י תְרוּמֹ֑ת כִּ֣י שָׁ֤ם נִגְעַל֙ מָגֵ֣ן גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים מָגֵ֣ן שָׁא֔וּל בְּלִ֖י מָשִׁ֥יחַ בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הָרֵ֣יὄρηבַגִּלְבֹּ֗עַγελβουεאַל־μὴטַ֧לδρόσοςוְאַל־μὴמָטָ֛רὑετὸςעֲלֵיכֶ֖םὑμᾶςוּשְׂדֵ֣יἀγροὶתְרוּמֹ֑תἀπαρξῶνכִּ֣יὅτιשָׁ֤םἐκεῖנִגְעַל֙προσωξθίσθηמָגֵ֣ןθυρεὸςגִּבּוֹרִ֔יםδυνατῶνמָגֵ֣ןθυρεὸςשָׁא֔וּלσαουλבְּלִ֖יοὐκמָשִׁ֥יחַἐξρίσθηבַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃ἐλαίῳ

19 of the 19 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 Samuel 1:21הַרO mountainsO mountainsהַרגִּלְבֹּעַin Gilboain Gilboaגִּלְבֹּעַאַלmay notmay notאַלטַלdewdewטַלאַלand may notand may notאַלמָטַרrainrainמָטַרעַל[be] on you[be] on youעַלשָׂדַיand fields and fields ofשָׂדַיתְּרוּמָהcontributiocontributionsתְּרוּמָהכִּיforforכִּישָׁםtherethereשָׁםגָּעַלit was defiit was defiledגָּעַלמָגֵן[the] shiel[the] shield ofמָגֵןגִּבּוֹר[the] might[the] mighty [oגִּבּוֹרמָגֵן[the] shiel[the] shield ofמָגֵןשָׁאוּלSaulSaulשָׁאוּלבְּלִיnotnotבְּלִימָשִׁיחַ[was] anoin[was] anointedמָשִׁיחַשֶׁ֫מֶןwith oilwith oilשֶׁ֫מֶןגָּנַןto defendto defendגָּנַןגַּלheapheapגַּללֹאnotnotלֹאטָלַלto coverto coverטָלַלמָטַרto rainto rainמָטַררוּםto exaltto exaltרוּםבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהמָשַׁחto anointto anointמָשַׁחשָׁמֵןto grow fato grow fatשָׁמֵןהַרmountainmountainהַרעַלheightheightעַלאֲשֶׁרwhichwhichאֲשֶׁרגֶּ֫בֶרgreat mangreat manגֶּ֫בֶרשָׁאַלto askto askשָׁאַלחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאעֵ֫זֶרhelperhelperעֵ֫זֶרצִנָּהhookhookצִנָּה
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 Samuel 1:21

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.

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
הָרֵ֣יha.Rei O mountains H2022 Noun common · masculine plural construct
546× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Amplified meaning
hills, elevated lands
Tyndale gloss
mountain: mount
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

mountain, hill

hill-country, mountain-region

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2022 har har

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

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

promotion.

see HEBREW for 02042

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הַר (har) — mountain: mount.

: mount/hill

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.

: hill_country

hill, mountain, hill country, mount

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Are among the most sublime and impressive of the Creator’s works on earth, and from the noblest and most enduring monuments of great events. Most of the mountains of Scripture thus stand as witnesses for God—every view of their lofty summits, and every recurrence to them in thought reminding us of the sacred facts and truths connected with them. Thus Mount Ararat is a standing memorial of the deluge of man’s sin, God’s justice, and God’s mercy. Mount Sinai asserts the terrors of the divine law. Mount Carmel summons us, like the prophet Elijah of old, not to "halt between two opinions;" but if Jehovah is God, to love and serve him. The mount of the Transfiguration still shines with the glory of the truths there taught, and Mounts Ebal and Gerizim still echo the curses and the blessings once so solemnly pronounced from them. So Mount Hor, Nebo, Lebanon, and Gilboa have been signalized by…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- The elevated parts of the earth

Ge 7:19,20

- GOD

. Formed

Am 4:13

. Set fast

Ps 65:6

. Gives strength to

Ps 95:4

. Weighs, in a balance

Isa 40:12

. Waters, from his chambers

Ps 104:13

. Parches, with draught

Hag 1:11

. Causes, to smoke

Ps 104:32; 144:5

. Sets the foundations of, on fire

De 32:22

. Makes waste

Isa 42:15

. Causes, to tremble

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
בַגִּלְבֹּ֗עַva.gil.Bo.a' in Gilboa H1533 Preposition · noun proper
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mount Gilboa is a mountain in Palestine where Saul and Jonathan died. The name means swollen heap, and it is located near the plain of Jezreel. This mountain is significant in the Bible as the site of a major battle.
Tyndale gloss
(Mount) Gilboa
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּלְבֹּעַ (Gilboa) refers to a mountain ridge located at the southeastern end of the plain of Jezreel, known as the site of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. The name is interpreted as "swollen heap" and is derived from roots meaning "fountain of ebullition." The lexicons consistently identify it as a geographical location without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גִּלְבֹּעַ n.pr.loc. Gilboa‛ (derivation unknown), mountain-ridge at S.E. end of plain of Jezreel, where Saul & Jonathan were killed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1533 גִּלְבֹּעַ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1533 Gilboa` ghil-bo'-ah

from 1530 and 1158; fountain of ebullition; Gilboa, a

mountain of Palestine:--Gilboa.

see HEBREW for 01530

see HEBREW for 01158

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּלְבֹּעַ (gil.bo.a) — Gilboa.

§ Gilboa = "swollen heap"

a mountain-ridge at the southeastern end of the plain of Jezreel, site of the death of Saul and Jonathan

גִּלְבֹּעַ (gil.bo.a) — (Mount) Gilboa.

Gilboa = "swollen heap"

a mountain-ridge at the southeastern end of the plain of Jezreel, site of the death of Saul and Jonathan

Also named: gil.ad (גִּלְעָד "(Mount )Gilead" H1568K)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper
HRd/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Gilboa

Boiling spring, a mountain range, now Jebel Fukua’, memorable as the scene of Saul’s disastrous defeat by the Philistines. Here also his three sons were slain, and he himself died by his own hand (1 Sam. 28:4; 31:1-8; 2 Sam. 1:6-21; 21:12; 1 Chr. 10:1, 8). It was a low barren range of mountains bounding the valley of Esdraelon (Jezreel) on the east, between it and the Jordan valley. When the tidings of this defeat were conveyed to David, he gave utterance to those pathetic words in the “Song of the Bow” (2 Sam. 1:19-27).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(a bubbling spring) a mountain range on the eastern side of the plain of Esdraelon, rising over the city of Jezreel. Comp. (1 Samuel 28:4) with 1Sam 29:1 It is mentioned in Scripture only in connection with one event in Israelitish history, the defeat and death of Saul and Jonathan by the Philistines. (1 Samuel 31:11; 2 Samuel 1:6; 21:12; 1 Chronicles 10:1,8) Of the identity of Gilboa with the ridge which stretches eastward from the ruins of Jezreel no doubt can be entertained. The village is now called Jelbou .

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A mountainous ridge southeast of the Plain of Esdraelon, having on each side a valley connecting the great plain with the Jordan valley. The valley northeast of Gilboa is the proper Jezreel; that on the southwest side separates Gilboa from the hills of Samaria. On the eastern part of Gilboa was the town from which it was named, now Jelbon. In this vicinity Saul, and Jonathan were defeated by the Philistines, and died, 1Sa 28:4,25. It is now a dry and barren mountain, 2Sa 1:6,21. Endor lay north from Gilboa, and Beth- shean northeast.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

revolution of inquiry

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

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

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

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

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

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

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

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

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
טַ֧לtal dew H2919 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means dew, or the moisture that covers plants and grass overnight. It is often used to describe the natural world and the cycle of nature.
Amplified meaning
moisture, gentle rain
Tyndale gloss
dew
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טַל (tal) refers to 'dew' or 'night-mist' in Hebrew. It is derived from a root that suggests a covering over vegetation. The term is consistent across entries, with no significant disagreement noted among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טַל n.m. night-mist, dew

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2919 טַל night-mist, dew

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2919 tal tal

from 2926; dew (as covering vegetation):--dew.

see HEBREW for 02926

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טַל (tal) — dew.

dew, night mist

Aramaic equivalent: tal (טַל "dew" H2920)

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

du (Tal; drosos).

1. Formation of Dew:

Two things are necessary for the formation of dew, moisture and cold. In moist countries there is less dew because the change in temperature between day and night is too small. In the deserts where the change in temperature between day and night is sometimes as much as 40 degrees F., there is seldom dew because of lack of moisture in the atmosphere. Palestine is fortunate in being near the sea, so that there is always a large percentage of water vapor in the air. The skies are clear, and hence, there is rapid radiation beginning immediately after sunset, which cools the land and the air until the moisture is condensed and settles on cool objects. Air at a low temperature is not capable of holding as much water vapor in suspension as warm air. The ice pitcher furnishes an example of the formation of dew. Just as the drops of water form on the cool…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dew

“There is no dew properly so called in Palestine, for there is no moisture in the hot summer air to be chilled into dew-drops by the coldness of the night. From May till October rain is unknown, the sun shining with unclouded brightness day after day. The heat becomes intense, the ground hard, and vegetation would perish but for the moist west winds that come each night from the sea. The bright skies cause the heat of the day to radiate very quickly into space, so that the nights are as cold as the day is the reverse, a peculiarity of climate from which poor Jacob suffered thousands of years ago (Gen. 31:40). To this coldness of the night air the indispensable watering of all plant-life is due. The winds, loaded with moisture, are robbed of it as they pass over the land, the cold air condensing it into drops of water, which fall…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

This in the summer is so copious in Palestine that it supplies to some extent the absence of rain and becomes important to the agriculturist. Thus it is coupled in the divine blessing with rain, or mentioned as a prime source of fertility, (Genesis 27:28; 33:13; Zechariah 8:12) and its withdrawal is attributed to a curse. (2 Samuel 1:21; 1 Kings 17:1; Haggai 1:10) It becomes a leading object in prophetic imagery by reason of its penetrating moisture without the apparent effort of rain, (32:2; Job 29:19; Psalms…

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
וְאַל־ve.'al- and may not H408 Conjunction · particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

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

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

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

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

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

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

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

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
מָטָ֛רma.Tar rain H4306 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This noun simply means rain, describing the water that falls from the sky. It is a common weather phenomenon in the Bible, often used to symbolize God's blessing or judgment. Rain is essential for life and growth in the biblical world.
Amplified meaning
water from the sky
Tyndale gloss
rain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָטַר (matar) means 'rain' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word מָטַר (H4305), which also relates to rain. The entries consistently define it simply as rain, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4306 מָטַר rain

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4306 matar maw-tawr'

from 4305; rain:--rain.

see HEBREW for 04305

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָטַר (ma.tar) — rain.

rain

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

ran (maTar, Arabic (?), maTar, "rain" geshem, "heavy rain" moreh, "early rain," yoreh, "former rain," malqosh, "latter rain"; brecho, huetos):

1. Water-Supply in Egypt and Palestine:

In Egypt there is little or no rainfall, the water for vegetation being supplied in great abundance by the river Nile; but in Syria and Palestine there are no large rivers, and the people have to depend entirely on the fall of rain for water for themselves, their animals and their fields. The children of Israel when in Egypt were promised by Yahweh a land which "drinketh water of the rain of heaven" (De 11:11). Springs and fountains are found in most of the valleys, but the flow of the springs depends directly on the fall of rain or snow in the mountains.

2. Importance of Rain in Season:

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Rain

There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Hos. 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain. (2.) Melqosh, the “latter rain” (Prov. 16:15). (3.) Geshem, the winter rain, “the rains.” The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Gen. 7:12; Ezra 10:9; Cant. 2:11. The “early” or “former” rains commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of November (Deut. 11:14; Joel 2:23; comp.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

In the Bible "early rain" signifies the rain of the autumn, (11:14) and "latter rain" the rain of spring. (Proverbs 16:1,5) For six months in the year, from May to October, no rain falls, the whole land becomes dry, parched and brown. The autumnal rains are eagerly looked for, to prepare the earth for the reception of the seed. These, the early rains, commence about the latter end of October continuing through November and December. January and February are the coldest months, and snow falls, sometimes to the depth of a foot or more, at Jerusalem, but it does not lie long; it is very seldom seen along the coast and in the low plains. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March it is very rare in April. Robinson observes that there are not, at the present day, "any particular periods of rain or succession of showers…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Scripture the "early" and the "latter" rain of Palestine is spoken of, De 11:14 Ho 6:3. The former falls in the latter part of October, the seed-time of Palestine; and the weather then continues variable, with more or less rain the whole winter, until after the latter or spring rain in April. Afterwards, the weather becomes serene, and the crops ripen. The wheat harvest takes place in May; by the middle of August, the fruits are gathered in; and from that time to the coming of the first or October rains, prevail the scorching heats and droughts of summer. Nothing can more expressively represent spiritual blessings than copious showers of rain after this trying season is past, De 32:2

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם'a.lei.Khem [be] on you H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
וּשְׂדֵ֣יu.se.Dei and fields of H7704 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct
334× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A field or land is what this word represents, often referring to a flat area of land used for cultivation or as a habitat for wild animals, as described in the book of Genesis. It can also mean a plain or a country, as opposed to a mountain or sea. This term is used in the story of Ruth and Boaz.
Amplified meaning
plains, cultivated lands
Tyndale gloss
field
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂדַי (saday) and שָׂדֶה (sadeh) both refer to a field or land, encompassing cultivated areas, open fields, and regions opposed to mountains or seas. The terms can denote specific portions of ground and are associated with wildlife habitats. They derive from a root meaning to spread out, indicating flat, expansive areas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂדַי n.m. field, land

cultivated field

home of wild beasts

plain, opp. mt.

land, opp. sea

base

שָׂדֶה 819 n.m. id. [u.ak.ab]

(ordinary contr. form)open field, country

definite portion of ground, field, land

land, opp. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7704a שָׂדַי field, land . cultivated field

. home of wild beasts

. plain, opp. mt.

. land, opp. sea

H7704b שָׂדֶה id. [7704a] . open field, country

. definite portion of ground, field, land

. land, opp. sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7704 sadeh saw-deh'

or saday {saw-dah'-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread

out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil,

X wild.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — Sirion.

This name means field, land, plain

Another spelling of cher.mon (חֶרְמוֹן "(Mount )Hermon" H2768)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: soil.

: soil

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: country.

: country/field

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — Field (of the Launderer).

Combined with ka.vas (כָּבַס "Washer's" H3526)

This name means field, land

שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: wildlife.

: wild(animals/plants)

1) field, land

1a) open field, country

1b) definite portion of ground, field, land

1c) land (opposed to sea)

שָׂדַי (sa.day) — field.

1) field, land

1a) cultivated field

1b) of home of wild beasts

1c) plain (opposed to mountain)

1d) land (opposed to sea)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct
HC/Ncmpc
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…

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
תְרוּמֹ֑תte.ru.Mot contributions H8641 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
76× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a contribution or offering given to God, often as part of a sacrifice or tribute. It appears in Leviticus and Numbers, where it describes the gifts the Israelites gave to God. This word highlights the importance of giving to God.
Amplified meaning
contributions, sacrifices
Tyndale gloss
contribution
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תְּרוּמָה (terumah) refers to a contribution or offering, particularly for sacred purposes. It denotes something that is lifted or separated, often associated with sacrifices or tributes to God. The term appears primarily in later texts, with a notable reference in Deuteronomy 12:11. It encompasses various forms of offerings, including grain and monetary gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּרוּמָה n.f. contribution, offering, for sacred uses (not certain before Dt.; chiefly EzP and late) (prop. something lifted off, separated)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8641 תְּרוּמָה contribution, offering, for sacred uses (not certain before Dt.; chiefly EzP and late) (prop. something lifted off, separated)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8641 truwmah ter-oo-maw'

or trumah (Deut. 12:11) {ter-oo-maw'}; from 7311; a present

(as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute:--

gift, heave offering ((shoulder)), oblation, offered(-ing).

see HEBREW for 07311

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּרוּמָה (te.ru.mah) — contribution.

1) contribution, offering

1a) a heave offering

1b) any offering

1c) an offering to God

1d) an offering (of grain, money, etc)

1e) contribution

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
כִּ֣יki for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

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

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

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

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

that if

for if

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

limiting the prec. clause, except

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

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

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

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

. Because, since

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

. for if

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

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

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

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

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
שָׁ֤םsham there H8033 Adverb
834× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Amplified meaning
in that place, at that time
Tyndale gloss
there
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁם adv. there, thither

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8033 שָׁם there, thither

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8033 sham shawm

a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or

thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +

thither, + whither.

see HEBREW for 0834

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁם (sham) — there.

1) there, thither

1a) there

1b) thither (after verbs of motion)

1c) from there, thence

1d) then (as an adverb of time)

Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)

שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.

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

This name means there, thither

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
נִגְעַל֙nig.'Al it was defiled H1602 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To abhor means to strongly dislike or reject something. In the Bible, it is used to describe a strong feeling of hatred or disgust. People may abhor evil or sinful things, and God may abhor wickedness.
Amplified meaning
abhorred, rejected
Tyndale gloss
to abhor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּעַל (ga'al) means to abhor or loathe. It is a primitive root that conveys a strong sense of rejection or detestation. The verb appears in various forms: in the Qal stem, it means to abhor; in the Niphal, it can imply being defiled; and in the Hiphil, it refers to rejecting something as loathsome.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גָּעַל] vb. abhor, loathe

Qal abhor, loathe

Niph. the shield of heroes was defiled

Hiph. and doth not curse, or allow, (the cow) to reject as loathsome

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1602 גָּעַל abhor, loathe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1602 ga`al gaw-al'

a primitive root; to detest; by implication, to

reject:--abhor, fail, lothe, vilely cast away.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּעַל (ga.al) — to abhor.

1) to abhor, loathe, be vilely cast away, fall

1a) (Qal) to abhor, loathe

1b) (Niphal) to be defiled

1c) (Hiphil) to reject as loathsome, show aversion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVNp3ms
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
מָגֵ֣ןma.Gen [the] shield of H4043 Noun common · masculine singular construct
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A shield in biblical times, this word also symbolizes protection, like God being a shield to those who trust in Him, as seen in Psalm 3:3. It can also refer to a ruler or leader who defends their people.
Amplified meaning
protection, defense
Tyndale gloss
shield
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָגֵן (magen) means 'shield' and can refer to both a small shield or buckler and a figurative protector. It can also denote the scaly hide of a crocodile. The word is feminine in plural form, מִגִּנָּה (mginnah), and is derived from a root meaning to cover or protect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָגֵן n.m. & f. shield

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4043 מָגֵן shield

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4043 magen maw-gane'

also (in plural) feminine mginnah {meg-in-naw'}; from 1598; a

shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a

protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile:--X armed,

buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield.

see HEBREW for 01598

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָגֵן (ma.gen) — shield.

shield, buckler

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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…

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
גִּבּוֹרִ֔יםgi.bo.Rim [the] mighty [ones] H1368 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
159× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a strong or mighty man, like a warrior or champion, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:51 where David defeats Goliath. It can also imply a brave or valiant person.
Amplified meaning
strong, valiant
Tyndale gloss
mighty man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּבּוֹר (gibbor) means strong or mighty, and can refer to a powerful person, such as a warrior or chief. It is built from a root that implies strength and valor, covering meanings related to strength and bravery. The entries consistently emphasize its use to describe a strong man or mighty figure.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גִּבּוֹר 159 adj. strong, mighty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1368 גִּבּוֹר strong, mighty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1368 gibbowr ghib-bore'

or (shortened) gibbor {ghib-bore'}; intensive from the same

as 1397; powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant:--

champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one),

strong (man), valiant man.

see HEBREW for 01397

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּבּוֹר (gib.bor) — mighty man.

adj

1) strong, mighty

n m

2) strong man, brave man, mighty man

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
מָגֵ֣ןma.Gen [the] shield of H4043 Noun common · masculine singular construct
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A shield in biblical times, this word also symbolizes protection, like God being a shield to those who trust in Him, as seen in Psalm 3:3. It can also refer to a ruler or leader who defends their people.
Amplified meaning
protection, defense
Tyndale gloss
shield
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָגֵן (magen) means 'shield' and can refer to both a small shield or buckler and a figurative protector. It can also denote the scaly hide of a crocodile. The word is feminine in plural form, מִגִּנָּה (mginnah), and is derived from a root meaning to cover or protect.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָגֵן n.m. & f. shield

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4043 מָגֵן shield

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4043 magen maw-gane'

also (in plural) feminine mginnah {meg-in-naw'}; from 1598; a

shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a

protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile:--X armed,

buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield.

see HEBREW for 01598

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָגֵן (ma.gen) — shield.

shield, buckler

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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…

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
שָׁא֔וּלsha.'Ul Saul H7586 Noun proper masculine
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shaul is a personal name meaning desired, given to several individuals in the Bible, including a Benjamite who became the first king of Israel and a Levite living during the time of the Divided Monarchy. He is mentioned in 1 Chronicles and 1 Samuel.
Tyndale gloss
Shaul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאוּל (Sha'uwl) means 'asked' and is associated with several figures in the Old Testament, most notably Saul, the first king of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin. The entries indicate that the name can refer to multiple individuals, including an early king of Edom and a Levite. The name is derived from a passive participle form, suggesting a connection to the act of asking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאוּל n.pr.m. (= asked)

397 1st king of Isr.

a king of Edom

a son of Simeon

a Levite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7586 שָׁאוּל (= asked)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7586 Sha'uwl shaw-ool'

passive participle of 7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an

Edomite and two Israelites:--Saul, Shaul.

see HEBREW for 07592

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Saul.

A king of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2;

son of: Kish (H7027); married to Ahinoam (H0293) and Rizpah (H7532);

father of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764), Michal (H4324), Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764), Mephibosheth (H4648H)

§ Saul or Shaul = "desired"

1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel

2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah

3) a son of Simeon

4) a Levite, son of Uzziah

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) — Shaul.

A man of the tribe of Simeon living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.10;

son of: Simeon (H8095) and Canaanite_woman (H3669);

brother of: Jemuel (H3223), Jamin (H3226), Ohad (H0161), Jachin (H3199) and Zerah (H2226L);

father of: Shallum (H7967K)

Also named: sha.u.li (שָׁאוּלִי "Shaulite" H7587)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sol (sha'ul; Saoul):

(1) The first king of Israel.

I. EARLY HISTORY

1. Name and Meaning

2. Genealogy

3. Home and Station

4. Sources for Life

5. Election as King

6. Reasons for It

II. REIGN AND FALL

1. His First Action

2. Army Reorganized

3. Battle of Michmash

4. Defeats the Amalekites

5. Deposition Pronounced

6. David Introduced to Saul

7. Two Accounts

8. Saul's Envy of David

9. Attempts to Get Rid of David

10. David Spares Saul

11. Saul's Divided Energies

12. Consults a Necromancer

13. Battle of Gilboa

14. Double Accounts

15. Saul's Posterity

III. CHARACTER

1. Book of Chronicles

2. Saul's Failings

3. His Virtue

4. David's Elegy

I. Early History.

1. Name and Meaning:

The name Saul is usually regarded as simply the passive participle of the verb "to ask," and so meaning "asked" (compare 1Sa 8:4 ff), but the gentilic adjective sha'uli (

Saul

Asked for. (1.) A king of Edom (Gen. 36:37, 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48.

(2.) The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, “asked for”), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in 1 Sam. 8-10. His father’s she-asses had strayed, and Saul was sent with a servant to seek for them. Leaving his home at Gibeah (10:5, “the hill of God,” A.V.; lit., as in R.V. marg., “Gibeah of God”), Saul and his servant went toward the north-west over Mount Ephraim, and then turning north-east they came to “the land of Shalisha,” and thence eastward to the land of Shalim, and at length came to the district of Zuph, near Samuel’s home at Ramah (9:5-10). At this point…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(desired), more accurately Shaul. One of the early kings of Edom, and successor of Samlah. (Genesis 36:37,38; 1 Chronicles 1:48) (B.C. after 1450.) The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. (B.C, 1095-1055.) His character is in part illustrated by the fierce, wayward, fitful nature of the tribe and in part accounted for by the struggle between the old and new systems in which he found himself involved. To this we must add a taint of madness. which broke out in violent frenzy at times leaving him with long lucid intervals. He was remarkable for his strength and activity, (2 Samuel 1:25) and, like the Homeric heroes, of gigantic stature, taller by head and shoulders than the rest of the people, and…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Israelites, anointed by Samuel, B. C. 1091, and after a reign of forty years filled with various events, slain with his sons on Mount Gilboa. He was succeeded by David, who was his son-in-law, and whom he had endeavored to put to death. His history is contained in 1Sa 10:1-31:13. It is a sad and admonitory narrative. The morning of his reign was bright with special divine favors, both providential, and spiritual, 1Sa 9:20 10:1-11,24,25. But he soon began to disobey God, and was rejected as unworthy to found a line of kings; his sins and misfortunes multiplied, and his sun went down in gloom. In his first war with the Ammonites, God was with him; but then follow his presumptuous sacrifice, in the absence of Samuel…

O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
בְּלִ֖יbe.Li not H1097 Noun common · masculine singular construct
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means without or nothing, often used for negation. It appears in various forms, such as without or not yet, in the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
without
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּלִי (bli) refers to a state of wearing out or destruction, and serves as an adverb of negation meaning 'without' or 'not.' It is derived from the root meaning failure and can indicate absence or lack in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence

fig. destruction

defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1097 בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence . fig. destruction

. defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1097 bliy bel-ee'

from 1086; properly, failure, i.e. nothing or destruction;

usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as

long as, etc.:--corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where

no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without.

see HEBREW for 01086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּלִי (be.li) — without.

subst

1) wearing out

adv of negation

2) without, no, not

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
מָשִׁ֥יחַma.Shi.ach [was] anointed H4899 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Messiah means anointed one, referring to a king, priest, or the Messiah in the Bible. It describes someone set apart for a special purpose. The term is used in the Old Testament to describe kings and priests, and in the New Testament to describe Jesus.
Amplified meaning
set apart, consecrated
Tyndale gloss
anointed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָשִׁיחַ (mashiyach) means 'anointed' and refers to a consecrated person, such as a king, priest, or saint. It specifically denotes the Messiah and includes figures like the king of Israel, the high priest, and even Cyrus. The term encompasses various anointed roles in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָשִׁיחַ n.m. anointed

king of Israel anointed by divine command

high priest of Israel

Cyrus as commissioned by י׳

Messianic prince

patriarchs, regarded as anointed kings

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4899 מָשִׁיחַ anointed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4899 mashiyach maw-shee'-akh

from 4886; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king,

priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah:--anointed,

Messiah.

see HEBREW for 04886

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָשִׁיחַ (ma.shi.ach) — anointed.

1) anointed, anointed one

1a) of the Messiah, Messianic prince

1b) of the king of Israel

1c) of the high priest of Israel

1d) of Cyrus

1e) of the patriarchs as anointed kings

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
O mountains in Gilboa may not dew and may not rain [be] on you and fields of contributions for there it was defiled [the] shield of [the] mighty [ones] [the] shield of Saul not [was] anointed with oil
בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃ba.Sha.men with oil H8081 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Amplified meaning
olive oil
Tyndale gloss
oil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8081 shemen sheh'-men

from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,

often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat

(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

see HEBREW for 08080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)

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

oil (shemen; elaion):

1. Terms

2. Production and Storage

3. Uses

(1) As a Commodity of Exchange

(2) As a Cosmetic

(3) As a Medicine

(4) As a Food

(5) As an Illuminant

(6) In Religious Rites

(a) Consecration

(b) Offerings

(c) Burials

4. Figurative Uses

Shemen, literally, "fat," corresponds to the common Arabic senin of similar meaning, although now applied to boiled butter fat.

1. Terms:

Another Hebrew word, zayith (zeth), "olive," occurs with shemen in several passages (Ex 27:20; 30:24; Le 24:2). The corresponding Arabic zeit, a contraction of zeitun, which is the name for the olive tree as well as the fruit, is now applied to oils in general, to distinguish them from solid fats. Zeit usually means olive oil, unless some qualifying name indicates another oil. A corresponding use was made of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Oil

Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (

Was employed from the earliest periods in the east, not only for the purpose of consecration, but to anoint the head, the beard, and the whole person in daily life, Ge 28:18. See ANOINTING. It was also universally used for food, Eze 16:13. Fresh and sweet olive oil was greatly preferred to butter and animal fat as a seasoning for food, and to this day in Syria almost every kind of food is cooked with oil. It had a place also among the meat-offerings in the temple, being usually mixed with the meal of the oblation, Le 5:11 6:21. For lamps, also, pure olive oil was regarded as the best, and was used in illuminating the tabernacle. These many uses for oil made the culture of the olive-tree an extensive and lucrative business,

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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