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Ezekiel 23:14 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל־ תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־ הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֔ים חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃

BSABut [Oholibah] carriedyâçaph her prostitution {even further}taznûwth [further increased, added to, fornication, spiritual unfaithfulness] She sawrâʼâh [looked, gazed upon, perceived] portrayedchâqâh [painted, engraved, depicted] onʻal the wallqîyr [barrier, divider] imagestselem [likenesses, pictures] of the ChaldeansKasdîy [inhabitants of Chaldea, wise men] engravedchâqaq [carved, etched] in vermilionshâshar [with, using, bright red]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 23
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 14 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 (ba.sha.Shar) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 23:14quick helps
In a sentenceOholibah's actions escalate as she observes the Chaldean images on the wall.
Who is speakingThe prophet Ezekiel, describing the actions of Oholibah.
Where we areIn a prophetic vision detailing the unfaithfulness of Oholibah.
The hard wordתַּזְנוּת
Take awayThe imagery of idolatry and unfaithfulness is starkly presented.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָסַף 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 23:14

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 Prophecy Against Jerusalemgenerated

13And I saw that she too had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path.
14But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,
15wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth.
16At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

Ezekiel 23:14 describes Oholibah's further unfaithfulness as she sees the images of the Chaldeans. This verse illustrates her spiritual infidelity through the metaphor of prostitution, emphasizing the depth of her betrayal. The context reveals a broader narrative about the consequences of idolatry and the allure of foreign influences, as seen in Ezekiel 23:15 and Ezekiel 8:10.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 8:10So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel.
2Isaiah 46:1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
3Jeremiah 50:2“Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’
4Jeremiah 22:14who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

vermilionJeremiah 22:14

The Key Word תַּזְנוּת, taznuṯgenerated

The noun תַּזְנוּת (taznuṯ) refers to prostitution or fornication, often used to describe both literal and figurative unfaithfulness. It is derived from the root meaning to commit sexual immorality, and it carries a strong negative connotation in biblical texts.

In this verse, it highlights Oholibah's spiritual unfaithfulness, illustrating her actions as a betrayal of her covenant relationship with God. The use of this term underscores the severity of her transgressions and the consequences that follow.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

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


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וַתּ֖וֹסֶף, and she added, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a series of phrases that elaborate on her actions: a prepositional phrase indicating the direction of her actions, a noun phrase describing her unfaithfulness, and another clause that details what she saw.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on Oholibah's actions first, followed by the details of what she observed. This structure highlights the progression of her unfaithfulness as she encounters the images on the wall.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew וַתּ֖וֹסֶף is rendered as προσέθετο (prosetheto), which means 'she added' or 'she further increased'. This choice maintains the sense of escalation in her actions.

The translation choice indicates a direct correspondence in meaning, emphasizing the continuation of her unfaithfulness through the imagery presented.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 23:14 shows Oholibah increasing her unfaithfulness by observing the images of the Chaldeans on the wall. This verse uses the metaphor of prostitution to illustrate her spiritual betrayal, highlighting the dangers of idolatry and foreign influences.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Oholibah's unfaithfulness represent?

Oholibah's actions symbolize the spiritual unfaithfulness of Israel, particularly in their idolatry and turning away from God.

Why are the Chaldeans significant in this verse?

The Chaldeans represent foreign influences that entice Oholibah away from her covenant with God, illustrating the dangers of idolatry.

How does the imagery of prostitution relate to spiritual unfaithfulness?

Prostitution in this context symbolizes the betrayal of a covenant relationship, where Oholibah seeks fulfillment outside of her commitment to God.

What is the significance of the wall in this verse?

The wall serves as a barrier that Oholibah gazes upon, representing the separation between her and the true worship of God, as well as the allure of idolatry.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see influences around me that could lead to spiritual unfaithfulness?
  2. How can I guard against the allure of idolatry in my own life?
  3. What steps can I take to strengthen my commitment to God and avoid distractions?
  4. How does understanding the metaphor of prostitution help me grasp the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 23:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And that she increased her whoredoms,.... Added to the number of her idols, increased her idols, and even was guilty of more than her sister: for when she saw men portrayed on the wall; of the

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 23 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion, She saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 23 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Increased her whoredoms; added to the number of her idolatries. When she saw men portrayed upon the wall: wherever it was the Jews saw, there it was they doted on their persons and habits: it is probable enough they might see them in the idol temples, or in the house of the king of Judah, or of the great men, who promoted the friendships and leagues with these nations. The images; the counterfeits of strangers, and such as were far off, as the Chaldeans were. With vermilion; which, as it is a very glossy and shining colour, so, duly mixed with ceruse, doth lively express the colour of man’ s flesh.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 23 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 23:14 And [that] she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,Ver. 14. For when she saw men portrayed upon the wall.] So unbridled was her lust that she fell to doting upon those quos tantum per umbram et imaginem aspexerat, whose pictures only she had beheld. In some Popish churches there are to be seen wanton pictures, such as do rather kindle lust than quicken devotion. An eyewitness hath told us in print that in some places they will assemble various of the fairest courtezans, when they would draw a picture of the Virgin Mary, to draw the most modest beauty of a virgin out of the flagrancy of…

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 23 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) Men portrayed upon the wall.—Such portraitures, with evidence that they were once executed in brilliant colours, are characteristic both of Egypt and Assyria, where stone for sculpture abounded. From the close connection in race and customs between the Assyrians and Babylonians, it cannot be doubted that the same portraitures were also common upon the more perishable brick of the latter, of whom the prophet is now speaking. The monuments fully concur in representing the warriors of Assyria and Babylonia as delighting in extreme gorgeousness of apparel, but it is difficult to render into English with accuracy each particular of their dress. The exiles, whom Ezekiel immediately…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 23 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 14. Men pourtrayed upon the wall] See on Ezekiel 8:10.

Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 23 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14. and that she increased] Rather: And she added to her whoredoms, with full stop at Ezekiel 23:13. It was certainly the custom in Babylonia to draw figures of men and the like upon the walls; it is not probable, however, that such figures of Chaldean warriors had actually been seen in Jerusalem. The prophet combines the Babylonian custom with the reports of Chaldean military splendour current in Judah. Even when Babylon was still a vassal state of Assyria Hezekiah entered into intrigues with it, Isaiah 39. In later times it was the rivalry between Babylon and Egypt that drew Judah into the whirl of imperial politics, and left her from the time of the battle of Carchemish and the defeat of…

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 23 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

After Israel’s captivity Judah intrigued first with Assyria, then with Babylon, courting their monarchs, imitating their customs, and learning their idolatries.

Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 23 →

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

But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“She increased her prostitution; for she saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with red,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,

NETBNew English Translation2006

But she increased her prostitution. She saw men carved on the wall, images of the Chaldeans carved in bright red,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And she increased her whoredoms; for she saw men portrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion,

RVARevised Version, American1894

And she increased her whoredoms; for she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And that she increased her prostitutions: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And that she encreased her fornications: for when she sawe men painted vpon the wall, the images of the Caldeans painted with vermelon,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And she increased her fornications; for she saw men portrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And she doth add unto her whoredoms, And she seeth graved men on the wall, Pictures of Chaldeans, graved with red lead,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And she adds to her whoredoms, || And she sees men carved on the wall, || Pictures of Chaldeans, carved with vermillion,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But she added still more to her acts of lewdness; for when she saw men engraved upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with color,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then she increased her prostitution even more. She saw men carved on walls, figures of Chaldeans painted in red,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And she increased her fornications: and when she had seen men painted on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans set forth in colours,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

However, Oholibah's prostitution was even worse. She saw pictures of Babylonian soldiers wearing bright red uniforms painted on the wall.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And her loose behaviour became worse; for she saw men pictured on a wall, pictures of the Chaldaeans painted in bright red,

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.

וַandclauseverbתּ֖וֹסֶףshe.addedprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseתַּזְנוּתֶ֑יprostitution(s)הָherוַandclauseverbתֵּ֗רֶאshe.sawnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאַנְשֵׁי֙menadjective phraseclauseverbמְחֻקֶּ֣הof.a.carved.[thing]prepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseהַtheקִּ֔ירwallnoun phrasenoun phraseצַלְמֵ֣יthe.imagesכַשְׂדִּ֔יםof.[the].Chaldeansnoun phraseclauseverbחֲקֻקִ֖יםinscribedprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּwithnoun phrase(the)שָּׁשַֽׁרvermilion

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 23:14 reads: "וַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל־ תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־ הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֔ים חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃" The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the overall meaning and structure, matching 12 of the 12 words, although the word order and articles differ as it reflects its own syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q73) contain fragments that match the Masoretic Text closely, with only one word being supplied by an editor, indicating a strong agreement with the Masoretic Text in this verse.

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

וַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל־ תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־ הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֔ים חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַתּ֖וֹסֶףπροσέθετοאֶל־πρὸςתַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָτὴνוַתֵּ֗רֶאεἶδενאַנְשֵׁי֙ἄνδραςמְחֻקֶּ֣הἐζωγραφημένουςעַל־ἐπὶהַקִּ֔ירτοίξουצַלְמֵ֣יεἰκόναςכַשְׂדִּ֔יםξαλδαίωνחֲקֻקִ֖יםἐζωγραφημένουςבַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃γραφίδι

12 of the 12 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q73a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ותוסף] [אל] [תזנותי׳ה] [ותרא] [אנשי] [מחקה] [על] [הקיר] צלמי [כשדיים] [חקקים] [בששר]

1 word on the leather — 11 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Ezekiel 23:14יָסַףand she addand she addedיָסַףאֶלtotoאֶלתַּזְנוּתprostitutioprostitution heתַּזְנוּתרָאָהand she sawand she sawרָאָהאֱנוֹשׁmen ofmen ofאֱנוֹשׁחָקָהa carved [ta carved [thingחָקָהעַלononעַלקִירthe wallthe wallקִירצֶ֫לֶם[the] image[the] images ofצֶ֫לֶםכַּשְׂדִּים[the] Chald[the] Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיםחָקַקinscribedinscribedחָקַקשָׁשֵׁרwith vermilwith vermilionשָׁשֵׁרזָנָהto fornicato fornicateזָנָהאָנַשׁbe incurabbe incurableאָנַשׁקוּרto digto digקוּרעַלheightheightעַלכֶּ֫שֶׂדChesedChesedכֶּ֫שֶׂדשׁוֹרֵרenemyenemyשׁוֹרֵרשָׂרֹקsorrelsorrelשָׂרֹקחֲמִישִׁיfifthfifthחֲמִישִׁיעֹלyokeyokeעֹלפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫העֶרְוָהnakednessnakednessעֶרְוָהעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטבְּלִיַּ֫עַלBelial: woBelial: worthleבְּלִיַּ֫עַלעַיAiAiעַיקִירwallwallקִירעַלuponuponעַל
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 23:14

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 she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
וַתּ֖וֹסֶףva.To.sef and she added H3254 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
212× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To add means to increase or do something again, like adding more of something or continuing an action. This word is used in the Bible to describe growth or repetition.
Tyndale gloss
to add
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָסַף (yacaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to add or increase. It can denote actions like joining oneself to something or continuing to do a task. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, with nuances of doing something again or augmenting an amount.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָסַף 214 vb. add

Qal add

Niph.

join (intr.), join oneself to

be joined, added to

Hiph.

add

sq. inf. add to do = do again or more

sq. Impf.

sq. Impf. asynd.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3254 יָסַף add . add

. . join (intr.), join oneself to

. be joined, added to

. . add

. . sq. inf. add to do = do again or more

. sq. Impf.

. sq. Impf. asynd.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3254 yacaph yaw-saf'

a primitive root; to add or augment (often adverbial, to

continue to do a thing):--add, X again, X any more, X cease, X

come more, + conceive again, continue, exceed, X further, X

gather together, get more, give more-over, X henceforth,

increase (more and more), join, X longer (bring, do, make,

much, put), X (the, much, yet) more (and more), proceed

(further), prolong, put, be (strong-) er, X yet, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add: again.

: again/continue/more[instances]

1) to add, increase, do again

1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to join, join oneself to

1b2) to be joined, be added to

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to add, increase

1c2) to do more, do again

יָסַף (ya.saph) — to add.

: add/more[amount]

1) to add, increase, do again

1a) (Qal) to add, increase, do again

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to join, join oneself to

1b2) to be joined, be added to

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to add, increase

1c2) to do more, do again

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vhw3fs
and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָtaz.nu.Tei.ha prostitution her H8457 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fornication, or taznuth, refers to harlotry or idolatry, often used figuratively to describe spiritual unfaithfulness. In the KJV, it is translated as fornication or whoredom, emphasizing its negative connotation.
Amplified meaning
further increased, added to, fornication, spiritual unfaithfulness
Tyndale gloss
fornication
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תַּזְנוּת (taznuwth) refers to fornication or harlotry, and is derived from the root meaning to commit sexual immorality. It can also figuratively denote idolatry. The term appears in contexts related to both sexual and spiritual unfaithfulness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תַּזְנוּת] n.f.abstr. fornication

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8457 תַּזְנוּת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8457 taznuwth taz-nooth'

or taznuth {taz-nooth'}; from 2181; harlotry, i.e.

(figuratively) idolatry:--fornication, whoredom.

see HEBREW for 02181

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תַּזְנוּת (taz.nut) — fornication.

fornication, harlotry

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3fs
and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
וַתֵּ֗רֶאva.Te.re' and she saw H7200 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
looked, gazed upon, perceived
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

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

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

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

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

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

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

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

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

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

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

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

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

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

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

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

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

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqw3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

so.

See TOOLS.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Egyptian saws, so far as has yet been discovered, are single-handed. As is the case in modern Oriental saws, the teeth usually incline toward the handle, instead of away from it like ours. They have, in most cases, bronze blades, apparently attached to the handles by leathern thongs. No evidence exists of the use of the saw applied to stone in Egypt, but we read of sawn stones used in the temple. (1 Kings 7:9) The saws "under" or "in" which David is said to have placed his captives were of iron. The expression in (2 Samuel 12:31) does not necessarily imply torture, but the word "cut" in (1 Chronicles 20:3) can hardly be understood otherwise.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used as an instrument of torture 2Sa 12:31; Heb 11:37

→ Used for cutting stone 1Ki 7:9

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 10:15

and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
אַנְשֵׁי֙'an.Shei men of H582 Noun common · masculine plural construct
566× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Enosh refers to a human or mankind in general, used to describe individuals or people as a whole in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
human
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱנוֹשׁ (enowsh) refers to man or mankind, often used in a poetic context. It denotes a mortal individual, distinguishing humans from more dignified terms for man. The word encompasses both singular and collective meanings, indicating people or persons in general. Its Aramaic equivalent is אֱנָשׁ (e.nash), also meaning 'man'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱנוֹשׁ n.m. man, mankind, mostly poet.

of individ.

coll. men

man, mankind

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H582 אֱנוֹשׁ man, mankind, mostly poet.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

582 'enowsh en-oshe'

from 605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the

more dignified 120); hence, a man in general (singly or

collectively):--another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain,

chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age,

husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some

( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often

unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in

apposition with another word . Compare 376.

see HEBREW for 0605

see HEBREW for 0120

see HEBREW for 0376

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱנוֹשׁ (e.nosh) — human.

1) man, mortal man, person, mankind

1a) of an individual

1b) men (collective)

1c) man, mankind

Aramaic equivalent: e.nash (אֱנָשׁ "man" H0606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
מְחֻקֶּ֣הme.chu.Keh a carved [thing] H2707 Verb · Pual · participle (passive) masculine singular
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to carve or engrave, like the intricate designs on the Temple furniture. It's used in Exodus to describe the skilled craftsmen who built the Tabernacle. The word also implies creating something with precision and care.
Amplified meaning
painted, engraved, depicted
Tyndale gloss
to engrave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָקָה (chaqah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to carve or engrave. It encompasses actions like cutting into a surface or delineating boundaries. The entries highlight its use in contexts such as creating carved figures or marking limits, with specific forms noted in the Pual and Hithpael stems.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָקָה vb. only Pu. cut in, carve

Pu. carved figure on wall = subst. carved work

Hithp. thou gavest thee a graving (= markest a line) for (i.e. about) the soles of my feet, fixed limits for them

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2707 חָקָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2707 chaqah khaw-kaw'

a primitive root; to carve; by implication, to delineate;

also to entrench:--carved work, portrayed, set a print.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָקָה (cha.qah) — to engrave.

1) to cut, carve, cut in

1a) (Pual) carved (participle)

1b) (Hithpael) to engrave, cut a limit

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Pual-Inf-c — Verb · Pual · participle (passive) masculine singular
HVPsmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

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

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

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

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

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

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

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

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

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

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

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

1h) to (as a dative)

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

conj

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

On

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

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
הַקִּ֔ירha.Kir the wall H7023 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
75× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a wall, often referring to the walls of houses, chambers, or even the altar. It is used to describe structures built for protection or division. The KJV translates it as wall or side.
Amplified meaning
barrier, divider
Tyndale gloss
wall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִיר (qir) means 'wall' and can refer to the walls of a house, chamber, or altar sides. It is derived from a root that is not clearly defined. The word appears in contexts such as Isaiah 22:5, where it is used to describe a wall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִיר 74 n.m. wall (√ unknown)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7023 קִיר wall (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7023 qiyr keer

or qir (Isa. 22:5) {keer}; or (feminine) qiyrah {kee-raw'};

from 6979; a wall (as built in a trench):--+ mason, side,

town, X very, wall.

see HEBREW for 06979

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִיר (qir) — wall.

1) wall, side

1a) wall (of house or chamber)

1b) the sides (of the altar)

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

wol.

See ARCHITECTURE; CITY; FORTIFICATION; HOUSE; JERUSALEM; VILLAGE.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wall

Cities were surrounded by walls, as distinguished from “unwalled villages” (Ezek. 38:11; Lev. 25:29-34). They were made thick and strong (Num. 13:28; Deut. 3:5). Among the Jews walls were built of stone, some of those in the temple being of great size (1 Kings 6:7; 7:9-12; 20:30; Mark 13:1, 2). The term is used metaphorically of security and safety (Isa. 26:1; 60:18; Rev. 21:12-20). (See FENCE.)

and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
צַלְמֵ֣יtzal.Mei [the] images of H6754 Noun common · masculine plural construct
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means image or likeness, often referring to idols or illusions, and is used to describe the resemblance of something, as seen in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
likenesses, pictures
Tyndale gloss
image
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צֶ֫לֶם (tselem) means 'image' or 'likeness,' and can refer to both physical representations and figurative concepts like illusion or semblance. It is derived from a root meaning to shade, suggesting a resemblance or representation. The term appears in contexts ranging from idols to mere appearances, with some entries noting its use in reference to images of tumors or heathen gods.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צֶ֫לֶם n.m. image

images

image, likeness, of resemblance

fig. = mere, empty, image, semblance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6754 צֶ֫לֶם image . images

. image, likeness, of resemblance

. fig. = mere, empty, image, semblance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6754 tselem tseh'-lem

from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e.

(figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative

figure, especially an idol:--image, vain shew.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֶ֫לֶם (tse.lem) — image.

1) image

1a) images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods)

1b) image, likeness (of resemblance)

1c) mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: tse.lem (צְלֵם "image" H6755)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
כַשְׂדִּ֔יםkhas.di.yim [the] Chaldeans H3778 Noun proper
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Chaldea refers to a region in Mesopotamia and its inhabitants, known for wisdom and astrology, as seen in Daniel 1:4. The Chaldeans lived near the Persian Gulf and were considered wise. They are mentioned in 2 Kings 25:11.
Amplified meaning
inhabitants of Chaldea, wise men
Tyndale gloss
Chaldea
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּשְׁדִּים (Kasdim) refers to the Chaldeans or Chaldea, a region in lower Mesopotamia. The term can denote the inhabitants of this area, as well as those considered wise, such as astrologers. It is derived from כֶּסֶד (Kesed), indicating descent. The word appears in various contexts, emphasizing both the geographical and cultural significance of the Chaldeans.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּשְׂדִּים n.pr.gent. et terr. Kasdim = Chaldeans, Chaldea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3778 כַּשְׂדִּים Kasdim = Chaldeans, Chaldea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3778 Kasdiy kas-dee'

(occasionally with enclitic) Kasdiymah {kas-dee'- maw};

towards the Kasdites:--into Chaldea), patronymically from 3777

(only in the plural); a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by

implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an

astrologer (as if proverbial of that people:--Chaldeans,

Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּשְׂדִּים (kas.di) — Chaldea.

§ Chaldea or Chaldeans = "clod-breakers"

1) a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf

2) the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris

3) those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Ngmpa — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name is taken, 1. For the people of Chaldea, and the subjects of that empire generally; 2. For philosophers, naturalists, or soothsayers, whose principal employment was the study of mathematics and astrology, by which they pretended to foretell the destiny of men born under certain constellations.

The Chaldeans were originally a warlike people, who at first inhabited the Carduchian or Koordish mountains north of Assyria and Mesopotamia, Jer 50:17. As the Assyrian monarchs extended their conquests towards the north and west, the Chaldeans also came under their dominion; and this rough and energetic people appear to have assumed, under the sway of their conquerors, a new character, and to have been transformed from a rude horde into a civilized people. A very vivid and graphic description of the Chaldean warriors is given by the…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Learned and wise men of the east Da 1:4; 2:2; 4:7; 5:7; Jer 50:35

Thompson Chain Reference topics

an ancient race

Eze 23:23; Da 2:2; 3:8; 4:7; 5:7

and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
חֲקֻקִ֖יםcha.ku.Kim inscribed H2710 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine plural
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to decree or enact a law, like writing it in stone. It appears in Judges 5:14, where it talks about being a scribe. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's laws and decrees.
Amplified meaning
carved, etched
Tyndale gloss
to decree
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָקַק (chaqaq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut in, engrave, or inscribe. It encompasses the actions of marking out or tracing, particularly in the context of laws or decrees. The word can also imply a sense of authority, as in a lawgiver or commander. Notably, it is linked to the act of enacting laws, suggesting a foundational role in governance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָקַק] vb. cut in, inscribe, decree

Qal

cut in

cut in or on, upon, engrave, inscribe

trace, mark out

of a law, engrave, inscribe

Po‛el inscribe (as a law), enact (poet.)

prescriber of laws, hence (as sovereign authority in a warlike clan) commander

commander’s staff

Pu. that which is decreed

Hoph. inscribed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2710 [חָקַק] cut in, inscribe, decree .. cut in

. cut in or on, upon, engrave, inscribe

. trace, mark out

. of a law, engrave, inscribe

.inscribe (as a law), enact (poet.) . prescriber of laws, hence (as sovereign authority in a warlike clan) commander

. commander’s staff

. that which is decreed

. inscribed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2710 chaqaq khaw-kak'

a primitive root; properly, to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges

5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws

being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or

(gen.) prescribe:--appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver,

note, pourtray, print, set.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָקַק (cha.qaq) — to decree.

1) to cut out, decree, inscribe, set, engrave, portray, govern

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut in

1a2) to cut in or on, cut upon, engrave, inscribe

1a3) to trace, mark out

1a4) to engrave, inscribe (of a law)

1b) (Poel)

1b1) to inscribe, enact, decree

1b2) one who decrees, lawgiver (participle)

1c) (Pual) something decreed, the law (participle)

1d) (Hophal) to be inscribed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine plural
HVqsmpa
and she added to prostitution her and she saw men of a carved [thing] on the wall [the] images of [the] Chaldeans inscribed with vermilion
בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃ba.sha.Shar with vermilion H8350 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a bright red color, similar to vermilion, derived from the 'kermes' insect. It is used in the Bible to describe a vibrant red hue, translated as 'vermillion' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
with, using, bright red
Tyndale gloss
vermilion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁשֵׁר (shashar) refers to a red color, specifically vermilion, which was historically derived from the kermes insect. The word is linked to the concept of red ochre, noted for its striking hue. It appears in the context of Ezekiel 23:14, where its vividness is emphasized.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁשֵׁר] n.[m.] red colour, vermilion; Ez 23:14.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8350 [שָׁשֵׁר] red colour, vermilion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8350 shashar shaw-shar'

perhaps from the base of 8324 in the sense of that of 8320;

red ochre (from its piercing color):--vermillion.

see HEBREW for 08324

see HEBREW for 08320

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁשֵׁר (sha.shar) — vermilion.

1) red colour, vermilion

1a) formerly gained from 'kermes' insect

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

ver-mil'-yun.

See COLORS, (3).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A brilliant red color, resembling scarlet, Jer 22:14; Eze 23:14. The vermilion now used is a sulphuret of mercury.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A color Jer 22:14; Eze 23:14

→ See COLOR

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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