Ecclesiastes 3:6 — Word Study
WLCעֵ֤ת לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ וְעֵ֣ת לְאַבֵּ֔ד עֵ֥ת לִשְׁמ֖וֹר וְעֵ֥ת לְהַשְׁלִֽיךְ׃
BSAa timeʻêth [season, occasion] to searchbâqash [to seek, look for] and a timeʻêth [season, occasion] to count as lostʼâbad [to lose, perish] a timeʻêth [season, occasion] to keepshâmar [to preserve, protect] and a timeʻêth [season, occasion] to discardshâlak [to throw away, cast off]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֵ֤ת | a time | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ | to seek | Preposition, verb piel infinitive construct common |
| וְעֵ֣ת | and a time | Conjunction, noun common both singular absolute |
| לְאַבֵּ֔ד | to count as lost | Preposition, verb piel infinitive construct common |
| עֵ֥ת | a time | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| לִשְׁמ֖וֹר | to keep | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| וְעֵ֥ת | and a time | Conjunction, noun common both singular absolute |
| לְהַשְׁלִֽיךְ׃ | to throw away | Preposition, verb hiphil infinitive construct common |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard, |
| KJV | A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; |
| ASV | a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; |
| YLT | A time to seek, And a time to destroy. A time to keep, And a time to cast away. |
| WEB | a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; |
| BBE | A time for search and a time for loss; a time to keep and a time to give away; |
The translations agree on the meanings of the key Hebrew words in this verse.
The sentence is structured around a series of main clauses, each indicating a specific action tied to the concept of time.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectעֵת
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 3:6
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 Seasons of Lifegenerated
Ecclesiastes 3:6 is part of a larger passage that discusses the different times and seasons for various activities in life. The author reflects on the natural order of life, emphasizing that there is a proper time for everything, including searching for what is lost and deciding what to keep or discard. This verse captures the essence of life's cyclical nature and the importance of discernment in our actions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 30:30–43 | Indeed, you had very little before my arrival, but now your wealth has increased many times over. The LORD has blessed you wherever I set foot. But now, when may I also provide for my own household?” |
| 2 | Genesis 31:18 | and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan. |
| 3 | Exodus 12:35–36 | Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 8:17–18 | You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” |
| 5 | 2 Kings 5:26 | But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 19 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֵת, 'etgenerated
The word עֵת ('et) means 'time,' and it encompasses various aspects such as specific moments, periods, or occasions. It is often used to denote the right time for actions, reflecting the rhythm of life. The parsing as a noun in the singular absolute form indicates a general concept of time rather than a specific instance.
In this verse, עֵת appears multiple times, emphasizing the significance of timing in different contexts. Each instance serves to mark a distinct action or decision, illustrating the structured nature of life's experiences.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations of this verse generally agree, using terms like time for עֵת and to seek for לְבַקֵּשׁ.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of this verse is built around a series of clauses, each beginning with the finite verb that indicates a specific action related to time. The first clause introduces the action of searching, followed by the action of counting as lost, then keeping, and finally discarding.
Each action is tied to the concept of עֵת, creating a rhythm that emphasizes the importance of timing in our decisions. The repetition of עֵת serves to unify the verse and highlight the cyclical nature of these actions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew עֵת is translated as καιρός (kairos), which also means 'time' but can imply a more qualitative aspect of time, suggesting the right or opportune moment for action. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the timing involved in life's activities.
The Greek translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text while also introducing nuances that may resonate with a Hellenistic audience, emphasizing the importance of seizing the right moments.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ecclesiastes 3:6 tells us that there are specific times for different actions in life, such as searching for things and deciding what to keep or let go. This verse highlights the natural order of life's seasons and the importance of making wise choices about our actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
A time to search refers to the moments in life when we actively seek out what is lost or desired, whether it be physical items, relationships, or spiritual truths.
Counting as lost suggests recognizing when something is no longer beneficial or worth pursuing, allowing us to let go and move forward.
Discerning the right time to keep something involves evaluating its value and significance in our lives, ensuring it aligns with our goals and well-being.
To discard means to actively choose to let go of items, relationships, or habits that no longer serve a purpose or contribute positively to our lives.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some things in my life that I need to search for or seek out?
- How can I identify what is worth keeping and what should be counted as lost?
- In what areas of my life do I need to practice letting go?
- How can I better understand the timing of my actions in relation to God's plan for my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, discussing the significance of timing in spiritual pursuits and the importance of seeking God throughout one's life.
Before the good things were found (for example, the knowledge of truth), people were in ignorance. For them it was the time of losing.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 3 →
Do you want to learn, too, the right moment to seek the Lord? To put it briefly—all your life. In this case alone the one moment to pursue it is the whole state of life.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 3 →
Do you wish to learn the opportune time for seeking the Lord? Let me briefly state that your entire life is the only time to carry this out.Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 3 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 3:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA time to get, and a time to lose,.... To get substance, as the Targum, and to lose it; wealth and riches, honour and glory, wisdom and knowledge: or, "to seek, and to lose" (i); a time when the
Read John Gill on Ecclesiastes 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to get - e.g., to gain honestly a livelihood (Ephesians 4:28); Hebrew, seek. Lose - when God wills losses to us, then is our time to be content.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ecclesiastes 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA time to lose; when men shall lose their estates, either by God’ s providence, or by their own choice. A time to cast away; when a man shall cast away his goods voluntarily, as in a storm to save his life, as ,19; or out of love and obedience to God, as ,39 Hebrews 10:34.
Read Matthew Poole on Ecclesiastes 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEcclesiastes 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;Ver. 6. A time to get.] Heb., To seek; for men do but seek here, they do not properly get what they cannot long hold. How much better therefore were it to seek God! Cuius inventio est ipsum semper quaerere (as Nyssen hath it here), the finding of whom is always to seek him, and in seeking of whom there is so great reward. "Seek ye me and ye shall live." "Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion." Seek him "in a time when he may be found." "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Take the present "now," and be serious, and then God scorns to do as heathen idols did - viz., to say…
Read John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) To lose.—Elsewhere this word means to destroy, but in the later Hebrew it comes to mean to lose, like the Latin “perdere.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ecclesiastes 3 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. A time to get, - to lose, - to keep, - to cast away] ___________________ "Commerce produces wealth, Whilst time of gaining lasts; from every point Blow prosperous gales. Now heaven begins to lower, And all our hopes are blasted. Prudence bids, One while, our treasure to reserve, and then With liberal hand to scatter wide. How oft In raging storms, the owner wisely casts Into the deep his precious merchandise, To save the foundering bark!
Read AdamClarke on Ecclesiastes 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. A time to get, and a time to lose] The getting or the losing refer primarily, we can scarcely doubt, to what we call property. There are times when it is better and wiser to risk the loss of all we have rather than to set our minds on acquiring more. Something like this lesson we have in our Lord’s paradox “whosoever will (wills to) save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25). In earthly, as in heavenly, things it is the note of a wise man that he knows when to be content to lose. So the Satirist condemns the folly of those who are content, “Propter vitam vivendi perdere causas.”“And for mere life to lose life’s noblest…
Read Cambridge on Ecclesiastes 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleGet ... lose - Rather, seek, and a time to give up for lost.
Read Albert Barnes on Ecclesiastes 3 →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
a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,
A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
Tyndale line
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to seeke, and a time to lose: a time to keepe, and a time to cast away.
Strictly literal
A time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to seek, And a time to destroy. A time to keep, And a time to cast away.
A time to seek, || And a time to destroy. A time to keep, || And a time to cast away.
A time to seek, and a time to let things be lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
There is a time to look for things and a time to stop looking, a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,
From the Latin
A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.
Simplified
A time of searching, and a time of giving up searching. A time of keeping, and a time of throwing away.
A time for search and a time for loss; a time to keep and a time to give away;
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.
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 this verse, with all eight words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the timing and actions described, with no significant variations noted.
עֵ֤ת לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ וְעֵ֣ת לְאַבֵּ֔ד עֵ֥ת לִשְׁמ֖וֹר וְעֵ֥ת לְהַשְׁלִֽיךְ׃
8 of the 8 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.
Lexicons — every word in Ecclesiastes 3:6
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.
עֵת (eth) means 'time,' covering various aspects such as the time of an event, a usual time, or an appointed time. It can also refer to experiences or occurrences. The entries suggest it can denote both specific and uncertain times, but they do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עֵת 297 n.f. time
time of an event
= usual time
proper, suitable time
appointed time
as uncertain
= experience, fortunes
occurrence, occasion
base
H6256 עֵת time . time of an event
. . = usual time
. proper, suitable time
. appointed time
. as uncertain
. = experience, fortunes
. occurrence, occasion
6256 `eth ayth
from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now,
when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, +
evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-,
noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.
see HEBREW for 05703
עֵת (et) — time.
1) time
1a) time (of an event)
1b) time (usual)
1c) experiences, fortunes
1d) occurrence, occasion
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.
[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek
Pi.
seek to find
seek to secure
seek the face
desire, demand
require, exact
exact equivalent or penalty for
(late) ask, request
Pu. be sought
base
H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek
1245 baqash baw-kash'
a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically
in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,
beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,
(make) request, require, seek (for).
בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.
1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to seek to find
1a2) to seek to secure
1a3) to seek the face
1a4) to desire, demand
1a5) to require, exact
1a6) to ask, request
1b) (Pual) to be sought
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a — Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct commonHR/Vpcc
עֵת (eth) means 'time,' covering various aspects such as the time of an event, a usual time, or an appointed time. It can also refer to experiences or occurrences. The entries suggest it can denote both specific and uncertain times, but they do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עֵת 297 n.f. time
time of an event
= usual time
proper, suitable time
appointed time
as uncertain
= experience, fortunes
occurrence, occasion
base
H6256 עֵת time . time of an event
. . = usual time
. proper, suitable time
. appointed time
. as uncertain
. = experience, fortunes
. occurrence, occasion
6256 `eth ayth
from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now,
when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, +
evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-,
noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.
see HEBREW for 05703
עֵת (et) — time.
1) time
1a) time (of an event)
1b) time (usual)
1c) experiences, fortunes
1d) occurrence, occasion
Conj | N-cs — Conjunction · noun common both singular absoluteHC/Ncbsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6…
Read the full entry →H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals
. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory
. be lost, strayed
. . cause to perish, destroy, kill
. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with
. cause to stray, lose
. . destroy, put to death, in judgment
. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.
6 'abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose
oneself; by implication to perish (causative,
destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,
lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be
undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.
1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) perish, die, be exterminated
1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)
1a3) be lost, strayed
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate
1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)
1b3) cause to stray, lose
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to destroy, put to death
1c1a) of divine judgment
1c2) object name of kings (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a — Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct commonHR/Vpcc
עֵת (eth) means 'time,' covering various aspects such as the time of an event, a usual time, or an appointed time. It can also refer to experiences or occurrences. The entries suggest it can denote both specific and uncertain times, but they do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עֵת 297 n.f. time
time of an event
= usual time
proper, suitable time
appointed time
as uncertain
= experience, fortunes
occurrence, occasion
base
H6256 עֵת time . time of an event
. . = usual time
. proper, suitable time
. appointed time
. as uncertain
. = experience, fortunes
. occurrence, occasion
6256 `eth ayth
from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now,
when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, +
evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-,
noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.
see HEBREW for 05703
עֵת (et) — time.
1) time
1a) time (of an event)
1b) time (usual)
1c) experiences, fortunes
1d) occurrence, occasion
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
עֵת (eth) means 'time,' covering various aspects such as the time of an event, a usual time, or an appointed time. It can also refer to experiences or occurrences. The entries suggest it can denote both specific and uncertain times, but they do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עֵת 297 n.f. time
time of an event
= usual time
proper, suitable time
appointed time
as uncertain
= experience, fortunes
occurrence, occasion
base
H6256 עֵת time . time of an event
. . = usual time
. proper, suitable time
. appointed time
. as uncertain
. = experience, fortunes
. occurrence, occasion
6256 `eth ayth
from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now,
when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, +
evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-,
noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.
see HEBREW for 05703
עֵת (et) — time.
1) time
1a) time (of an event)
1b) time (usual)
1c) experiences, fortunes
1d) occurrence, occasion
Conj | N-cs — Conjunction · noun common both singular absoluteHC/Ncbsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
שָׁלַךְ (shalak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to throw, cast, or fling. It can be used literally or figuratively, covering actions like throwing away or casting lots. The Hiphil form indicates an active throwing, while the Hophal form suggests being thrown or cast. The entries collectively emphasize various nuances of throwing and casting.
[שָׁלַךְ] 125 vb. Hiph. 112 throw, fling, cast
Hoph.
be thrown, cast
be cast forth, out
be cast down
metaph., be cast
base
H7993 שָׁלַךְ Hiph. throw, fling, cast
7993 shalak shaw-lak
a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or
figuratively):--adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off,
out), hurl, pluck, throw.
שָׁלַךְ (sha.lakh) — to throw.
1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down
1a2) to cast (lots) (fig)
1b) (Hophal)
1b1) to be thrown, be cast
1b2) to be cast forth or out
1b3) to be cast down
1b4) to be cast (metaph)
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct commonHR/Vhcc