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Esther 9:23 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְקִבֵּל֙ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ הֵחֵ֖לּוּ לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־ כָּתַ֥ב מָרְדֳּכַ֖י אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

BSASo the JewsYᵉhûwdîy [of Judah, the chosen people] agreed to continueqâbal [undertook, promised, observe with solemnity] the customʻâsâh [tradition, practice] they had startedchâlal [begun, initiated] asʼăsher MordecaiMordᵉkay [the brave Israelite] had writtenkâthab [recorded, commanded] to themʼêl [toward them, in their direction]

Word
Listen & take awayEsther 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 ('a.lei.Hem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Esther 9:23quick helps
In a sentenceThe Jews committed to uphold the tradition established by Mordecai.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes the actions of the Jewish people.
Where we areThis verse is part of the conclusion of the events surrounding Purim.
The hard wordקִבֵּל
Take awayThe Jews accepted their responsibility to continue a significant practice.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectמׇרְדֳּכַי verbקָבַל 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 — Esther 9:23

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 Establishment of Purimgenerated

22as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.
23So the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as Mordecai had written to them.
24For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the Pur (that is, the lot) to crush and destroy them.
25But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Esther 9:23 describes how the Jews agreed to maintain the custom that commemorates their deliverance from enemies, a tradition initiated during the events of Esther's story. Mordecai, a key figure in these events, had instructed them on this practice, ensuring its observance as a reminder of their salvation and unity as a people. This commitment is part of the larger narrative of the Jewish festival of Purim, which celebrates their survival against oppression.


Cross References


The Key Word קִבֵּל, ki.Belgenerated

The verb קָבַל (qabal) means to receive or accept, often implying an obligation or responsibility. In this context, the Jews accepted the tradition that Mordecai had established, indicating a collective promise to uphold their customs.

The Piel form of the verb suggests a more active engagement in the acceptance process, as they not only received the tradition but also committed to continuing it. This reflects the importance of community and shared identity among the Jews.


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 קִבֵּל governs the entire sentence, with the subject הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים (the Jews) agreeing to continue the custom. The structure emphasizes the action of the Jews in response to Mordecai's instructions.

The sentence includes a series of clauses that detail the actions taken by the Jews, with the infinitive phrase לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת (to do) indicating the purpose of their agreement.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates קִבֵּל as προσεδέχαντο, which carries the connotation of receiving or accepting. This choice suggests a formal acknowledgment of the custom rather than a mere agreement.

This translation reflects a slightly different nuance, emphasizing the act of receiving the tradition as a significant commitment rather than just a casual agreement.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Esther 9:23 tells us that the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as instructed by Mordecai. This verse highlights the importance of tradition and community among the Jewish people following their deliverance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What custom are the Jews agreeing to continue?

The custom refers to the celebration of Purim, which commemorates their deliverance from enemies, as established by Mordecai.

Who is Mordecai?

Mordecai is a key figure in the Book of Esther, known for his bravery and for saving the Jewish people from Haman's plot.

Why is the continuation of this custom significant?

The continuation of this custom signifies the unity and identity of the Jewish people, as well as their commitment to remember their history and deliverance.

How does this verse connect to the overall story of Esther?

This verse connects to the overall story by highlighting the establishment of a tradition that arose from a pivotal moment in Jewish history, reinforcing the themes of survival and community.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What traditions do I observe that help me remember important events in my life?
  2. How can I actively participate in and uphold the customs of my community?
  3. What responsibilities do I have to ensure that important practices are passed down to future generations?
  4. In what ways can I learn from Mordecai's leadership and commitment to his people?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Esther 9:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them.

Read John Gill on Esther 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them; No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Esther 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Having by this means opportunity to gather themselves together upon any occasion, the chief of them assembled together, and freely and unanimously consented to Mordecai’ s desire in this matter, and bound it upon themselves and posterity.

Read Matthew Poole on Esther 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Esther 9:23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;Ver. 28. And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun] Which yet they could not do unless God gave them a heart to do it. Holy David understood this, and therefore when he found that heat and height of good affections in his people, he prayed, "O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee," 1 Chronicles 29:18. And when he had at another time undertook for himself, that if God would deliver him from blood guiltiness his tongue should sing aloud of God’ s…

Read John Trapp on Esther 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 23. The Jews undertook to do as they had begun] They had already kept the fifteenth day, and some of them in the country the fourteenth also, as a day of rejoicing: Mordecai wrote to them to bind themselves and their successors, and all their proselytes, to celebrate this as an annual feast throughout all their generations; and this they undertook to do. And it has been observed among them, in all places of their dispersion, from that day to the present time, without any interruption.

Read AdamClarke on Esther 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. undertook] assumed the obligation. to do as they had begun] to continue to keep the celebration on the fourteenth day of Adar. and as Mordecai had written unto them] i.e. to keep the celebration on the following day as well.

Read Cambridge on Esther 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

23. Undertook to do as they had begun — They heartily accepted and adopted Mordecai’s proposal, and resolved to perpetuate what they had in fact already begun, namely, resting, feasting, and

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Esther 9 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

So the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as Mordecai had written to them.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The Jews accepted the custom that they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So the Jews agreed to continue the custom they had started, as Mordecai had written to them.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the Iewes promised to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written vnto them,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the Jews have received that which they had begun to do, and that which Mordecai hath written unto them,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the Jews have received that which they had begun to do, and that which Mordecai has written to them,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the Jews took upon themselves that which they had begun already to do, and that which Mordecai had written unto them.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So the Jews continued the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the Jews undertook to observe with solemnity all they had begun to do at that time, which Mardochai by letters had commanded to be done.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Jews agreed to continue what they had already started doing, following what Mordecai had written to them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the Jews gave their word to go on as they had been doing and as Mordecai had given them orders in writing;

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.

וְandclauseverbקִבֵּל֙he.acceptednoun phrase · subjectהַtheיְּהוּדִ֔יםJewsnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאֵ֥ת(et)relpאֲשֶׁר[that].whichclauseverbהֵחֵ֖לּוּthey.had.begunprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַtoclauseverbעֲשׂ֑וֹתdoוְandnoun phraseאֵ֛ת(et)relpאֲשֶׁר[that].whichclauseverbכָּתַ֥בhe.had.writtensubjectמָרְדֳּכַ֖יMordecaiprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֲלֵיtoהֶֽםthem

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 show some agreement in the core message, though only five of the eleven words are matched in the Septuagint. The differences in wording may indicate variations in interpretation or emphasis.

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

וְקִבֵּל֙ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ הֵחֵ֖לּוּ לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־ כָּתַ֥ב מָרְדֳּכַ֖י אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְקִבֵּל֙προσεδέχαντοהַיְּהוּדִ֔יםιουδαῖοιאֲשֶׁר־καθὼςכָּתַ֥בἔγραψενמָרְדֳּכַ֖יμαρδοξαῖος

5 of the 11 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.

Esther 9:23קָבַלand he acceand he acceptedקָבַליְהוּדִיthe Jewsthe Jewsיְהוּדִיאֵתthe object the object markאֵתאֲשֶׁר[that] whic[that] whichאֲשֶׁרחָלַלthey had bethey had begunחָלַלעָשָׂהto doto doעָשָׂהאֵתand the objand the object אֵתאֲשֶׁר[that] whic[that] whichאֲשֶׁרכָּתַבhe had writhe had writtenכָּתַבמָרְדֳּכַיMordecaiMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַיאֶלto themto themאֶלאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתיְהוּדָה(Baalah of(Baalah of)Judaיְהוּדָהחָלִילflutefluteחָלִילחָלָהbe weak: wbe weak: weakחָלָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהמַחְבֶּ֫רֶתjoiningjoiningמַחְבֶּ֫רֶתלוּלַיlooploopלוּלַישׁוּשַׁןSusaSusaשׁוּשַׁןמָרְדֳּכַיMordecaiMordecaiמָרְדֳּכַימִקְדָּשׁsanctuarysanctuaryמִקְדָּשׁשַׁבָּתSabbathSabbathשַׁבָּתמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרלוּחַtablettabletלוּחַאֶסְתֵּרEstherEstherאֶסְתֵּרהָמָןHamanHamanהָמָן
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 Esther 9:23

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
וְקִבֵּל֙ve.ki.Bel and he accepted H6901 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to receive or take something, often used to describe accepting a gift or responsibility. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in the books of Genesis and Exodus. The word can also mean to choose or accept something.
Amplified meaning
undertook, promised, observe with solemnity
Tyndale gloss
to receive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָבַל (qabal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to receive or take. It can imply accepting or assuming an obligation, and in the Hiphil form, it can indicate showing oppositeness or correspondence. The word encompasses both literal and figurative senses of taking or receiving.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָבַל] vb. Pi. receive, take

Pi.

take

accept

accept, assume, an obligation

Hiph. shew oppositeness, i.e. correspond, one to another

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6901 [קָבַל] Pi. receive, take . . take

. accept

. accept, assume, an obligation

. shew oppositeness, i.e. correspond, one to another

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6901 qabal kaw-bal'

a primitive root; to admit, i.e. take (literally or

figuratively):--choose, (take) hold, receive, (under-)take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָבַל (qa.val) — to receive.

1) to take, receive, be before

1a) (Piel)

1a1) to take, choose, receive

1a2) to accept

1a3) to accept, assume

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to show oppositeness

1b2) to correspond, receive one to the other

Aramaic equivalent: qe.val (קַבֵּל "to receive" H6902)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpq3ms
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
הַיְּהוּדִ֔יםhai.ye.hu.Dim the Jews H3064 Particle · noun gentilic masculine plural absolute
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This term refers to people from the tribe of Judah, including Judah himself, who was the son of Israel and Leah. It is used to describe the descendants of Judah, who are also known as Jews.
Amplified meaning
of Judah, the chosen people
Tyndale gloss
of Judah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יְהוּדִי (*yehudiy*) refers to a Jew or someone descended from Judah. It is derived from the root word for Judah (יְהוּדָה), indicating a connection to the tribe of Judah or the region of Judea. The term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, including mentions in 2 Kings and Genesis.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְהוּדִי adj.gent. Jewish, as subst. a Jew

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3064 יְהוּדִי, יְהֻדִיָּה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3064 Yhuwdiy yeh-hoo-dee'

patronymically from 3063; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew),

or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah):--Jew.

see HEBREW for 03063

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהוּדִי (ye.hu.di) — Jew.

Someone descended from Judah (H3063) and possibly other tribes, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.25

§ Jew

יְהוּדִי (ye.hu.di) — Judean.

Someone from the tribal area of Judea or descended from Judah, or possibly other tribes

Group of ye.hu.dah (יְהוּדָה "Judea" H3063N)

§ Jew

יְהוּדִי (ye.hu.di) — of Judah.

People descended from Judah, living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);

brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559);

father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Ngmpa — Particle · noun gentilic masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ngmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

juz, jooz.

See JEW.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The name borne by the Hebrews among foreign nations, especially after the return from Babylon; from Judah their ancestor. See HEBREWS.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A corrupted form, doubtless, of Judah, and applied to the people of the kingdom of Judah and Benjamin 2Ki 16:6; 25:25; 2Ch 32:18

→ (After the dissolution of the kingdom of Israel the name was applied to all Israelites, as well as to those of the two remaining tribes)

→ See ISRAEL

and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
אֵ֥ת'et the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher- [that] which H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
הֵחֵ֖לּוּhe.Che.lu they had begun H2490 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
143× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to profane or begin, like starting something new or breaking a rule. It appears in the Bible when someone disrespects God or a person, like in Ezekiel 22:26. It can also mean to play music or start a project.
Amplified meaning
begun, initiated
Tyndale gloss
to bore
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָלַל (*chalal*) is built from a primitive root meaning to bore or pierce, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to wound, to play the flute, and to profane or defile. It can refer to both physical actions, like piercing, and moral or ritual violations, such as polluting oneself or breaking a covenant. The lexicons note various grammatical forms and uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָלַל vb. bore, pierce

Qal my heart is pierced (wounded) within me

Pi. in the hand of the ones wounding thee

Pu. pierced by the sword

Po‛el his hand pierced the fleeing serpent

Po‛al pierced, wounded because of our transgressions

base

[חלל] vb. denom. play the pipe, pipe

Qal as well the singers as the pipe-players

Polel dancers

Pi. and the people piped with pipes

base

[חָלַל] vb. pollute, defile, profane

Niph.

reflex. pollute, defile oneself

Pass., be polluted, defiled

Pi.

defile, pollute

violate the honour of, dishonour

violate  a covenant

treat a vineyard as common

Pu. my great name which is profaned among the nations

Hiph.

I will not let my holy name be profaned any more.

he shall not violate his word

begin

Hoph. then it was begun (= men began) to call on the name of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2490a חָלַל bore, pierce H2490b חלל vb. denom. play the pipe, pipe H2490c חָלַל pollute, defile, profane

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2490 chalal khaw-lal'

a primitive root (compare 2470); properly, to bore, i.e. (by

implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane

(a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin

(as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (from 2485) to play (the

flute):--begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile, X eat

(as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X

take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast

as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain,

wound.

see HEBREW for 02470

see HEBREW for 02485

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to bore.

1) to wound (fatally), bore through, pierce, bore

1a) (Qal) to pierce

1b) (Pual) to be slain

1c) (Poel) to wound, pierce

1d) (Poal) to be wounded

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to play flute.

(Piel) to play the flute or pipe

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to profane/begin: begin.

: begin

1) to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to profane oneself, defile oneself, pollute oneself

1a1a) ritually

1a1b) sexually

1a2) to be polluted, be defiled

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to profane, make common, defile, pollute

1b2) to violate the honour of, dishonour

1b3) to violate (a covenant)

1b4) to treat as common

1c) (Pual) to be profaned (of name of God)

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to let be profaned

1d2) to begin

1e) (Hophal) to be begun

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to profane/begin: profane.

: profane

1) to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin

1a) (Niphal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
HVhp3cp
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
לַעֲשׂ֑וֹתla.'a.Sot to do H6213 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
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
tradition, practice
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
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
וְאֵ֛תve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher- [that] which H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTr — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
כָּתַ֥בka.Tav he had written H3789 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
224× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To write or record something, including inscribing or engraving. It is used in various contexts, such as writing down a decree or subscribing to an agreement. This word is about putting thoughts or ideas into written form.
Amplified meaning
recorded, commanded
Tyndale gloss
to write
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּתַב (*kathab*) means 'to write' and encompasses various forms of writing, including recording, enrolling, and decreeing. It can also refer to something being written or recorded. The entries indicate that it is a primitive root with frequent usage in different contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּתַב 223 vb. write

Qal

write

= write down, describe in writing

= register, enroll

= decree

Niph.

be written

= be written down, recorded

Pi. frequent.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3789 כָּתַב write .. write

. = write down, describe in writing

. = register, enroll

. = decree

. . be written

. = be written down, recorded

. frequent.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3789 kathab kaw-thab'

a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write

(describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe):--describe, record,

prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּתַב (ka.tav) — to write.

1) to write, record, enrol

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to write, inscribe, engrave, write in, write on

1a2) to write down, describe in writing

1a3) to register, enrol, record

1a4) to decree

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be written

1b2) to be written down, be recorded, be enrolled

1c) (Piel) to continue writing

Aramaic equivalent: ke.tav (כְּתַב "to write" H3790)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
מָרְדֳּכַ֖יma.re.do.Khai Mordecai H4782 Noun proper masculine
60× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mordecai was a brave Israelite who lived during the Exile and Return, and is known for saving the Jews from Haman's plot with Queen Esther's help. He's also the cousin and adoptive father of Esther.
Amplified meaning
the brave Israelite
Tyndale gloss
Mordecai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָרְדֳּכַי (Mordkay) refers to Mordecai, a significant figure in the Old Testament. He is described as the cousin and adoptive father of Queen Esther, known for his role in saving the Jewish people from Haman's plot. The name may mean "little man" or "worshipper of Mars." Mordecai is first mentioned in Ezra 2:2 and Esther 2:5, and he also returned from exile with Zerubbabel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָרְדֳּכַי (van d. H מָרְדְּכַי) n.pr.m. Mordecai

companion of Zerub.

cousin and adoptive father of Esther

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4782 מָרְדֳּכַי, מָרְדְּכַי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4782 Mordkay mor-dek-ah'-ee

of foreign derivation; Mordecai, an Israelite:--Mordecai.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מׇרְדֳּכַי (mor.de.khay) — Mordecai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.2

§ Mordecai = "little man" or "worshipper of Mars"

1) cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim

2) a Jew who returned from exile with Zerubbabel

מׇרְדֳּכַי (mor.de.khay) — Mordecai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Est.2.5;

son of: Jair (H2971J)

§ Mordecai = "little man" or "worshipper of Mars"

1) cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mor'-de-ki, mor-de-ka'-i (mordekhay; Mardochaios): An Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, whose fate it has been to occupy a distinguished place in the annals of his people. His great-grandfather, Kish, had been carried to Babylon along with Jeconiah, king of Judah (Es 2:5-6). For nearly 60 years before the scenes narrated in Esther, in which Mordecai was greatly concerned, took place, the way to Palestine had been open to the Israelites; but neither his father, Jair, nor afterward himself chose to return to the ancient heritage. This seems to have been the case also with the rest of his house, as it was with the vast majority of the Israelite people; for his uncle died in Persia leaving his motherless daughter, Hadassah, to the care of Mordecai. Employed in the royal palace at Susa, he attracted, through the timely discovery of a…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Mordecai

The son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin. It has been alleged that he was carried into captivity with Jeconiah, and hence that he must have been at least one hundred and twenty-nine years old in the twelfth year of Ahasuerus (Xerxes). But the words of Esther do not necessarily lead to this conclusion. It was probably Kish of whom it is said (ver. 6) that he “had been carried away with the captivity.”

He resided at Susa, the metropolis of Persia. He adopted his cousin Hadassah (Esther), an orphan child, whom he tenderly brought up as his own daughter. When she was brought into the king’s harem and made queen in the room of the deposed queen Vashti, he was promoted to some office in the court of Ahasuerus, and was one of those who “sat in the king’s gate” (Esther 2:21). While holding this office, he discovered a plot of the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(little man , or worshipper or Mars), the deliverer, under divine Providence, of the Jews from the destruction plotted against them by Haman the chief minister of Xerxes; the institutor of the feast of Purim. The incidents of his history are too well known to need to be dwelt upon. [ESTHER, BOOK OF] Three things are predicated of Mordecai in the book of Esther: (1) That he lived in Shushan; (2) That his name was Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish the Benjamite who was taken captive with Jehoiachin; (3) That he brought up Esther.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The uncle of Esther, who rose to dignity and honor in the court of Ahasuerus. See the book of Esther.

and he accepted the Jews the object marker [that] which they had begun to do and the object marker [that] which he had written Mordecai to them
אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃'a.lei.Hem to them H413 Preposition · suffix
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Amplified meaning
toward them, in their direction
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3mp
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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