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Exodus 27:20 — Word Study

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WLCוְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה׀ אֶת־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד׃

BSAAnd youʼattâh [as a leader, to command] are to commandtsâvâh [to give orders, appoint] the Israelitesbên [sons of Jacob, God's chosen people] to bringlâqach youʼêl [towards you, for your use] purezak [clean, undefiled, without mixture] oilshemen [olive oil, ointment] of pressedkâthîyth [beaten, pounded] oliveszayith [olive tree or berry, source of light] for the lightmâʼôwr [happiness, spiritual illumination] to keep the lampsnîyr [cause to burn, maintain, devices holding a flame, guidance] burningʻâlâh [shining, giving light] continuallytâmîyd [constantly, without interruption, as a daily sacrifice]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 27
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 (ta.Mid) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 27:20quick helps
In a sentenceGod commands Moses to instruct the Israelites to bring pure olive oil for the lamps.
Who is speakingGod, through Moses, addressing the Israelites.
Where we areInstructions for the tabernacle's upkeep, focusing on the lamps.
The hard wordכָּתִ֖ית
Take awayThe oil must be pure and specifically pressed for the lamps.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאַתָּה verbצָוָה 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 27:20

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 — Instructions for the Tabernaclegenerated

18The entire courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely spun linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases.
19All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze.
20And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
21In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 27:20 provides specific instructions for the Israelites regarding the maintenance of the lamps in the tabernacle. This command emphasizes the importance of purity in the offerings made to God, highlighting the role of the oil in providing light for the sacred space. The context of these instructions reflects the broader theme of holiness and proper worship in the tabernacle's design and function.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 39:37the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;
2Leviticus 24:2–4“Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
3Judges 9:9But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
4Psalm 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
5Zechariah 4:11–14Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

for the lightExodus 25:31–37

The Key Word כָּתִ֖ית, ka.Titgenerated

The word כָּתִית (ka.Tit) means 'pressed' and refers specifically to olive oil that has been beaten or pounded to extract its essence. This process signifies the quality and purity of the oil, which is essential for the lamps in the tabernacle.

In this verse, the use of pressed oil highlights the meticulous nature of the offerings God requires, ensuring that what is used in worship is of the highest standard. The word's root relates to the act of beating, emphasizing the care taken in preparing the oil for sacred use.


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. The BSB has pressed, and so do the NETB and the MSB, which maintain the specific process of obtaining the oil.

Where others part company with the BSB is over the word כָּתִ֖ית: beaten (ASV, KJV) emphasizes the method of extraction, while pressed (BSB, FBV) focuses on the result.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb תְּצַוֶּ֣ה (te.tza.Veh), you will command, governs the entire sentence. It introduces the action of commanding the Israelites, with multiple phrases detailing what they are to do.

The structure includes a noun phrase as the object ('the Israelites'), followed by a prepositional phrase indicating direction ('to you'), and another noun phrase describing the oil. The arrangement emphasizes the command's authority and the specific requirements for the oil.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word כָּתִית is rendered with the Greek term κεκομμένον, which means 'cut' or 'shorn'. This choice reflects a slight broadening of the concept, focusing on the preparation of the oil rather than the specific method of pressing.

The translation indicates an understanding of the oil's purity and preparation, aligning with the original intent of the Hebrew text while adapting it for a Greek-speaking audience.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 27:20 instructs Moses to command the Israelites to bring pure olive oil for the lamps in the tabernacle. This oil must be pressed to ensure it is suitable for lighting the lamps continually, symbolizing God's presence among His people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of using pure oil?

The use of pure oil symbolizes the holiness and dedication required in worship, ensuring that offerings to God are of the highest quality.

Why is the oil specifically described as pressed?

Pressed oil indicates a careful process of extraction, emphasizing the importance of purity and quality in the materials used for sacred purposes.

How does this command relate to the overall theme of the tabernacle?

This command reflects the theme of holiness and proper worship in the tabernacle, where everything must be done according to God's specifications.

What role do the lamps play in the tabernacle?

The lamps provide light in the tabernacle, symbolizing God's presence and guidance for the Israelites.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I ensure that I bring my best to God in my own life?
  2. What does it mean to me that God cares about the details of worship?
  3. In what ways can I reflect purity and dedication in my daily actions?
  4. How can I be a source of light to others, similar to the lamps in the tabernacle?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 27:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And thou shall command the children of Israel,.... Here begins a new section of the law; an account being given of the tabernacle, and its parts, and the furniture thereof, next the several parts of

Read John Gill on Exodus 27 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 27 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Beaten out of the olives with a pestle, which is freer from dregs than that which is squeezed out with a press. To burn always, i.e. at all the times. appointed; daily, though not continually; as the lamb offered only every morning and every evening is called a continual burnt-offering, . For that these were lighted only at the evening, may seem probable from the next verse, and from 30:8 . But because Josephus and Philo, who were eye-witnesses of the temple service, and had no temptation to lie in this matter, expressly affirm, that some lights did burn in the day-time; and it may seem indecent and improbable that God should dwell and the priests minister in darkness, and there were no…

Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 27 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Exodus 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.Ver. 20. Pure oil olive.] Signifying the precious gifts and graces of the Spirit in godly ministers, whose lips must both preserve knowledge, and present it to the people. Oil olive beaten.] Signifying, saith one, how with much labour and affliction the light of God’ s word is to be prepared, and with patience preached and made to shine in his Church.

Read John Trapp on Exodus 27 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

THE OIL FOR THE LAMP.(20) Thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure olive oil.—This instruction had been already given (Exodus 25:2; Exodus 25:6), only not with such particularity. “Oil” had been required, but not “pure olive oil beaten.” By this is meant the best possible olive oil—that which was obtained by “beating,” or pounding in a mortar; which was free from various impurities that belonged to the oil crushed out, after the ordinary fashion, in a mill. To cause the lamp to burn always—i.e., every night without intermission. Josephus says that three lights were kept burning both night and day (Ant. Jud., iii. 7, § 7); but there is nothing in Scripture to…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 27 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 20. Pure oil olive beaten] That is, such oil as could easily be expressed from the olives after they had been bruised in a mortar; the mother drop, as it is called, which drops out of itself as soon as the olives are a little broken, and which is much purer than that which is obtained after the olives are put under the press. Columella, who is a legitimate evidence in all such matters, says that the oil which flowed out of the fruit either spontaneously, or with little application of the force of the press, was of a much finer flavour than that which was obtained otherwise. Quoniam longe melioris saporis est, quod minore vi preli, quasi luxurians, defluxerit. - COLUM., lib. xii., c.…

Read AdamClarke on Exodus 27 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. And thou, thou shalt, &c.] the emph. pron. marks the beginning of a new section (Exodus 28:1, Exodus 30:23, Exodus 31:13, Numbers 1:50). pure] clear: LXX. ἄτρυγον (‘without lees, clarified’) καθαρόν. beaten] Exodus 29:40, Leviticus 24:2, Numbers 28:5†. ‘Beaten’ oil was oil of the finest quality: it was obtained ‘by gently pounding the olives in a mortar; the pulp was then poured into a wicker or rush basket, which, acting as a strainer, allowed the liquid to run into a vessel underneath. The oil which would presently float upon the top was skimmed off,’ and this formed the oil in question. The commoner kinds of oil were obtained from the pulp remaining in the baskets (Kennedy, EB. iii.…

Read Cambridge on Exodus 27 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Pure oil olive beaten - The oil was to be of the best kind. It is called beaten, because it was obtained by merely bruising the olives in a mortar or mill, without the application of heat.

Read Albert Barnes on Exodus 27 →

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

And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“You are to command the Israelites that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, so that the lamps will burn regularly.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring the pure olive-oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And thou shalt commande the children of Israel, that they bring vnto thee pure oyle oliue beaten, for the light, that the lampes may alway burne.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee olive oil, pure, beaten, for the light, to light the lamp continually.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'And thou — thou dost command the sons of Israel, and they bring unto thee pure beaten olive oil for the light, to cause the lamp to go up continually;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And you command the sons of Israel, and they bring pure oil of beaten olive to you for the light, to cause the lamp to go up continually.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure olive oil, beaten out, for the lighting, to cause a light to burn always.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

You must command the people of Israel to bring olive oil, pure and pressed, for the lamps so they may burn continually.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Command the children of Israel that they bring thee the purest oil of the olives, and beaten with a pestle: that a lamp may burn always,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You are to order the Israelites to bring you pure, hand-pressed olive oil for the lamps so they can go on burning, giving light.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give orders to the children of Israel to give you clear olive oil for the lights, so that a light may be burning there at all times.

Word by word, the decisions they made

כָּתִ֖יתka.Tit pressed H3795 2 different renderings
beatenASV DBY DRA GNV ILT KJV LSV NWB RVA WEB YLT
pressedBSB FBV MSB NETB ULB

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.

וְandclausesubjectאַתָּ֞הyouverbתְּצַוֶּ֣הyou.will.commandnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseבְּנֵ֣יthe.peopleיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לof.Israelוְandclauseverbיִקְח֨וּthey.will.bringprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֵלֶ֜יtoךָyounoun phrase · objectnoun phrasenoun phraseשֶׁ֣מֶןoilזַ֥יִתof.olive[s]זָ֛ךְpureכָּתִ֖יתpressedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלַfornoun phrasetheמָּא֑וֹרlightprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהַעֲלֹ֥תlift.upobjectנֵ֖רa.lampadverbialתָּמִֽידcontinually

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


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

וְאַתָּ֞ה (ve.'a.Tah), the command to Moses, is consistent across the Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and Samaritan Pentateuch, with the latter differing only slightly in wording regarding the action of lifting up the lamp.

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

וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה׀ אֶת־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאַתָּ֞הσὺתְּצַוֶּ֣ה׀σύνταχονבְּנֵ֣יυἱοῖςיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לισραηλוְיִקְח֨וּλαβέτωσάνאֵלֶ֜יךָσοιשֶׁ֣מֶןἔλαιονזָ֛ךְκαθαρὸνכָּתִ֖יתκεκομμένονלַמָּא֑וֹרφῶςלְהַעֲלֹ֥תκάηταιנֵ֖רλύξνος

12 of the 15 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

ואתה תצוה את בני ישׂראל ויקחו אליך שׁמן זית זך כתית למאור לעלות נר תמיד

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: עלות (ascend)

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 27:20אַתָּ֫הand youand youאַתָּ֫הצָוָהyou will coyou will commanצָוָהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתבֵּן[the] peopl[the] people ofבֵּןיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵללָקַחso they mayso they may briלָקַחאֶלto youto youאֶלשֶׁ֫מֶןoil ofoil ofשֶׁ֫מֶןזַ֫יִתoliveoliveזַ֫יִתזַךְpurepureזַךְכָּתִיתpressedpressedכָּתִיתמָאוֹרfor the ligfor the lightמָאוֹרעָלָהto lift upto lift upעָלָהנֵרa lampa lampנֵרתָּמִידcontinuallycontinuallyתָּמִידאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהשָׂרָהto striveto striveשָׂרָהשָׁמֵןto grow fato grow fatשָׁמֵןזָכַךְbe cleanbe cleanזָכַךְכָּתַתto crushto crushכָּתַתאוֹרto lightto lightאוֹרזִוZivZivזִונִירto breakto breakנִירנוּרfirefireנוּרמִשְׁחָהanointinganointingמִשְׁחָהעֹלָהburnt offeburnt offeringעֹלָהיָרַשׁto possessto possess: posיָרַשׁמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁהמִצְוָהcommandmencommandmentמִצְוָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵן
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 27:20

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.

and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
וְאַתָּ֞הve.'a.Tah and you H859 Conjunction · pronoun
1,094× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Amplified meaning
as a leader, to command
Tyndale gloss
you(m.s.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou

base

אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)

base

אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)

base

אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)

base

אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

859 'attah at-taw'

or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine

(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem

{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah

{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun

of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and

you:--thee, thou, ye, you.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).

you (second pers. sing. masc.)

אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).

you (second pers. sing. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).

you (second pers. pl. masc.)

Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)

אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).

you (second pers. pl. fem.)

A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pp2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
תְּצַוֶּ֣ה׀te.tza.Veh you will command H6680 Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singular
494× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To command or give orders, as seen in the Bible when God gives charge to his people. It can also mean to appoint or ordain someone for a task. This word is used in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
to give orders, appoint
Tyndale gloss
to command
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָוָה (tsavah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to command or give orders. It is built from a primitive root and primarily used in the Piel form, indicating actions like appointing or charging someone with a task. The entries highlight its various applications, including laying charges and sending messengers. There are no noted disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צָוָה] 485 vb. Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6680 צָוָה Pi. lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6680 tsavah tsaw-vaw'

a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute,

enjoin:--appoint, (for-)bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give

in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put,

(set) in order.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָוָה (tsa.vah) — to command.

1) to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order

1a)(Piel)

1a1) to lay charge upon

1a2) to give charge to, give command to

1a3) to give charge unto

1a4) to give charge over, appoint

1a5) to give charge, command

1a6) to charge, command

1a7) to charge, commission

1a8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act)

1b) (Pual) to be commanded

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVpi2ms
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
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
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei [the] people of H1121 Noun common · masculine plural construct
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Amplified meaning
sons of Jacob, God's chosen people
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'El Israel H3478 Noun proper
2,508× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Tyndale gloss
Israel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) refers to both the second name of Jacob, meaning 'God prevails,' and the name of the Hebrew nation descended from him. It is derived from roots meaning 'to rule' and 'God.' The term encompasses Jacob's descendants and is used historically for the northern kingdom of Israel and the nation as a whole after the Babylonian exile.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִשְׂרָאֵל 2507 n.pr.m. et gent. Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth)

n.pr.m. second name of Jacob

n.pr.gent. name of Hebrew nation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3478 יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel (Ēl persisteth, persevereth) . n. pr. m. second name of Jacob

. n. pr. gent. name of Hebrew nation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3478 Yisra'el yis-raw-ale'

from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical

name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:

--Israel.

see HEBREW for 08280

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis.ra.el) — Israel.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26;

son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259);

brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A);

father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently

§ Israel = "God prevails"

1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel

2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob

2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split

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

iz'-ra-el.

See JACOB.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Israel

The name conferred on Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel (Gen. 32:28), because “as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,” the “children of Israel” (Josh. 3:17; 7:25; Judg. 8:27; Jer. 3:21), and the “house of Israel” (Ex. 16:31; 40:38).

This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Ps. 73:1: Isa. 45:17; 49:3;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the prince that prevails with God). The name given, (Genesis 32:28) to Jacob after his wrestling with the angel, (Hosea 12:4) at Peniel. Gesenius interprets Israel "soldier of God." It became the national name of the twelve tribes collectively. They are so called in (Exodus 3:16) and afterward. It is used in a narrower sense, excluding Judah, in (1 Samuel 11:8; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16) Thenceforth it was assumed and accepted as the name of the northern kingdom. After the Babylonian captivity, the returned exiles resumed the name Israel as the designation of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Who prevails with God, a name given to Jacob, after having wrestled with the Angel-Jehovah at Penuel. Ge 32:1,2,28,30 Ho 12:3. See JACOB. By the name Israel is sometimes understood all the posterity of Israel, the seed of Jacob, 1Co 10:18; sometimes all true believers, his spiritual seed, Ro 9:6; and sometimes the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, as distinct from the kingdom of Judah.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
וְיִקְח֨וּve.yik.Chu so they may bring H3947 Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
966× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Tyndale gloss
to take: take
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָקַח 965 vb. take

Qal

take, take in hand

take and carry along with oneself

take from, or out of

take, carry away

take away from, so as to deprive of

esp. take away life

take to or for a person

take up, upon = put upon

= fetch

take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

take = capture, seize

take = carry off

in phr. take vengeance

Niph.

be captured, of ark

be taken away, removed

be taken, brought unto

Pu.

be taken from, out of

= be stolen from

be taken captive

be taken away, removed

Hoph.

be taken, brought unto

be taken out of

be taken away from

Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand

. take and carry along with oneself

. . take from, or out of

. take, carry away

. take away from, so as to deprive of

. esp. take away life

. take to or for a person

. take up, upon = put upon

. = fetch

. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

. take = capture, seize

. take = carry off

. in phr. take vengeance

. . be captured, of ark

. be taken away, removed

. be taken, brought unto

. . be taken from, out of

. = be stolen from

. be taken captive

. be taken away, removed

. . be taken, brought unto

. be taken out of

. be taken away from

. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3947 laqach law-kakh'

a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of

applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,

get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,

seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.

: take

1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take, take in the hand

1a2) to take and carry along

1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away

1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept

1a5) to take up or upon, put upon

1a6) to fetch

1a7) to take, lead, conduct

1a8) to take, capture, seize

1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be taken away, be removed

1b3) to be taken, brought unto

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be taken from or out of

1c2) to be stolen from

1c3) to be taken captive

1c4) to be taken away, be removed

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto

1d2) to be taken out of

1d3) to be taken away

1e) (Hithpael)

1e1) to take hold of oneself

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
HC/Vqu3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dasha' = "to sprout," "spring" (Ge 1:11 the King James Version); sharats = "to wriggle," "swarm" (Ge 1:20 f; 9:7; Ex 8:3); yaladh = "to bear," "beget" (Ge 3:16; 2Ki 19:3; Job 15:35; 39:1,2; "what a day may bring forth," Pr 27:1; "before the decree bring forth," Ze 2:2); `anan = "to cloud over," "to darken" (Ge 9:14); shalach = "to send on," "to escort" (Ge 18:16); shubh = "to turn back," "bring" (again, back…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
אֵלֶ֜יךָ'e.Lei.kha to you 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
towards you, for your use
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
HRd/Sp2ms
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
שֶׁ֣מֶןShe.men oil of H8081 Noun common · masculine singular construct
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Amplified meaning
olive oil, ointment
Tyndale gloss
oil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8081 shemen sheh'-men

from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,

often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat

(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

see HEBREW for 08080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
זַ֥יִתZa.yit olive H2132 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for olive tree or olive berry, often associated with oil and light. In Deuteronomy 8:8, the olive tree is listed as one of the blessings of the Promised Land, and in Matthew 24:3, Jesus teaches on the Mount of Olives.
Amplified meaning
olive tree or berry, source of light
Tyndale gloss
olive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זַ֫יִת (zayith) refers to an olive or olive tree, including its fruit. It is associated with illuminating oil and appears in place names like the Mount of Olives. The entries suggest it encompasses both the tree and its produce, with some lexicons noting its connection to specific locations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זַ֫יִת n.m. olive-tree, olive

olive-tree

of fruit of olive-tree, olives

in designations of place

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2132 זַ֫יִת olive-tree, olive

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2132 zayith zay'-yith

probably from an unused root (akin to 2099); an olive (as

yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the

berry:--olive (tree, -yard), Olivet.

see HEBREW for 02099

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זַ֫יִת (za.yit) — (Mount of) Olives.

This name means olive, olive tree

Also named: elaiōn (ἐλαιών "Olivet" G1638)

זַ֫יִת (za.yit) — olive.

1) olive, olive tree

1a) olive tree

1b) olives

2) mountain facing Jerusalem on the east side

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See OLIVE TREE.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Olive

The fruit of the olive-tree. This tree yielded oil which was highly valued. The best oil was from olives that were plucked before being fully ripe, and then beaten or squeezed (Deut. 24:20; Isa. 17:6; 24:13). It was called “beaten,” or “fresh oil” (Ex. 27:20). There were also oil-presses, in which the oil was trodden out by the feet (Micah 6:15). James (3:12) calls the fruit “olive berries.” The phrase “vineyards and olives” (Judg. 15:5, A.V.) should be simply “olive-yard,” or “olive-garden,” as in the Revised Version. (See OIL.)

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The olive was among the most abundant and characteristic vegetation of Judea. The olive tree grows freely almost everywhere on the shores of the Mediterranean, but it was peculiarly abundant in Palestine. See (6:11; 8:8; 28:40) Oliveyards are a matter of course in descriptions of the country like vines and cornfields. (Judges 15:5; 1 Samuel 8:14) The kings had very extensive ones. (1 Chronicles 27:28) Even now the is very abundant in the country. Almost every village has its olive grove. Certain districts may be specified where at various times this tree been very luxuriant. The cultivation of the olive tree had the closest connection with the domestic life of the Israelites (

This is one of the earliest trees mentioned in Scripture, and has furnished, perhaps ever since he deluge the most universal emblem of peace, Ge 8:11. It is always classed among the most valuable trees of Palestine, which is described as a land of oil olive, and honey, De 6:11 8:8 Hab 3:17. No tree is more frequently mentioned in the Greek and Roman classics. By the Greeks it was dedicated to Minerva, and employed in crowning Jove, Apollo, and Hercules. The olive is never a very large or beautiful tree, and seldom exceeds thirty feet in height: its leaves are dark green on the upper surface, and of a silvery hue on the under, and generally grow in pairs. Its wood is hard, like that of box, and very close in the grain. It…

and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
זָ֛ךְzakh pure H2134 Adj
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means being pure and clean, like a clear conscience. It appears in Psalms and Proverbs, describing a person's moral purity. God values purity and wants His people to be clean.
Amplified meaning
clean, undefiled, without mixture
Tyndale gloss
pure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זַךְ (zak) means pure or clean, indicating something that is unmixed and free from foreign substances. It can also refer to a figurative sense of righteousness. The word is built from the root associated with clarity and cleanliness, covering both literal and metaphorical uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זַךְ adj. pure, clean

lit., pure, i.e. unmixed, free from foreign substances

fig., pure, clean, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2134 זַךְ pure, clean . lit., pure, i.e. unmixed, free from foreign substances

. fig., pure, clean, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2134 zak zak

from 2141; clear:--clean, pure.

see HEBREW for 02141

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זַךְ (zakh) — pure.

1) clean, pure

1a) pure

1b) pure, clean, righteous (fig.)

2) the pure one (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
כָּתִ֖יתka.Tit pressed H3795 Adj
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means something that is beaten or pounded, and is used in the Bible to describe pure olive oil. The process of beating or pounding made the oil finer and more valuable. The KJV translates it as 'beaten'.
Amplified meaning
beaten, pounded
Tyndale gloss
beaten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּתִית (kathiyth) means 'beaten' and refers specifically to oil that is pure and made by pounding olives in a mortar. It emphasizes the quality of the oil as fine and costly. The word is derived from another Hebrew term (H3807), but the entries do not provide further details on its usage in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּתִית adj. beaten;—only in combin. beaten oil, i.e. oil made by beating or pounding the olives in a mortar; esp. fine and costly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3795 כָּתִית beaten

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3795 kathiyth kaw-theeth'

from 3807; beaten, i.e. pure (oil): -beaten.

see HEBREW for 03807

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּתִית (ka.tit) — beaten.

1) beaten out, pure, pounded fine (in a mortar), costly

1a) of olive oil

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcmsa
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
לַמָּא֑וֹרla.ma.'or for the light H3974 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means light, like the sun or a lamp, and also happiness or cheerfulness. It's used in the Bible to describe God's presence and joy. The KJV translates it as 'light' or 'bright'.
Amplified meaning
happiness, spiritual illumination
Tyndale gloss
light
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָאוֹר (ma'owr) refers to a luminary or luminous body, encompassing concepts of light and brightness. It can also denote cheerfulness and specifically refers to a chandelier. The word is derived from a root meaning 'light' and is connected to the idea of illumination.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָאוֹר n.m. luminary

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3974 מָאוֹר luminary

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3974 ma'owr maw-ore'

or maor {maw-ore'}; also (in plural) feminine mpowrah

{meh-o-raw'}; or morah {meh-o-raw'}; from 215; properly, a

luminous body or luminary, i.e. (abstractly) light (as an

element): figuratively, brightness, i.e.cheerfulness;

specifically, a chandelier:--bright, light.

see HEBREW for 0215

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָאוֹר (ma.or) — light.

light, luminary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lit ('or, ma'or; phos; many other words):

1. Origin of Light

2. A Comprehensive Term

(1) Natural Light

(2) Artificial Light

(3) Miraculous Light

(4) Mental, Moral, Spiritual Light

3. An Attribute of Holiness

(1) God

(2) Christ

(3) Christians

(4) The Church

4. Symbolism

5. Expressive Terms

1. Origin of Light:

The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life. "Let there be light" (Ge 1:3) was the first word of God spoken after His creative Spirit "moved" upon the primary material out of which He created the heavens and the earth, and which lay, until the utterance of that word, in the chaos of darkness and desolation. Something akin, possibly, to the all-pervasive electro-magnetic activity of the aurora borealis penetrated the chaotic night of the world. The ultimate focusing of light (on the 4th day of creation,

Light

The offspring of the divine command (Gen. 1:3). “All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light” (1 Kings 11:36; Isa. 58:8; Esther 8:16; Ps. 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the most wonderful, cheering, and useful of all the works of God; called into being on the first of the six days of creation, by his voice: "Let there be light;" and there was light. No object better illustrates whatever is pure, glorious, spiritual, joyful, and beneficent. Hence the beauty and force of the expressions, "God is light," 1Jo 1:5, and "the Father of lights," Jas 1:17; Christ is the "Sun of righteousness," and "the light of the world," Joh 1:9 8:12. So also the word of God is "a light," Ps 119:105; truth and Christians are lights, Joh 3:19 12:36; prosperity is "light," Es 8:16; and heaven is full of…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Created Ge 1:3-5; Isa 45:7; 2Co 4:6

→ Miraculous Mt 17:2; Ac 9:3

→ FIGURATIVE AND SYMBOLICAL 1Ki 11:36; Ps 27:1; 119:105,130; Pr 6:23; Ec 2:13; Isa 8:20; 49:6; 58:8; 60:19,20; Mt 4:16; 5:14,16; Lu 2:32; 11:34; 16:8;

and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
לְהַעֲלֹ֥תle.ha.'a.Lot to lift up H5927 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
890× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ascend means to go up or rise, like the smoke from an altar going up to God, as described in many Bible passages, including Leviticus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
shining, giving light
Tyndale gloss
to ascend: rise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָלָה (alah) means 'to ascend' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including going up, climbing, and rising in various contexts such as personal, natural, and spiritual. It can refer to actions involving people, animals, vegetation, and even thoughts, and includes nuances of being exalted or offering sacrifices. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various grammatical forms, indicating different aspects of ascent or elevation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb

Qal

of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

go up, in personal relations

of animals, go or come up

of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

of natural phenom., go up, rise

of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

of thoughts

come up before God, arrogance

go up, extend, of boundary

excel

Niph.

be brought up

be taken up

pass., be taken up, away

reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

reflex.: take oneself away

be exalted, of God

Hiph.

bring up persons

in personal relations

bring up animals

cause to ascend

mentally

offer a present; bring up tithe to

exalt

cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

Hoph.

be carried away

be taken up into, inserted in

be offered

Hithp. lift oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5927 עָלָה go up, ascend, climb .. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations

. go up, in personal relations

. of animals, go or come up

. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth

. of natural phenom., go up, rise

. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction

. of thoughts

. come up before God, arrogance

. go up, extend, of boundary

. excel

. . . be brought up

. be taken up

. . pass., be taken up, away

. reflex., take oneself away from, get up from

. reflex.: take oneself away

. be exalted, of God

. . bring up persons

. in personal relations

. bring up animals

. cause to ascend

. mentally

. offer a present; bring up tithe to

. exalt

. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice

. . be carried away

. be taken up into, inserted in

. be offered

. lift oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5927 `alah aw-law'

a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or

actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary

and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise

(up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up),

bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb

(up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart,

exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up);

grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light,

(make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect,

prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise

(up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring

(up), stir up, take away (up), work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָלָה (a.lah) — to ascend: rise.

: rise/go

1) to go up, ascend, climb

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go up, ascend

1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat

1a3) to go up, come up (of animals)

1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)

1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)

1a6) to come up (before God)

1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)

1a8) to excel, be superior to

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away

1b2) to take oneself away

1b3) to be exalted

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up

1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away

1c3) to bring up, draw up, train

1c4) to cause to ascend

1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)

1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)

1c7) to exalt

1c8) to cause to ascend, offer

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be carried away, be led up

1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in

1d3) to be offered

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
נֵ֖רner a lamp H5216 Noun common · masculine singular construct
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A lamp is a device that holds a flame, providing light. In the Bible, it's often used to symbolize guidance or spiritual light. The word can also refer to the light itself, rather than just the lamp.
Amplified meaning
cause to burn, maintain, devices holding a flame, guidance
Tyndale gloss
lamp
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֵר (ner) and נִיר (nir) both mean 'lamp' in Hebrew. The word is derived from a root that suggests brightness or glistening, and it can refer to a literal lamp or light as well as a figurative one. The entries indicate that these forms are interchangeable, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵר 43 n.m. lamp

base

נִיר n.[m.] lamp

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5216a נֵר lamp H5216b נִיר lamp

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5216 niyr neer

or nir {neer}; also neyr {nare}; or ner {nare}; or (feminine)

nerah {nay-raw'}; from a primitive root (see 5214; 5135)

properly, meaning to glisten; a lamp (i.e. the burner) or

light (literally or figuratively):--candle, lamp, light.

see HEBREW for 05214

see HEBREW for 05135

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵר (ner) — lamp.

lamp

Also means: nir (נִיר "lamp" H5216B)

נִיר (nir) — lamp.

lamp

Another spelling of ner (נֵר "lamp" H5216A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Lamp

(1.) That part of the candle-sticks of the tabernacle and the temple which bore the light (Ex. 25:37; 1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chr. 4:20; 13:11; Zech. 4:2). Their form is not described. Olive oil was generally burned in them (Ex. 27:20).

(2.) A torch carried by the soliders of Gideon (Judg. 7:16, 20). (R.V., “torches.”)

(3.) Domestic lamps (A.V., “candles”) were in common use among the Hebrews (Matt. 5:15; Mark 4:21, etc.).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

That part of the golden candlestick belonging to the tabernacle which bore the light; also of each of the ten candlesticks placed by Solomon in the temple before the holy of holies. (Exodus 25:37; 1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chronicles 4:20; 13:11; Zechariah 4:2) The lamps were lighted every evening and cleansed every morning. (Exodus 30:7,8) A torch or flambeau, such as was carried by the soldiers of Gideon. (Judges 7:16,20) comp. Judg 15:4 The use in marriage processions of lamps fed with oil is alluded to in the parable of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The lamps of the ancients, sometimes called "candles" in our Bible, were cups and vessels of many convenient and graceful shapes; and might be carried in the hand, or set upon a stand. See CANDLESTICK. The lamp was fed with vegetable oils, tallow, wax, etc., and was kept burning all night. The poorest families, in some parts of the East, still regard this as essential to health and comfort. A darkened house therefore forcibly told of the extinction of its former occupants, Job 18:5,6 Pr 13:9 20:20 Jer 25:10,11; while a constant light was significant of prosperity and perpetuity, 2Sa 21:17 1Ki 11:36

→ Miraculously appeared at Abraham's sacrifice Ge 15:17

→ For the tabernacle Ex 25

→ Kept burning at night in the tabernacle and cared for by priest Ex 27:20,21; Le 24:2-4

→ FIGURATIVE Job 18:6; Ps 119:105; Pr 13:9; 20:20; Isa 62:1; Jer 25:10; Zep 1:12; Pr 13:9; 20:20; Isa 62:1;

and you you will command the object marker [the] people of Israel so they may bring to you oil of olive pure pressed for the light to lift up a lamp continually
תָּמִֽיד׃ta.Mid continually H8548 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
104× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means continually or constantly, like the daily sacrifice in the Bible. It describes something that happens regularly, like every day. It is used in books like Leviticus and Numbers to describe regular offerings.
Amplified meaning
constantly, without interruption, as a daily sacrifice
Tyndale gloss
continually
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּמִיד (tamiyd) refers to continuity or perpetuity, often used adverbially to mean continually or constantly. It is derived from a root meaning to stretch, indicating indefinite extension. The term is also associated with the regular daily sacrifice in the Old Testament, emphasizing its constant nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּמִיד n.m. continuity

earliest and oftenest as adv., continually

as subst.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8548 תָּמִיד continuity . earliest and oftenest as adv., continually

. as subst.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8548 tamiyd taw-meed'

from an unused root meaning to stretch; properly, continuance

(as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as

adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. the

regular (daily) sacrifice:--alway(-s), continual

(employment, -ly), daily, ((n-))ever(-more), perpetual.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּמִיד (ta.mid) — continually.

1) continuity, perpetuity, to stretch

1a) continually, continuously (as adverb)

1b) continuity (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
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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