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Ecclesiastes 2:6 — Word Study

Depth

WLCעָשִׂ֥יתִי לִ֖י בְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִם לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת מֵהֶ֔ם יַ֖עַר צוֹמֵ֥חַ עֵצִֽים׃

BSAI builtʻâsâh [constructed for myself, made] reservoirsbᵉrêkâh [pools of water, cisternes] to watershâqâh [to give drink, irrigate] my grovesyaʻar [woods, forest] of flourishingtsâmach [growing, shooting forth] treesʻêts [young trees, wood]

Word
Listen & take awayEcclesiastes 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 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 ('e.Tzim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ecclesiastes 2:6quick helps
In a sentenceThe speaker describes building reservoirs to provide water for his flourishing trees.
Who is speakingThe speaker is the author of Ecclesiastes, reflecting on his achievements.
Where we areThis verse is part of a passage where the author recounts his various accomplishments.
The hard wordבְּרֵכ֣וֹת
Take awayThe act of creating reservoirs shows the speaker's effort to cultivate his land.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbעָשָׂה 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 — Ecclesiastes 2:6

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

Context — The Achievements of the Speakergenerated

5I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees.
6I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.
7I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,
8and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

Ecclesiastes 2:6 describes the speaker's efforts in building reservoirs to ensure his trees thrive. This verse is part of a broader reflection on the various projects and accomplishments he undertook, as seen in the preceding and following verses. The speaker emphasizes the lengths he went to in order to cultivate his land and enjoy the fruits of his labor.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Nehemiah 2:14Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to get through;
2Song of Solomon 7:4
3Psalm 1:3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
4Jeremiah 17:8He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עָשִׂ֥יתִי, 'a.Si.tigenerated

The verb עָשָׂה (asah) means to make or do, indicating the speaker's active role in constructing something significant. It is a perfect tense verb, showing completed action — the reservoirs were made for a specific purpose.

This word is used frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts of creation and craftsmanship, highlighting the speaker's intent to create a sustainable environment for his flourishing trees.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb עָשִׂ֥יתִי, I made, governs the entire sentence, with a series of phrases detailing the action. The structure emphasizes the act of making and the purpose behind it.

The sentence is constructed with a primary action followed by prepositional and noun phrases that elaborate on the objects involved, showcasing the speaker's achievements.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עָשִׂ֥יתִי as ἐποίησά, indicating a direct correspondence in meaning. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the act of making.

The Greek term used in the Septuagint suggests a similar emphasis on the creative action taken by the speaker, aligning with the Hebrew's intent.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ecclesiastes 2:6 describes how the speaker built reservoirs to provide water for his flourishing trees. This reflects his efforts to cultivate the land and ensure the growth of his trees.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the speaker mean by 'reservoirs'?

Reservoirs refer to pools or cisterns that store water, allowing for irrigation and sustenance of the trees.

Why is the act of building reservoirs significant?

Building reservoirs shows the speaker's commitment to nurturing his land and ensuring the growth of his trees.

What kind of trees is the speaker referring to?

The speaker refers to flourishing trees, indicating healthy and thriving vegetation.

How does this verse connect to the overall message of Ecclesiastes?

This verse illustrates the speaker's reflections on his achievements and the efforts he made to enjoy the fruits of his labor.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What efforts do I make to cultivate the things I care about in my life?
  2. How can I ensure that the resources I have are used wisely for growth?
  3. In what areas of my life do I see flourishing, and how can I nurture that further?
  4. What lessons can I learn from the speaker's reflections on his accomplishments?

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

The early church Fathers comment on this verse, reflecting on its implications for understanding the speaker's achievements and the nature of creation.

Ambrose of MilanOn Isaac and the Soul c. 339–397
With reference to the natural sense, you find it said in Ecclesiastes, “I made for myself pools of water to water from them a flourishing woodland.” And do not be concerned that he said “pools” instead of “a well,” because Moses said “the…
Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 2 →
JeromeCommentary on Ecclesiastes c. 347–420
"I constructed pools from which to irrigate a grove of young trees. "The wood in glades and in forests, which is not fruit-bearing, are not nourished by rain from the sky,
Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 2:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

I made me pools of water,.... For cascades and water works to play in, as well as to keep and produce fish of all kinds: mention is made of the king's pools, Ne 2:14; the fish pools at Heshbon, by

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

I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under

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

I made me pools of water, because the rain there fell but seldom. The wood that bringeth forth trees; the nurseries of young trees newly planted in the orchards, which for the multitude of them were like a wood or forest.

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

Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:Ver. 6. To water therewith the wood,] i.e., The gardens or hort yards, that were as large as little woods. Christ’ s garden in the Canticles, as it hath a wall, so a well to water it, and make it fruitful.

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

(6) Pools.—In a place south of Bethlehem are still pointed out three gigantic reservoirs, known as the Pools of Solomon (Stanley’s Jewish Church, 2:197). The place is probably the same as that called Etham by Josephus in his description of Solomon’s luxury (Ant. viii. 7. 3). Josephus speaks of another Pool of Solomon (Bell. Jud. v. 4. 2). Tanks are necessary for irrigation in a land where natural streams are few and are dried up in summer. The king’s pool is mentioned in Nehemiah 2:14.

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

Verse 6. Pools of water] Tanks and reservoirs. To water therewith the wood] Aqueducts to lead the water from the tanks to different parts.

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

6. I made me pools of water] Those at Etam have been mentioned above. Besides these we have the fish-pools of Heshbon (Song Son 7:4), the pool of the king (Nehemiah 2:14), possibly also, the pools of Siloam (John 9:7), and Beth-esda (John 5:2). In Palestine, as in India, these large tanks or reservoirs of water, as meeting the necessities of the climate, were among the favourite works of kingly munificence. Stress is laid on the fact that they were not for beauty only, but for service in irrigating the extensive park. the wood that bringeth forth trees] Better, “a grove making trees to bud,” i. e. in the language of modern gardening, a “nursery” for young trees.

Read Cambridge on Ecclesiastes 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Pools - A short distance south of Bethlehem, in a valley in the defile of Urtas, three “Pools of Solomon” are still shown and an adjoining hill still bears the name of the “Little Paradise.”

Read Albert Barnes on Ecclesiastes 2 →

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

I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;

RVARevised Version, American1894

I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I made me pools of water, to water with them the wood that bringeth forth trees:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I haue made me cisternes of water, to water therewith the woods that growe with trees.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood, where the trees are reared.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I made for myself pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

I made myself pools of water, to water therewith the forest overgrown with trees;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I created pools of water to water a forest where trees were grown.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I constructed for myself reservoirs to water all these growing trees.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.

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.

clauseverbעָשִׂ֥יתִיI.madeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֖forיmyselfnoun phrase · objectבְּרֵכ֣וֹתpoolsמָ֑יִםof.waterprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהַשְׁק֣וֹתwaterprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵfromהֶ֔םthemnoun phrase · objectיַ֖עַרa.forestnoun phraseצוֹמֵ֥חַsproutingעֵצִֽיםtrees

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 closely in wording, with a complete match of the nine words. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the verse across these traditions.

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

עָשִׂ֥יתִי לִ֖י בְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִם לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת מֵהֶ֔ם יַ֖עַר צוֹמֵ֥חַ עֵצִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עָשִׂ֥יתִיἐποίησάלִ֖יμοιבְּרֵכ֣וֹתκολυμβήθραςמָ֑יִםὑδάτωνלְהַשְׁק֣וֹתποτίσαιמֵהֶ֔םαὐτῶνיַ֖עַרδρυμονצוֹמֵ֥חַβλαστῶνταעֵצִֽים׃χύλα

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

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


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

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

Ecclesiastes 2:6עָשָׂהI madeI madeעָשָׂהנִיfor myselffor myselfנִיבְּרֵכָהpools ofpools ofבְּרֵכָהמַיwaterwaterמַישָׁקָהto waterto waterשָׁקָההֶםfrom themfrom themהֶםיַ֫עַרa foresta forestיַ֫עַרצָמַחsprouting osprouting ofצָמַחעֵץtreestreesעֵץבָּרַךְto blessto blessבָּרַךְעָצָהto shutto shutעָצָהשָׁכַרbe drunkbe drunkשָׁכַרשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהתְּעָלָהconduitconduitתְּעָלָהמְסִלָּהhighwayhighwayמְסִלָּהרָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץרֹאשׁpoisonpoisonרֹאשׁגָּמָלcamelcamelגָּמָלכַּרְמֶלplantationplantationכַּרְמֶללְבָנוֹן(Valley of(Valley of) Lebלְבָנוֹןצֶ֫מַחbranchbranchצֶ֫מַחחָצִירgrassgrassחָצִירשִׁטָּהacaciaacaciaשִׁטָּהאֶ֫רֶזcedarcedarאֶ֫רֶז
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 2:6

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.

I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
עָשִׂ֥יתִי'a.Si.ti I made H6213 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
constructed for myself, made
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
לִ֖יli for myself H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
בְּרֵכ֣וֹתbe.re.Khot pools of H1295 Noun common · feminine plural construct
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A pool is a reservoir of water, like those where camels rest. In the Bible, it refers to a place where fish live, providing food for people.
Amplified meaning
pools of water, cisternes
Tyndale gloss
pool
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּרֵכָה (brekah) refers to a pool or pond, often described as a reservoir where camels might kneel to rest. It is derived from the root meaning related to gathering water. The entries consistently emphasize its use in the context of water bodies.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּרֵכָה n.f. pool, pond

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1295 בְּרֵכָה pool, pond

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1295 brekah ber-ay-kaw'

from 1288; a reservoir (at which camels kneel as a

resting-place):--(fish-)pool.

see HEBREW for 01288

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּרֵכָה (be.re.khah) — (Shelah) Pool.

pool, pond

Combined with she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

בְּרֵכָה (be.re.khah) — pool.

pool, pond

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural construct
HNcfpc
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…

I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
מָ֑יִםMa.yim water H4325 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Tyndale gloss
Water (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4325 mayim mah'-yim

dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+

piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַי (ma.yim) — water.

1) water, waters

1a) water

1b) water of the feet, urine

1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).

This name means water, refreshment

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):

(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.

(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.

(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CISTERN and WELLS.

In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5

→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9

→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11

→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20

→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5

→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22

→ Libation of 1Sa 7:6

→ Irrigation with

See IRRIGATION

→ Miraculously supplied

To the Israelites Ex 17:1,6; Nu 20:11

To Samson Jud 15:19

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- One of the elements of the world

Ge 1:2

- GOD ORIGINALLY

. Created the firmament to divide

Ge 1:6,7

. Collected into one place

Ge 1:9

. Created fowls and fishes, &c from

Ge 1:20,21

- Necessary to vegetation

Ge 2:5,6; Job 14:9; Isa 1:30

- Some plants particularly require

Job 8:11

- Necessary to the comfort and happiness of man

Isa 41:17; Zec 9:11

- COLLECTED IN

. Springs

I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
לְהַשְׁק֣וֹתle.hash.Kot to water H8248 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
61× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to give water or a drink to someone or something, often used in stories like Genesis and Exodus. It describes providing sustenance and care, like God giving water to the Israelites in the desert.
Amplified meaning
to give drink, irrigate
Tyndale gloss
to water: watering
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁקָה (sha.qah) is a primitive root meaning to cause to drink or to water. It covers the act of giving drink to both animals and plants, as well as the concept of irrigation. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, including Hiphil, Pual, and Niphal, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁקָה] vb. Hiph. cause to drink water, give to drink

Hiph. water, irrigate, ground

water, give drink to

Pu. the marrow of his bones is watered, (refreshed, invigorated).

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8248 שָׁקָה Hiph. cause to drink water, give to drink

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8248 shaqah shaw-kaw'

a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or

furnish a potion to:--cause to (give, give to, let, make to)

drink, drown, moisten, water. See 7937, 8354.

see HEBREW for 07937

see HEBREW for 08354

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: watering.

: watering(ANIMALS/PLANTS)

1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to water, irrigate

1a2) to water, give drink to

1b) (Pual) to be watered

1c) (Niphal) variant

שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: drink.

: drink(PEOPLE)

1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to water, irrigate

1a2) to water, give drink to

1b) (Pual) to be watered

1c) (Niphal) variant

שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: cupbearer.

: cupbearer

1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to water, irrigate

1a2) to water, give drink to

1b) (Pual) to be watered

1c) (Niphal) variant

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

wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):

(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.

(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.

(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CISTERN and WELLS.

In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5

→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9

→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11

→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20

→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5

→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22

→ Libation of 1Sa 7:6

→ Irrigation with

See IRRIGATION

→ Miraculously supplied

To the Israelites Ex 17:1,6; Nu 20:11

To Samson Jud 15:19

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- One of the elements of the world

Ge 1:2

- GOD ORIGINALLY

. Created the firmament to divide

Ge 1:6,7

. Collected into one place

Ge 1:9

. Created fowls and fishes, &c from

Ge 1:20,21

- Necessary to vegetation

Ge 2:5,6; Job 14:9; Isa 1:30

- Some plants particularly require

Job 8:11

- Necessary to the comfort and happiness of man

Isa 41:17; Zec 9:11

- COLLECTED IN

. Springs

I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
מֵהֶ֔םme.Hem from them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
יַ֖עַרYa.'ar a forest H3293 Noun common · masculine singular construct
59× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word Yaar refers to a forest or a copse of bushes, and also to a honeycomb. It is associated with Kiriath-jearim, a place name in the Bible. This word is used to describe natural environments.
Amplified meaning
woods, forest
Tyndale gloss
Jaar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַ֫עַר (ya'ar) refers to both a wood or forest and a honeycomb. The word is derived from a root suggesting thick vegetation. It encompasses meanings related to wooded areas and also has a specific reference to honeycomb, possibly due to its association with trees. Some entries connect it to specific locations or phrases in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַ֫עַר n.m. wood, forest, thicket

base

יַ֫עַר n.[m.] honeycomb

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3293a יַ֫עַר wood, forest, thicket H3293b יַ֫עַר honeycomb

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3293 ya`ar yah'-ar

from an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure;

a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb

(as hived in trees):--(honey-)comb, forest, wood.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — wood.

forest, wood, thicket, wooded height

Also means: ya.or (יָעוֹר "wood" H3264)

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — honeycomb.

honeycomb

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — Jaar.

honeycomb

Another name of qir.yat ye.a.rim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים "Kiriath-jearim" H7157)

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — (Ephraim) Forest.

Combined with eph.ra.yim (אֶפְרַ֫יִם " of Ephraim" H0669K)

§ honeycomb

יַ֫עַר (ya.ar) — (House of) the Forest.

Combined with ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת "House" H1004J)

§ honeycomb

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

for'-est:

(1) choresh (compare proper name Harosheth), 2Ch 27:4. In 1Sa 23:15 ff translated "wood"; in Isa 17:9, "wood"; in Eze 31:3, "forest-like shade." Applied to any thick growth of vegetation but not necessarily so extensive as (3).

(2) pardec: Ne 2:8, margin "park"; Ec 2:5, the King James Version "orchards," the Revised Version (British and American) "parks"; So 4:13, English Versions of the Bible "orchard," the Revised Version, margin "paradise." A word of Persian origin signifying probably an enclosure.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Forest

Heb. ya’ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great primeval forests of Syria (Eccl. 2:6; Isa. 44:14; Jer. 5:6; Micah 5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2 Sam. 18:6, 8; Josh. 17:15, 18), which is probably the same as the wood of Ephratah (Ps. 132:6), some part of the great forest of Gilead. It was in this forest that Absalom was slain by Joab. David withdrew to the forest of Hareth in the mountains of Judah to avoid the fury of Saul (

I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
צוֹמֵ֥חַtzo.Me.ach sprouting of H6779 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular common
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To spring or grow is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can describe plants, hair, or even ideas. It's used to talk about new life or development, like a seed sprouting or a person's speech growing more fluent.
Amplified meaning
growing, shooting forth
Tyndale gloss
to spring
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָמַח (tsamach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sprout or spring up. It encompasses various forms of growth, including plants, hair, and even speech. The root can be used in different grammatical aspects, such as causing something to grow or sprout. The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, particularly in contexts like abundant growth or the effects of rain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צָמַח vb. sprout, spring up

Qal sprout, spring up

Pi. grow abundantly

Hiph.

cause to grow

of rain, cause the earth to sprout

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6779 צָמַח sprout, spring up

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6779 tsamach tsaw-makh'

a primitive root; to sprout (transitive or intransitive,

literal or figurative):--bear, bring forth, (cause to, make

to) bud (forth), (cause to, make to) grow (again, up), (cause

to) spring (forth, up).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָמַח (tsa.mach) — to spring.

1) to sprout, spring up, grow up

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to sprout, spring up

1a1a) of plants

1a1b) of hair

1a1c) of speech (fig.)

1b) (Piel) to grow abundantly or thickly

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to grow

1c2) to cause to sprout

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular common
HVqrmsc
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…

I made for myself pools of water to water from them a forest sprouting of trees
עֵצִֽים׃'e.Tzim trees H6086 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
330× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word for tree or wood refers to a strong and firm object, like a tree or a wooden plank, as seen in the carpentry work of Jesus' earthly father Joseph in Matthew 13:55.
Amplified meaning
young trees, wood
Tyndale gloss
tree: wood
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵץ (ets) refers to a tree or wood, encompassing various forms such as timber, sticks, and planks. It can denote both singular and plural trees, as well as specific uses like gallows and firewood. The word is derived from a root meaning firmness, indicating its solid nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood

(c. 150 t.)

a standing tree

coll. trees

(c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6086 עֵץ tree, trees, wood . (c. 150 t.) . a standing tree

. coll. trees

. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6086 `ets ates

from 6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural

sticks):--+ carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff,

stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.

see HEBREW for 06095

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵץ (ets) — tree: wood.

: wood

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree.

: tree

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: stick.

: stick/log

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: stake.

: stake/shaft

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

1b) wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax

עֵץ (ets) — tree: carpenter.

: carpenter/wood(worker)

1) tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows

1a) tree, trees

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Were frequently used as types of kings, or men of wealth and power, Ps 37:35 Isa 2:13 Da 4:10-26 Zec 11:1,2. The "tree of knowledge of good and evil" bore the forbidden fruit, by eating of which Adam fatally increased his knowledge—of good by its loss, of sin and woe by actual experience, Ge 2:9,17. The "tree of life" may have been both an assurance and a means of imparting life, a seal of eternal holiness and bliss, if man had not sinned. Compare Re 22:2.

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Originally created by God

Ge 1:11,12; 2:9

- Made for the glory of God

Ps 148:9

- DIFFERENT KINDS OF MENTIONED

. Of the wood

So 2:3

. Of the forest

Isa 10:19

. Bearing fruit

Ne 9:25; Ec 2:5; Eze 47:12

. Evergreen

Ps 37:35; Jer 17:2

. Deciduous or casting the leaves

Isa 6:13

- Of various sizes

Eze 17:24

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) Laws Concerning

Le 19:23; 27:30; De 16:21; 20:19

(2) Evil, Sinners Compared to

Ps 37:35; Mt 7:18; Lu 3:9; Jude 12

(3) Saints as

Nu 24:6; Ps 1:3; 52:8; 92:12; Isa 61:3; Jer 17:8; Eze 47:7; Ho 14:6

(4) Varieties Mentioned

Almond

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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