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Exodus 22:20 — Word Study

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WLCזֹבֵ֥חַ לָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יָֽחֳרָ֑ם בִּלְתִּ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

BSAsojournergêr notlôʼ to oppressyânâh notlôʼ to oppresslâchats forkîy sojournergêr to behâyâh landʼerets EgyptMitsrayim

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 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 (le.va.Do) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 22:20quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse warns against sacrificing to any god other than the LORD, declaring such acts deserving of destruction.
Who is speakingThe LORD, through Moses, addressing the Israelites.
Where we areIn the laws given to Israel, particularly those concerning worship and devotion.
The hard wordיָֽחֳרָ֑ם
Take awaySacrificing to any god besides the LORD is an act that leads to severe consequences.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbוְ 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 — Exodus 22:20

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 — Laws Regarding Worshipgenerated

19Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
20If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
21You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.

Exodus 22:20 emphasizes the seriousness of worshiping other gods by declaring that anyone who does so must face destruction. This is part of a larger set of laws that outline proper conduct for the Israelites, reinforcing their exclusive devotion to the LORD, as seen in the surrounding verses that address various moral and ethical issues.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 25:2–4who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods.
2Deuteronomy 13:1–15If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
3Deuteronomy 17:2–5If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant
4Deuteronomy 18:20But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”
5Numbers 21:3And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יָֽחֳרָ֑ם, yo.cho.Ramgenerated

The verb יָחָר (yachar) is in the Hophal stem, indicating a passive action where the subject is the recipient of the action. It translates to 'he will be dedicated to destruction,' suggesting a state of being set apart for a severe fate.

This word carries a strong connotation of divine judgment, indicating that those who turn away from the worship of the one true God are subject to dire consequences. The context of this law highlights the importance of fidelity to Yahweh in Israelite worship.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In the Berean Standard Bible, the phrase is rendered as he must be set apart for destruction, which is consistent across the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb in the verse is יָֽחֳרָ֑ם, he will be dedicated to destruction, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a subject, a prepositional phrase indicating the object of sacrifice, and additional phrases clarifying the exclusivity of worship.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the act of sacrificing, highlighting the serious implications of worshiping any deity other than the LORD.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates the key verb יָֽחֳרָ֑ם with κακώσετε, suggesting a focus on the outcome of evil or harm. This choice indicates a broader interpretation of destruction, emphasizing the moral implications of idolatry.

The LXX's rendering highlights the severity of the command and serves to reinforce the danger of straying from exclusive worship of Yahweh.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 22:20 warns that anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must face destruction. This verse is part of a larger set of laws emphasizing the importance of worshiping only the one true God, Yahweh.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to sacrifice to other gods?

It refers to the act of offering worship or sacrifices to deities other than the LORD, which is strictly forbidden in the Israelite law.

Why is the punishment for idolatry so severe?

The punishment underscores the seriousness of turning away from the covenant relationship with the LORD, which is foundational to the identity and faith of Israel.

How does this verse relate to other laws in Exodus?

This verse is part of a broader legal framework that emphasizes exclusive loyalty to Yahweh and outlines the consequences for failing to uphold that loyalty.

What does 'set apart for destruction' imply?

It implies a divine judgment where the individual is devoted to destruction as a result of their actions, reflecting the seriousness of idolatry.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see the temptation to worship other 'gods' in my life today?
  2. How can I ensure that my devotion remains exclusively towards the LORD?
  3. What steps can I take to educate others about the dangers of idolatry?
  4. How does understanding the consequences of idolatry affect my view of worship?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the dangers of idolatry and the importance of exclusive devotion to the true God.

Origen of AlexandriaEXHORTATION TO MARTYRDOM 45 c. 185–253
Some people give no thought to the question of demons, that is to say, to the fact that these demons, in order to be able to exist in the heavy atmosphere that encircles the earth,
Early Church Fathers on Exodus 22 →
Augustine of HippoCity of God 19.21 354–430
In the law of the true God it is written, “He that sacrifices to gods shall be put to death, save only to the Lord.” The dreadful sanction of this command makes it clear that God wanted no sacrifices offered to such gods, good or bad.
Early Church Fathers on Exodus 22 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 22:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that sacrificeth unto [any] god,.... To Elohim, to strange gods, to the idols of the people, as the Targum of Jonathan; to the Egyptian deities, to the gods of the Moabites, Amorites, Edomites,

Read John Gill on Exodus 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 22 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Sacrificeth, or otherwise worshippeth, as appears from , and many other places. One act of worship put for all by a very familiar synecdoche. Destroyed, Heb. anathematized, i.e. esteemed execrable, and as such destroyed without mercy. See 18:20.

Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 22 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto [any] god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.Ver. 20. He shall be utterly destroyed.] As an execrable and accursed creature.

Read John Trapp on Exodus 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) He that sacrificeth.—Sacrifice in this place represents worship generally, being its most essential act. Elsewhere the death-penalty is affixed to any acknowledgment of false gods (Deuteronomy 13:1-16). Shall be utterly destroyed.—Heb., Shall be devoted, i.e., devoted to destruction.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 22 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 20. Utterly destroyed.] The word חרם cherem denotes a thing utterly and finally separated from God and devoted to destruction, without the possibility of redemption.

Read AdamClarke on Exodus 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. Sacrifice by an Israelite to any god save Jehovah to be punished with the ban. Jehovah is a ‘jealous God’ (Exodus 20:5), who does not tolerated the worship of any other god beside Himself. utterly destroyed] banned or devoted. The ‘ban’ (ḥ ?ιrem) was an archaic institution, often alluded to in the OT. A city or nation that was hostile to Jehovah was ‘banned,’ or ‘devoted’ (etymologically, as Arabic shews, separated or set apart1[189]), i.e. given over to Him as a form of offering, human beings being destroyed, with or without the cattle and spoil as well, according to the gravity of the occasion. For examples, see Deuteronomy 2:34 f., Exodus 3:6 f., Exodus 7:2, Exodus 13:12-18 (an…

Read Cambridge on Exodus 22 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This was probably an old formula, the sense of which, on its ethical side, is comprised in the first and second commandments. Shall be utterly destroyed - The Hebrew word here used is חרם châram (i. e. devoted).

Read Albert Barnes on Exodus 22 →

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

If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“He who sacrifices to any god, except to Yahweh only, shall be utterly destroyed.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“Whoever sacrifices to a god other than the Lord alone must be utterly destroyed.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be utterly destroyed.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that sacrificeth to any god, save to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Hee that offereth vnto any gods, saue vnto the Lord onely, shalbe slaine.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

— He that sacrificeth to [any] god, save to Jehovah only, shall be devoted to destruction.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'He who is sacrificing to a god, save to Jehovah alone, is devoted.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He who is sacrificing to a god, except to YHWH alone, is devoted.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(22:19) He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, shall be utterly destroyed.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Whoever sacrifices to any god except to Yahweh must be completely destroyed.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to the Lord.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Anyone who sacrifices to any other god than the Lord must be set apart and executed.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Complete destruction will come on any man who makes offerings to any other god but the Lord.

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbזֹבֵ֥חַ[one.who].sacrificesprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtonoun phrasetheאֱלֹהִ֖יםgodsverbיָֽחֳרָ֑םhe.will.be.dedicated.to.destructionprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּלְתִּ֥יexceptprepositional phraseלַtonoun phraseיהוָ֖הYahwehprepositional phraseלְhimnoun phraseבַדּֽhimselfוֹalone

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text presents the verse as it stands, while the Septuagint aligns closely with it, confirming the translation of key terms. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using different words for 'oppress' but maintains the same core message about idolatry and its consequences.

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

זֹבֵ֥חַ לָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יָֽחֳרָ֑ם בִּלְתִּ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
זֹבֵ֥חַκαὶלָאֱלֹהִ֖יםοὐיָֽחֳרָ֑םκακώσετεבִּלְתִּ֥יοὐδὲלַיהוָ֖הθλίψητεלְבַדּֽוֹ׃προσήλυτοι

6 of the 6 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

וגר לא תונו ולא תלחצו כי גרים הייתם בארץ מצרים

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: תונו (oppress), תלחצו (press)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q22a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

בארץ מצרים

2 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored.

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.

Exodus 22:20זָבַח[one who] s[one who] sacriזָבַחאֱלֹהִיםto the godsto the godsאֱלֹהִיםחָרַםhe will be he will be dediחָרַםבֵ֫לֶתexceptexceptבֵ֫לֶתיהוהto Yahwehto Yahwehיהוהבַּדto only himto only himבַּדהָיָהto beto beהָיָהבָּדַדbe alonebe aloneבָּדַדאֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהבְּלִיwithoutwithoutבְּלִיזֶ֫בַחsacrificesacrificeזֶ֫בַחשֶׁ֫לֶםpeace offepeace offeringשֶׁ֫לֶםאַחֵרanotheranotherאַחֵראֲרוֹןarkarkאֲרוֹןחֵ֫רֶםdevoted thdevoted thingחֵ֫רֶםשָׂרִידsurvivorsurvivorשָׂרִידשָׁאַרto remainto remainשָׁאַרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאתָּמִידcontinuallcontinuallyתָּמִיד
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 Exodus 22:20

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.

[one who] sacrifices to the gods he will be dedicated to destruction except to Yahweh to only him
זֹבֵ֥חַzo.Ve.ach [one who] sacrifices H2076 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
134× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sacrifice means to slaughter an animal, usually for a religious offering, as seen in the Bible's instructions for worship. This term is used in many contexts, including sacrifices for eating or in divine judgment. It's often translated as 'kill' or 'offer' in the KJV.
Tyndale gloss
to sacrifice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word זָבַח (zavach) is a primitive root meaning to slaughter, particularly in the context of sacrifice. It encompasses various forms of slaughter, including for eating and divine judgment, and is used in both the Qal and Piel stems. The entries highlight its significance in sacrificial practices, but do not present any notable disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָבַח 134 vb. slaughter for sacrifice

Qal 112

slaughter for sacrifice

slaughter for eating

slaughter for divine judgment

Pi. 22 sacrifice

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2076 זָבַח slaughter for sacrifice .. slaughter for sacrifice

. slaughter for eating

. slaughter for divine judgment

. sacrifice

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2076 zabach zaw-bakh'

a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in

sacrifice):--kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָבַח (za.vach) — to sacrifice.

1) to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to slaughter for sacrifice

1a2) to slaughter for eating

1a3) to slaughter in divine judgment

1b) (Piel) to sacrifice, offer sacrifice

Aramaic equivalent: de.vach (דְּבַח "to sacrifice" H1684)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmsa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 34:6; Eze 39:17; Zep 1:7,8; Ro 12:1; Php 2:17; 4:18

Of self-denial Php 3:7,8

Of praise Ps 116:17; Jer 33:11; Ho 14:2; Heb 13:15

“;Calves of the lips” signifying praise Ho 14:2

See OFFERINGS

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Divine institution of

Ge 3:21; 1:29; 9:3; 4:4,5; Heb 11:4

- To be offered to God alone

Ex 22:20; Jud 13:16; 2Ki 17:36

- When offered to God, an acknowledgement of his being the

supreme God

2Ki 5:17; Jon 1:16

- CONSISTED OF

. Clean animals or bloody sacrifices

Ge 8:20

. The fruits of the earth or sacrifices without blood

Ge 4:4; Le 2:1

- Always offered upon altars

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) Examples of the Offering of

Ge 46:1; Ex 18:12; Jud 2:5; 1Sa 1:21; 6:15; 11:15; 2Sa 6:13

1Ch 21:28; 29:21; 2Ch 5:6; Jon 1:16

--SEE Offerings, OFFERINGS

(2) Insufficient to Secure Salvation

1Sa 15:22; Ps 40:6; 51:16,17; Isa 1:11; Ho 6:6

[one who] sacrifices to the gods he will be dedicated to destruction except to Yahweh to only him
לָאֱלֹהִ֖יםla.'E.lo.Him to the gods H430 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically

used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X

exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.

Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Ncmpa — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HRd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

('elohim; theoi):

I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Superhuman Beings (God and Angels)

2. Judges, Rulers

3. Gods of the Nations

4. Superiority of Yahweh to Other Gods

5. Regulations Regarding the Gods of the Nations

6. Israel's Tendency to Idolatry

II. IN THE APOCRYPHA

III. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Hebrew plural 'elohim is generally known as the plural of "majesty" and is the ordinary name for God. The meaning of the plural seems to be "plenitude of powers." It denotes the fullness of those attributes of power which belonged to the Divine Being. Thus it is usually translated in the singular, "God," when referring to the God of Israel. When reference is made to the gods of the other nations the word is translated in the plural, "gods." The heathen nations usually had a plurality of gods. Among the Semites it was customary for one nation or tribe to have its own particular god. Often there were many…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The words god and gods, Hebrew ELOHIM, are several times used in Scripture to express the power, office, or excellence of some created beings, as angels, magistrates, Ex 22:20,28 Ps 86:8 97:12; often also for the false gods of the heathen. These were exceedingly numerous, and are denoted by various terms, signifying vanity, falsehood, etc. Among the first objects to be deified were the sun, the moon, and the chief powers of nature. Innumerable animals, deceased men, all ages, passions, and conditions of man, and every thing which fear, lust, malice, pride, or caprice could suggest, were made objects of worship. The gods of modern India are numbered by millions.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See IDOL

→ See IDOLATRY

→ See IMAGE

[one who] sacrifices to the gods he will be dedicated to destruction except to Yahweh to only him
יָֽחֳרָ֑םyo.cho.Ram he will be dedicated to destruction H2763 Verb · Hophal · imperfect third person masculine singular
52× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To devote or destroy something, like the objects the Israelites were told to destroy in Deuteronomy 7:26.
Tyndale gloss
to devote/destroy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָרַם (charam) is a Hebrew verb with two main meanings. It can denote the act of devoting or banning something, often for destruction, as well as the physical act of mutilation, particularly of body parts. The entries highlight its use in contexts of religious devotion and prohibition, as well as in descriptions of physical alteration.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָרַם] vb. Hiph. ban, devote, exterminate

Hiph. ban, devote

Hoph.

be put under the ban, devoted (to death)

devoted, i.e. forfeited, to the temple treasures

base

[חָרַם] vb. slit (nose, lip, ear, etc.), mutilate esp. face—Qal Lv 21:18 (H)

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2763a [חָרַם] Hiph. ban, devote, exterminate H2763b חָרַם slit (nose, lip, ear, etc.), mutilate esp. face

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2763 charam khaw-ram'

a primitive root; to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to

devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical

and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose:--make accursed,

consecrate, (utterly) destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat

nose, utterly (slay, make away).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרַם (cha.ram) — to devote/destroy.

1) to ban, devote, destroy utterly, completely destroy, dedicate for destruction, exterminate

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to prohibit (for common use), ban

1a2) to consecrate, devote, dedicate for destruction

1a3) to exterminate, completely destroy

1b) (Hophal)

1b1) to be put under the ban, be devoted to destruction

1b2) to be devoted, be forfeited

1b3) to be completely destroyed

חָרַם (cha.ram) — to slash.

1) to split, slit, mutilate (a part of the body)

1a) (Qal) to mutilate

1b) (Hiphil) to divide

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVHi3ms — Verb · Hophal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVHi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

de-struk'-shun: In the King James Version this word translates over 30 Hebrew words in the Old Testament, and 4 words in the New Testament. Of these the most interesting, as having a technical sense, is 'abhaddon (from verb 'abhadh, "to be lost," "to perish"). It is found 6 times in the Wisdom Literature, and nowhere else in the Old Testament; compare Re 9:11. See ABADDON.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Destruction

In Job 26:6, 28:22 (Heb. abaddon) is sheol, the realm of the dead.

[one who] sacrifices to the gods he will be dedicated to destruction except to Yahweh to only him
בִּלְתִּ֥יbil.Ti except H1115 Noun common · both singular absolute
112× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means not or except, and is often used with a prepositional prefix. It appears in various forms, such as not, except, or unless, and is used in many biblical passages.
Tyndale gloss
lest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּלְתִּי (bilti) is a Hebrew word primarily functioning as a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'except.' It can also convey meanings like 'without' or 'until not,' and is often used with prepositional prefixes. The word is derived from the concept of failure, and its usage is consistent across various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵ֫לֶת subst. prop. failure, hence used as particle of negation, not, except

adv. not

after a preceding negation, not = except

conj. (likewise after a neg., expressed or implied)

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1115 בֵ֫לֶת subst. prop. failure, hence used as particle of negation, not, except

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1115 biltiy bil-tee'

constructive feminine of 1086 (equivalent to 1097); properly,

a failure of, i.e. (used only as a negative particle, usually

with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless,

besides, because not, until, etc.:--because un(satiable),

beside, but, + continual, except, from, lest, neither, no

more, none, not, nothing, save, that no, without.

see HEBREW for 01086

see HEBREW for 01097

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּלְתִּי (bil.ti) — lest.

subst

1) not, except

adv

2) not

3) except (after preceding negation)

conj

4) except (after an implied or expressed negation)

with prep

5) so as not, in order not

6) an account of not, because...not

7) until not

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
[one who] sacrifices to the gods he will be dedicated to destruction except to Yahweh to only him
לַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.weh to Yahweh H3068 Preposition · noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Npt — Preposition · noun proper
HR/Npt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[one who] sacrifices to the gods he will be dedicated to destruction except to Yahweh to only him
לְבַדּֽוֹ׃le.va.Do to only him H905 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'bad' can mean alone, apart, or a separate part of something, like a branch or a bar. It's used to describe something that's only or except for something else.
Tyndale gloss
alone: pole
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּד (bad) refers to separation or being alone, often indicating a part or branch of something. It can denote physical separation, such as limbs or bars, as well as figurative uses like 'chief of a city.' The entries consistently highlight meanings related to being apart or alone, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּד, בָּ֑ד n.m. separation, concr. part

prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself

concr. part

parts, specif. extended from something

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H905 בַּד, בָּ֑ד separation, concr. part . prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself

. concr. part

. parts, specif. extended from something

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

905 bad bad

from 909; properly, separation; by implication, a part of the

body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief

of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an

adverb, apart, only, besides:--alone, apart, bar, besides,

branch, by self, of each alike, except, only, part, staff,

strength.

see HEBREW for 0909

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּד (bad) — alone: pole.

: pole

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone.

: alone

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone: each.

: each

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone: besides.

: besides/apart from

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
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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