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Exodus 39:4 — Word Study

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WLCכְּתֵפֹ֥ת עָֽשׂוּ־ ל֖וֹ חֹבְרֹ֑ת עַל־ שְׁנֵ֥י קְצוֹתָ֖יו חֻבָּֽר׃

BSAThey madeʻâsâh [to construct, fashion] shoulder pieceskâthêph [upper arm coverings] which were attachedchâbar [joined, united] atʻal twoshᵉnayim [a pair] of its cornersqâtsâh [ends, edges] so it could be fastenedchâbar [secured, coupled together, to unite, join]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 39
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (chu.Bar) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 39:4quick helps
In a sentenceThe artisans constructed shoulder pieces for the ephod, ensuring they were securely joined at its corners.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes the work of skilled craftsmen.
Where we areThis verse is part of the detailed account of the construction of the ephod.
The hard wordחֹבְרֹת
Take awayThe shoulder pieces were carefully crafted and united for functional use.
4 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them › clause verbלְ 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 39:4

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

Context — The Construction of the Ephodgenerated

3They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen—the work of a skilled craftsman.
4They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened.
5And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
6They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel.

Exodus 39:4 describes the meticulous work of the craftsmen in creating the ephod, a ceremonial garment for the priesthood. This verse highlights the specific construction of shoulder pieces, emphasizing their importance in the overall design and function of the ephod, as seen in the preceding and following verses that detail the craftsmanship involved.


Cross References


The Key Word כְּתֵפֹ֥ת, ke.te.Fotgenerated

The word כְּתֵפֹת (ketephot) is a feminine plural noun derived from כָּתֵף (katheph), meaning 'shoulder.' It refers specifically to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, which are upper arm coverings that provide both support and decoration.

This term appears frequently in the context of priestly garments, indicating its significance in religious attire. The parsing as a noun in the plural form shows that two pieces were made, aligning with the description of their attachment at the corners of the ephod.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb עָֽשׂוּ (asu), meaning 'they made,' governs the sentence, indicating the action taken by the craftsmen. The structure includes a noun phrase for the object, כְּתֵפֹ֥ת (ketephot), followed by a participial phrase חֹבְרֹ֑ת (chobrot), describing the shoulder pieces as joined.

The prepositional phrase עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י קְצוֹתָ֖יו (al-shnei kitzotav), meaning 'at two of its corners,' clarifies where the pieces were attached, emphasizing the functional aspect of the design.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates כְּתֵפֹ֥ת as ἐπωμίδας (epōmidas), indicating a direct correspondence to the shoulder-pieces, maintaining the focus on the garment's structure.

The choice of the verb ἐποίησαν (epoiēsan) for 'they made' aligns with the Hebrew verb עָֽשׂוּ, showing a consistent understanding of the artisans' work.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 39:4 tells us that the craftsmen made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners. This construction was important for the functionality and design of the ephod, as seen in the detailed work described throughout this chapter.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What are shoulder pieces in the context of the ephod?

Shoulder pieces are the upper arm coverings that provide support and decoration for the ephod, a ceremonial garment worn by the high priest.

Why is the joining of the shoulder pieces significant?

The joining of the shoulder pieces is significant as it ensures the ephod is secure and functional, reflecting the precision and care taken in its construction.

How does this verse connect to the overall design of the ephod?

This verse connects to the overall design of the ephod by detailing a specific aspect of its construction, emphasizing the importance of each part in the ceremonial attire.

What does the term 'joined' imply in this context?

The term 'joined' implies that the shoulder pieces were not only attached but also united in a way that contributes to the integrity and functionality of the ephod.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What significance do the shoulder pieces hold in the context of the priestly garments?
  2. How does the craftsmanship described in this verse reflect the importance of the ephod?
  3. In what ways can we see parallels between the construction of the ephod and our own lives?
  4. What can we learn about attention to detail from the artisans' work in this passage?

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

Early commentators like Bede reference this verse to discuss the construction of the ephod, emphasizing the significance of the joined pieces.

BedeOn the Tabernacle 3.4, AT Exodus 28:7 c. 673–735
From this it appears to have been the case that the borders of two pieces were joined together from top to bottom on both sides into a doubled garment.
Early Church Fathers on Exodus 39 →

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 39:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 39 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XXXIX. THE MAKING OF THE HOLY .(1-31) This section corresponds to Exodus 28:5-40, but does not follow exactly the same order. Exodus 39:2-7 correspond to Exodus 39:5-12 of Exodus 28; Exodus 39:8-21 to Exodus 39:13-28; Exodus 39:22-26 to Exodus 39:31-35; but after this a dislocation occurs. Exodus 39:27-29 correspond to Exodus 39:39-42 of Exodus 28, and Exodus 39:30-31 to Exodus 39:36-38. It is not clear why any change was made. The order observed in Exodus 28 seems preferable.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 39 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. They made shoulder-straps for it, joined (to it); at its two (top) edges was it joined (to them)] See on Exodus 28:7.

Read Cambridge on Exodus 39 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE HOLY OF THE PRIESTS, Exodus 39:1-31 See notes on Exodus 28. ALL BROUGHT TO MOSES AND , Exodus 39:32-43.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 39 →

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

They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. It was joined together at the two ends.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They made shoulder pieces for it, attached to two of its corners, so it could be joined together.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined together; at the two ends was it joined together.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They made shoulderpieces for it, joined together: at the two ends was it joined together.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They made shoulder-pieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For the which they made shoulders to couple together: for it was closed by the two edges thereof.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They made shoulder-pieces for it, joining it: at its two ends was it joined together.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

shoulder-pieces they have made for it, joining; at its two ends it is joined.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

they have made shoulder-pieces for it, joining; it is joined at its two ends.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined on; on both its edges was it thus joined together.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, attached at its two upper corners.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And two borders coupled one to the other in the top on either side,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Two shoulder pieces were attached to the front and back pieces.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And they made two bands for joining its edges together at the top of the arms.

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.

clauseverbעָֽשׂוּthey.madeprepositional phrase · prepositionalל֖forוֹitnoun phrase · objectכְּתֵפֹ֥תshoulder-piecesחֹבְרֹ֑תjoinedclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseשְׁנֵ֥יthe.twonoun phraseקְצוֹתָ֖יendsוitsverbחֻבָּֽרit.was.joined

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


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

The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in six of the eight words, indicating a strong agreement in the description of the shoulder pieces. The Samaritan Pentateuch presents four differing words but retains the essential meaning of the construction. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations, suggesting some damage but no significant variation in the core message.

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

כְּתֵפֹ֥ת עָֽשׂוּ־ ל֖וֹ חֹבְרֹ֑ת עַל־ שְׁנֵ֥י קְצוֹתָ֖יו חֻבָּֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כְּתֵפֹ֥תἐποίησανל֖וֹἐπωμίδαςחֹבְרֹ֑תσυνεξούσαςעַל־ἐχשְׁנֵ֥יἀμφοτέρωνקְצוֹתָ֖יוμερῶν

6 of the 8 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

כתפות עשׂה לו חברות על שׁני קצתיו חבר

4 words differ from the Masoretic Text: כתפות (shoulder), עשׂה (make), חברות (be united), קצתיו (end)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q17a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[כתפת] [עשו] [ל׳ו] [חברת] [על] [שני] קצוות׳ו [חבר]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 7 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 39:4כָּתֵףshoulder-pishoulder-piecesכָּתֵףעָשָׂהthey madethey madeעָשָׂהוֹfor itfor itוֹחָבַרjoinedjoinedחָבַרעַלononעַלשְׁנַ֫יִם[the] two[the] twoשְׁנַ֫יִםקָצָהends itsends itsקָצָהחָבַרit was joinit was joinedחָבַרקָצֶהendendקָצֶהעַלheightheightעַלשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיקֶ֫רֶסclaspclaspקֶ֫רֶסיְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהיְמָנִיrightrightיְמָנִימוּלoppositeoppositeמוּלמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלחֹ֫שֶׁןbreastpiecbreastpieceחֹ֫שֶׁןכְּרוּבcherubcherubכְּרוּב
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 39:4

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.

shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
כְּתֵפֹ֥תke.te.Fot shoulder-pieces H3802 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
67× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for shoulder describes the upper end of the arm, where garments hang, and is used in Exodus 28:7 to describe the shoulder pieces of the ephod.
Amplified meaning
upper arm coverings
Tyndale gloss
shoulder
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּתֵף (katheph) means 'shoulder' and can refer to the shoulder-blade, side, or slope of a mountain. It is derived from a root meaning to clothe, indicating the shoulder as the place where garments hang. The term can also describe shoulder-pieces of animals and supports, as well as lateral projections.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּתֵף n.f. shoulder, shoulder-blade, side

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3802 כָּתֵף shoulder, shoulder-blade, side

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3802 katheph kaw-thafe'

from an unused root meaning to clothe; the shoulder (proper,

i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the

garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection

of anything:--arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side,

undersetter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּתֵף (ka.teph) — shoulder.

1) shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope

1a) shoulder, shoulder-blade (of man)

1b) shoulder, shoulder-pieces (of animals)

1c) side, slope (of mountain)

1d) supports (of laver)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pieces

(1) of silver. In Ps. 68:30 denotes “fragments,” and not properly money. In 1 Sam. 2:36 (Heb. agorah), properly a “small sum” as wages, weighed rather than coined. Josh. 24:32 (Heb. kesitah, q.v.), supposed by some to have been a piece of money bearing the figure of a lamb, but rather simply a certain amount. (Comp. Gen. 33:19).

(2.) The word pieces is omitted in many passages, as Gen. 20:16; 37:28; 45:22, etc. The passage in Zech. 11:12, 13 is quoted in the Gospel (Matt. 26:15), and from this we…

shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
עָֽשׂוּ־'a.su- they made H6213 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
to construct, fashion
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
ל֖וֹlo for it H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
חֹבְרֹ֑תchoe.Rot joined H2266 Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine plural
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to unite or join, and can also refer to charming or spellbinding someone. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It can also mean to make an alliance or fellowship.
Amplified meaning
joined, united
Tyndale gloss
to unite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָבַר (chabar) means to unite or join together, often in a figurative sense, but can also refer to tying magic spells or charms. It encompasses various forms of joining, including making alliances or being in fellowship. The verb appears in different stems, indicating nuances like being allied or compacted, but no significant disagreements among lexicons are noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָבַר] vb. unite (usu. intr.), be joined, tie a magic knot or spell, charm

Qal

unite, be joined

tie magic knots, charm

Pi.

make an ally of, unite one with

unite, join (trans.)

Pu.

be allied with

be united to = be one of

be joined together

Hiph. I could make a joining with words

Hithp. join oneself to, make an alliance with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2266 חָבַר unite (usu. intr.), be joined, tie a magic knot or spell, charm

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2266 chabar khaw-bar'

a primitive root; to join (literally or figuratively);

specifically (by means of spells) to fascinate:--charm(- er),

be compact, couple (together), have fellowship with, heap up,

join (self, together), league.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָבַר (cha.var) — to unite.

1) to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with, be compact, be a charmer

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to unite, be joined

1a2) to tie magic charms, charm

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to unite with, make an ally of

1b2) to unite, join, ally

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be allied with, be united

1c2) to be joined together

1d) (Hiphil) to join together, pile up (words)

1e) (Hithpael) to join oneself to, make an alliance, league together

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine plural
HVqrfpa
shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
שְׁנֵ֥יshe.Nei [the] two H8147 Adj
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
a pair
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
קְצוֹתָ֖יוkitz.vo.tov ends its H7098 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the book of Isaiah, this word means the end or termination of something. It can also refer to a corner or edge of a territory. This word is used to describe the limits of God's creation.
Amplified meaning
ends, edges
Tyndale gloss
end
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָצָה (qatsah) refers to an end or extremity, indicating a termination point. It can denote a coast, corner, or edge, and is derived from the related word קָצָה (qatsah), which shares similar meanings. The entries collectively emphasize its use in describing boundaries or limits.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָצָה n.f. et (pl.) m. end

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7098 קָצָה end

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7098 qatsah kaw-tsaw'

feminine of 7097; a termination (used like 7097):--coast,

corner, (selv-)edge, lowest, (uttermost) participle

see HEBREW for 07097

see HEBREW for 07097

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָצָה (qa.tsah) — end.

1) end, extremity

1a) end

1b) from the whole of, from among (of what is included between extremities)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp3ms
shoulder-pieces they made for it joined on [the] two ends its it was joined
חֻבָּֽר׃chu.Bar it was joined H2266 Verb · Pual · perfect third person masculine singular
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to unite or join, and can also refer to charming or spellbinding someone. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. It can also mean to make an alliance or fellowship.
Amplified meaning
secured, coupled together, to unite, join
Tyndale gloss
to unite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָבַר (chabar) means to unite or join together, often in a figurative sense, but can also refer to tying magic spells or charms. It encompasses various forms of joining, including making alliances or being in fellowship. The verb appears in different stems, indicating nuances like being allied or compacted, but no significant disagreements among lexicons are noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָבַר] vb. unite (usu. intr.), be joined, tie a magic knot or spell, charm

Qal

unite, be joined

tie magic knots, charm

Pi.

make an ally of, unite one with

unite, join (trans.)

Pu.

be allied with

be united to = be one of

be joined together

Hiph. I could make a joining with words

Hithp. join oneself to, make an alliance with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2266 חָבַר unite (usu. intr.), be joined, tie a magic knot or spell, charm

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2266 chabar khaw-bar'

a primitive root; to join (literally or figuratively);

specifically (by means of spells) to fascinate:--charm(- er),

be compact, couple (together), have fellowship with, heap up,

join (self, together), league.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָבַר (cha.var) — to unite.

1) to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with, be compact, be a charmer

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to unite, be joined

1a2) to tie magic charms, charm

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to unite with, make an ally of

1b2) to unite, join, ally

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be allied with, be united

1c2) to be joined together

1d) (Hiphil) to join together, pile up (words)

1e) (Hithpael) to join oneself to, make an alliance, league together

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Pual-Perf-3ms — Verb · Pual · perfect third person masculine singular
HVPp3ms
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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