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Ecclesiastes 11:10 — Word Study

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WLCוְהָסֵ֥ר כַּ֙עַס֙ מִלִּבֶּ֔ךָ וְהַעֲבֵ֥ר רָעָ֖ה מִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־ הַיַּלְד֥וּת וְהַֽשַּׁחֲר֖וּת הָֽבֶל׃

BSASo banishçûwr [remove, put away] sorrowkaʻaç [vexation, frustration] from your heartlêb [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] and cast offʻâbar [turn aside, depart from] painraʻ [evil, distress] from your bodybâsâr [flesh, physical form] forkîy youthyaldûwth [childhood, adolescence] and vigorshachărûwth [dark hair, vitality] are fleetinghebel [vanity, emptiness, transitory]

Word
Listen & take awayEcclesiastes 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 10 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Ha.vel) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ecclesiastes 11:10quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse advises to remove sorrow and pain, highlighting the fleeting nature of youth and vitality.
Who is speakingThe author of Ecclesiastes, traditionally Solomon, addressing the reader directly.
Where we areIn the context of life's transience, the author reflects on youth and the importance of joy.
The hard wordהֶבֶל
Take awayThe verse emphasizes the need to let go of negative emotions.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 10 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 — Ecclesiastes 11:10

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 — Reflections on the Fleeting Nature of Lifegenerated

7Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
9Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
10So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 11:10 advises to banish sorrow and pain, reminding us that youth and vigor are temporary. This passage encourages embracing joy while acknowledging the inevitability of life's challenges. It follows a series of reflections on the importance of enjoying life, especially in youth, as seen in the preceding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
2Job 13:26For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
3Psalm 25:7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.
42 Peter 3:11–14Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
5Psalm 90:7–11For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הָסֵ֥ר, ve.ha.Sergenerated

The verb סוּר (sur) means to turn aside or remove. It is used in various contexts throughout the Bible, often indicating a departure from sin or negativity.

In this verse, it commands the reader to actively remove sorrow from the heart, suggesting a deliberate choice to avoid emotional distress.


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 verbs הָסֵ֥ר (remove) and הַעֲבֵ֥ר (put away) govern the two main clauses of the verse, with the objects כַּעַס (vexation) and רָעָה (evil) following them. This structure emphasizes the actions the reader is urged to take.

The final phrase, הָֽבֶל (futility), serves as a predicate, summarizing the transient nature of youth and vigor. The overall sentence structure reflects a clear directive followed by a reasoning clause.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הָסֵ֥ר as ἀπόστησον (apóstēson), which conveys a strong sense of removal or departure, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.

This choice indicates a consistent understanding of the need to actively distance oneself from negative emotions, mirroring the original intent of the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ecclesiastes 11:10 tells us to remove sorrow from our hearts and to cast off pain from our bodies, because both youth and vigor are temporary. This verse encourages us to embrace joy and let go of negative feelings.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to banish sorrow from the heart?

It means to actively choose to remove feelings of sadness and frustration, allowing for a more joyful life.

Why is youth described as fleeting?

Youth is described as fleeting to remind us that it is a temporary phase of life, encouraging us to cherish it while it lasts.

How can we apply this verse in our daily lives?

We can apply this verse by consciously choosing to focus on positive emotions and experiences, while letting go of negativity.

What is the significance of the phrase 'cast off pain from your body'?

This phrase emphasizes the importance of not allowing physical or emotional pain to dominate our lives, promoting a healthier mindset.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can actively remove negative emotions from my life?
  2. How do I recognize moments of youth and vitality in my own life?
  3. What practices can I adopt to embrace joy and positivity?
  4. In what ways can I support others in letting go of sorrow and pain?

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

Early Church Fathers reflect on this verse, emphasizing the need to remove negative emotions and the importance of maintaining a joyful spirit.

Ephrem the SyrianHOMILY ON ADMONITION AND REPENTANCE 15 c. 306–373
Put sorrow far from your flesh and sadness from your thoughts, except only that for your sins you should be constant in sadness.
Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 11 →
Didymus the BlindCOMMENTARY ON Ecclesiastes 337:20 c. 313–398
In Scripture the spirit is continuously called “heart.”The passage therefore means: Even if we sometimes are caught up in anger, this “anger” should not be allowed into the “heart,” so that the anger does not become a permanent condition.
Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 11 →
Augustine of HippoSERMON 208:2 354–430
Therefore, if anger has held out with most shameful boldness in the heart of any one of you until these holy days, now at least let it depart.
Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 11 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 11:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,.... Worldly sorrow, as opposed to lawful mirth and cheerfulness, and especially to spiritual joy: or "anger" (z), as the word may be rendered, and often is;

Read John Gill on Ecclesiastes 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ecclesiastes 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Sorrow, i.e. sensual and disorderly lusts, which he elegantly and emphatically calls sorrow, with respect to the foregoing words, to intimate, that although such practices do at present gratify and delight men’ s senses and vain minds, yet they will shortly and certainly bring a man to intolerable and eternal sorrows, which it is thy wisdom to prevent. Sorrow; or, as it is rendered in the margin, and by divers others, anger; a passion to which men are most prone in the heat of youth; whereby he may understand either anger against him for this sharp admonition; or rather against God, who hath laid such severe restraints upon them, and threatens such punishments to them for following their…

Read Matthew Poole on Ecclesiastes 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ecclesiastes 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.Ver. 10. Therefore remove sorrow from thine heart.] One would have thought that he should have said rather, considering the premises, remove joy from thy heart, "Let thy laughter be turned to mourning, and thy joy into heaviness," turn all the streams into that channel that may drive that mill that may grind the heart. But by sorrow here, or indignation, as Tremellius renders it, the Preacher means sin, the cause of sorrow; and so he interprets himself in the next words, "Put away evil from thy flesh," - i.e., mortify thy lusts. For childhood and youth are…

Read John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Sorrow.—See Note on Ecclesiastes 7:3. Youth.—The word occurs not elsewhere in the Old Testament; but nearly the same word is used of black hair in Leviticus 13:37; Son 5:11.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ecclesiastes 11 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 10. Therefore remove sorrow] כעס caas, anger; every kind of violent passion, all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. "Childhood and youth are vanity;" they pass away and come to nothing. Eternity alone is permanent; live for eternity.

Read AdamClarke on Ecclesiastes 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart] The two clauses recognise the two conditions of happiness so far as happiness is attainable by man on earth. “Sorrow,” better perhaps, discontent or vexation, is by a deliberate effort to be put away from our “heart,” i.e. from our mind. We are not to look on the dark side of things, but to cultivate cheerfulness, to be “content” (αὐτάρκης) with whatever life brings us (Philippians 4:11). And the “flesh” too has its claims which may legitimately be recognised. We need not vex it with the self-inflicted tortures of the ascetic, but, in a sense as far as possible different from “the rehabilitation of the flesh” which has been made the plea for an…

Read Cambridge on Ecclesiastes 11 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10. Remove sorrow, etc. — In this verse the precept so often given is exactly reversed. The way has been, to reckon the present as every thing, and grasp all it has to give, because the future is vain and uncertain.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ecclesiastes 11 →

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

So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for youth and the prime of life are vanity.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Therefore take away griefe out of thine heart, and cause euil to depart from thy flesh: for childehood and youth are vanitie.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Then remove discontent from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And turn aside anger from thy heart, And cause evil to pass from thy flesh, For the childhood and the age [are] vanity!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And turn aside anger from your heart, || And cause evil to pass from your flesh, || For the childhood and the age [are] vanity!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And remove vexation from thy heart, and cause evil to pass away from thy body; for childhood and the time when the head is black are vanity.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Drive anger away from your heart, and ignore any pain in your body, because youth and its strength are vapor.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

So don't let your mind worry, and avoid things that hurt your body. Even so, despite youth and enthusiasm, life is still so hard to understand!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.

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.

וְandclauseverbהָסֵ֥רremoveobjectכַּ֨עַס֙vexationprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseלִּבֶּ֔heartךָyourוְandclauseverbהַעֲבֵ֥רput.awayobjectרָעָ֖הevilprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseבְּשָׂרֶ֑fleshךָyourכִּֽי(dm)clausenoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseהַ(the)יַּלְד֥וּתyouthוְandnoun phraseהַֽthe.blackשַּׁחֲר֖וּתhairpredicateהָֽבֶל[are].futility

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 on the wording of Ecclesiastes 11:10, with a direct word-for-word correspondence, affirming the consistency of the message across these texts.

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

וְהָסֵ֥ר כַּ֙עַס֙ מִלִּבֶּ֔ךָ וְהַעֲבֵ֥ר רָעָ֖ה מִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־ הַיַּלְד֥וּת וְהַֽשַּׁחֲר֖וּת הָֽבֶל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהָסֵ֥רἀπόστησονכַּ֙עַס֙θυμονמִלִּבֶּ֔ךָσουוְהַעֲבֵ֥רπαράγαγεרָעָ֖הπονηρίανמִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָσουכִּֽי־ὅτιהַיַּלְד֥וּתνεότηςוְהַֽשַּׁחֲר֖וּתἄνοιαהָֽבֶל׃ματαιότης

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.

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.

Ecclesiastes 11:10סוּרand removeand removeסוּרכַּ֫עַסvexationvexationכַּ֫עַסלֵבfrom heart from heart yourלֵבעָבַרand put awaand put awayעָבַררַעevilevilרַעבָּשָׂרfrom flesh from flesh yourבָּשָׂרכִּיforforכִּייַלְדוּתyouthyouthיַלְדוּתשַׁחֲרוּתand the blaand the black hשַׁחֲרוּתהֶ֫בֶל[are] futil[are] futilityהֶ֫בֶלכָּעַסto provoketo provokeכָּעַסרָעַעbe evilbe evilרָעַעבָּשַׂרto bear tito bear tidingsבָּשַׂריֶ֫לֶדyouthyouthיֶ֫לֶדשָׁחַרto seekto seekשָׁחַרהָבַלto become to become vainהָבַללֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלבָּמָהhigh placehigh placeבָּמָהאֱוִילfool(ish)fool(ish)אֱוִילחָסֵרlackinglackingחָסֵרחָכָםwisewiseחָכָםיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץמַעֲלָלdeeddeedמַעֲלָלנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםעוֹרskinskinעוֹרעֶ֫צֶםboneboneעֶ֫צֶם
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 Ecclesiastes 11:10

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 remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
וְהָסֵ֥רve.ha.Ser and remove H5493 Conjunction · verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
remove, put away
Tyndale gloss
to turn aside: remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּר (sur) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It encompasses a range of actions including removal, avoidance, and coming to an end. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to turn aside or be taken away. It appears in contexts involving both literal and figurative departures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּר and [שׂוּר] 300 vb. turn aside

Qal

turn aside, out of one's course

depart

of lifeless things = be removed

= come to an end

Pô‛lēl he turned aside my ways (my steps)

Hiph.

cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

rarer uses

Pô‛lēl be taken away, removed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5493 סוּר, שׂוּר turn aside .. turn aside, out of one's course

. depart

. of lifeless things = be removed

. = come to an end

.he turned aside my ways (my steps)

. . cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

. rarer uses

.be taken away, removed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5493 cuwr soor

or suwr (Hosea 9:12) {soor}; a primitive root; to turn off

(literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back,

decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous,

lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away,

down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take

(away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: remove.

: remove

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: depart.

: depart

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: turn aside.

: turn_aside/deflect

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vhv2ms
and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
כַּ֙עַס֙ka.'as vexation H3708 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This noun refers to the feeling of anger or frustration, like in Deuteronomy 32 where it describes God's vexation with the Israelites. It can also mean grief or provocation. It's a strong negative emotion.
Amplified meaning
vexation, frustration
Tyndale gloss
vexation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּ֫עַס (ka.as) refers to feelings of vexation and anger, encompassing grief and provocation. It is derived from a root that suggests a sense of irritation or sorrow. The word appears in contexts relating to both human and divine emotions, indicating a range of feelings from frustration to wrath.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּ֫עַס n.m. vexation, anger

base

כַּ֫עַשׂ n.m.

vexation, grief

vexation, anger

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3708a כַּ֫עַס vexation, anger H3708b כַּ֫עַשׂ . vexation, grief

. vexation, anger

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3708 ka`ac kah'-as

or (in Job) kaoas {kah'-as}; from 3707; vexation: -anger,

angry, grief, indignation, provocation, provoking, X sore,

sorrow, spite, wrath.

see HEBREW for 03707

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּ֫עַס (ka.as) — vexation.

anger, vexation

Also means: ka.as (כַּ֫עַשׂ "vexation" H3708B)

כַּ֫עַשׂ (ka.as) — vexation.

1) anger, vexation, provocation, grief

1a) vexation

1a1) of men

1a2) of God

1b) vexation, grief, frustration

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
מִלִּבֶּ֔ךָmi.li.Be.kha from heart your H3820 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Amplified meaning
the seat of feelings, will, and intellect
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

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

specific reference to mind

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

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

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

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

. specific reference to mind

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

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, 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

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
וְהַעֲבֵ֥רve.ha.'a.Ver and put away H5674 Conjunction · verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular
556× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Amplified meaning
turn aside, depart from
Tyndale gloss
to pass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָבַר (abar) is a versatile verb meaning to pass over, through, or by, and it encompasses a range of actions including crossing, traversing, and alienating. It can also imply causing something to pass or be transferred, as well as emotional states like anger in its Hithpael form. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, though they do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on

Qal

pass over

Pass beyond

Pass through, traverse

pass along by

pass by

sweep by, of scourge

be past, over, of time

pass along (from hand to hand)

Pass on, go on

Pass away

Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

Pi.

his bull impregnateth

cause one to cross river

cause something to pass over

make over to

devote children to (לְ) heathen god

pass along (from hand to hand)

cause to pass through

let pass through

cause to pass by

let pass by

cause arrow to pass beyond

cause to pass under rod, for counting

cause to pass away, take away

Hiph.

cause to pass over, bring over

he made to pass across with chains of gold

base

[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5674a עָבַר pass over, through, by, pass on .. pass over

. Pass beyond

. Pass through, traverse

. . pass along by

. pass by

. sweep by, of scourge

. be past, over, of time

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. Pass on, go on

. Pass away

. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

. . his bull impregnateth . cause one to cross river

. cause something to pass over

. make over to

. devote children to (לְ) heathen god

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. . cause to pass through

. let pass through

. . cause to pass by

. let pass by

. cause arrow to pass beyond

. cause to pass under rod, for counting

. cause to pass away, take away

. . cause to pass over, bring over

. he made to pass across with chains of gold

H5674b עָבַר vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5674 `abar aw-bar'

a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any

transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive,

intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over,

through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over),

convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail,

gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way,

in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle,

overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over)

pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over,

through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish,

provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove,

send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X

speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to)

transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be

wrath.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַר (a.var) — to pass.

1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over

1a2) to pass beyond

1a3) to pass through, traverse

1a3a) passers-through (participle)

1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)

1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by

1a4a) passer-by (participle)

1a4b) to be past, be over

1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance

1a6) to pass away

1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory)

1a6b) to vanish

1a6c) to perish, cease to exist

1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)

1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands

1b) (Niphal) to be crossed

1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb hiphil imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vhv2ms
and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
רָעָ֖הra.'Ah evil H7451 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
662× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Amplified meaning
evil, distress
Tyndale gloss
bad: harmful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַע 228 adj. bad, evil

bad, disagreeable, malignant

bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

evil, displeasing

bad of its kind

bad, , i.e. of low value

מִן comp., worse than

sad, unhappy

devise evil (hurtful) device

bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

ethically bad, evil, wicked

base

רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

evil, distress, adversity

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury

evil, misery, distress

evil, injury, wrong

ethical evil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant

. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery

. evil, displeasing

. bad of its kind

. bad, , i.e. of low value

. + מִן comp., worse than

. sad, unhappy

. devise evil (hurtful) device

. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper

. ethically bad, evil, wicked

H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress

. evil, injury, wrong

. ethical evil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7451 ra` rah

from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--

adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),

distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X

great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),

+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not

please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,

wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.

(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).

see HEBREW for 07489

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.

: harmful

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)

1e) bad (of value)

1f) worse than, worst (comparison)

1g) sad, unhappy

1h) evil (hurtful)

1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)

1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)

1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts

1j2) deeds, actions

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity

1a) evil, distress, adversity

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.

: harm

1) evil, misery, distress, injury

1a) evil, misery, distress

1b) evil, injury, wrong

1c) evil (ethical)

רַע (ra) — bad: evil.

: evil

adj

1) bad, evil

1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant

1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)

1c) evil, displeasing

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

ev'-'-l, e'-vil ra`; poneros, @kakos, @kakon:

In the Bible it is represented as moral and physical. We choose to discuss the subject under these heads. Many of the evils that come upon men have not been intended by those who suffer for them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food, may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Many times the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is apparent. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which come upon them. Neither is God the author of moral evil. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man" (Jas 1:13).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ APPEARANCE OF, TO BE AVOIDED Ro 14:1-23; 1Co 8:7-13; 10:28-33; 1Th 4:11,12; 5:22

→ INSTANCES OF

Paul, in refusing to eat what had been offered to idols 1Co 8:13

In supporting himself 1Co 9:7-23

and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
מִבְּשָׂרֶ֑ךָmi.be.sa.Re.kha from flesh your H1320 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
270× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
flesh, physical form
Tyndale gloss
flesh
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּשָׂר (basar) means 'flesh' and encompasses various meanings, including the physical body, kinship, and a euphemism for male genitalia. It can refer to humans, animals, and all living things, highlighting the frailty of man in relation to God. The entries consistently emphasize its bodily and relational aspects.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּשָׂר 266 n.m. flesh

of the body

flesh for the body itself

male organ of generation (euphemism)

flesh for kindred, blood-relations

man over against God as frail or erring

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1320 בָּשָׂר flesh . of the body

. flesh for the body itself

. male organ of generation (euphemism)

. flesh for kindred, blood-relations

. man over against God as frail or erring

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1320 basar baw-sawr'

from 1319; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body,

person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man:--body, (fat,

lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.

see HEBREW for 01319

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּשָׂר (ba.sar) — flesh.

1) flesh

1a) of the body

1a1) of humans

1a2) of animals

1b) the body itself

1c) male organ of generation (euphemism)

1d) kindred, blood-relations

1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God)

1f) all living things

1g) animals

1h) mankind

Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
כִּֽי־ki- for H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

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

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

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

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

that if

for if

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

limiting the prec. clause, except

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

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

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

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

. Because, since

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

. for if

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

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

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

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

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

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

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

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
הַיַּלְד֥וּתhai.yal.Dut youth H3208 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to the time of life when someone is young, like childhood or adolescence, such as the youth of Moses in Exodus 2:10. It can also mean boyhood or girlhood.
Amplified meaning
childhood, adolescence
Tyndale gloss
youth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַלְדוּת (yalduwth) refers to the concepts of childhood and youth. It is derived abstractly from the root word for 'boy' or 'girl' (H3206). The entries consistently emphasize its focus on the early stages of life.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַלְדוּת n.f. childhood, youth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3208 יַלְדוּת childhood, youth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3208 yalduwth yal-dooth'

abstractly from 3206; boyhood (or girlhood):--childhood,

youth.

see HEBREW for 03206

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַלְדוּת (yal.dut) — youth.

childhood, youth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
וְהַֽשַּׁחֲר֖וּתve.ha.sha.cha.Rut and the black hair H7839 Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Dark hair is a sign of youth and vitality in the Bible, as seen in Solomon's Song of Solomon 5:11 and 7:5. This word is used to describe the beauty of young love. It symbolizes energy and strength.
Amplified meaning
dark hair, vitality
Tyndale gloss
dark hair
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׁחֲרוּת (shacharuwth) refers to blackness, particularly in relation to hair, often symbolizing youth or the dawn of youth. It is derived from the root word for dawn, שָׁחַר (shachar), and is mentioned in Ecclesiastes 11:10.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁחֲרוּת n.f. blackness, viz. of hair; usu. dawn of youth;—Ec 11:10

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7839 שַׁחֲרוּת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7839 shacharuwth shakh-ar-ooth'

from 7836; a dawning, i.e. (figuratively)

juvenescence:--youth.

see HEBREW for 07836

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁחֲרוּת (sha.cha.rut) — dark hair.

1) blackness

1a) blackness (of hair indicating youth)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Art | N-fs — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Td/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

har (se`ar, sa`ar, Aramaic se`ar, and their derivatives; thrix, gen. case trichos, kome):

1. Hair Fashions:

Hair was worn in different fashions by the Orientals of Biblical times, and not always in the same way among the same people in different epochs. We know this clearly from Egyptian literature and monuments, as well as from the writings of Greek authors (especially Herodotus), that the dwellers on the Nile had their heads shaved in early youth, leaving but a side lock until maturity was attained, when this mark of childhood was taken away. Priests and warriors kept their heads closely shaved; nothing but the exigencies of arduous warfare were allowed to interfere with this custom. On the other hand, the Hebrew people, like their Babylonian neighbors (Herod. i.195), affected long and well-cared-for, bushy curls of hair as emblems of manly beauty. Proofs thereof are not infrequent in…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hair

(1.) The Egyptians let the hair of their head and beard grow only when they were in mourning, shaving it off at other times. “So particular were they on this point that to have neglected it was a subject of reproach and ridicule; and whenever they intended to convey the idea of a man of low condition, or a slovenly person, the artists represented him with a beard.” Joseph shaved himself before going in to Pharoah (Gen. 41:14). The women of Egypt wore their hair long and plaited. Wigs were worn by priests and laymen to cover the shaven skull, and false beards were common. The great masses of hair seen in the portraits and statues of kings and priests are thus altogether artificial.

(2.) A precisely opposite practice, as regards men, prevailed among the Assyrians. In Assyrian sculptures the hair always appears long, and combed…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The Hebrews were fully alive to the importance of the hair as an element of personal beauty. Long hair was admired in the case of young men. (2 Samuel 14:26) In times of affliction the hair was altogether cut off. (Isaiah 3:17,24; 15:2; Jeremiah 7:29) Tearing the hair (Ezra 9:3) and letting it go dishevelled were similar tokens of grief. The usual and favorite color of the hair was black, (Solomon 5:11) as is indicated in the comparisons in (Solomon 1:5; 4:1) a similar hue is probably intended by the purple of (Solomon 7:6) Pure white hair was deemed characteristic of the divine Majesty. (Daniel 7:9; Revelation 1:14) The…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Jewish men, except Nazarites, Nu 6:5,9, and cases like that of Absalom, 2Sa 14:26, cut their hair moderately short, 1Co 11:14, and applied fragrant ointments to it, Ex 30:30-33 Ps 23:5 Ec 9:8. In mourning they wholly neglected it, or shaved it close, or plucked it out by handfuls, Jer 7:29. Women prized a fine head of hair, and plaited, perfumed, and decked it in many ways, Isa 3:18,24 1Co 11:15, so much…

and remove vexation from heart your and put away evil from flesh your for youth and the black hair [are] futility
הָֽבֶל׃Ha.vel [are] futility H1892 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hebel means emptiness or vanity, describing something transitory and unsatisfactory, like a breath of air. It appears in the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes about life's fleeting nature. The KJV translates it as vanity or altogether.
Amplified meaning
vanity, emptiness, transitory
Tyndale gloss
vanity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֶ֫בֶל (hevel) refers to vapour or breath, and is often associated with concepts of emptiness or vanity, indicating something transitory and unsatisfactory. The word can function as an adverb meaning 'vainly.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to breathe' and appears in contexts discussing the fleeting nature of life.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֶ֫בֶל 73 n.m. vapour, breath

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1892 הֶ֫בֶל vapour, breath

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1892 hebel heh'bel

or (rarely in the abs.) habel {hab-ale'}; from 1891;

emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and

unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb:--X altogether, vain,

vanity.

see HEBREW for 01891

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶ֫בֶל (he.vel) — vanity.

1) vapour, breath

1a) breath, vapour

1b) vanity (fig.)

adv

2) vainly

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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