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2 Samuel 12:26 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּלָּ֣חֶם יוֹאָ֔ב בְּרַבַּ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד אֶת־ עִ֥יר הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃

BSAMeanwhile, JoabYôwʼâb [Jehovah is father, King David's nephew] foughtlâcham [to battle against, consume with warfare] against RabbahRabbâh [great, a city in Palestine] of the Ammonitesbên [descendants of Lot, a Transjordan nation] and capturedlâkad [to seize, take control of] the royalmᵉlûwkâh [king's, related to kingship] fortressʻîyr [city, a place with a wall or watchman]

Word
Listen & take away2 Samuel 12
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 26 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ha.me.lu.Khah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Samuel 12:26quick helps
In a sentenceJoab battles against Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, and successfully captures the royal fortress.
Who is speakingJoab, King David's nephew and military commander.
Where we areThis verse describes a significant military action during King David's reign.
The hard wordלָחַם
Take awayThe capture of Rabbah marks a critical victory in the ongoing conflicts with the Ammonites.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיוֹאָב verbלָחַם 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 12:26

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

Context — The Siege of Rabbahgenerated

25and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.
26Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.
27Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city.
28Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”

2 Samuel 12:26 recounts Joab's military campaign against Rabbah, a significant city of the Ammonites. This event highlights Joab's role as a commander under King David, showcasing the ongoing conflicts faced by Israel during this period. The capture of the royal fortress signifies a pivotal moment in the struggle for dominance in the region, as seen in the context of surrounding verses that detail the aftermath of this victory.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Samuel 11:25Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
21 Chronicles 20:1In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, Joab led out the army and ravaged the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and demolished it.

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


The Key Word לָחַם, vai.yi.La.chemgenerated

The verb לָחַם (lacham) is a Niphal form meaning 'to fight' or 'to do battle.' It conveys the act of engaging in combat, often implying a fierce struggle. The root of this word can also mean 'to consume,' which reflects the intensity of warfare as a consuming force.

In this verse, it signifies Joab's active engagement in battle against the Ammonites, emphasizing the military aspect of his role. The use of this verb indicates not just a physical confrontation but also the broader implications of conflict within the historical narrative of Israel.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יִּלָּ֣חֶם (he fought) governs the sentence, with two phrases attached: a prepositional phrase indicating the target of the battle and a second verb phrase describing the action of capturing. The structure emphasizes Joab's active role in the conflict.

The Hebrew word order places the subject, Joab, prominently at the beginning, establishing him as the focus of the action. The sequential imperfect tense indicates ongoing action, suggesting a continuous struggle.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates לָחַם as ἐπολέμησεν (epolēmēsen), which means 'to wage war.' This choice reflects a direct engagement in battle, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizing the warfare aspect more explicitly.

The translation of בְּרַבַּ֖ת as ραββαθ indicates a consistent recognition of Rabbah as a significant location, maintaining its importance in the narrative.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Samuel 12:26 describes Joab fighting against the city of Rabbah, which belonged to the Ammonites. He successfully captured the royal fortress, marking a significant victory for Israel. This event illustrates Joab's role as a military leader during King David's reign.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who was Joab?

Joab was the nephew of King David and served as his military commander, playing a crucial role in many battles throughout David's reign.

What is Rabbah?

Rabbah was the capital city of the Ammonites, known for its significance in the conflicts between Israel and the Ammonites.

What does the term 'royal fortress' imply?

The term 'royal fortress' refers to a fortified city that serves as a stronghold for the king, indicating its importance in military strategy.

What can we learn from Joab's actions?

Joab's actions demonstrate the importance of leadership and strategy in military conflicts, as well as the ongoing struggles faced by Israel during this period.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does Joab's military leadership reflect on King David's reign?
  2. What are the implications of capturing a city like Rabbah for Israel?
  3. In what ways does this verse illustrate the ongoing conflicts in the region?
  4. How can we apply the lessons of leadership and strategy from Joab's actions to our own lives?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Samuel 12:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon,.... Of his being sent against it, and of his besieging it, we read in 2 Samuel 11:1; but it can hardly be thought that he had been so long

Read John Gill on 2 Samuel 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. Joab fought against Rabbah.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Samuel 12 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

i.e. That part of the city where was the king’ s palace, where he ordinarily resided; though now it seems he was retired to a strong fort.

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Samuel 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2 Samuel 12:26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.Ver. 26. And took the royal city.] He had well nigh taken it after a twelve month’ s siege. David’ s sin at home had hindered Joab’ s good success abroad, and retarded the conquest of this city of Rabbah, which now is ready to be taken, that David reconciled to God may have the honour of it: whom therefore Joab desireth to speed away with fresh forces.

Read John Trapp on 2 Samuel 12 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) Took the royal city.—The parallel narrative is resumed at this point in 1 Chronicles 20:2. Rabbah was situated in the narrow valley of the upper Jabbok, on both sides of the stream, but with its citadel on the cliff on the northern side. The “royal city” of this verse, and “the city of waters” of the next, refer probably to the city proper, while the “city” of 2 Samuel 12:28-29 is no doubt the citadel, which was more strongly fortified.

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Samuel 12 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 26. And took the royal city.] How can this be, when Joab sent to David to come to take the city, in consequence of which David did come and take that city? The explanation seems to be this: Rabbah was composed of a city and citadel; the former, in which was the king's residence, Joab had taken, and supposed he could soon render himself master of the latter, and therefore sends to David to come and take it, lest, he taking the whole, the city should be called after his name.

Read AdamClarke on 2 Samuel 12 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

26–31. Capture of Rabbah = 1 Chronicles 20:1-3

Read Cambridge on 2 Samuel 12 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

OF RABBAH, 2 Samuel 12:26-30. 89504e470d0a1a0a0000000d4948445200000338000002660803000000a7a1d58300000300504c5445000000fffffffefefe

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 2 Samuel 12 →

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

Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then Ioab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and tooke the citie of the kingdome.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Joab fighteth against Rabbah of the Bene-Ammon, and captureth the royal city,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Joab fights against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and captures the royal city,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of 'Ammon, and captured the royal city.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and he captured the royal city.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Joab fought against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and laid close siege to the royal city.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

At this time Joab had been fighting against the Ammonite town of Rabbah, and had captured the royal fortress.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Now Joab was fighting against Rabbah, in the land of the children of Ammon, and he took the water-town.

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּלָּ֣חֶםhe.foughtsubjectיוֹאָ֔בJoabprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּagainstnoun phraseרַבַּ֖תRabbahnoun phraseבְּנֵ֣יof.the.peopleעַמּ֑וֹןof.Ammonוַandclauseverbיִּלְכֹּ֖דhe.capturednoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseעִ֥ירthe.citynoun phraseהַof.(the)מְּלוּכָֽהroyalty

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads: וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם יוֹאָ֔ב בְּרַבַּ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד אֶת־ עִ֥יר הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃. The Septuagint closely matches this text, with only minor differences in word order, confirming the consistency of the narrative across these ancient witnesses.

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

וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם יוֹאָ֔ב בְּרַבַּ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד אֶת־ עִ֥יר הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּלָּ֣חֶםἐπολέμησενיוֹאָ֔בιωαβבְּרַבַּ֖תραββαθבְּנֵ֣יυἱῶνעַמּ֑וֹןαμμωνוַיִּלְכֹּ֖דκατέλαβενעִ֥ירπόλινהַמְּלוּכָֽה׃βασιλείας

8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

2 Samuel 12:26לָחַםand he fougand he foughtלָחַםיוֹאָבJoabJoabיוֹאָברַבָּהagainst Rabagainst Rabbah רַבָּהבֵּן[the] peopl[the] people ofבֵּןעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןלָכַדand he captand he capturedלָכַדאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעִיר[the] city [the] city ofעִירמְלוּכָהroyaltyroyaltyמְלוּכָהיהוהThe LordThe Lordיהוהבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהעַםAmawAmawעַםאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּררַבmanymanyרַבמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁפְּלִשְׁתִּי(Sea of th(Sea of the) PhפְּלִשְׁתִּיצְרוּיָהZeruiahZeruiahצְרוּיָהעֲשָׂהאֵלAsahelAsahelעֲשָׂהאֵלתְּרוּעָהshoutshoutתְּרוּעָהרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןחָנוּןHanunHanunחָנוּןרַבָּהRabbahRabbahרַבָּהלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַםלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַד
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 12:26

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 fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
וַיִּלָּ֣חֶםvai.yi.La.chem and he fought H3898 Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
177× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to feed on or consume something, often referring to eating food or battling against someone. It's used in stories like David's battles and the Israelites' struggles in the wilderness.
Amplified meaning
to battle against, consume with warfare
Tyndale gloss
to fight
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָחַם (lacham) has two primary meanings: to fight or do battle, and to eat or use as food. It is a primitive root that conveys both the act of engaging in combat and the act of consuming food. The entries indicate that the word can imply destruction in the context of battle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לָחַם] 171 vb. fight, do battle

Qal fight, do battle

Niph. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

base

[לָחַם] vb. use as food, eat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3898a לָחַם fight, do battle .fight, do battle

. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war

H3898b לָחַם use as food, eat

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3898 lacham law-kham'

a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by

implication, to battle (as destruction):--devour, eat, X ever,

fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָחַם (la.cham) — to fight.

1) to fight, do battle, make war

1a) (Qal) to fight, do battle

1b) (Niphal) to engage in battle, wage war

לָחַם (la.cham) — to feed on.

(Qal) to eat, use as food

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/VNw3ms
and he fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
יוֹאָ֔בyo.'Av Joab H3097 Noun proper masculine
145× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Joab was a prominent Israelite, his name means Jehovah is father. He was King David's nephew and army general, playing a key role in the Bible, including in the books of Samuel and Kings.
Amplified meaning
Jehovah is father, King David's nephew
Tyndale gloss
Joab
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹאָב (Yow'ab) means 'Jehovah is father' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, primarily Joab, the nephew of King David and commander of his army. The name is built from elements meaning 'Jehovah' and 'father.' Joab is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 26:6, and other references include genealogical mentions during and after the exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹאָב n.pr.m. (י׳ is father)

David’s sister’s son & captain of host

a descendant of Judah

a family-name after exile

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3097 יוֹאָב

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3097 Yow'ab yo-awb'

from 3068 and 1; Jehovah-fathered; Joab, the name of three

Israelites:--Joab.

see HEBREW for 03068

see HEBREW for 01

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹאָב (yo.av) — Joab.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.26.6; his mother was Zeruiah (H6870);

brother of: Abishai (H0052) and Asahel (H6214)

§ Joab = "Jehovah is father"

1) son of David's sister Zeruiah and general of David's army

2) a Judaite descendant of Kenaz

3) a post exilic family

יוֹאָב (yo.av) — Joab.

A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.14;

son of: Seraiah (H8304J)

§ Joab = "Jehovah is father"

1) son of David's sister Zeruiah and general of David's army

2) a Judaite descendant of Kenaz

3) a post exilic family

יוֹאָב (yo.av) — Joab.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.6;

son of: Pahath-moab (H6355);

brother of: Jeshua (H3442I)

§ Joab = "Jehovah is father"

1) son of David's sister Zeruiah and general of David's army

2) a Judaite descendant of Kenaz

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

jo'-ab (yo'-abh, "Yahweh is father"; Ioab):

(1) Son of Zeruiah, David's sister. He was "captain of the host" (compare 2Sa 19:13) under David.

1. Joab and Abner:

(a) Joab is first introduced in the narrative of the war with Abner, who supported the claims of Ishbosheth to the throne against those of David (2Sa 2:8-3:1). The two armies met, and on Abner's suggestion a tournament took place between 12 men from each side; a general engagement follows, and in this Joab's army is victorious. Asahel, Joab's brother, is killed in his pursuit of Abner, but the latter's army is sorely pressed, and he appeals to Joab for a cessation of hostilities. Joab calls a halt, but declares that he would not cease had Abner not made his plea.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Joab

Jehovah is his father. (1.) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign (2 Sam. 2:13; 10:7; 11:1; 1 Kings 11:15). His father’s name is nowhere mentioned, although his sepulchre at Bethlehem is mentioned (2 Sam. 2:32). His two brothers were Abishai and Asahel, the swift of foot, who was killed by Abner (2 Sam. 2:13-32), whom Joab afterwards treacherously murdered (3:22-27). He afterwards led the assault at the storming of the fortress on Mount Zion, and for this service was raised to the rank of “prince of the king’s army” (2 Sam. 5:6-10;

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and brother of Abishai and Asahel, was the commander of David’s army during almost the whole of his reign, 2Sa 5:6-10. He was a valiant warrior, and an able general; and his great influence on public affairs was often exerted for good, as in the rebellion of Absalom, and the numbering of Israel, 2Sa 18:1-19:42 24:1-25. But as a man he was imperious, revengeful, and unscrupulous: witness his treacherous assassination of Abner, and of his cousin Amasa, 2Sa 3:27 20:9-10; his bearing towards David, 2Sa 3:39 19:5, and connivance with him in the matter of Uriah; his slaying Absalom, and conspiring with Adonijah against the divinely appointed heir to…

and he fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
בְּרַבַּ֖תbe.ra.Bat against Rabbah of H7237 Preposition
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Rabbah is a place name in the Bible, referring to two cities in Palestine. It means great and is used to describe the capital city of the Ammonites, located east of the Jordan River. The KJV translates it as Rabbah or Rabbath.
Amplified meaning
great, a city in Palestine
Tyndale gloss
Rabbah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַבָּה (Rabba) primarily means 'great' or 'populous' and refers to a city, specifically the capital of the Ammonites located east of the Jordan River. It is also noted as a city in Judah. The word is feminine and derives from another Hebrew term indicating greatness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַבָּה n.pr.loc. Rabba (prop. great or populous, sc. city)

capital of Ammonites

city in Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7237 רַבָּה Rabba (prop. great or populous, sc. city)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7237 Rabbah rab-baw'

feminine of 7227; great; Rabbah, the name of two places in

Palestine, East and West:--Rabbah, Rabbath.

see HEBREW for 07227

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַבָּה (rab.bah) — Rabbah.

Rabbath = "great"

the capital city of the Ammonites located east of the Jordan

Another name of am.mon (עַמּוֹן "Ammon" H5983)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-proper — Preposition
HR/Aafsc
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 fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei [the] people of H1121 Noun common · masculine plural construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Amplified meaning
descendants of Lot, a Transjordan nation
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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 fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
עַמּ֑וֹןa.Mon Ammon H5983 Noun proper masculine
106× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ammon refers to a son of Lot and his descendants, who lived in Transjordan. The Ammonites are mentioned in the Bible as a distinct people. They appear in the book of Genesis and are also referenced in the history of the Israelites.
Tyndale gloss
Ammon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַמּוֹן (Ammon) refers to a people descended from Lot, specifically through his son Ben-ammi. The term is associated with the Ammonites and their territory in Transjordan. It is derived from a root meaning 'tribal' or 'inbred.' The entries consistently identify Ammon as both a person and a group.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַמּוֹן 106 n.pr.gent. Ammon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5983 עַמּוֹן Ammon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5983 `Ammown am-mone'

from 5971; tribal, i.e. inbred; Ammon, a son of Lot; also his

posterity and their country:--Ammon, Ammonites.

see HEBREW for 05971

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַמּוֹן (am.mon) — Ammon.

§ Ammon = "tribal"

a people dwelling in Transjordan descended from Lot through Ben-ammi

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ammon

Another form of the name Ben-ammi, the son of Lot (Gen. 19:38). This name is also used for his posterity (Ps. 83:7).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(sons of renown, mountaineers), Am’monites, Children of Ammon, A people descended from Ben-ammi, the son of Lot by his younger daughter. (Genesis 19:38) comp Psal 83:7,8 The Ammonites are frequently mentioned with the Moabites (descendants of Ben-ammi’s half-brother), and sometimes under the same name. Comp. (Judges 10:6; 2 Chronicles 20:1; Zephaniah 2:8) etc. The precise position of the territory of the Ammonites is not ascertainable. In the earliest mention of them, (2:20) they are said to have dwelt in their place, Jabbok being their border. (Numbers 21:24; 2:37; 3:16) (i.e. Land or country is, however, but rarely…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

a people; the son of my people

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See BEN-AMMI

and he fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
וַיִּלְכֹּ֖דvai.yil.Kod and he captured H3920 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
121× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to capture or seize, often using a net or trap. In the Bible, it is used to describe taking control of something or someone, and is also used figuratively to describe being caught or stuck in a situation.
Amplified meaning
to seize, take control of
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָכַד (lakad) means to capture, seize, or take, often by lot. It can refer to catching in a net or trap, as well as figuratively to describe things sticking together. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to capture), Niphal (to be captured), and Hithpael (to grasp each other).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָכַד 121 vb. capture, seize, take (by lot)

Qal

capture, seize

fig. of entrapping men

of taking by lot

Niph.

be captured in war

of men, be caught

be taken by lot

Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3920 lakad law-kad'

a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit);

generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot);

figuratively, to cohere:--X at all, catch (self), be frozen,

be holden, stick together, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.

1) to capture, take, seize

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to capture, seize

1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.)

1a3) to take (by lot)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
עִ֥יר'ir [the] city of H5892 Noun common · feminine singular construct
1,090× 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 city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
city, a place with a wall or watchman
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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 fought Joab against Rabbah of [the] people of Ammon and he captured the object marker [the] city of royalty
הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃ha.me.lu.Khah royalty H4410 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Melukah refers to a kingdom or realm, describing a king's domain or territory. It is related to the concept of royalty and kingship in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
king's, related to kingship
Tyndale gloss
kingship
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְלוּכָה (mluḵāh) refers to kingship or royalty and is derived from a feminine passive participle of the root word for ruling. It encompasses concepts related to a realm or kingly office, as noted in various lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְלוּכָה n.f. kingship, royalty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4410 מְלוּכָה kingship, royalty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4410 mluwkah mel-oo-kaw'

feminine passive participle of 4427; something ruled, i.e. a

realm:--kingsom, king's, X royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְלוּכָה (me.lu.khah) — kingship.

kingship, royalty, kingly office

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
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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