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Exodus 23:30 — Word Study

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WLCמְעַ֥ט מְעַ֛ט אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְרֶ֔ה וְנָחַלְתָּ֖ אֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

BSALittlemᵉʻaṭ by littlemᵉʻaṭ [gradually, bit by bit] I will drive them outgârash [expel, force out] ahead of youpânîym untilʻad you become fruitfulpârâh [are increased, flourish, productive, bearing much fruit] and possessnâchal [inherit, take ownership of] the landʼerets [the promised territory, the earth]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 23
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 30 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 (ha.'A.retz) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 23:30quick helps
In a sentenceGod promises to gradually drive out the inhabitants of the land before Israel.
Who is speakingGod, speaking directly to the Israelites.
Where we areIn the context of God's instructions regarding the conquest of Canaan.
The hard wordאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ
Take awayThe process of possession will be gradual to ensure stability.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbפָּרָה 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 23:30

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 — Instructions for Conquering the Landgenerated

29I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.
30Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.
31And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.
32You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods.

Exodus 23:30 is part of God's guidance to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He assures them that the process of driving out the current inhabitants will be gradual, preventing the land from becoming desolate. This reflects God's care for His people, ensuring they have the time to settle and thrive in their new home, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References


The Key Word אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ, 'a.ga.re.She.nugenerated

The verb גָּרַשׁ (garash) means to drive out or expel, and in this context, it refers to God's action of removing the inhabitants of the land. The parsing indicates it is in the piel stem, which often conveys an intensive or intentional action, highlighting God's active role in this process.

The suffix attached to the verb indicates that the action is directed towards the Israelites, emphasizing that God is working on their behalf to ensure their successful possession of the land.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses drive them out for אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the sentence is אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ, I will drive out, which governs the subsequent phrases detailing the manner and purpose of this action. The structure is straightforward, with the verb leading and the phrases providing context and conditions.

The sentence is constructed with a series of clauses that flow logically, indicating the gradual process of expulsion and the intended outcome of fruitfulness and possession.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ as αὐτοὺς, meaning 'them.' This choice shows a direct interpretation of the Hebrew verb, focusing on the act of driving out the inhabitants.

The use of αὐτοὺς narrows the focus to the people being expelled, emphasizing the action's target rather than the process.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 23:30 tells the Israelites that God will drive out the inhabitants of the land little by little. This gradual process ensures that they can settle and become fruitful in their new territory. The verse emphasizes God's careful planning for their success as they inherit the land.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Why does God say He will drive them out little by little?

God's gradual approach prevents the land from becoming desolate and allows the Israelites to settle and thrive.

What does it mean to be fruitful in this context?

Being fruitful refers to the Israelites flourishing in the land, producing crops and prospering as a community.

What is the significance of possessing the land?

Possessing the land signifies inheriting the Promised Land, fulfilling God's covenant with the Israelites.

How does this verse connect to God's promises?

This verse reflects God's faithfulness to His promises, ensuring that the Israelites will receive and thrive in the land He has given them.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I trust in God's timing when facing challenges in my life?
  2. In what areas of my life do I need to be more fruitful and productive?
  3. How can I be patient and allow God's process to unfold in my life?
  4. What steps can I take to inherit the promises God has for me?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 23:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

By little and little I will drive them out from before thee,.... Not the beasts of the field, but the inhabitants of Canaan, who were left partly to keep up the cities and towns, that they might not

Read John Gill on Exodus 23 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 23 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Exodus 23:30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.Ver. 30. By little and little] God crumbles his mercies to us; we have his blessings by retail. So the cloud empties not itself at a sudden burst, but dissolves upon the earth drop after drop.

Read John Trapp on Exodus 23 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

THE OF GOD TO ISRAEL, IF THE IS KEPT.(20-33) The Book of the Covenant terminates, very appropriately, with a series of promises. God is “the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” He chooses to “reward men after their works,” and to set before them “the recompense of the reward.” He “knows whereof we are made,” and by what motives we are influenced. Self-interest, the desire of our own good, is one of the strongest of them. If Israel will keep His covenant, they will enjoy the following blessings :—(1) The guidance and protection of His angel till Canaan is reached; (2) God’s help against their adversaries, who will, little by little, be driven out; (3) the ultimate possession of the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 23 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20–33. Hortatory epilogue. The laws which Israel is to observe have been defined: and now Jehovah declares what He will do for His people if it is obedient to His voice (v. 22): He will give it prosperity, freedom from sickness and long life, success in its contests with the nations of Canaan, and extension of territory afterwards. Comp. the similar, but longer and more elaborated, hortatory discourses (including curses on disobedience), concluding the codes of H (Leviticus 26:3-45) and Dt. (Deuteronomy 28). It is remarkable that the commands which Israel is to obey are not those embodied in ch. Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:19, but (v. 22) those to be given it in the future by the angel on the…

Read Cambridge on Exodus 23 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

30. Until thou be increased — Here it is assumed that the Israelitish people at the time of the exodus were not sufficiently numerous to occupy the whole of Palestine.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 23 →

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

Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and inherit the land.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you become fruitful and inherit the land.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

RVARevised Version, American1894

By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou shalt be increased and inherit the land.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

By litle and litle I will driue them out from thy face, vntill thou increase, and inherite the lande.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou art fruitful, and possess the land.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

little [by] little I cast them out from before thee, till thou art fruitful, and hast inherited the land.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I cast them out little [by] little from before you, until you are fruitful, and have inherited the land.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Little by little will I drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased and canst possess the land.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Instead, I will drive them out little by little from before you until you become fruitful and inherit the land.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, till thou be increased, and dost possess the land.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Bit by bit I will drive them out ahead of you, until there are enough of you to take possession of the land.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Little by little I will send them away before you, till your numbers are increased and you take up your heritage in the land.

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.

clauseclauseadjective phrase · adverbialמְעַ֥טlittleמְעַ֛טlittleverbאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖Iobjectנּוּwill.drive.it.outprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseפָּנֶ֑יbeforeךָyouclauseעַ֚דuntilclauserelpאֲשֶׁ֣רthatclauseclauseverbתִּפְרֶ֔הyou.will.be.fruitfulוְandclauseverbנָחַלְתָּ֖you.will.possessnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהָtheאָֽרֶץland

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


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

The Masoretic Text is confirmed by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial text, with most words supplied by an editor, indicating some loss of the original manuscript.

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

מְעַ֥ט מְעַ֛ט אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּפְרֶ֔ה וְנָחַלְתָּ֖ אֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מְעַ֥טμικρὸνמְעַ֛טμικρὸνאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּαὐτοὺςמִפָּנֶ֑יךָσοῦעַ֚דἕωςאֲשֶׁ֣רἂνתִּפְרֶ֔הαὐχηθῇςוְנָחַלְתָּ֖κληρονομήσῃςהָאָֽרֶץ׃γῆν

9 of the 10 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

מעט מעט אגרשׁנו מפניך עד אשׁר תפרה ונחלת את הארץ

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

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

מעט [מעט] [אגרש׳נו] [מפני׳ך] [עד] [אשר] [תפרה] [ונחלת] [את] [הארץ]

1 word on the leather — 9 supplied entire by an editor.

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 23:30מְעַטlittlelittleמְעַטמְעַטlittlelittleמְעַטגָּרַשׁI will drivI will drive ouגָּרַשׁפָּנֶהfrom beforefrom before youפָּנֶהעַדuntiluntilעַדאֲשֶׁרthatthatאֲשֶׁרפָּרָהyou will beyou will be fruפָּרָהנָחַלand you wiland you will poנָחַלאֵתthe object the object markאֵתאֶ֫רֶץthe landthe landאֶ֫רֶץמָעַטto diministo diminishמָעַטפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדתְּנוּמָהslumberslumberתְּנוּמָהשֵׁנָהsleepsleepשֵׁנָהאַלְמָנָהwidowwidowאַלְמָנָהשָׁקַטto quietto quietשָׁקַטסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהשָׁרַץto swarmto swarmשָׁרַץרָבָהto multiplto multiplyרָבָהאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁ
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 23:30

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.

little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
מְעַ֥טme.'At little H4592 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
101× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means something is small or little in amount, like a few people or a short time. It appears in various Bible translations as almost, few, or small. In the Bible, it often describes something that is limited or lacking.
Tyndale gloss
little
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4592 m`at meh-at'

or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often

adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),

lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,

soon, X very.

see HEBREW for 04591

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְעַט (me.at) — little.

1) littleness, few, a little, fewness

1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little

1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
מְעַ֛טme.'At little H4592 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
101× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means something is small or little in amount, like a few people or a short time. It appears in various Bible translations as almost, few, or small. In the Bible, it often describes something that is limited or lacking.
Amplified meaning
gradually, bit by bit
Tyndale gloss
little
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4592 m`at meh-at'

or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often

adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),

lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,

soon, X very.

see HEBREW for 04591

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְעַט (me.at) — little.

1) littleness, few, a little, fewness

1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little

1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
אֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ'a.ga.re.She.nu I will drive out it H1644 Verb piel imperfect first person common singular · suffix
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to drive out or expel, often used in the context of divorce or being forced to leave a place, as seen in the story of Israel's exile. It can also mean to trouble or cast out. In the Bible, it appears in books like Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
expel, force out
Tyndale gloss
to drive out: drive out
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּרַשׁ (garash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to drive out or cast out. It encompasses a range of actions including expelling, divorcing, and thrusting away. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to cast out) and Niphal (to be driven away). Notably, it can refer to both physical expulsion and the act of divorce.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גָּרַשׁ] vb. drive out, cast out

Qal cast out, thrust out

Niph. be driven away

Pi. drive out, away

Pu. subj. Israelites; subj. despised and miserable outcasts

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1644 גָּרַשׁ drive out, cast out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1644 garash gaw-rash'

a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially

to expatriate or divorce:--cast up (out), divorced (woman),

drive away (forth, out), expel, X surely put away, trouble,

thrust out.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּרַשׁ (ga.rash) — to drive out: drive out.

: drive out

1) to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up

1a) (Qal) to thrust out, cast out

1b) (Niphal) to be driven away, be tossed

1c) (Piel) to drive out, drive away

1d) (Pual) to be thrust out

Also means: ga.rash (גָּרַשׁ ": divorce" H1644H)

גָּרַשׁ (ga.rash) — to drive out: divorce.

: divorce

1) to drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up

1a) (Qal) to thrust out, cast out

1b) (Niphal) to be driven away, be tossed

1c) (Piel) to drive out, drive away

1d) (Pual) to be thrust out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-1cs | Suff — Verb piel imperfect first person common singular · suffix
HVpi1cs/Sp3ms
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
מִפָּנֶ֑יךָmi.pa.Nei.kha from before you H6440 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

face, faces

presence, person

technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces

. . presence, person

. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh

{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),

against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),

+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,

face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er

time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +

honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +

meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,

open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,

presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right

forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,

X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
עַ֚ד'ad until H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher that 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
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
תִּפְרֶ֔הtif.Reh you will be fruitful H6509 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to be fruitful or produce something, like a tree bearing fruit. It is used in a literal sense, but also figuratively, like in Genesis where God tells humans to be fruitful and multiply. It emphasizes growth and increase.
Amplified meaning
are increased, flourish, productive, bearing much fruit
Tyndale gloss
be fruitful
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּרָה (parah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bear fruit or be fruitful, applicable to both literal and figurative contexts. It can describe the act of producing fruit, as well as the process of making something fruitful. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal and Hiphil, indicating both the action of bearing fruit and causing fruitfulness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּרָה] vb. bear fruit, be fruitful

Qal

of men and animals

of vine

Hiph.

cause to bear fruit

make fruitful

shew fruitfulness, bear fruit

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6509 פָּרָה bear fruit, be fruitful

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6509 parah paw-raw'

a primitive root; to bear fruit (literally or

figuratively):--bear, bring forth (fruit), (be, cause to be,

make) fruitful, grow, increase.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרָה (pa.rah) — be fruitful.

1) to bear fruit, be fruitful, branch off

1a) (Qal) to bear fruit, be fruitful

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to bear fruit

1b2) to make fruitful

1b3) to show fruitfulness, bear fruit

Also means: pa.ra (פָּרָא "be fruitful" H6500)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
וְנָחַלְתָּ֖ve.na.chal.Ta and you will possess H5157 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
59× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to inherit or to take possession of something, as seen in the story of the Israelites inheriting the Promised Land in Joshua 1:6. It can also mean to distribute or divide something among people, like the division of the land in Joshua 13-19. The word is used in various forms throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
inherit, take ownership of
Tyndale gloss
to inherit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָחַל (nachal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to inherit or take possession. It encompasses various aspects of acquiring property, including dividing land and bequeathing inheritance. The entries detail its uses in different grammatical forms, such as Qal for taking possession and Hiphil for giving as an inheritance. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָחַל vb. denom. get or take as a possession

Qal

take possession, inherit

fig. have or get as a possession, property

divide the land for a possession

Pi. divide for a possession

Hithp. possess oneself of land

Hiph.

give as a possession

cause to inherit, give as an inheritance

Hoph. made to possess

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5157 נָחַל vb. denom. get or take as a possession

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5157 nachal naw-khal'

a primitive root; to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of

descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath,

or (generally) distribute, instate:--divide, have

((inheritance)), take as a heritage, (cause to, give to, make

to) inherit, (distribute for, divide (for, for an, by), give

for, have, leave for, take (for)) inheritance, (have in, cause

to, be made to) possess(-ion).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָחַל (na.chal) — to inherit.

1) to get as a possession, acquire, inherit, possess

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take possession, inherit

1a2) to have or get as a possession or property (fig.)

1a3) to divide the land for a possession

1a4) to acquire (testimonies) (fig.)

1b) (Piel) to divide for a possession

1c) (Hithpael) to possess oneself of

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to give as a possession

1d2) to cause to inherit, give as an inheritance

1e) (Hophal) to be allotted, be made to possess

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq2ms
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
אֶת־'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
little little I will drive out it from before you until that you will be fruitful and you will possess the object marker the land
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retz the land H776 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
the promised territory, the earth
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

((1) 'erets;

(2) 'adhamah;

(3) sadheh,

"a piece of land";

(4) ge, "earth";

(5) agros, "field";

(6) chora, "region";

(7) chorion, diminutive of chora;

(8) xeros, "dry land";

(9) 'ezrach, "native" the King James Version "born in the land," "born among you," the Revised Version (British and American) "home-born" (Le 19:34; 14:16; Nu 15:30); "like a green tree in its native soil" (Ps 37:35)):

'Erets occurs hundreds of times and is used in much the same way as 'adhamah, which also occurs often: e.g. "land of Egypt," 'erets mitsrayim (Ge 13:10), and 'adhmath mitsrayim (Ge 47:20). The other words occur less often, and are used in the…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Appeared on the third creative day Ge 1:9

→ Original title to, from God Ge 13:14-17; 15:7; Ex 23:31; Le 25:23

→ Bought and sold Ge 23:3-18; 33:19; Ac 4:34; 5:1-8

→ Sale and redemption of, laws concerning Le 25:15,16,23-33; 27:17-24; Nu 36:4; Jer 32:7-16,25,44; Eze 46:18

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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