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Exodus 33:23 — Word Study

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WLCוַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ אֶת־ כַּפִּ֔י וְרָאִ֖יתָ אֶת־ אֲחֹרָ֑י וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֥א יֵרָאֽוּ׃ ס

BSAThen I will take My handkaph [palm, the instrument of divine power] awayçûwr and you will seerâʼâh My backʼâchôwr [rear side, what is behind] but My facepânîym [presence, the front or countenance] must notlôʼ be seenrâʼâh [looked upon, gazed at]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 33
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ye.ra.'U) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 33:23quick helps
In a sentenceGod tells Moses that he can see His back but not His face.
Who is speakingGod, addressing Moses directly.
Where we areIn a conversation about God's glory and presence.
The hard wordיֵרָאֽוּ
Take awayGod's presence is too holy for Moses to see fully.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbסוּר 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 33:23

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — God's Revelation to Mosesgenerated

20But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
21The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,
22and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

Exodus 33:23 is part of a larger narrative where God reveals His glory to Moses. Prior to this verse, God explains that no one can see His face and live, emphasizing the holiness and majesty of His presence. This moment reflects the unique relationship between God and Moses, as Moses seeks to understand God's nature more deeply.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 33:20But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
2Job 11:7Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
3Job 26:14Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”
4John 1:18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
51 Corinthians 13:12Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

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


The Key Word יֵרָאֽוּ, ye.ra.'Ugenerated

The verb יֵרָאֽוּ (ye.ra.'U) is a Niphal imperfect form of רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning 'to be seen' or 'to appear'. It indicates a passive action, suggesting that something will be visible to others. The parsing as imperfect third person masculine plural indicates that the action is not completed and will occur in the future.

This verb captures the essence of visibility and perception. In this context, it signifies that while Moses will be allowed to see God's back, the full visibility of God's face is prohibited, highlighting the distinction between God's glory and human ability to perceive it.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הֲסִרֹתִי֙ (va.ha.si.ro.Ti), I will remove, governs the main clause, with two phrases describing what will happen: the object of the removal and the result of that action. The structure emphasizes the sequential nature of God's revelation to Moses.

The sentence flows from God's action to Moses' experience, highlighting the relationship between divine action and human perception.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הֲסִרֹתִי֙ as ἀφελῶ (aphelō), which means 'I will take away'. This choice reflects a direct and active engagement of God in revealing Himself to Moses, aligning with the Hebrew meaning of removal.

The Greek also uses ὀφθήσεταί for יֵרָאֽוּ, indicating visibility. This choice emphasizes the aspect of seeing, which is central to the passage.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 33:23 shows God telling Moses that he can see His back but not His face. This highlights the holiness of God and the limitations of human perception. Moses is granted a unique glimpse of God's glory, but it is limited to what he can handle.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Moses can see God's back?

It signifies that while Moses can experience a part of God's glory, the full presence of God is too overwhelming for any human to see.

Why can't Moses see God's face?

God's face represents His full glory and holiness, which no one can endure and live.

How does this relate to God's nature?

This passage illustrates the transcendence of God and the limitations of human understanding in the face of divine holiness.

What does this reveal about the relationship between God and Moses?

It shows a unique intimacy where Moses is allowed to experience God's presence in a limited way, indicating a close relationship.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I seek to understand God's nature in my own life?
  2. How can I respect the holiness of God while pursuing a deeper relationship with Him?
  3. What does it mean for me to see God's 'back' in my experiences?
  4. How do I respond to the limitations of my understanding of God?

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

The early Fathers often referenced this passage to illustrate God's nature and the limitations of human perception. Quotations from Origen and others are included to show their interpretation of this divine encounter.

Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SONGS 3.15 c. 185–253
Like to these is the saying of God to Moses: “Lo, I have set you in a cleft of the rock, and you shall see my back parts.” That rock which is Christ is therefore not completely closed but has clefts.
Early Church Fathers on Exodus 33 →
Origen of AlexandriaON FIRST PRINCIPLES 2.3 c. 185–253
For it is well known that he, that is, the one who gave the oracles to Moses, says, “You shall not see my face but my back.” Certainly these statements must be understood by the aid of that symbolism which is appropriate to the…
Early Church Fathers on Exodus 33 →
Richard Challoner 1691–1781
See my back parts: The Lord by his angel, usually spoke to Moses in the pillar of the cloud; so that he could not see the glory of him that spoke familiarly with him.
Early Church Fathers on Exodus 33 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 33:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And I will take away mine hand,.... As being covered with the hand may signify the obscurity of the former dispensation, the taking of it away may denote a more clear revelation of the grace and

Read John Gill on Exodus 33 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. Thou shalt see my back parts.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 33 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

My back parts, i.e. imperfectly and in part, as when we see only a man’ s back parts, and not his face. Thou shalt see a shadow or obscure delineation of my glory, as much as thou canst bear, though not as much as thou dost desire.

Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 33 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

MOSES’ REQUEST TO SEE GOD’S GLORY, AND GOD’S REPLY TO IT.(18-23) Not till he had received full assurance of the people’s restoration to favour did Moses prefer any request for himself. Then, however, he made use of the privilege granted him to speak with God, “as a man speaketh unto his friend,” in order to obtain a blessing for which his spiritual nature craved, and than which he could conceive nothing more desirable. “Shew me,” he said, “I beseech thee, thy glory.” All that he had yet seen of God was insufficient—only raised his desire, only sharpened his appetite to see more. He craved for that “beatific vision” which is the final reward of them that are perfected in another world. God…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 33 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12–23. Moses resumes the intercession broken off at v. 3; and starting from the command given him in Exodus 32:34 a, Exodus 33:1 a obtains from Jehovah (vv. 14–16, as the text stands; see, however, on v. 14) the promise that He will not carry out the threat of v. 3, but will Himself accompany the people on their way to Canaan, and also (vv. 17–23) that He will vouchsafe Moses himself a glimpse of His glory.

Read Cambridge on Exodus 33 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

19-23. Even this great request is in part granted, for these verses contain the promise that, so far as mortal man may be permitted to see the divine glory, Moses shall witness a most sublime theophany.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 33 →

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

Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back: but my face shall not be seen.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

After I will take away mine hande, and thou shalt see my backe parts: but my face shall not be seene.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see me from behind; but my face shall not be seen.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and I have turned aside My hands, and thou hast seen My back parts, and My face is not seen.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and I have turned aside My hands, and you have seen My back parts, and My face is not seen.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And then I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts; but my face shall not be seen.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face thou canst not see.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back; but you won't see my face.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back: but my face is not to be seen.

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.

וַandclauseverbהֲסִרֹתִי֙I.will.removenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseכַּפִּ֔palmיmyוְandclauseverbרָאִ֖יתָyou.will.seenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseאֲחֹרָ֑partsיmy.backוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectפָנַ֖faceיmyadverbialלֹ֥אnotverbיֵרָאֽוּthey.will.be.seen

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word on this verse. The Septuagint matches seven of the nine words from the Hebrew, but its word order and articles differ, reflecting a translation choice rather than a textual variant. The Dead Sea Scrolls show one word on the leather with eight supplied by an editor, indicating damage rather than variation.

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

וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ אֶת־ כַּפִּ֔י וְרָאִ֖יתָ אֶת־ אֲחֹרָ֑י וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֥א יֵרָאֽוּ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙ἀφελῶכַּפִּ֔יξεῖραוְרָאִ֖יתָὄψῃאֲחֹרָ֑יμουוּפָנַ֖יμουלֹ֥אοὐκיֵרָאֽוּ׃ סὀφθήσεταί

7 of the 9 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

והסרתי כפי וראית את אחרי ופני לא יראו

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

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

[והסרתי] [את] [כפ׳י] [וראית] [את] [אחר׳י] [ופנ׳י] [לא] יראו

1 word on the leather — 8 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 33:23סוּרand I will and I will remoסוּראֵתthe object the object markאֵתכַּףpalm mypalm myכַּףרָאָהand you wiland you will seרָאָהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתאָחוֹרback parts back parts myאָחוֹרפָּנֶהand face myand face myפָּנֶהלֹאnotnotלֹארָאָהthey will bthey will be viרָאָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתכָּפַףto bendto bendכָּפַףאֲחִירַעAhiraAhiraאֲחִירַעפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלבָּמָהhigh placehigh placeבָּמָהפָּרַשׂto spreadto spreadפָּרַשׂרֶ֫גֶלfootfootרֶ֫גֶלסוּגto turnto turnסוּגקֶ֫דֶםfront: easfront: eastקֶ֫דֶםסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹד
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 33:23

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

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

and I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
וַהֲסִרֹתִי֙va.ha.si.ro.Ti and I will remove H5493 Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect first person common singular
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
to turn aside: remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּר (sur) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It encompasses a range of actions including removal, avoidance, and coming to an end. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to turn aside or be taken away. It appears in contexts involving both literal and figurative departures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּר and [שׂוּר] 300 vb. turn aside

Qal

turn aside, out of one's course

depart

of lifeless things = be removed

= come to an end

Pô‛lēl he turned aside my ways (my steps)

Hiph.

cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

rarer uses

Pô‛lēl be taken away, removed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5493 סוּר, שׂוּר turn aside .. turn aside, out of one's course

. depart

. of lifeless things = be removed

. = come to an end

.he turned aside my ways (my steps)

. . cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

. rarer uses

.be taken away, removed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5493 cuwr soor

or suwr (Hosea 9:12) {soor}; a primitive root; to turn off

(literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back,

decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous,

lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away,

down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take

(away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: remove.

: remove

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: depart.

: depart

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: turn aside.

: turn_aside/deflect

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vhq1cs
and I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
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 I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
כַּפִּ֔יka.Pi palm my H3709 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to the palm of the hand, like in Exodus 29 where it describes the priest's hands being filled with offerings. It can also symbolize power or strength, like in Psalm 16. It's about the hand or its shape.
Amplified meaning
palm, the instrument of divine power
Tyndale gloss
palm
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּף (kaph) refers to the hollow or flat part of the hand, including the palm and the sole of the foot. It can also denote power and is used to describe various hollow objects, such as bowls or handles. The word encompasses a range of meanings related to the shape and function of hands and feet, as well as items that are hand-shaped.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּף 192 n.f. hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3709 כַּף hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3709 kaph kaf

from 3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an

animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling,

the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree);

figuratively, power:--branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle,

(-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.

see HEBREW for 03721

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּף (kaph) — palm.

: palm/hand

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

1c) sole (of the foot)

1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects

1d1) of thigh-joint

1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)

1d3) hollow (of sling)

1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)

1d5) handles (as bent)

כַּף (kaph) — palm: sole.

: sole/paw

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

1c) sole (of the foot)

1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects

1d1) of thigh-joint

1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)

1d3) hollow (of sling)

1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)

1d5) handles (as bent)

כַּף (kaph) — palm: dish.

: dish/socket

1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand

1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand

1b) power

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
and I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
וְרָאִ֖יתָve.ra.'I.ta and you will see H7200 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se: In addition to the ordinary sense of perceiving by the eye, we have

(1) chazah, "to see" (in vision): "Words of Amos .... which he saw concerning Israel" (Am 1:1). The revelation was made to his inward eye. "The word of Yahweh .... which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria" (Mic 1:1), describing what he saw in prophetic vision (compare Hab 1:1); see REVELATION, III, 4;

(2) horao, "to take heed": "See thou say nothing" (Mr 1:44);

(3) eidon, "to know," "to note with the mind": "Jesus saw that he answered discreetly" (Mr 12:34);

and I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
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 I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
אֲחֹרָ֑י'a.cho.Rai back parts my H268 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
41× 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 the back or rear side of something. It can also refer to a location or direction, like the West. In Genesis, it describes the back of the Tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
rear side, what is behind
Tyndale gloss
back
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָחוֹר (achowr) refers to the hinder side or back part of something. It can also imply a direction, meaning backward or behind, and has temporal uses, indicating a time to come or hereafter. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be behind' and encompasses various contexts, including physical and temporal references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָחוֹר 41 subst. the hinder side, back part

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H268 אָחוֹר the hinder side, back part

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

268 'achowr aw-khore'

or (shortened) achor {aw-khore'}; from 299; the hinder part;

hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the

West:--after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter,

(be-)hind(-er part), time to come, without.

see HEBREW for 0299

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָחוֹר (a.chor) — back.

1) the back side, the rear

1a) backwards

1b) hereafter (of time)

1c) behind

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp1bs
and I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
וּפָנַ֖יu.fa.Nai and face my H6440 Conjunction · 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.
Amplified meaning
presence, the front or countenance
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
Conj | N-cp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
לֹ֥אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I will remove the object marker palm my and you will see the object marker back parts my and face my not they will be visible
יֵרָאֽוּ׃ סye.ra.'U they will be visible H7200 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine plural
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
looked upon, gazed at
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVNi3mp
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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