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Ezekiel 20:49 — Word Study

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WLCוָאֹמַ֕ר אֲהָ֖הּ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הֵ֚מָּה אֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֔י הֲלֹ֛א מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל מְשָׁלִ֖ים הֽוּא׃ פ

BSAand I saidva.'o.Mar alas!'a.Hah O Lord'a.do.Nai YahwehYah.weh theyHe.mah [are] saying'o.me.Rim of meLi ¿ notha.Lo' making a parableme.ma.Shel parablesme.sha.Lim [is] heHu'

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 49 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 (Hu') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 20:49quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel expresses his distress over being misunderstood as merely telling stories.
Who is speakingEzekiel, addressing the Lord God.
Where we areA moment of personal lament in Ezekiel's prophetic ministry.
The hard wordמְמַשֵּׁ֥ל
Take awayEzekiel's prophetic messages are being dismissed as mere parables.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectH1992 verbH559 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 — Ezekiel 20:49

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 — Ezekiel's Prophetic Ministrygenerated

46“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.
48Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”
49Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

Ezekiel 20:49 captures a moment of Ezekiel's frustration as he speaks to the Lord about the people's perception of his messages. They accuse him of merely telling parables, which diminishes the seriousness of his prophetic words. This reflects a broader theme in Ezekiel's ministry, where he often faced skepticism and misunderstanding from his audience, similar to the experiences of other prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Matthew 13:13–14This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
2John 16:25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
3Acts 17:18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל, me.ma.Shelgenerated

The verb מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל (me.ma.Shel) comes from the root מָשַׁל (mashal), meaning to liken or to use figurative language. In this context, it refers to the act of making comparisons or telling stories that convey deeper truths.

The Piel form indicates an active use of the verb, suggesting that Ezekiel is not just passively recounting stories but actively engaging in the art of parable-making to communicate God's messages.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term making a parable, aligning with the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וָאֹמַ֕ר (va.'o.Mar), and I said, which governs the entire sentence. It is followed by a noun phrase that identifies the speaker and a series of clauses that provide the content of what is being said.

The structure emphasizes Ezekiel's lament and the response of the people, who are described in a participial phrase as אֹמְרִ֣ים ('o.me.Rim), [are] saying, indicating ongoing action.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל is rendered as παραβολάς (parabolas), which means parables. This choice suggests a focus on the illustrative nature of Ezekiel's messages, aligning with the literary style of teaching through stories.

The use of παραβολάς indicates that the translators recognized the deeper meaning behind Ezekiel's words, emphasizing their role as lessons rather than mere narratives.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 20:49 shows Ezekiel expressing his sorrow to God about how the people view his messages. They think he is just telling stories, which makes him feel misunderstood. This reflects the challenges prophets often face when their serious messages are dismissed.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Ezekiel mean when he says they think he is just telling parables?

Ezekiel is expressing his frustration that the people do not take his prophetic messages seriously, viewing them as mere stories rather than important truths.

Why is the term 'parables' significant in this context?

Parables are often used to convey deeper meanings or lessons. By calling Ezekiel's messages parables, the people are undermining the gravity of his warnings.

How does this verse reflect Ezekiel's role as a prophet?

This verse illustrates the struggle of prophets like Ezekiel, who often faced skepticism and rejection from their audiences, despite delivering messages from God.

What can we learn from Ezekiel's experience in this verse?

Ezekiel's experience reminds us of the importance of listening to and respecting the messages of those who speak on behalf of God, rather than dismissing them as mere stories.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I respond when I feel misunderstood or dismissed in my own life?
  2. What are some ways I can ensure that I take the messages of God's word seriously?
  3. In what areas of my life do I need to be more receptive to the teachings of others?
  4. How can I better communicate the truths of God's word to those around me?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 20:49 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Then said I, ah Lord God!.... The Septuagint version is, "by no means, Lord, Lord"; that is, let me not be sent on such an errand; at least, let it not be delivered in such figurative terms; or let

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 20 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me. An introductory brief description, in enigma, of the destruction by fire and sword detailed more explicitly in Ezekiel 21:1-32.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 20 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When the prophet had done his duty, and prophesied, and they should have heard and understood, he returns with a complaint of their quarrelling, censuring, flouting, and reproaching him for it: one while they account him mad, out of his wits, taken up with raptures and ecstasies, or else doting and dreaming; thus they fortify themselves in their atheism, infidelity, idolatry, and all other sins, and fear not thy word, but contemn thy servant.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 20 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 20:49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?Ver. 49. Doth he not speak parables?] Nonne artifex est parabolarum iste? Qui erga non vult intelligi, vult negligi. He is so high that we cannot take him, and shall therefore slight him as a madman, or not much better. A preacher shall have much ado to please a profane people. Neither maketh it much to the matter; but it is grievous, ah, Lord. Davus sum non Oedipus.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 20 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(49) Doth he not speak parables?—Or enigmas—things that we cannot understand. This the prophet did designedly, as he had done in other cases, to awaken the attention of the people to the explanation he was about to give.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 20 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 49. Ah Lord God] O my God, consider my situation; who will believe what I shall say? They put the evil day far from them. Doth he not speak parables?] הלא ממשל משלים הוא halo memashshel meshalim hu, "Is not he a maker of parables?" Is it not his custom to deal in enigmas? His figures are not to be understood; we should not trouble ourselves with them. We are not obliged to fathom his meaning; and perhaps after all it does not refer to us, or will not be accomplished in our time, if it even respect the land. Thus they turned aside what might have done them good, and rejected the counsel of God against themselves. By dividing the word with our neighbour we often lose the benefit both of…

Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 20 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

49. speak parables] or, similitudes—with the suggested idea that there lies no reality behind them (Ezekiel 12:21-28). The prophet, indeed, cannot utter a statement plainly, he must throw it first into a figure; the same is true also of Isaiah, though the figures of the latter prophet are brief and pointed, while those of Ezek. are overloaded with details. The words shew how the people took notice of the prophet’s peculiarities, and how he himself was conscious of the impression his manner made. Cf. Ezekiel 24:18.

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 20 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

49. Doth he not speak parables — Declaim poems (Kautzsch). The interest of the people has been excited, but they profess not to be able to understand the meaning of this story of the forest fire without explanation.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 20 →

The verse in English, compared — 7 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 said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?

Simplified

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then I said, Ah, Lord! they say of me, Is he not a maker of stories?

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”

Strictly literal

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I say, 'Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?

T4T (Translation for Translators) is not shown above. It restates the passage rather than the verse, so there is no line of English to set beside the others — which is a fact about that translation, not a fault in it.

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.

וָandclauseverbאֹמַ֕רI.saidclauseclauseאֲהָ֖הּalas!clausenoun phrasenoun phraseאֲדֹנָ֣Lordיmyיְהוִ֑הYahwehclausesubjectהֵ֚מָּהtheyverbאֹמְרִ֣ים[are].sayingprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֔ofיmeclause · objectהֲ?clauseadverbialלֹ֛אnotverbמְמַשֵּׁ֥לmaking.a.parableobjectמְשָׁלִ֖יםparablessubjectהֽוּא[is].he

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


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

The Masoretic Text is the primary witness for this verse, and it is consistent across the available manuscripts. There are no significant variations in the wording, affirming the integrity of Ezekiel's lament.

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

וָאֹמַ֕ר אֲהָ֖הּ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הֵ֚מָּה אֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֔י הֲלֹ֛א מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל מְשָׁלִ֖ים הֽוּא׃ פ

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.

Ezekiel 20:49אָמַרand I saidand I saidאָמַראֲהָהּalas!alas!אֲהָהּאָדוֹןO LordO LordאָדוֹןיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוההֵ֫מָּהtheytheyהֵ֫מָּהאָמַר[are] sayin[are] sayingאָמַרנִיof meof meנִילֹא¿ not¿ notלֹאמָשַׁלmaking a pamaking a parablמָשַׁלמָשָׁלparablesparablesמָשָׁלהוּא[is] he[is] heהוּאמָשָׁלproverbproverbמָשָׁלאָדוֹןLordLordאָדוֹןהֲלַךְto goto goהֲלַךְמָשַׁלto ruleto ruleמָשַׁלאָדוֹןlordlordאָדוֹןיהוהThe LordThe LordיהוהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהכֹּהthusthusכֹּהכָּרַעto bowto bowכָּרַענְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםמְרִיrebellionrebellionמְרִיסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶריָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשְׁנִינָהtaunttauntשְׁנִינָהמְלִיצָהmockerymockeryמְלִיצָהטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵת
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 Ezekiel 20:49

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 said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
וָאֹמַ֕רva.'o.Mar and I said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqw1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
אֲהָ֖הּ'a.Hah alas! H162 Particle
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word means alas or oh, an expression of sadness or regret, used to convey strong emotions in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
alas!
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲהָהּ (ahahh) is an interjection expressing pain or lament, commonly translated as 'alas!' or 'oh!'. It is described as a primitive word used exclamatorily to convey feelings of distress.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲהָהּ interj. alas!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H162 אֲהָהּ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

162 'ahahh a-haw'

apparently a primitive word expressing pain exclamatorily;

Oh!:--ah, alas.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲהָהּ (a.hah) — alas!.

alas!, oh!, ah!

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai O Lord H136 Noun proper
440× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Adonay is a title used to refer to God, spoken in place of Yahweh as a sign of reverence and respect. It is used throughout the Bible to address God or refer to Him in a formal way. Adonay is a term of worship and devotion.
Tyndale gloss
Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲדֹנָי (Adonay) means 'Lord' and is an emphatic form of another Hebrew word for lord. It is used specifically as a title for God, often in place of Yahweh to show reverence. Variations include אֲדֹנִי and אֲדֹנַי, which help distinguish divine from human references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H136 אָדוֹן lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

136 'Adonay ad-o-noy'

am emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of

God only):--(my) Lord.

see HEBREW for 0113

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) — Lord.

Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Lord

There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.

(1.) Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form “Jehovah” is retained only in Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4, both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.

(2.) Heb. ‘adon, means one possessed of absolute control. It denotes a master, as of slaves (Gen. 24:14, 27), or a ruler of his subjects (45:8), or a husband, as lord of his wife (18:12).

The old plural form of this Hebrew word is ’adonai. From a superstitious reverence for the name “Jehovah,” the Jews, in reading their Scriptures, whenever that name…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[GOD]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name belongs to God by preeminence; and in this sense ought never to be given to any creature. Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, the Son of God, and equal with the Father, is often called Lord in Scripture, especially in the writing of Paul. The word LORD, in the English Bible, when printed in small capitals, stands always for JEHOVAH in the Hebrew. See JEHOVAH.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A prince Jos 13:3; Jud 3:3; 1Sa 5:8; 6:4

→ See GOD

→ See JESUS

and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
יְהוִ֑הYah.weh Yahweh H3069 Noun proper
306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
YHWH is a name for God, often used in combination with 'Lord'. It is similar to Yehovah, but with different vowels. This name emphasizes God's power and authority.
Tyndale gloss
YHWH/God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוִה (Yhovih) is a variation of the name יָהְוֶה (Yahweh), which is the proper name of the God of Israel. It is often used in combination with other terms, such as 'Lord Jehovah.' The name is significant in the context of the Old Testament, particularly in Exodus 3:12-15, where it is revealed to Moses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3069 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3069 Yhovih yeh-ho-vee'

a variation of 3068 (used after 136, and pronounced by Jews

as 430, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound,

since they elsewhere pronounce 3068 as 136):--God.

see HEBREW for 03068

see HEBREW for 0136

see HEBREW for 0430

see HEBREW for 03068

see HEBREW for 0136

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוִה (ye.ho.vih) — YHWH/God.

1) Jehovah-used primarily in the combination 'Lord Jehovah'

1a) equal to ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068) but pointed with the vowels of e.lo.him (אֱלֹהִים "God" H0430)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
הֵ֚מָּהHe.mah they H1992 Pronoun
553× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
they(masc.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1992 hem haym

or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from

1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)

many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,

their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.

see HEBREW for 01981

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).

they, these, the same, who

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp3mp — Pronoun
HPp3mp
and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
אֹמְרִ֣ים'o.me.Rim [are] saying H559 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqrmpa — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVqrmpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
לִ֔יLi of me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
הֲלֹ֛אha.Lo' ¿ not H3808 Particle · 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
HTi/Tn — Particle · particle
HTi/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
מְמַשֵּׁ֥לme.ma.Shel making a parable H4911 Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To use a proverb means to speak in a way that teaches a lesson, often using metaphors or poems, as seen in Jesus' parables in the Gospels. This word is about comparing things to make a point. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms.
Tyndale gloss
to liken
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָשַׁל (mashal) means to liken or represent, and can refer to using figurative language such as proverbs or poetry. It encompasses various forms, including comparing and becoming like something. The word appears notably in the context of speaking in parables, particularly in the book of Ezekiel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָשַׁל] vb. represent, be like

Niph. be like, similar

Hiph. compare

Hithp. and I have become like dust

base

מָשַׁל vb. denom. use a proverb, speak in parables or sentences of poetry, esp. Ezek.

Qal use a proverb

Pi. is he not a maker of parables?

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4911a מָשַׁל represent, be like . be like, similar

. compare

. and I have become like dust

H4911b מָשַׁל vb. denom. use a proverb, speak in parables or sentences of poetry, esp. Ezek.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4911 mashal maw-shal'

denominative from 4912; to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use

figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like);

intransitively, to resemble:--be(-come) like, compare, use

(as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter.

see HEBREW for 04912

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָשַׁל (ma.shal) — to liken.

1) to represent, liken, be like

1a) (Niphal) to liken, be like, be similar

1b) (Hiphil) to compare

1c) (Hithpael) to become like

מָשַׁל (ma.shal) — to use a proverb.

1) to speak in a proverb, use a proverb, speak in parables, speak in sentences of poetry

1a) (Qal) to use a proverb, speak a parable or proverb

1b) (Piel) to make a parable

1b1) maker of parables (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVprmsa — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
HVprmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

par'-a-b'-l:

1. Name

2. Historical Data

3. Christ's Use of Parables.

4. Purpose of Christ in Using Parables

5. Interpretation of the Parables

6. Doctrinal Value of the Parables

1. Name:

Etymologically the word "parable" (paraballo) signifies a placing of two or more objects together, usually for the purpose of a comparison. In this widest sense of the term there is practically no difference between parable and simile (see Thayer, Dictionary of New Testament Greek, under the word). This is also what substantially some of Christ's parables amount to, which consist of only one comparison and in a single verse (compare Mt 13:33,44-46). In the more usual and technical sense of the word, "parable" ordinarily signifies an imaginary story, yet one that in its details could have actually transpired, the purpose of the story being to illustrate and…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Parable

(Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the Heb. mashal, a similitude. In the Old Testament this is used to denote (1) a proverb (1 Sam. 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chr. 7:20), (2) a prophetic utterance (Num. 23:7; Ezek. 20:49), (3) an enigmatic saying (Ps. 78:2; Prov. 1:6). In the New Testament, (1) a proverb (Mark 7:17; Luke 4:23), (2) a typical emblem (Heb. 9:9; 11:19), (3) a similitude or…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another. --McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expanded into a…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Derived from a Greek word, which signifies, to compare things together, to form a parallel or similitude of them with other things.

What we call the Proverbs of Solomon, which are moral maxims and sentences, the Greeks call the Parables of Solomon. In like manner, when Job answers his friends, it is said he took up his "parable," Job 27:1 29:1. In the New Testament the word parable denotes sometimes a true history, or an illustrative sketch from nature; sometimes a proverb or adage, Lu 4:23; a truth darkly or figuratively expressed, Mt 15:15; a type, Heb 9:9; or a similitude, Mt 24:32. The parabolical, enigmatical…

and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
מְשָׁלִ֖יםme.sha.Lim parables H4912 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A proverb is a short saying that teaches a lesson, often using comparisons or metaphors, like those found in the book of Proverbs. It's a way of sharing wisdom and insight. Proverbs are used by Solomon and other biblical writers.
Tyndale gloss
proverb
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָשָׁל (mashal) refers to a proverb or parable, often characterized by parallelism and typically found in Hebrew Wisdom literature. It encompasses various forms such as aphorisms, bywords, and ethical maxims. The word is derived from a root suggesting superiority in mental action, indicating its metaphorical nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָשָׁל n.m. proverb, parable (of sentences constructed in parallelism, usu. of Hebrew Wisdom, but occas. of other types)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4912 מָשָׁל proverb, parable (of sentences constructed in parallelism, usu. of Hebrew Wisdom, but occas. of other types)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4912 mashal maw-shawl'

apparently from 4910 in some original sense of superiority in

mental action; properly, a pithy maxim, usually of

metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem,

discourse):--byword, like, parable, proverb.

see HEBREW for 04910

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָשָׁל (ma.shal) — proverb.

1) proverb, parable

1a) proverb, proverbial saying, aphorism

1b) byword

1c) similitude, parable

1d) poem

1e) sentences of ethical wisdom, ethical maxims

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of the trees Jud 9:8-15

→ Of the lamb 2Sa 12:1-6

→ Of the woman of Tekoa 2Sa 14:5-12

→ Of the garment which was torn in pieces 1Ki 11:30-32

→ Of the prisoner of war 1Ki 20:39-41

→ Of the thistle and cedar 2Ki 14:9

→ Of a vine of Egypt Ps 80:8-16

→ Of the vineyard Isa 5:1-7; 27:2,3

→ Of the husbandman Isa 28:23-29

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Remarkable Parables of the Old Testament

Jud 9:8-15; 2Sa 12:1-4; 14:5-7

- PARABLES OF CHRIST

. Wise and foolish builders

Mt 7:24-27

. Children of the bride chamber

Mt 9:15

. New cloth and old garment

Mt 9:16

. New wine and old bottles

Mt 9:17

. Unclean spirit

Mt 12:43

. Sower

Mt 13:3-23; Lu 8:5-15

. Tares

Mt 13:24-30,36-43

. Mustard-seed

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) Of the Old Testament

Of Jotham

Jud 9:7

Of Nathan

2Sa 12:1

Of Woman of Tekoa

2Sa 14:15

Of a Prophet

1Ki 20:39

Of Joash

2Ki 14:9; 2Ch 25:18

Of the Prophets

Isa 5:1; Jer 13:1; Eze 17:3; 19:2,3; 24:3

(2) Of Christ

I. In One Gospel Only

Mt. Mr. Lu.

The Barren Fig Tree.................. -- -- 13

The Draw Net......................... 13 -- --

The Friend at Midnight............... -- -- 11

and I said alas! O Lord Yahweh they [are] saying of me ¿ not making a parable parables [is] he
הֽוּא׃ פHu' [is] he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp3ms — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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