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Ezekiel 22:16 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְנִחַ֥לְתְּ בָּ֖ךְ לְעֵינֵ֣י גוֹיִ֑ם וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ כִּֽי־ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ

BSAAnd when you have defiledchâlal [profaned yourself, become unclean] in the eyesʻayin [sources of sight and understanding] of the nationsgôwy [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] then you will knowyâdaʻ [ascertain by seeing, perceive] thatkîy Iʼănîy [emphatically, the one speaking] am the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 16 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 (Yah.weh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 22:16quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel warns that Israel's defilement before the nations will lead to a recognition of God's sovereignty.
Who is speakingThe LORD, addressing Israel through the prophet Ezekiel.
Where we areA warning about Israel's moral state and its consequences.
The hard wordחָלַל
Take awayDefilement brings awareness of God's identity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאֲנִי verbחָלַל 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 22:16

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 Judgment Against Israelgenerated

15I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you throughout the lands; I will purge your uncleanness.
16And when you have defiled yourself in the eyes of the nations, then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
17Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
18“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.

Ezekiel 22:16 is part of a larger message where the LORD speaks to Israel about their unfaithfulness and the consequences of their actions. The surrounding verses emphasize the severity of their moral decay and the resulting judgment that will come from their defilement. This passage highlights the relationship between Israel's actions and their understanding of God’s holiness, as seen in the preceding and following verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 7:24So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned.
2Ezekiel 25:3Tell the Ammonites to hear the word of the Lord GOD, for this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you exclaimed, “Aha!” when My sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Israel was laid waste, and when the house of Judah went into exile,
3Isaiah 43:28So I will disgrace the princes of your sanctuary, and I will devote Jacob to destruction and Israel to reproach.”
4Isaiah 47:6I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.
5Ezekiel 6:7The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

take thine inheritance in thyselfEzekiel 7:24 Ezekiel 25:3 Isaiah 43:28 Isaiah 47:6

The Key Word חָלַל, ve.ni.Chaltgenerated

The verb חָלַל (*chalal*) is a Niphal form, indicating a passive action, meaning 'to be profaned' or 'to become unclean.' It conveys a sense of disrespect or violation, particularly in a moral or ritual context. This word can refer to both physical and spiritual defilement, emphasizing the seriousness of Israel's actions in the sight of the nations.

The root of חָלַל suggests piercing or boring, which metaphorically extends to the idea of violating sacredness. In this verse, it captures the essence of how Israel's actions have not only defiled themselves but also affected their witness among the nations.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is נִחַ֥לְתְּ, you will be profaned, which governs the structure of the sentence. It is followed by a prepositional phrase בָּ֖ךְ, by yourself, indicating the subject's action, and then a noun phrase לְעֵינֵ֣י גוֹיִ֑ם, in the eyes of the nations, which provides context for the defilement.

The sentence concludes with the clause וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ, and you will know, which introduces the recognition of the LORD's identity, followed by the emphatic declaration אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה, I am the LORD.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָלַל as κατακληρονομήσω, which carries the connotation of being inherited or passed down, suggesting a broader interpretation of the consequences of defilement. This choice may reflect an understanding of the enduring impact of Israel's actions on their identity and relationship with God.

The use of ὀφθαλμοὺς for עֵינֵי indicates a focus on perception, aligning with the idea that Israel's actions are observed by the nations, emphasizing the visibility of their moral state.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 22:16 warns that when Israel defiles itself, it will become evident to the nations, leading to a realization of God's identity as the LORD. This verse highlights the connection between Israel's actions and their understanding of God, showing that their behavior influences how others perceive their relationship with Him.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to defile oneself in the eyes of the nations?

To defile oneself means to act in a way that violates moral or ritual standards, leading to a loss of purity and respect, which can be observed by others, particularly non-Hebrew peoples.

How does this verse relate to Israel's identity?

This verse illustrates that Israel's actions directly impact their identity and reputation among the nations, as their defilement reflects on their relationship with God.

What is the significance of knowing that the LORD is God?

Knowing that the LORD is God emphasizes the recognition of His sovereignty and holiness, which is crucial for Israel's understanding of their covenant relationship with Him.

How can this verse apply to our lives today?

This verse serves as a reminder that our actions can influence how others perceive our faith and relationship with God, highlighting the importance of living in a way that honors Him.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I ensure that my actions reflect my faith in God?
  2. How does my behavior affect my witness to others about my relationship with God?
  3. What steps can I take to avoid defilement in my life?
  4. How can I better understand and acknowledge God's sovereignty in my daily life?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 22:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the Heathen,.... No longer be the inheritance of God, but their own; and not have God to be their portion and inheritance, but

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 22 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Whereas I was thine inheritance, and thou enjoyedst all riches, delight, safety, peace, and honour in me, so long as thou wert a holy, obedient people; now that you are polluted, a very sink of all filthiness, for which I have cast thee off, and sent thee into captivity, there be to thyself what thou canst be, for I will not be thine inheritance. And this forlorn, abject, helpless state shall be so visible, that the very heathen shall discern, and know, that you are rejected of your God, and he very just in doing so.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 22 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 22:16 And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.Ver. 16. And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself,] q.d., I will abandon thee. Or, Thou shall be profaned and polluted. And thou shalt know that I am the Lord.] Thou shalt know me by my punishments, whom thou wouldst not know by my benefits.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) Shalt take thine inheritance.—Rather, thou shalt be profaned by thyself. The same word occurs in Ezekiel 7:24, and is there rendered “shall be defiled;” it admits of either sense, according to its derivation. The meaning is that through their own misconduct they forfeit the privileges of a holy nation, and become profaned or dishonoured in the sight of the heathen. The first prophecy of this chapter closes with the terrible warning of Eze 22:14-16, showing the extreme suffering necessary for the purification of Israel.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 22 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 16. Thou shalt know that I am the Lord.] I shall so deal with and punish thee, that thou shalt be obliged to own the vindictive hand of a sin-avenging God.

Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. take thine inheritance] According to the points: and thou shalt be profaned in (through) thyself. The idea that Jehovah “profanes” his people by casting them out of their land is not uncommon, Isaiah 43:28; Isaiah 47:6, cf. Ezekiel 24:21 (Ezekiel 28:16). It is doubtful if it be anywhere said that this casting out of the people is a profanation of them “in the sight of the heathen.” On the other hand that phrase is often used when Jehovah himself, or his name, is spoken of as being profaned, ch. Ezekiel 20:9; Ezekiel 20:14; Ezekiel 20:22. Particularly it is said that Israel’s dispersion among the nations profaned Jehovah’s name, ch. Ezekiel 36:20-23, and in Ezekiel 39:7 Jehovah says, I…

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 22 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou shalt take ... - Better as in the margin. Thou shalt by thine own fault forfeit the privileges of a holy nation.

Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 22 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

And when you have defiled yourself in the eyes of the nations, then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You will be profaned in yourself in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And when you have defiled yourself in the eyes of the nations, then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

NETBNew English Translation2006

You will be profaned within yourself in the sight of the nations; then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And thou shalt be profaned in thyself, in the sight of the nations; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And thou shalt be profaned in thyself, in the sight of the nations; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And thou shalt take thy inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thy selfe in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And thou shalt be polluted through thyself in the sight of the nations, and thou shalt know that I [am] Jehovah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And thou hast been polluted in thyself Before the eyes of nations, And thou hast known that I [am] Jehovah.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And you have been defiled in yourself || Before the eyes of nations, || And you have known that I [am] YHWH.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And thou shalt be degraded through thyself before the eyes of nations, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So you will become unclean in the eyes of the nations. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I will possess thee in the sight of the Gentiles, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

For when everyone else sees how you've made yourselves unclean, then you will acknowledge that I am the Lord.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And you will be made low before the eyes of the nations; and it will be clear to you that I am the Lord.

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.

וְandclauseverbנִחַ֥לְתְּyou.will.be.profanedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּ֖byךְyourselfprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְto.[the]noun phraseעֵינֵ֣יeyesגוֹיִ֑םof.nationsוְandclauseverbיָדַ֖עַתְּyou.will.knowclause · objectכִּֽי(dm).thatclausesubjectאֲנִ֥יIpredicateיְהוָֽה[am].Yahweh

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Ezekiel 22:16 states, "וְנִחַ֥לְתְּ בָּ֖ךְ לְעֵינֵ֣י גוֹיִ֑ם וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ כִּֽי־ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ," which translates to, "And when you have defiled yourself in the eyes of the nations, then you will know that I am the LORD." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in all eight words, though it presents them in a different order and structure. There are no significant differences in meaning between these two texts for this verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide a direct witness for this specific verse, so we cannot compare them here.

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

וְנִחַ֥לְתְּ בָּ֖ךְ לְעֵינֵ֣י גוֹיִ֑ם וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ כִּֽי־ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְנִחַ֥לְתְּκατακληρονομήσωבָּ֖ךְσοὶלְעֵינֵ֣יὀφθαλμοὺςגוֹיִ֑םἐθνῶνוְיָדַ֖עַתְּγνώσεσθεכִּֽי־διότιאֲנִ֥יἐγὼיְהוָֽה׃ פκύριος

8 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.

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 22:16חָלַלand you wiland you will beחָלַלךְby yourselfby yourselfךְעַ֫יִןto [the] eyto [the] eyes oעַ֫יִןגּוֹיnationsnationsגּוֹייָדַעand you wiland you will knיָדַעכִּיthatthatכִּיאֲנִיIIאֲנִייהוה[am] Yahweh[am] Yahwehיהוהאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יהָיָהto beto beהָיָהחָלִילflutefluteחָלִילחָלָהbe weak: wbe weak: weakחָלָהגֵּוָהbackbackגֵּוָהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםמִקְדָּשׁsanctuarysanctuaryמִקְדָּשׁשַׁבָּתSabbathSabbathשַׁבָּתחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרעָצוּםmightymightyעָצוּםמַמְלָכָהkingdomkingdomמַמְלָכָהאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָא
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 22:16

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

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

and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
וְנִחַ֥לְתְּve.ni.Chalt and you will be profaned H2490 Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect second person feminine singular
143× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to profane or begin, like starting something new or breaking a rule. It appears in the Bible when someone disrespects God or a person, like in Ezekiel 22:26. It can also mean to play music or start a project.
Amplified meaning
profaned yourself, become unclean
Tyndale gloss
to bore
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָלַל (*chalal*) is built from a primitive root meaning to bore or pierce, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to wound, to play the flute, and to profane or defile. It can refer to both physical actions, like piercing, and moral or ritual violations, such as polluting oneself or breaking a covenant. The lexicons note various grammatical forms and uses, but do not indicate significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָלַל vb. bore, pierce

Qal my heart is pierced (wounded) within me

Pi. in the hand of the ones wounding thee

Pu. pierced by the sword

Po‛el his hand pierced the fleeing serpent

Po‛al pierced, wounded because of our transgressions

base

[חלל] vb. denom. play the pipe, pipe

Qal as well the singers as the pipe-players

Polel dancers

Pi. and the people piped with pipes

base

[חָלַל] vb. pollute, defile, profane

Niph.

reflex. pollute, defile oneself

Pass., be polluted, defiled

Pi.

defile, pollute

violate the honour of, dishonour

violate  a covenant

treat a vineyard as common

Pu. my great name which is profaned among the nations

Hiph.

I will not let my holy name be profaned any more.

he shall not violate his word

begin

Hoph. then it was begun (= men began) to call on the name of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2490a חָלַל bore, pierce H2490b חלל vb. denom. play the pipe, pipe H2490c חָלַל pollute, defile, profane

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2490 chalal khaw-lal'

a primitive root (compare 2470); properly, to bore, i.e. (by

implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane

(a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin

(as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (from 2485) to play (the

flute):--begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile, X eat

(as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X

take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast

as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain,

wound.

see HEBREW for 02470

see HEBREW for 02485

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to bore.

1) to wound (fatally), bore through, pierce, bore

1a) (Qal) to pierce

1b) (Pual) to be slain

1c) (Poel) to wound, pierce

1d) (Poal) to be wounded

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to play flute.

(Piel) to play the flute or pipe

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to profane/begin: begin.

: begin

1) to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to profane oneself, defile oneself, pollute oneself

1a1a) ritually

1a1b) sexually

1a2) to be polluted, be defiled

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to profane, make common, defile, pollute

1b2) to violate the honour of, dishonour

1b3) to violate (a covenant)

1b4) to treat as common

1c) (Pual) to be profaned (of name of God)

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to let be profaned

1d2) to begin

1e) (Hophal) to be begun

חָלַל (cha.lal) — to profane/begin: profane.

: profane

1) to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin

1a) (Niphal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-2fs — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect second person feminine singular
Hc/VNq2fs
and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
בָּ֖ךְbakh by yourself H9032 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךְ (kh) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2fs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2fs
and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
לְעֵינֵ֣יle.'ei.Nei to [the] eyes of H5869 Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
sources of sight and understanding
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cd — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct
HR/Ncfdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
גוֹיִ֑םgo.Yim nations H1471 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
561× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Amplified meaning
Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples
Tyndale gloss
Gentile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גּוֹי (goy) refers to a nation or people, often indicating non-Hebrew groups, but can also encompass descendants of Abraham and Israel. It may figuratively describe a swarm of locusts or animals. The plural form, גּוֹיִם (goyim), is noted as a proper noun referring to the people of Goim, specifically mentioned in Genesis 14:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גּוֹי 661 n.m. nation, people

base

גּוֹיִם n.pr.gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1471a גּוֹי nation, people H1471b גּוֹיִם n. pr. gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1471 gowy go'-ee

rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same

root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation;

hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a

flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

see HEBREW for 01465

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גּוֹי (goy) — nation.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

גּוֹיִם (go.yim) — Goiim.

People descended from Goy(?), first mentioned at Gen.14.1

§ Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

גּוֹי (goy) — Gentile.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

1c) Goyim? = "nations"

Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)

גּוֹי (goy) — (Harosheth)-hagoyim.

Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

Combined with cha.ro.shet (חֲרֹ֫שֶׁת "Harosheth" H2800)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

na'-shunz.

See GENTILES; GOIIM; HEATHEN; TABLE OF NATIONS.

and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
וְיָדַ֖עַתְּve.ya.Da.'at and you will know H3045 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person feminine singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
ascertain by seeing, perceive
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-2fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person feminine singular
Hc/Vqq2fs
and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
כִּֽי־ki- that H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
אֲנִ֥י'a.Ni I H589 Pronoun
874× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Amplified meaning
emphatically, the one speaking
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

589 'aniy an-ee'

contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X

which, X who.

see HEBREW for 0595

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.

I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp1bs
and you will be profaned by yourself to [the] eyes of nations and you will know that I [am] Yahweh
יְהוָֽה׃ פYah.weh [am] Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

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

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
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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