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Deuteronomy 32:12 — Word Study

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WLCיְהוָ֖ה בָּדָ֣ד יַנְחֶ֑נּוּ וְאֵ֥ין עִמּ֖וֹ אֵ֥ל נֵכָֽר׃

BSAThe LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] alonebâdâd [in isolation, without any other] led himnâchâh [guided, directed] and noʼayin [nothing, not any] foreignnêkâr [strange, heathen] godʼêl [el, a being of strength or power] [was] with himʻim [together, in accompaniment]

Word
Listen & take awayDeuteronomy 32
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (ne.Khar) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Deuteronomy 32:12quick helps
In a sentenceThe LORD uniquely guided His people without the influence of foreign gods.
Who is speakingMoses, recounting God's leadership.
Where we areA poetic reflection on God's care for Israel.
The hard wordיְהוָ֖ה
Take awayGod's singular guidance is emphasized.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה 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 32:12

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 — God's Leadership Over Israelgenerated

11As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them and carried them on His pinions.
12The LORD alone led him, and no foreign god was with him.
13He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag,
14with curds from the herd and milk from the flock, with the fat of lambs, with rams from Bashan, and goats, with the choicest grains of wheat. From the juice of the finest grapes you drank the wine.

Deuteronomy 32:12 speaks of how the LORD, known as Yahweh, led Israel alone, highlighting His unique role in guiding His people without any foreign influence. This verse is part of a larger song that reflects on God's faithfulness and care, contrasting His leadership with the emptiness of foreign gods, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 1:31and in the wilderness, where the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way by which you traveled until you reached this place.”
2Nehemiah 9:12You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they should travel.
3Psalm 27:11Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
4Psalm 78:14–52He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night.
5Psalm 80:1Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

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


The Key Word יְהוָ֖ה, Yah.wehgenerated

The name יְהוָה (Yahweh) signifies the self-existent and eternal nature of God, often translated as 'the LORD'. It is a proper name for the God of Israel, emphasizing His covenant relationship with His people. This name is used throughout the Old Testament and is closely associated with God's revelation to Moses.

In this verse, יְהוָה emphasizes that it is solely the LORD who guides Israel, reinforcing the idea of His unique authority and presence in their journey.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יַנְחֶ֑נּוּ, he led, governs the main clause, with the subject יְהוָ֖ה and the adverbial phrase בָּדָ֣ד indicating the exclusivity of God's guidance. The structure emphasizes that it is the LORD alone who leads.

The phrase וְאֵ֥ין עִמּ֖וֹ אֵ֥ל נֵכָֽר introduces a negation, asserting that no foreign god accompanied Him, further highlighting the singularity of God's leadership.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְהוָ֖ה as κύριος (kurios), which also means 'Lord' and carries the same connotation of authority and divinity. This choice maintains the focus on God's unique role in leading Israel.

For אֵ֥ל נֵכָֽר, the Septuagint uses ἀλλότριος (allotrios), meaning 'foreign' or 'alien', which aligns with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizes the idea of separation from the true God.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Deuteronomy 32:12 tells us that the LORD, known as Yahweh, led Israel alone without any foreign gods accompanying Him. This verse highlights God's unique guidance and care for His people, contrasting it with the emptiness of foreign deities.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the LORD led Israel alone?

It means that God uniquely guided His people without any foreign influence, emphasizing His singular authority.

Why is the absence of foreign gods significant?

It underscores the idea that no other deity had a role in Israel's guidance or protection, reinforcing the exclusivity of Yahweh.

How does this verse reflect God's character?

It shows God's commitment to His people and His role as their sole leader, highlighting His faithfulness and power.

What are some examples of God's guidance in the Old Testament?

Examples include God's leading Israel through the wilderness, providing for them, and guiding them into the Promised Land.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's guidance in my own life?
  2. How can I recognize and avoid the influence of 'foreign gods' in my life today?
  3. What does it mean for me to trust in God's leadership as I navigate challenges?
  4. How can I share the importance of God's unique guidance with others?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 32:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[So] the Lord alone did lead him,.... Out of Egypt, through the wilderness, to the land of Canaan, going before them in a pillar of fire and cloud; though this is not to be understood to the

Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 32 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 32 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

i.e. When they were shut up in Egypt, as in their nest, whence they durst not venture to fly nor stir, he taught, and encouraged, and enabled them to fly out and flee themselves from that bondage, and brought them into a state of liberty and safety; he dealt tenderly with them, bearing with their infirmities, keeping them from all harms. No strange god with him, to wit, to assist him at that work, or to deliver them. The more unworthy they in giving to idols a share in that worship and service which they owe to God only.

Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 32 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Deuteronomy 32:12 [So] the LORD alone did lead him, and [there was] no strange god with him.Ver. 12. And there was no strange god with him.] Why, then, should any share with him in his service? Be the gods of the heathen good fellows? saith one. The true God will endure no co-rival.

Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 32 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11, 12) “As an eagle awakeneth her nest, Over her young she broodeth, She spreadeth out her wings, she taketh up each one of them, She beareth him on her pinions: Jehovah alone leadeth him, And a stranger-god is not with Him.” The eagle in Hebrew is masculine. He is one of the creatures that is honoured with a description by the lips of Jehovah Himself in Job 39:27-30. But beautiful as the simile and the description in these places are, they are surpassed in gentleness by our Saviour when He says, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not” (Luke 13:34). Fluttereth.—Or, broodeth, is the word in Genesis 1:2, the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 32 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. So the Lord alone did lead him] By his power, and by his only, were they brought out of Egypt, and supported in the wilderness. And there was no strange god] They had help from no other quarter. The Egyptian idols were not able to save their own votaries; but God not only saved his people, but destroyed the Egyptians.

Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 32 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. did lead him] Still the imperf. for vividness. strange] Not the adj. in Deuteronomy 32:16, but foreign, Deuteronomy 15:3, Deuteronomy 31:16. 13He made him to ride the highlands, And to eat of the fruit of the hills, Suckled him with honey from the crag And oil of the flinty rock, 14Curd of the kine, milk of the flock, With the fatness of lambs and of rams, Bulls of Bashán and he-goats, With the finest flour of the wheat— And the grape’s blood thou drankest in foam!

Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 32 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12. So the Lord alone did lead him — Omit so, and read Jehovah alone did lead him. No strange god with him — It was Jehovah who delivered. He is to be served, and he alone.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 32 →

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

The LORD alone led him, and no foreign god was with him.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yahweh alone led him. There was no foreign god with him.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The LORD alone led him, and no foreign god was with him.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Lord alone was guiding him, no foreign god was with him.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Jehovah alone did lead him, And there was no foreign god with him.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The LORD alone did lead him, And there was no strange god with him.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So the Lord alone led him, and there was no strange god with him.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

So Jehovah alone did lead him, And no strange god [was] with him.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Jehovah alone doth lead him, And there is no strange god with him.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

YHWH alone leads him, || And there is no strange god with him.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

So did the Lord alone lead him, and there was not with him a stranger god.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Yahweh alone led him; no foreign god was with him.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The Lord alone was his leader: and there was no strange god with him.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Lord was the only one who led you; no foreign god was with him.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So the Lord only was his guide, no other god was with him.

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.

clausesubjectיְהוָ֖הYahwehadverbialבָּדָ֣דaloneverbיַנְחֶ֑heobjectנּוּguided.itוְandclausepredicateאֵ֥יןthere.[was].notprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִמּ֖withוֹhimnoun phrase · subjectאֵ֥לa.godנֵכָֽרof.foreignness

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "יְהוָ֖ה בָּדָ֣ד יַנְחֶ֑נּוּ וְאֵ֥ין עִמּ֖וֹ אֵ֥ל נֵכָֽר׃" which translates to "The LORD alone led him, and no foreign god was with him." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all seven words match in the word-by-word correspondence, although the word order may differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch also agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word, stating, "יהוה בדד ינחנו ואין עמו אל נכר." Therefore, both the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch confirm the reading of the Masoretic Text without any differences in this verse.

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

יְהוָ֖ה בָּדָ֣ד יַנְחֶ֑נּוּ וְאֵ֥ין עִמּ֖וֹ אֵ֥ל נֵכָֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְהוָ֖הκύριοςבָּדָ֣דμόνοςיַנְחֶ֑נּוּαὐτούςוְאֵ֥יןοὐκעִמּ֖וֹαὐτῶνאֵ֥לθεὸςנֵכָֽר׃ἀλλότριος

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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

יהוה בדד ינחנו ואין עמו אל נכר

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

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 32:12יהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהבָּדָדalonealoneבָּדָדנָחָהhe guided ihe guided itנָחָהאַ֫יִןand there nand there notאַ֫יִןעִםwith himwith himעִםאֵל[was] a god[was] a god ofאֵלנֵכָרforeignnessforeignnessנֵכָרהָיָהto beto beהָיָהבָּדַדbe alonebe aloneבָּדַדעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםאַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלנָכַרto recognito recognizeנָכַראַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחשָׁכַןto dwellto dwellשָׁכַןמִישׁוֹרplainplainמִישׁוֹריוֹמָםby dayby dayיוֹמָםכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרקַנָּאjealousjealousקַנָּאשַׁדַּיAlmightyAlmightyשַׁדַּיעָרֵלuncircumciuncircumcisedעָרֵל
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 32:12

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.

Yahweh alone he guided it and there not with him [was] a god of foreignness
יְהוָ֖הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Yahweh alone he guided it and there not with him [was] a god of foreignness
בָּדָ֣דba.Dad alone H910 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Isolation or separation is the meaning of this Hebrew word. It can describe a place or situation that is alone or desolate. The KJV translates it as alone, desolate, or solitary.
Amplified meaning
in isolation, without any other
Tyndale gloss
isolation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּדָד (badad) refers to concepts of isolation and separation. It can describe both a state of being alone and a physical separation, such as an isolated city. The word is derived from a root meaning to separate, and it encompasses meanings like desolate and solitary.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּדָד n.[m.] isolation, separation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H910 בָּדָד isolation, separation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

910 badad baw-dawd'

from 909; separate; adverb, separately:--alone, desolate,

only, solitary.

see HEBREW for 0909

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּדָד (ba.dad) — isolation.

1) isolation, withdrawal, separation

1a) an isolated city

adv

2) alone

2a) security (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Yahweh alone he guided it and there not with him [was] a god of foreignness
יַנְחֶ֑נּוּyan.Che.nu he guided it H5148 Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To lead or guide is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also imply transporting people into exile or as colonists. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Exodus and 1 Kings, to describe leadership and migration.
Amplified meaning
guided, directed
Tyndale gloss
to lead
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָחָה (nachah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lead or guide. It can imply bringing someone or something to a destination, governing, or even transporting into exile. The entries indicate its use in both the Qal and Hiphil forms, suggesting a range of meanings related to leadership and guidance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָחָה] vb. lead, guide

Qal lead, bring

Hiph. lead, guide

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5148 נָחָה lead, guide

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5148 nachah naw-khaw'

a primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport

(into exile, or as colonists):--bestow, bring, govern, guide,

lead (forth), put, straiten.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָחָה (na.chah) — to lead.

1) to lead, guide

1a) (Qal) to lead, bring

1b) (Hiphil) to lead, guide

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVhi3ms/Sp3ms
Yahweh alone he guided it and there not with him [was] a god of foreignness
וְאֵ֥יןve.'Ein and there not H369 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Amplified meaning
nothing, not any
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
Yahweh alone he guided it and there not with him [was] a god of foreignness
עִמּ֖וֹi.Mo with him H5973 Preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Amplified meaning
together, in accompaniment
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
Yahweh alone he guided it and there not with him [was] a god of foreignness
אֵ֥ל'el [was] a god of H410 Noun common · masculine singular construct
241× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Amplified meaning
el, a being of strength or power
Tyndale gloss
god
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵל (*'el*) primarily means 'god' and conveys the idea of might or strength. It can refer to the one true God of Israel, as well as to other deities, angels, and mighty men. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including nature and power, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵל n.m. god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might

applied to men of might and rank

angels

gods of the nations

Ēl

as characterizing mighty things in nature

God, the one only and true God of Israel

אֵל strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H410 אֵל god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might . applied to men of might and rank

. angels

. gods of the nations

. Ēl

. as characterizing mighty things in nature

. God, the one only and true God of Israel

. אֵל strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

410 'el ale

shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty;

especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God

(god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong.

Compare names in "-el."

see HEBREW for 0352

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵל (el) — God.

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

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

אֵל (el) — El (Berith).

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Berith" (berith בְּרִית H1286)

אֵל (el) — El (Elohe).

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

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "God" (elohim אֱלֹהִים H0430)

אֵל (el) — El (Most High).

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

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Most High" (el.yon עֶלְיוֹן H5945B)

אֵל (el) — god.

: god

1) god, god-like one, mighty one

1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes

1b) angels

1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations)

1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah

2) mighty things in nature

3) strength, power

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

Yahweh alone he guided it and there not with him [was] a god of foreignness
נֵכָֽר׃ne.Khar foreignness H5236 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to something or someone foreign, including people, gods, or things. It can also describe heathendom or alien ideas. In the KJV, it is translated as alien or strange.
Amplified meaning
strange, heathen
Tyndale gloss
foreign
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֵכָר (nekar) refers to something foreign or alien, encompassing the concepts of foreignness and foreigners. It can also denote foreign gods or vanities. The word is derived from a root meaning to recognize or acknowledge, suggesting a distinction from the familiar.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵכָר n.[m.] that which is foreign, foreignness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5236 נֵכָר that which is foreign, foreignness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5236 nekar nay-kawr'

' from 5234; foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or

(abstractly) heathendom:--alien, strange (+ -er).

see HEBREW for 05234

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵכָר (ne.khar) — foreign.

1) foreign, alien, foreignness, that which is foreign

1a) foreignness, foreign gods

1b) alien, foreigner

1c) foreign (vanities)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
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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