Ecclesiastes 4:2 — Word Study
WLCוְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ אֲנִ֛י אֶת־ הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־ הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה חַיִּ֖ים עֲדֶֽנָה׃
BSASo Iʼănîy [praised, congratulated] admiredshâbach the deadmûwth [who have gone to their death, who are already deceased] who had alreadykᵉbâr [long since, in the past] diedmûwth■ abovemin the livingchay [who are yet alive, still breathing] whoʼăsher are stillʻăden [yet, ongoing] alivechay
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ | and I congratulated | Conjunction, verb piel infinitive construct common |
| אֲנִ֛י | I | Pronoun |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| הַמֵּתִ֖ים | the dead | Particle, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר | who already | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| מֵ֑תוּ | they had died | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| מִן־ | more than | Preposition |
| הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים | the living | Particle |
| אֲשֶׁ֛ר | who | Particle |
| הֵ֥מָּה | they | Pronoun |
| חַיִּ֖ים | [were] alive | Adj |
| עֲדֶֽנָה׃ | still | Adverb, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. |
| KJV | Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. |
| ASV | Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive; |
| YLT | And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive. |
| WEB | Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. |
| BBE | So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life. |
Where they part company is in the use of שַׁבֵּ֧חַ — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb governs the sentence, with two subordinate phrases providing detail about the subjects involved.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֲנִי
verbמוּת
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 4:2
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 Life and Deathgenerated
Ecclesiastes 4:2 presents a stark comparison between the dead and the living, where the author admires those who have passed away, suggesting they are better off than those still enduring life's struggles. This passage is part of a larger discourse on the futility of human endeavor and the pain of oppression, as seen in the verses surrounding it.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastes 2:17 | So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 9:4–6 | There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion. |
| 3 | Job 3:17–21 | There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שַׁבֵּ֧חַ, ve.sha.Be.achgenerated
The verb שַׁבֵּ֧חַ (shabach) is a piel infinitive construct meaning 'to praise' or 'to commend'. It conveys a sense of vocal admiration, often in a public or emphatic manner. In this context, it indicates the author's act of praising the dead for their release from the struggles of life.
This word's usage here reflects a deeper philosophical observation about life and death, suggesting that the dead, who have escaped the trials of existence, are viewed with a sense of respect or admiration.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is translated in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term admired, aligning with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the sentence is שַׁבֵּ֧חַ, I admired, which governs the entire clause. The structure emphasizes the contrast between the dead and the living, with the subjects clearly delineated.
The sentence is constructed with a series of noun phrases and relative clauses, highlighting the subjects and their states. The order of words places emphasis on the admiration of the dead over the living.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb שַׁבֵּ֧חַ is rendered as ἐπήνεσα, meaning 'I praised'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the act of commendation.
This translation maintains the author's reflective tone while also suggesting a cultural context where praise for the dead was significant.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ecclesiastes 4:2 shows the author's contemplation of life and death, stating that he admires the dead who have already died more than the living who are still alive. This reflects a view that the dead are free from the struggles of life, contrasting their state with that of the living.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The author suggests that those who have passed away have escaped the hardships of life, making their state seem preferable to that of the living.
This comparison serves to highlight the futility and suffering present in life, prompting a reflection on existence and its challenges.
Themes of mortality, the nature of existence, and the futility of human endeavor are prevalent, as the author grapples with the meaning of life and death.
This verse is part of a broader discussion on oppression and the struggles of life, emphasizing the author's observations on the state of humanity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can reflect on the value of life and death in my own experiences?
- How does this verse challenge my understanding of suffering and existence?
- In what ways can I find meaning in the struggles I face in life?
- How can I apply the insights from this passage to my perspective on mortality?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, reflecting on the fortune of the dead compared to the living, emphasizing the philosophical insights drawn from this observation.
"So I consider more fortunate the dead, who have already died, than the living, who are still alive. But better than either of them is he who has not yet been,Early Church Fathers on Ecclesiastes 4 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ecclesiastes 4:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWherefore I praised the dead, which are already dead,.... Truly and properly so; not in a figurative sense, as dead sinners, men dead in trespasses and sins; nor carnal professors, that have a name
Read John Gill on Ecclesiastes 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more than the living.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ecclesiastes 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI praised; I judged them more happy, or less miserable; which he seems to deliver not only as the judgment of the flesh, or of the sense, or of men in misery, as this is commonly understood, but as his own judgment. For this is most true and certain, that setting aside the advantage which this life gives him for the concerns of the future life, which Solomon doth not meddle with in the present debate, and considering the uncertainty, and vanity, and manifold vexations of mind, and outward calamities of the present life, a wise man would not account it worth his while to live, and would choose death rather than life. The dead which are already dead; those which are quite dead; who possibly…
Read Matthew Poole on Ecclesiastes 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEcclesiastes 4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.Ver. 2. Wherefore I praised the dead.] Because they are out of the reach of wrong doers; and if dead in the Lord, they have "entered into peace, they do rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness." But if otherwise, men had better do anything, suffer anything here than die; since by death, as by a trap door, they enter into those terrors and torments that shall never either mend or end. Men, like silly fishes, see one another caught and jerked out of the pond of life but they see not, alas! the fire and pan into the which they are cast that die in their sins. Oh it had…
Read John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 4 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) I praised the dead.—Job 3:11; Exodus 32:32; 1 Kings 19:4; Jeremiah 20:14; Jonah 4:3. The word which is translated “yet” in this verse belongs to later Hebrew, and does not occur elsewhere in the Old Testament,
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ecclesiastes 4 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. Wherefore I praised the dead] I considered those happy who had escaped from the pilgrimage of life to the place where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.
Read AdamClarke on Ecclesiastes 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible2. I praised the dead — The style of this verse shows that the writer was an eyewitness of much that he names, and felt a most lively emotion in view of it.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ecclesiastes 4 →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
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive.
So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.
Tyndale line
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive;
Wherefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
Wherefore I praysed the dead which now are dead, aboue the liuing, which are yet aliue.
Strictly literal
Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive;
And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.
And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.
Thereupon praised I the dead that are already dead, more than the living who are still alive;
So I considered those who are already dead more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.
From the Latin
And I praised the dead rather than the living:
Simplified
I congratulated those who were already dead, for the dead are better off than those who are still alive and being oppressed.
So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.
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 of Ecclesiastes 4:2 reads, "וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ אֲנִ֛י אֶת־ הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־ הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה חַיִּ֖ים עֲדֶֽנָה׃" The Septuagint closely matches this text, with 11 of the 12 words corresponding directly, though the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variations for this verse, indicating a general agreement with the Masoretic Text in this instance.
וְשַׁבֵּ֧חַ אֲנִ֛י אֶת־ הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־ הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה חַיִּ֖ים עֲדֶֽנָה׃
11 of the 12 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 4:2
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.
The Hebrew word שָׁבַח (shabach) is a primitive root that encompasses meanings related to both soothing and praising. It can refer to addressing someone in a loud tone, pacifying, or commending, particularly in a religious context. The entries indicate that it can also imply boasting in certain forms. Notably, the word appears in contexts involving both calming and glorifying.
[שָׁבַח] vb. Pi. soothe, still
Pi. he stilleth it
Hiph. stilling the roar of the seas.
base
[שָׁבַח] vb. Pi. laud, praise
Hithp. boast
base
H7623a שָׁבַח Pi. soothe, still H7623b שָׁבַח Pi. laud, praise
7623 shabach shaw-bakh'
a primitive root; properly, to address in a loud tone, i.e.
(specifically) loud; figuratively, to pacify (as if by
words):--commend, glory, keep in, praise, still, triumph.
שָׁבַח (sha.vach) — to soothe.
1) to soothe, still, stroke
1a) (Piel) to soothe, still
1b) (Hiphil) stilling (participle)
שָׁבַח (sha.vach) — to praise.
1) to laud, praise, commend
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to laud, praise (God)
1a2) to commend, congratulate (the dead)
1b) (Hithpael) to boast
Aramaic equivalent: she.vach (שְׁבַח "to praise" H7624)
Conj | V-Piel-Ptc — Conjunction · verb piel infinitive construct commonHC/Vpcc
אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I
base
H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I
589 'aniy an-ee'
contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X
which, X who.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.
I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Pron — PronounHPp1bs
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.
מוּת vb. die
Qal
die, of natural or other causes
die as a penalty = be put to death
Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
Hiph.
abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
subj. God, by inflicting penalty
of animals killing men
bring to a premature death
Hoph. be killed, put to death
base
H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes
. die as a penalty = be put to death
. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
. subj. God, by inflicting penalty
. of animals killing men
. bring to a premature death
. be killed, put to death
4191 muwth mooth
a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);
causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,
man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,
be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,
slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.
מוּת (mut) — to die.
1) to die, kill, have one executed
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to die
1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death
1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)
1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)
1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch
1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be killed, be put to death
1d1a) to die prematurely
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHTd/Vqrmpa
ded (muth; nekros): Used in several senses:
(1) as a substantive, denoting the body deprived of life, as when Abraham speaks of burying his dead (Ge 23);
(2) as a collective noun including all those that have passed away from life (as Re 20:12). In several passages dead in this sense is used in contrast to the quick or living (as Nu 16:48). This collective mode of expression is used when resurrection is described as "rising from the dead";
כְּבָר (kbar) is an adverb meaning 'already' or 'long ago,' indicating a significant passage of time. It is derived from the root word for 'extent of time.' The entries suggest it is used to convey the idea of something that has occurred previously or has been the case for some time.
כְּבָר adv. (late) already
base
H3528 כְּבָר
3528 kbar keb-awr'
from 3527; properly, extent of time, i.e. a great while;
hence, long ago, formerly, hitherto:--already, (seeing that
which), now.
see HEBREW for 03527
כְּבָר (ke.var) — already.
already, long ago, a great while
Rel | Adv — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTr/Ncmsa
מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.
מוּת vb. die
Qal
die, of natural or other causes
die as a penalty = be put to death
Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
Hiph.
abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
subj. God, by inflicting penalty
of animals killing men
bring to a premature death
Hoph. be killed, put to death
base
H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes
. die as a penalty = be put to death
. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
. subj. God, by inflicting penalty
. of animals killing men
. bring to a premature death
. be killed, put to death
4191 muwth mooth
a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);
causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,
man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,
be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,
slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.
מוּת (mut) — to die.
1) to die, kill, have one executed
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to die
1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death
1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)
1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)
1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch
1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be killed, be put to death
1d1a) to die prematurely
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.
מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal
from, against
מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
of position, off, on the side of, on
Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
Partitively
Of time—
as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
towards, to
(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
In comparisons, beyond, above
מן is prefixed to an infin.:
with causal force, from, on account of, through
after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
with a temporal force, since, after
Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
In compounds:
base
H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against
. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from
. of position, off, on the side of, on
. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex
. Partitively
. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since
. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after
. towards, to
. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to
. In comparisons, beyond, above
. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through
. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.
. with a temporal force, since, after
. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that
4480 min min
or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)
{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;
hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as
follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason
of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,
since, X then, through, X whether, with.
see HEBREW for 04482
מִן־ (min) — from.
prep
1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than
1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of
1b) out of
1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)
1b2) (of material from which something is made)
1b3) (of source or origin)
1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)
1d) from, since, after (of time)
1e) than, more than (in comparison)
1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or
1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)
1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)
conj
2) that
Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
מֵן (men) — portion.
n.m.
portion
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.
חַי adj. alive, living
of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
of man
of animals, alive, living
animals and man
(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
of water, fresh
(dub.) lively, active
reviving
base
[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18
ref
חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal
animal
in general
wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
living beings, of the cherubic chariot
life, only in late poetry
appetite, activity of hunger
revival, renewal
base
חַיָּה n.f. community
base
חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life
life: physical
life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
sustenance, maintenance
base
H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
. of man
. of animals, alive, living
. animals and man
. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
. of water, fresh
. (dub.) lively, active
. reviving
H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general
. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
. living beings, of the cherubic chariot
. life, only in late poetry
. appetite, activity of hunger
. revival, renewal
H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical
. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
. sustenance, maintenance
2416 chay khah'-ee
from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether
literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)
beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living
(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)
old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
see HEBREW for 02421
חַי (chay) — alive.
adj
1) living, alive
1a) green (of vegetation)
1b) flowing, fresh (of water)
1c) lively, active (of man)
1d) reviving (of the springtime)
Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.
kinsfolk
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.
1) living thing, animal
1a) animal
1b) life
1c) appetite
1d) revival, renewal
Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.
community
חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.
1) life (abstract emphatic)
1a) life
1b) sustenance, maintenance
Art | Adj — ParticleHTd/Aampa
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
Rel — ParticleHTr
הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
base
H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they
1992 hem haym
or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from
1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)
many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,
their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
see HEBREW for 01981
הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).
they, these, the same, who
HPp3mp — PronounHPp3mp
The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.
חַי adj. alive, living
of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
of man
of animals, alive, living
animals and man
(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
of water, fresh
(dub.) lively, active
reviving
base
[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18
ref
חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal
animal
in general
wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
living beings, of the cherubic chariot
life, only in late poetry
appetite, activity of hunger
revival, renewal
base
חַיָּה n.f. community
base
חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life
life: physical
life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
sustenance, maintenance
base
H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life
. of man
. of animals, alive, living
. animals and man
. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green
. of water, fresh
. (dub.) lively, active
. reviving
H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general
. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity
. living beings, of the cherubic chariot
. life, only in late poetry
. appetite, activity of hunger
. revival, renewal
H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical
. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence
. sustenance, maintenance
2416 chay khah'-ee
from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,
year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether
literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)
beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living
(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)
old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
see HEBREW for 02421
חַי (chay) — alive.
adj
1) living, alive
1a) green (of vegetation)
1b) flowing, fresh (of water)
1c) lively, active (of man)
1d) reviving (of the springtime)
Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.
kinsfolk
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.
1) living thing, animal
1a) animal
1b) life
1c) appetite
1d) revival, renewal
Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)
חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.
community
חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.
1) life (abstract emphatic)
1a) life
1b) sustenance, maintenance
Adj — AdjHAampa
a-liv' (chai, "living"; zao, "to live," anazao, "to live again"): These Hebrew and Greek originals are the chief terms for life in both Testaments. They cover all life, including soul and spirit, although primarily referring to physical vitality. Striking examples may be cited: "Is your father yet alive?" (Ge 43:7); "To whom he also showed himself alive" (Ac 1:3). Often used of God: "the living God" (Jos 3:10); also of the resurrection life: "In Christ shall all be made alive" (1Co 15:22); of the soul's regenerate life: "Reckon .... yourselves .... alive unto God," "as those that are alive from the dead" (Ro 6:11:13 the…
עֲדֶן (aden) refers to the concept of 'still' or 'yet,' indicating continuity or persistence in time. It is derived from two roots, one meaning 'to be' and the other 'to go.' The term appears in Ecclesiastes 4:2 and 4:3, where it emphasizes the ongoing nature of a situation.
H5728 עֲדֶ֫נָֿה, עֲדֶן, עֲדֶנָּה
5728 `aden ad-en'
or radennah {ad-en'-naw}; from 5704 and 2004; till
now:--yet.
see HEBREW for 05704
see HEBREW for 02004
עֲדֶן (a.den) — still.
hitherto, still, yet
Adv | Suff — Adverb · suffixHD/Sd
stil: "To be still" is "to keep silence" (Ps 4:4, etc.) and so "to be quiet" (Ps 107:29, etc.) or "inactive" in any way (Jud 18:9; 1Ki 22:3; Zec 1:11, etc.). So "be still" in Ps 46:10 means "desist from your war" (compare the Revised Version margin "let be"). The "still small voice" of 1Ki 19:12 (the Revised Version margin "sound of gentle stillness") is due to taking the Hebrew demamah in its literal force of "silent," but the word here means "whisper"--"a whispering, little voice." This familiar passage…