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Amos 8:4 — Word Study

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WLCשִׁמְעוּ־ זֹ֕את הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים אֶבְי֑וֹן וְלַשְׁבִּ֖ית עֲנִיֵּי אָֽרֶץ׃

BSAHearshâmaʻ [listen attentively, obey] thiszôʼth you who trampleshâʼaph [crush, swallow up] the needyʼebyôwn [poor, oppressed] who do away withshâbath [cause to cease, destroy] the poorʻânâv [humble, afflicted] of the landʼerets [earth, territory]

Word
Listen & take awayAmos 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 ('A.retz) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Amos 8:4quick helps
In a sentenceAmos calls out to those who exploit the needy and oppress the poor.
Who is speakingThe prophet Amos, addressing the people of Israel.
Where we areA warning against social injustice, part of a larger message about God's judgment.
The hard wordשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים
Take awayThe call to listen is urgent; it highlights the seriousness of their actions.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁמַע 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 — Amos 8:4

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 — A Call to Justicegenerated

3“In that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “the songs of the temple will turn to wailing. Many will be the corpses, strewn in silence everywhere!”
4Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,
5asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales.
6Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”

Amos 8:4 addresses the people of Israel, urging them to listen carefully to the prophet's message. This verse is part of a broader condemnation of social injustices, specifically targeting those who exploit the vulnerable and neglect the poor. The surrounding verses emphasize the consequences of such behavior, illustrating a society more concerned with profit than compassion, as seen in Amos 8:5 and Amos 8:6.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Amos 7:16Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’
21 Kings 22:19Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
3Isaiah 1:10Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
4Isaiah 28:14Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
5Jeremiah 5:21“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

The Key Word שִׁמְעוּ־, shim.'u-generated

The word שִׁמְעוּ (shim.'u-) is the imperative form of the verb שָׁמַע (shama`), meaning 'to hear' or 'to listen.' It calls for attentive listening and implies an expectation of obedience. The Qal form indicates a straightforward command, emphasizing the urgency of the message.

This word is often used in contexts where God is calling His people to heed His words, highlighting the importance of listening not just with ears but with a heart ready to respond. In this context, Amos is demanding that the people pay attention to their actions and their impact on the needy.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'Hear this, you who trample the needy.' The BSB, along with the KJV and ASV, maintains a similar wording, focusing on the act of hearing and the condemnation of those who oppress the poor.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is שִׁמְעוּ (shim.'u-), 'hear,' which governs the entire verse. It is followed by a direct object, זֹ֕את (zot), 'this,' indicating what they are to hear.

The structure of the verse emphasizes the imperative nature of the command to listen, with the participial phrase הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים (ha.sho.'a.Fim), 'those who trample,' describing the subjects of the address. This arrangement highlights the seriousness of the actions being condemned.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שִׁמְעוּ as ἀκούσατε (akousate), meaning 'hear' or 'listen.' This choice maintains the imperative call to attention, similar to the Hebrew.

The Greek word ἐκτρίβοντες is used for הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים, indicating a strong action of trampling or crushing, which aligns with the Hebrew meaning while also conveying a sense of aggression.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Amos 8:4 calls on the people to listen carefully to the warning against those who take advantage of the needy and the poor. The verse highlights the seriousness of their actions and the need for justice in society.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to 'trample the needy'?

To 'trample the needy' refers to the act of oppressing or exploiting those who are vulnerable and in need of help.

Why is listening emphasized in this verse?

Listening is emphasized to stress the importance of paying attention to God's call for justice and recognizing the wrongs in society.

What are the consequences of ignoring this message?

Ignoring this message can lead to continued injustice and suffering for the vulnerable, as well as divine judgment.

How can we apply this verse today?

We can apply this verse by advocating for the needy and ensuring that our actions do not harm those who are less fortunate.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see injustice in my community, and how can I respond?
  2. How can I actively listen for God's guidance in addressing social issues?
  3. What steps can I take to support those who are vulnerable in my life?
  4. How does this verse challenge my understanding of justice and compassion?

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

Early commentators, such as Jerome, reference this verse to discuss the moral implications of exploiting the poor and the importance of justice.

JeromeV. 4, seqq. c. 347–420
Listen to this, you who crush the poor and make the needy of the earth fail, saying: When the month passes, we will sell our goods, and on the Sabbath, we will open the granary to decrease the measure and increase the weight;
Early Church Fathers on Amos 8 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Amos 8:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy,.... Like a man that pants after a draught of water when thirsty; and, when he has got it, greedily swallows it down at one gulp; so these rich men swallowed

Read John Gill on Amos 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, Hear this. The nobles needed to be urged thus, as hating to hear reproof.

Read Robert Jamieson on Amos 8 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Though the prophet had several times told them what were the sins for which God would thus punish Israel, yet on a repeated threat he repeateth the rehearsal of the sins which draw down these judgments on their heads. Hear this, attend, and consider it, O ye that swallow up, greedily and cruelly devour, that do, like the greater fish, swallow up the lesser fry: in this one word the prophet includeth all the methods of their cruel oppression, wasting tho poor. The needy; such as were objects of your mercy, had you been just and honest, as well as rich and great. Even to make the poor of the land to fail; either to root them out, or to enslave them, while their necessities force them to sell…

Read Matthew Poole on Amos 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Amos 8:4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,Ver. 4. Hear this, ye that swallow up the needy] That seep them up as drink (our word seep seems to come of the Hebrew Shaaph), that would make but a breakfast, nay, but a bit of them; that would swallow them at once down their wide gullets, and do, for that purpose, pant and even faint, as well nigh windless, after them, to devour them. Hence they are called man eaters, cannibals, Psalms 14:4. See Amos 2:7. Even to make the poor of the land to fail] Heb. the meek of the, land. Poverty should meeken and tame men’ s spirits; howbeit, some are humbled but not humble, low but not lowly. Those that are…

Read John Trapp on Amos 8 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Ye that swallow up . . .—Better, ye that pant (or are greedy) for the very ashes on their heads.Make . . . to fail.—Literally, make . . . to cease: i.e., destroy.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Amos 8 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy] Ye that bruise the poor; exact from them, and tread them under foot.

Read AdamClarke on Amos 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4–14. A fresh denunciation of Israel’s sin, followed by a fresh picture of the impending calamities.

Read Cambridge on Amos 8 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Here ye this, ye that swallow - Or, better in the same sense, “that pant for the needy;” as Job says, “the hireling panteth for the evening” Job 7:2.

Read Albert Barnes on Amos 8 →

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

Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,

NETBNew English Translation2006

Listen to this, you who trample the needy, and do away with the destitute in the land.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Hear this, O ye that would swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail,

RVARevised Version, American1894

Hear this, O ye that would swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail,

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Heare this, O yee that swallowe vp the poore, that ye may make the needie of the lande to fayle,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Hear this, ye that pant after the needy, even to cause to fail the poor of the land,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Hear this, ye who are swallowing up the needy, To cause to cease the poor of the land,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Hear this, you who are swallowing up the needy, || To cause the poor of the land to cease,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Hear this, O ye that are greedy to swallow the needy, and to ruin the poor of the land,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Listen to this, you who trample the needy and remove the poor of the land.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Hear this, you that crush the poor, and make the needy of the land to fail,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Listen to this, you who trample down the needy, and wipe out the poor of the land.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give ear to this, you who are crushing the poor, and whose purpose is to put an end to those who are in need in the land,

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.

clauseclauseverbשִׁמְעוּhearobjectזֹ֕אתthisclausenoun phraseהַOnoun phraseclauseclauseverbשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים[you.who].trample.onobjectאֶבְי֑וֹן[the].needyוְandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtoclauseverbשְׁבִּ֖יתput.an.end.tonoun phrase · objectעֲנִיֵּי[the].afflicted.[people]אָֽרֶץof.[the].land

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 their wording for this verse, with all seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the core message remains intact, emphasizing the call to listen and the condemnation of the oppressors.

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

שִׁמְעוּ־ זֹ֕את הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים אֶבְי֑וֹן וְלַשְׁבִּ֖ית עֲנִיֵּי אָֽרֶץ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שִׁמְעוּ־ἀκούσατεזֹ֕אתταῦταהַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖יםἐκτρίβοντεςאֶבְי֑וֹןπένηταוְלַשְׁבִּ֖יתκαταδυναστεύοντεςעֲנִיֵּיπτωξοὺςאָֽרֶץ׃γῆς

7 of the 7 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q82a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[שמעו] [זאת] [השאפים] אביון [ולשבית] [ענוי] [ארץ]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — Mur88a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[שמעו] [זאת] [השאפים] [אביון] [ולשבית] ענוי ארץ

2 words on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Amos 8:4שָׁמַעhearhearשָׁמַעזֶהthisthisזֶהשָׁאַףO those [whO those [who] tשָׁאַףאֶבְיוֹן[the] needy[the] needyאֶבְיוֹןשָׁבַתand to put and to put an eשָׁבַתעָנִי[the] affli[the] afflictedעָנִיאֶ֫רֶץ[the] land[the] landאֶ֫רֶץאָבָהbe willingbe willingאָבָהעָנָהbe occupiebe occupiedעָנָהשֶׂהשֶׂהקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבתּוֹרָהinstructioinstructionתּוֹרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁיריַעַןbecausebecauseיַעַןרוּחַspiritspiritרוּחַעָנִיafflictedafflictedעָנִידַּלpoorpoorדַּלמָשׂוֹשׂrejoicingrejoicingמָשׂוֹשׂגָּאוֹןprideprideגָּאוֹןחָטַףto catchto catchחָטַףאֶבְיוֹןneedyneedyאֶבְיוֹןכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִם
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 Amos 8:4

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.

hear this O those [who] trample on [the] needy and to put an end to [the] afflicted [people] of [the] land
שִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u- hear H8085 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Amplified meaning
listen attentively, obey
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
HVqv2mp
hear this O those [who] trample on [the] needy and to put an end to [the] afflicted [people] of [the] land
זֹ֕אתzot this H2063 Particle
604× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means this or that, often used to point out something specific. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
this
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֹאת (zot) is a demonstrative pronoun and adverb meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone or be used in apposition to a noun, often serving as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns to add emphasis. In poetry, it may function as a relative pronoun, though this is rare.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

standing alone

In appos. to subst.

More oft. as pred.

It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

With prefixes (in special senses)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2063 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone

. In appos. to subst.

. More oft. as pred.

. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

. With prefixes (in special senses)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2063 zo'th zothe'

irregular feminine of 2089; this (often used adverb):--

hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she,

so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing),

thus.

see HEBREW for 02089

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֹאת (zot) — this.

1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, such

1a) (alone)

1a1) this one

1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another

1b) (appos to subst)

1b1) this

1c) (as predicate)

1c1) this, such

1d) (enclitically)

1d1) then

1d2) who, whom

1d3) how now, what now

1d4) what now

1d5) wherefore now

1d6) behold here

1d7) just now

1d8) now, now already

1e) (poetry)

1e1) wherein, which, those who

1f) (with prefixes)

1f1) in this (place) here, then

1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter

1f3) thus and thus

1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus

1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side

1f6) on this account

1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Particle
HTm
hear this O those [who] trample on [the] needy and to put an end to [the] afflicted [people] of [the] land
הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖יםha.sho.'a.Fim O those [who] trample on H7602 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To crush or trample something, also to desire or hasten eagerly, as seen in Psalm 7:2. It implies a strong emotional response, like anger or intense longing. This word is used to describe God's judgment in Isaiah 13:3.
Amplified meaning
crush, swallow up
Tyndale gloss
to long for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאַף (sha'aph) is a Hebrew verb with two primary meanings: to gasp or pant, often in a context of longing or desire, and to crush or trample. The word conveys both a sense of eager inhalation and a physical act of crushing. It appears in various forms, indicating both emotional and physical intensity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאַף vb. gasp, pant, pant after, long for

base

[שָׁאַף] vb. crush, trample on

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7602a שָׁאַף gasp, pant, pant after, long for H7602b שָׁאַף crush, trample on

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7602 sha'aph shaw-af'

a primitive root; to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover;

by implication, to be angry; also to hasten:--desire

(earnestly), devour, haste, pant, snuff up, swallow up.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאַף (sha.aph) — to long for.

1) to gasp, pant, pant after, long for, breathe heavily

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to gasp, pant after, snuff up

1a2) to gasp or pant (with desire), pant after, be eager for

1a3) to thirst for one's blood (from actions of animals) (fig)

שָׁאַף (sha.aph) — to crush.

1) to crush, trample, trample upon

1a) (Qal) to trample upon, crush

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
HTd/Vqrmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
hear this O those [who] trample on [the] needy and to put an end to [the] afflicted [people] of [the] land
אֶבְי֑וֹן'ev.Yon [the] needy H34 Adj
61× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes someone who is needy or poor, often oppressed and in need of help from God. It appears in the Bible to describe those who are vulnerable and in need of deliverance. In the KJV, it is translated as beggar, needy, or poor man.
Amplified meaning
poor, oppressed
Tyndale gloss
needy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶבְיוֹן (*ebyown*) means needy or poor, derived from a root indicating want. It describes individuals who are destitute, oppressed, or in need of help, particularly from God. This term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, often referring to the lowest social class and the importance of caring for such individuals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶבְיוֹן adj. in want, needy, poor,—so, alw. abs., Dt 15:4 + 40 t.; אֶבְיֹנְךָ Ex 23:6 Dt 15:11; אֶבְיוֹנִים Am 4:1 + 14 t.; אֶבְיוֹנֵי (אֶבְיֹנֵי) Ex 23:11 Is 29:19; אֶבְיוֹנֶיהָ ψ 132:15—(Hex. only JED; mostly poet., 23 t. ψ) needy, chiefly poor (in material things); as adj. Dt 15:7, 7, 9; 24:14 ψ 109:16 (both ∥ עָנִי); elsewhere subst.; ψ 49:3 (∥ עָשִׁיר); Dt 15:4, 11; subj. to oppression & abuse Am 2:6

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H34 אֶבְיוֹן in want, needy, poor

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

34 'ebyown eb-yone'

from 14, in the sense of want (especially in feeling);

destitute:--beggar, needy, poor (man).

see HEBREW for 014

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶבְיוֹן (ev.yon) — needy.

1) in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person

2) subject to oppression and abuse

3) needing help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God

4) general reference to lowest class

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ned'-i ('ebhyon).

See POOR.

hear this O those [who] trample on [the] needy and to put an end to [the] afflicted [people] of [the] land
וְלַשְׁבִּ֖יתve.lash.Bit and to put an end to H7673 Conjunction · preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
71× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To keep the Sabbath means to rest and stop working, as commanded by God in the book of Exodus. This Hebrew word is used to describe the act of observing the Sabbath day, and is an important part of Jewish tradition and worship.
Amplified meaning
cause to cease, destroy
Tyndale gloss
to cease
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁבַת (shabath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cease or rest, often in the context of stopping work. It can also imply causing something to cease or fail, and is associated with observing the Sabbath. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, covering a range of meanings from simple cessation to destruction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁבַת 71 vb. cease, desist, rest

Qal 27

cease

desist from labour, rest

Niph. cease

Hiph.

40 cause to cease, put an end to

= exterminate, destroy

cause to desist from

remove

cause to fail, let be lacking

base

[שָׁבַת] vb. denom. keep, observe (sabbath)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7673a שָׁבַת cease, desist, rest .. cease

. desist from labour, rest

. cease

. . cause to cease, put an end to

. = exterminate, destroy

. cause to desist from

. remove

. cause to fail, let be lacking

H7673b שָׁבַת vb. denom. keep, observe (sabbath)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7673 shabath shaw-bath'

a primitive root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used

in many implied relations (causative, figurative or

specific):--(cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause

(make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave,

put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁבַת (sha.vat) — to cease.

1) to cease, desist, rest

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cease

1a2) to rest, desist (from labour)

1b) (Niphal) to cease

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to cease, put an end to

1c2) to exterminate, destroy

1c3) to cause to desist from

1c4) to remove

1c5) to cause to fail

שָׁבַת (sha.vat) — to keep.

(Qal) to keep or observe the sabbath

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Conjunction · preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HC/R/Vhcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

qets, 'ephec, kalah; telos, sunteleo:

The end of anything is its termination, hence, also, final object or purpose.

It is the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly in the Old Testament of qets (properly, "a cutting off") and other words from the same root (Ge 6:13, "The end of all flesh is come before me"); 'acharith, "hinder part," is also frequently translated "end" (De 11:12; Ps 37:37,38, American Revised Version: "There is a happy end to the man of peace .... The end of the wicked shall be cut off"; the English Revised Version "latter end" (Ps 37:37), margin "reward" or "future posterity"; Ps 73:17

Easton's Bible Dictionary

End

In Heb. 13:7, is the rendering of the unusual Greek word ekbasin, meaning “outcome”, i.e., death. It occurs only elsewhere in 1 Cor. 10:13, where it is rendered “escape.”

hear this O those [who] trample on [the] needy and to put an end to [the] afflicted [people] of [the] land
עֲנִיֵּיan.vei- [the] afflicted [people] of H6041
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is depressed, humble, or weak, often due to difficult circumstances, as described in the Psalms and other biblical books.
Tyndale gloss
afflicted
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנִי (aniy) describes a state of being poor, afflicted, or humble. It is built from the root meaning to be depressed in mind or circumstances. The entries indicate it covers a range of meanings including needy, lowly, and wretched. There is a noted disagreement regarding its relationship to another word, עָנָה (anah), with some lexicons viewing one as subjective and the other as objective.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָנִי adj. poor, afflicted, humble

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6041 עָנִי poor, afflicted, humble

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6041 `aniy aw-nee'

from 6031; depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically

the same as 6035, although the margin constantly disputes

this, making 6035 subjective and 6041 objective):--afflicted,

humble, lowly, needy, poor.

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06035

see HEBREW for 06035

see HEBREW for 06041

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנִי (a.ni) — afflicted.

1) poor, afflicted, humble, wretched

1a) poor, needy

1b) poor and weak

1c) poor, weak, afflicted, wretched

1d) humble, lowly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAampc
HAampc
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…

hear this O those [who] trample on [the] needy and to put an end to [the] afflicted [people] of [the] land
אָֽרֶץ׃'A.retz [the] land H776 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
earth, territory
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

((1) 'erets;

(2) 'adhamah;

(3) sadheh,

"a piece of land";

(4) ge, "earth";

(5) agros, "field";

(6) chora, "region";

(7) chorion, diminutive of chora;

(8) xeros, "dry land";

(9) 'ezrach, "native" the King James Version "born in the land," "born among you," the Revised Version (British and American) "home-born" (Le 19:34; 14:16; Nu 15:30); "like a green tree in its native soil" (Ps 37:35)):

'Erets occurs hundreds of times and is used in much the same way as 'adhamah, which also occurs often: e.g. "land of Egypt," 'erets mitsrayim (Ge 13:10), and 'adhmath mitsrayim (Ge 47:20). The other words occur less often, and are used in the…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Appeared on the third creative day Ge 1:9

→ Original title to, from God Ge 13:14-17; 15:7; Ex 23:31; Le 25:23

→ Bought and sold Ge 23:3-18; 33:19; Ac 4:34; 5:1-8

→ Sale and redemption of, laws concerning Le 25:15,16,23-33; 27:17-24; Nu 36:4; Jer 32:7-16,25,44; Eze 46:18

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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