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Deuteronomy 30:17 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאִם־ יִפְנֶ֥ה לְבָבְךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמָ֑ע וְנִדַּחְתָּ֗ וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֛יתָ לֵאלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים וַעֲבַדְתָּֽם׃

BSABut ifʼim your heartlêbâb [the innermost part of your being, including mind, will, and emotions] turns awaypânâh [is drawn aside, becomes disloyal] and you do notlôʼ listenshâmaʻ [refuse to hear, disobey] but are drawn awaynâdach [led astray, seduced] to bow downshâchâh [prostrate yourself, worship] to otherʼachêr [foreign, false] godsʼĕlôhîym [divine beings, idols] and worship themʻâbad [serve, obey]

Word
Listen & take awayDeuteronomy 30
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 17 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 (va.'a.vad.Tam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Deuteronomy 30:17quick helps
In a sentenceMoses warns that turning away from God leads to disobedience and idolatry.
Who is speakingMoses, addressing the Israelites.
Where we areIn a pivotal moment of covenant renewal, urging faithfulness to God.
The hard wordוְנִדַּחְתָּ, ve.ni.dach.Ta
Take awayTurning away from God leads to dire consequences.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbפָּנָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Deuteronomy 30:17

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 — Covenant Blessings and Cursesgenerated

16For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.
17But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,
18I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
19I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,

Deuteronomy 30:17 presents a warning from Moses to the Israelites about the consequences of turning away from God. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Moses emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands and the blessings that come with it. The surrounding verses outline the choice between life and death, urging the people to remain faithful to their covenant with God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 29:18–28Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit,
21 Samuel 12:25But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
3John 3:19–21And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
4Deuteronomy 17:17He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.
51 Kings 11:2These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.

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


The Key Word יִפְנֶ֥ה, yif.Nehgenerated

The verb פָּנָה (panah) means to turn or face something, indicating a change in direction or focus. In this context, it suggests a deliberate choice to turn away from God, which carries serious implications for the individual’s relationship with Him.

The imperfect form indicates an ongoing or future action, suggesting that this turning away is not merely a momentary lapse but a significant shift in allegiance.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses turns away for יִפְנֶ֥ה.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יִפְנֶ֥ה, it will turn away, anchors the sentence, followed by a series of clauses that describe the consequences of this action: a negation of listening, a description of being drawn aside, and actions of bowing down and serving.

The structure emphasizes the conditional nature of the statement, with the initial clause setting the stage for the consequences that follow.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִפְנֶ֥ה as μεταστῇ, which carries the sense of changing position or loyalty. This choice highlights a deeper interpretation of turning away, suggesting a more profound shift in allegiance rather than a mere physical turn.

Similarly, וְנִדַּחְתָּ is rendered as πλανηθεὶς, meaning to be led astray, which reinforces the idea of being seduced away from true worship.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Deuteronomy 30:17 warns that if your heart turns away from God and you do not listen to Him, you will be led astray to worship other gods. This turning away leads to serious consequences, emphasizing the importance of remaining faithful to God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the heart to turn away?

Turning away from the heart signifies a deliberate choice to reject God's ways and follow other influences.

Why is listening to God emphasized?

Listening to God is crucial because it reflects obedience and a willingness to follow His commands, which leads to blessings.

What are the consequences of worshiping other gods?

Worshiping other gods results in separation from God and the loss of His blessings, leading to spiritual and physical consequences.

How can one ensure they do not turn away from God?

Staying engaged in prayer, studying scripture, and being part of a community that encourages faithfulness can help prevent turning away from God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What influences in my life might lead me to turn away from God?
  2. How can I actively listen to God's voice in my daily life?
  3. In what ways can I guard my heart against distractions that lead to idolatry?
  4. What steps can I take to ensure I am serving God faithfully?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 30:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But if thine heart turn away,.... From the true God, and the right worship of him, and from his commands, statutes, and judgments: so that thou wilt not hear; the voice of the Lord and obey it, or

Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 30 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; See, I have set before thee this day life ... and death - i:e., the alternative of a good and happy, or a disobedient and miserable life.

Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 30 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Drawn away, either by thy own evil mind, or by the examples or persuasions of others.

Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 30 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Deuteronomy 30:17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;Ver. 17. But if thine heart turn away.] This is that death and evil.

Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 30 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. But if thine heart turn away] Deuteronomy 29:18 (17); for drawn away see Deuteronomy 4:19, Deuteronomy 13:13 (14); for worship and serve see on Deuteronomy 4:19.

Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 30 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

15-20. Choose life — In striking expressions Moses summarizes his teachings. Life is connected with their obedience, death with their disobedience.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 30 →

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

But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away and worship other gods, and serve them,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,

NETBNew English Translation2006

However, if you turn aside and do not obey, but are lured away to worship and serve other gods,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

RVARevised Version, American1894

But if thine heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But if thy heart shall turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But if thine heart turne away, so that thou wilt not obey, but shalt be seduced and worship other gods, and serue them,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But if thy heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and thou shalt bow down to other gods and serve them;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'And if thy heart doth turn, and thou dost not hearken, and hast been driven away, and hast bowed thyself to other gods, and served them,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And if your heart turns, and you do not listen, and have been drawn away, and have bowed yourself to other gods and served them,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But if thy heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hearken, and thou sufferest thyself to be drawn away, and thou bowest down to other gods, and servest them:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

But if your heart turns away, and you do not listen but instead are drawn away and bow down to other gods and worship them,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But if thy heart be turned away, so that thou wilt not hear, and being deceived with error thou adore strange gods, and serve them:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If you disregard this and you refuse to listen, if you're lured into bowing down to other gods and worshiping them,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But if your heart is turned away and your ear is shut, and you go after those who would make you servants and worshippers of other gods:

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.

וְandclauseאִםifclauseclauseverbיִפְנֶ֥הit.will.turn.awaynoun phrase · subjectלְבָבְheartךָ֖yourוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbתִשְׁמָ֑עyou.will.listenוְandclauseverbנִדַּחְתָּ֗you.will.be.drawn.asideוְandclauseverbהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֛יתָyou.will.bow.downprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֵtonoun phraseאלֹהִ֥יםgodsאֲחֵרִ֖יםotherוַandclauseverbעֲבַדְתָּֽyouobjectםwill.serve.them

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


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

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew closely, while the Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, indicating a high degree of textual consistency across these ancient witnesses.

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

וְאִם־ יִפְנֶ֥ה לְבָבְךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמָ֑ע וְנִדַּחְתָּ֗ וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֛יתָ לֵאלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים וַעֲבַדְתָּֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאִם־ἐὰνיִפְנֶ֥הμεταστῇלְבָבְךָ֖σουוְלֹ֣אμὴתִשְׁמָ֑עεἰσακούσῃςוְנִדַּחְתָּ֗πλανηθεὶςוְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֛יתָπροσκυνήσῃςלֵאלֹהִ֥יםθεοῖςאֲחֵרִ֖יםἑτέροιςוַעֲבַדְתָּֽם׃αὐτοῖς

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

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ואם יפנה לבבך ולא תשׁמע ונדחת והשׁתחוית לאלהים אחרים ועבדתם

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q38ba copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ואם] [יפנה] לבב׳ך ולא תשמע [ונדחת] [והשתחוית] לאלהים אחרים [ועבדת׳ם]

4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 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.

Deuteronomy 30:17אִםand ifand ifאִםפָּנָהit will turit will turn awפָּנָהלֵבָבheart yourheart yourלֵבָבלֹאand notand notלֹאשָׁמַעyou will liyou will listenשָׁמַענָדַחand you wiland you will beנָדַחשָׁחָהand you wiland you will boשָׁחָהאֱלֹהִיםto godsto godsאֱלֹהִיםאַחֵרotherotherאַחֵרעָבַדand you wiland you will seעָבַדלבבto encourato encourageלבבאָחַרto delayto delayאָחַראֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵרחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןשָׁלֵםcompletecompleteשָׁלֵםדָּרַשׁto seekto seekדָּרַשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבקָבַץto gatherto gatherקָבַץאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדקָדַדto bowto bowקָדַדאֲרוֹןarkarkאֲרוֹןשָׁחָהto bowto bowשָׁחָה
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 Deuteronomy 30:17

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 if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
וְאִם־ve.'im- and if H518 Conjunction · particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

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

that if

for if

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

limiting the prec. clause, except

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

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

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

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

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Conj — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
יִפְנֶ֥הyif.Neh it will turn away H6437 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
135× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to turn or face something, like looking at a corner or a gate. It appears in descriptions of daily life and interactions, like in Genesis and Psalms. It's about changing direction or focus.
Amplified meaning
is drawn aside, becomes disloyal
Tyndale gloss
Corner (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּנָה 135 vb. turn

Qal 117

turn toward

turn from

turn and do a thing

turn, decline

turn toward, approach

turn and look, look

of inanimate things, face

esp. fig. look at, regard

look for = expect

fig. look at = consider

Hiph.

turn

make a turn, shew (signs of) turning

Hoph. be ye turned back!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6437 פָּנָה turn .. . turn toward

. turn from

. turn and do a thing

. turn, decline

. turn toward, approach

. . turn and look, look

. of inanimate things, face

. esp. fig. look at, regard

. look for = expect

. fig. look at = consider

. . turn

. make a turn, shew (signs of) turning

. be ye turned back!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6437 panah paw-naw'

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנָה (pa.nah) — to turn.

1) to turn

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn toward or from or away

1a2) to turn and do

1a3) to turn, decline (of day)

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

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

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

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to turn

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

1d) (Hophal) to be turned back

פָּנָה (pa.nah) — Corner (Gate).

This name means corner, to turn, to turn back

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
לְבָבְךָ֖le.va.ve.Kha heart your H3824 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
252× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The heart is the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions. In the book of Psalms, David talks about his heart being heavy with sorrow, while in the book of Proverbs, it discusses the importance of guarding one's heart.
Amplified meaning
the innermost part of your being, including mind, will, and emotions
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֵבָב (lebab) refers to the inner man, encompassing the mind, will, and heart. It highlights aspects like emotions, moral character, and conscience, often contrasting the inner self with the outer. The term is used primarily for humans and can also denote courage and appetites.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the seas

usu. of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific ref. to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

spec. ref. to moral character

= the man himself

spec. as seat of appetites

spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3824 לֵבָב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the seas

. usu. of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific ref. to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. spec. ref. to moral character

. = the man himself

. spec. as seat of appetites

. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions

. seat of courage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3824 lebab lay-bawb'

from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also

like 3820:--+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably,

courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X

unawares, understanding.

see HEBREW for 03823

see HEBREW for 03820

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵבָב (le.vav) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
תִשְׁמָ֑עtish.Ma' you will listen H8085 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
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
refuse to hear, disobey
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-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
וְנִדַּחְתָּ֗ve.ni.dach.Ta and you will be drawn aside H5080 Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
55× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To banish or drive away, used in various contexts, such as expelling someone from a community, as seen in the story of David and Absalom.
Amplified meaning
led astray, seduced
Tyndale gloss
to banish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָדַח (nadach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to impel, thrust, or banish. It encompasses a variety of actions, including driving away, compelling, and being thrust out or banished. The word appears in different forms, indicating various nuances such as being hunted or thrust into darkness. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָדַח] vb. impel, thrust, banish

Qal trans.

impel (i.e. wield) an axe

thrust away, banish

Niph.

be impelled

be thrust out, banished

driven away (fr. herd, i.e.) straying

thrust away, aside

Pu. thrust into darkness

Hiph.

thrust, move, impel

thrust out, banish

thrust away, aside

compel, force, subj. adulteress (by flattery)

Hoph. chased, hunted

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5080 [נָדַח] impel, thrust, banish .trans. . impel (i.e. wield) an axe

. thrust away, banish

. . be impelled

. be thrust out, banished

. driven away (fr. herd, i.e.) straying

. thrust away, aside

. thrust into darkness

. . thrust, move, impel

. thrust out, banish

. thrust away, aside

. compel, force, subj. adulteress (by flattery)

. chased, hunted

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5080 nadach naw-dakh'

a primitive root; to push off; used in a great variety of

applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead,

strike, inflict, etc.):--banish, bring, cast down (out),

chase, compel, draw away, drive (away, out, quite), fetch a

stroke, force, go away, outcast, thrust away (out), withdraw.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָדַח (na.dach) — to banish.

1) to impel, thrust, drive away, banish

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to impel

1a2) to thrust away, banish

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be impelled

1b2) to be thrust out, be banished

1b2a) banished, outcast (participle)

1b3) to be driven away

1b4) to be thrust away, thrust aside

1c) (Pual) to be thrust into

1c1) thrust (participle)

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to thrust, move, impel

1d2) to thrust out, banish

1d3) to thrust away, thrust aside

1e) (Hophal) to be chased, be hunted

1e1) chased, hunted (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-2ms — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
Hc/VNq2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-sid': "Distinct from others," "privately," such is the sense of the word in 2Ki 4:4; Mr 7:33. Also "to withdraw" (Lu 9:10 the King James Version; Ac 23:19: hupochoreo, also anachoreo). One is said to have turned aside when he departs from the path of rectitude (Ps 14:3; Sirach 2:7; 1Ti 1:6). In a figurative sense it is used to express the thought of putting aside, to renounce, every hindrance or impediment to a consecrated earnest Christian life (Heb 12:1: apotithemi).

and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֛יתָve.hish.ta.cha.Vi.ta and you will bow down H7812 Verb pilpel · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
172× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to bow down, often as a sign of respect or worship. It is used in Genesis 24:52 to describe Abraham's servant bowing down to God. The word is about showing humility and respect to someone or something.
Amplified meaning
prostrate yourself, worship
Tyndale gloss
to bow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁחָה (*shachah*) is a primitive root meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself, particularly in homage to a superior or in worship before God. It can also imply a figurative sense of being depressed by anxiety. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including worship of both God and false gods.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁחָה] 172 vb. bow down

Qal bow down

Hiph. fig., anxiety depresses it

Hithpa‛lēl

bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.

before God, in worship

before other gods

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7812 שָׁחָה bow down .bow down

. fig., anxiety depresses it

.. bow down, prostrate oneself, before a monarch or superior, in homage, etc.

. before God, in worship

. before other gods

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7812 shachah shaw-khaw'

a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially

reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down,

crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance,

do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁחָה (sha.chah) — to bow.

1) to bow down

1a) (Qal) to bow down

1b)(Hiphil) to depress (fig)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to bow down, prostrate oneself

1c1a) before superior in homage

1c1b) before God in worship

1c1c) before false gods

1c1d) before angel

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-v-2ms — Verb pilpel · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
Hc/Vvq2ms
and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
לֵאלֹהִ֥יםle.lo.Him to gods H430 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
divine beings, idols
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically

used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X

exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.

Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HR/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

('elohim; theoi):

I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Superhuman Beings (God and Angels)

2. Judges, Rulers

3. Gods of the Nations

4. Superiority of Yahweh to Other Gods

5. Regulations Regarding the Gods of the Nations

6. Israel's Tendency to Idolatry

II. IN THE APOCRYPHA

III. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Hebrew plural 'elohim is generally known as the plural of "majesty" and is the ordinary name for God. The meaning of the plural seems to be "plenitude of powers." It denotes the fullness of those attributes of power which belonged to the Divine Being. Thus it is usually translated in the singular, "God," when referring to the God of Israel. When reference is made to the gods of the other nations the word is translated in the plural, "gods." The heathen nations usually had a plurality of gods. Among the Semites it was customary for one nation or tribe to have its own particular god. Often there were many…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The words god and gods, Hebrew ELOHIM, are several times used in Scripture to express the power, office, or excellence of some created beings, as angels, magistrates, Ex 22:20,28 Ps 86:8 97:12; often also for the false gods of the heathen. These were exceedingly numerous, and are denoted by various terms, signifying vanity, falsehood, etc. Among the first objects to be deified were the sun, the moon, and the chief powers of nature. Innumerable animals, deceased men, all ages, passions, and conditions of man, and every thing which fear, lust, malice, pride, or caprice could suggest, were made objects of worship. The gods of modern India are numbered by millions.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See IDOL

→ See IDOLATRY

→ See IMAGE

and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
אֲחֵרִ֖ים'a.che.Rim other H312 Adj
166× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means another or next in the original Hebrew, often referring to someone or something that follows or is different. It appears in various contexts, including descriptions of people and events in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
foreign, false
Tyndale gloss
another
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַחֵר (acher) means 'another' or 'other' and can imply something that follows or is different. It is derived from a root that suggests hindrance or being next to something else. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, often referring to another person or thing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַחֵר adj. another

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H312 אַחֵר another

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

312 'acher akh-air'

from 309; properly, hinder; generally, next, other,

etc.:--(an-)other man, following, next, strange.

see HEBREW for 0309

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַחֵר (a.cher) — another.

1) another, other, following

1a) following, further

1b) other, different

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
and if it will turn away heart your and not you will listen and you will be drawn aside and you will bow down to gods other and you will serve them
וַעֲבַדְתָּֽם׃va.'a.vad.Tam and you will serve them H5647 Verb qal sequential perfect second person masculine singular · suffix
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To serve or work is the meaning of this verb, which can also imply slavery or bondage, as seen in the story of the Israelites in Egypt. It is used to describe various types of work or service, including serving God or other people. The word has different forms and meanings in different contexts.
Amplified meaning
serve, obey
Tyndale gloss
to serve
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve

Qal

labour, work, do work

work for another, serve him by labour

serve as subjects

serve God

serve י׳ with Levitical service

Niph.

be tilled, of land

dub. cultivated field

Pu. worked

Hiph.

compel to labour as slaves

make to serve as subjects

cause to serve God

Hoph. be led or enticed to serve

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work

. work for another, serve him by labour

. serve as subjects

. serve God

. serve י׳ with Levitical service

. . be tilled, of land

. dub. cultivated field

. worked

. . compel to labour as slaves

. make to serve as subjects

. cause to serve God

. be led or enticed to serve

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5647 `abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to

serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in

bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,

execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,

(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)

servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from

margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.

: serve[someone]

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve

1d2) to cause to serve as subjects

1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve

עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.

: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship

1) to work, serve

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to labour, work, do work

1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour

1a3) to serve as subjects

1a4) to serve (God)

1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)

1b2) to make oneself a servant

1c) (Pual) to be worked

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-2ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential perfect second person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vqq2ms/Sp3mp
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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