Ezekiel 23:3 — Word Study
WLCוַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃
BSAand they playedzânâh▸ [committed whoredoms, acted as harlots] in EgyptMitsrayim [a country in northeastern Africa] prostituting themselveszânâh■ [fornicating, being unfaithful] from their youthnâʻûwr [early, youthful, a state of being young] Their breastsshad [swollen, nursing breasts] were fondledmâʻak■ [bruised, pressed] thereshâm [in that place, at that time] and their virginbᵉthûwlîym [pure, untouched] bosomsdad [breasts, seats of emotions] caressedʻâsâh■ [handled, squeezed]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה | and they acted as prostitutes | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine plural |
| בְמִצְרַ֔יִם | in Egypt | Preposition, noun proper |
| בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן | in youth their | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| זָנ֑וּ | they acted as prostitutes | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| שָׁ֚מָּה | there | Adverb, suffix |
| מֹעֲכ֣וּ | they were handled | Verb, Pual, perfect third person common plural |
| שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן | breasts their | Noun common masculine dual construct, suffix |
| וְשָׁ֣ם | and there | Conjunction, adverb |
| עִשּׂ֔וּ | they squeezed | Verb, Piel, perfect third person common plural |
| דַּדֵּ֖י | [the] nipples of | Noun common, masculine dual construct |
| בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃ | virginiti their | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. |
| KJV | And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. |
| ASV | and they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity. |
| YLT | And they go a-whoring in Egypt, In their youth they have gone a-whoring, There they have bruised their breasts, And there they have dealt with the loves of their virginity. |
| WEB | They played the prostitute in Egypt. They played the prostitute in their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their youthful nipples were caressed there. |
| BBE | They were acting like loose women in Egypt; when they were young their behaviour was loose: there their breasts were crushed, even the points of their young breasts were crushed. |
Where they part company is זָנָה — see How Translations Differ.
The structure of the sentence is complex, with a main clause and several subordinate phrases providing context and detail.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbזָנָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 23:3
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 Allegory of Two Sistersgenerated
Ezekiel 23:3 describes two women who represent the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem, engaging in acts of unfaithfulness in Egypt. This passage illustrates the spiritual infidelity of Israel, as they turned to foreign nations and idols, abandoning their covenant with God. The imagery of prostitution emphasizes the severity of their actions and the consequences of their betrayal, setting the stage for Ezekiel's prophetic message about judgment and restoration.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 20:8 | But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt. |
| 2 | Leviticus 17:7 | They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demons to which they have prostituted themselves. This will be a permanent statute for them for the generations to come.’ |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 29:16 | For you yourselves know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we passed through the nations on the way here. |
| 4 | Joshua 24:14 | Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 23:8–19 | She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — זָנָה, va.tiz.Nei.nahgenerated
The verb זָנָה (zanah) means to commit fornication or to act as a harlot. It encompasses a range of actions, including adultery and idolatry, emphasizing unfaithfulness in a figurative sense regarding one's relationship with God.
This verb is in the sequential imperfect form, indicating ongoing action. The context suggests that the women were not only engaging in literal prostitution but also representing Israel's unfaithfulness to God through idolatry.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs תִּזְנֶ֣ינָה and זָנ֑וּ govern the main actions of the verse, with several phrases describing the context and actions of the subjects. The structure emphasizes the ongoing nature of their unfaithfulness.
The adverb שָׁם indicates the location of these actions, while the nouns שְׁדֵיהֶן and בְּתוּלֵיהֶן provide specific details about what was fondled and caressed.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates זָנָה as ἐχεπόρνευσαν, which carries a similar meaning of engaging in sexual immorality. This choice highlights the translators' understanding of the original Hebrew context as one of unfaithfulness.
The Greek term used emphasizes the act of fornication, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning while also reflecting the broader implications of idolatry.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezekiel 23:3 tells us about two women who acted as prostitutes in Egypt from their youth. Their actions symbolize Israel's unfaithfulness to God, as they engaged in idolatry and turned away from their covenant. The imagery used in this verse highlights the severity of their betrayal and sets the stage for the prophetic message of judgment.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase indicates that the two women engaged in unfaithful acts, symbolizing Israel's idolatry and spiritual infidelity.
This verse illustrates the theme of unfaithfulness in Ezekiel's prophecies, showing how Israel turned away from God to pursue foreign gods.
Egypt represents a place of bondage and idolatry, highlighting Israel's tendency to turn to foreign nations for security instead of relying on God.
The imagery of prostitution emphasizes the seriousness of Israel's unfaithfulness and serves as a stark warning against idolatry.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I identify unfaithfulness in my own life, similar to the actions described in this verse?
- How can I ensure that I remain faithful in my relationship with God?
- What are some modern examples of idolatry that I might encounter today?
- How can understanding the consequences of unfaithfulness help me make better choices?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 23:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they committed whoredoms in Egypt,.... When they were but one body, one nation; and while they sojourned as strangers in that land they learned and practised the idolatries of it, Joshua 24:14,
Read John Gill on Ezekiel 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. They committed whoredoms in Egypt.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 23 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey committed whoredoms in Egypt; when they came down into Egypt, and sojourned there: possibly they might commit bodily whoredoms, but spiritual whoredoms, i.e. idolatry, they did certainly commit, as appears ,8, which see; in a low condition, by converse with the idolatrous Egyptians they fell in with their idolatry. In their youth; early; though it is no where said when they began, yet by this it appears that it was not long after their coming down into Egypt. There were their breasts pressed: this and what follows is an allusion, which illustrates what was before spoken; while they were constant to God and his worship, they were as beautiful, chaste, and lovely virgins; when seduced to…
Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 23 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEzekiel 23:3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.Ver. 3. And they committed whoredoms in Egypt.] See Ezekiel 20:8 Joshua 24:14. They committed whoredoms in their youth.] Like the strumpet Quartilla in Petronius, who said, Iunonem ego meam iratam habeam, si unquam me meminerim virginem fuisse. There were their breasts pressed.] Violatam virginitatem mammarum laxitas consequitur. Petron. Satyricon.
Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) In Egypt.—The idolatries of Israel in Egypt have already been spoken of in the Note to Ezekiel 20:8. (See also Ezekiel 23:19 below.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 23 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. The two kingdoms are represented ideally as already existing in Egypt. This is not so far from the truth. The great tribes of Judah and Ephraim from the first stood apart, and in their attitude there lay already the germs of the two kingdoms, as appears in the song of Deborah. On the idea of the prophet that idolatry was practised in Egypt, cf. ch. Ezekiel 20:8, Ezekiel 16:26.
Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 23 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. They committed whoredoms in Egypt — It is plain from this that Ezekiel knew that Israel had broken faith with the one God in Goshen.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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
and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.
They played the prostitute in Egypt. They played the prostitute in their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their youthful nipples were caressed there.
and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.
They engaged in prostitution in Egypt; in their youth they engaged in prostitution. Their breasts were squeezed there; lovers fondled their virgin nipples there.
Tyndale line
And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
and they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity.
and they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
And they committed lewd deeds in Egypt; they committed lewd deeds in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they were first corrupted.
And they committed fornication in Egypt, they committed fornication in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teates of their virginitie.
Strictly literal
And they committed whoredom in Egypt; they committed whoredom in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there were handled the teats of their virginity.
And they go a-whoring in Egypt, In their youth they have gone a-whoring, There they have bruised their breasts, And there they have dealt with the loves of their virginity.
And they go whoring in Egypt, || They have gone whoring in their youth, || There they have bruised their breasts, || And there they have dealt with the loves of their virginity.
And they played the harlot in Egypt; in their youth they played the harlot: there were their breasts pressed, and there they suffered their virgin bosoms to be touched.
They acted as prostitutes in Egypt in the time of their youth. They acted as prostitutes there. Their breasts were squeezed and their virgin nipples were fondled there.
From the Latin
And they committed fornication in Egypt, in their youth they committed fornication: there were their breasts pressed down, and the teats of their virginity were bruised.
Simplified
They became prostitutes in Egypt. In fact, they were prostitutes from the time they were young. They allowed their virgin breasts to be fondled and their nipples squeezed.
They were acting like loose women in Egypt; when they were young their behaviour was loose: there their breasts were crushed, even the points of their young breasts were crushed.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with a notable match in the key terms. The Septuagint's rendering shows a consistent understanding of the actions described, though its word order differs.
וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃
7 of the 11 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.
Lexicons — every word in Ezekiel 23:3
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.
זָנָה (zanah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to commit fornication or to be a harlot. It encompasses a range of actions, including adultery and idolatry, with a focus on unfaithfulness, particularly in a figurative sense regarding one's relationship with God. The entries indicate that it can also refer to cult prostitution and moral defection, with various grammatical forms expressing different nuances of the term.
זָנָה vb. commit fornication, be a harlot
Qal
be or act as a harlot
fig. of improper intercourse with foreign nations
of intercourse with other deities
of moral defection
Pu. fornication was not done (in going) after thee
Hiph.
cause to commit fornication
commit fornication
base
H2181 זָנָה commit fornication, be a harlot
2181 zanah zaw-naw'
a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit
adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple
fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively,
to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the
spouse of Jehovah):--(cause to) commit fornication, X
continually, X great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be,
play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go
a-whoring, whorish.
זָנָה (za.nah) — to fornicate.
1) to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication
1a2) to commit adultery
1a3) to be a cult prostitute
1a4) to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.)
1b) (Pual) to play the harlot
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to commit adultery
1c2) to force into prostitution
1c3) to commit fornication
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine pluralHc/Vqw3fp
מִצְרַ֫יִם (mitsrayim) refers to Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa known for the Nile River. The term can denote both the land and its inhabitants, the Egyptians. It is derived from a dual form suggesting Upper and Lower Egypt, and is linked to the biblical figure Mizraim, a son of Ham. The lexicons note its significance in the context of the table of nations.
מִצְרַ֫יִם 681 n.pr.terr. et gent. Egypt, Egyptians
of land, Egypt
combinations
of people:
in table of nations, personif. as second son of Ham
= Egypt (as a people), Egyptians
base
H4714 מִצְרַ֫יִם Egypt, Egyptians . . of land, Egypt
. combinations
. of people: . in table of nations, personif. as second son of Ham
. = Egypt (as a people), Egyptians
4714 Mitsrayim mits-rah'-yim
dual of 4693; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt:--Egypt,
Egyptians, Mizraim.
see HEBREW for 04693
מִצְרַ֫יִם (mits.ra.yim) — Egypt.
§ Egypt = "land of the Copts"
a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows
Egyptians = "double straits"
מִצְרַ֫יִם (mits.ra.yim) — Egypt.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.6;
son of: Ham (H2526);
brother of: Canaan (H3667), Cush (H3568) and Put (H6316);
father of: Ludim (H3866), Anamim (H6047), Lehabim (H3853), Naphtuhim (H5320), Pathrusim (H6625), Casluhim (H3695) and Caphtorim (H3732)
§ Egypt = "land of the Copts"
1) a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows
Egyptians = "double straits"
adj
2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt
מִצְרַ֫יִם (mits.ra.yim) — (Sea of) Egypt.
§ Egypt = "land of the Copts"
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
e'-jipt:
I. THE COUNTRY
1. The Basis of the Land 2. The Nile Valley 3. Earliest Human Remains 4. Climate 5. Conditions of Life 6. The Nile 7. The Fauna 8. The Flora 9. The Prehistoric Races
II. THE HISTORY
1. 1st and 2nd Ages: Prehistoric 2. 3d Age: Ist and IInd Dynasties 3. 4th Age: IIIrd through VIth Dynasties 4. 5th Age: VIIth through XIVth Dynasties 5. 6th Age: XVth through XXIVth Dynasties 6. 7th Age: XXVth Dynasty to Roman Times 7. 8th Age: Arabic 8. Early Foreign Connections
III. THE OLD TESTAMENT CONNECTIONS
1. Semitic Connections 2. Abramic Times 3. Circumcision 4. Joseph 5. Descent into Egypt 6. The Oppression 7. The Historic Position 8. The Plagues 9. Date of the Exodus 10. Route of the Exodus 11. Numbers of the Exodus 12. Israel in Canaan 13. Hadad 14. Pharaoh's Daughter 15. Shishak 16. Zerakh 17. The Ethiopians 18. Tahpanhes 19. Hophra 20. The Jews of Syene 21. The New Jerusalem…
Egypt
The land of the Nile and the pyramids, the oldest kingdom of which we have any record, holds a place of great significance in Scripture.
The Egyptians belonged to the white race, and their original home is still a matter of dispute. Many scholars believe that it was in Southern Arabia, and recent excavations have shown that the valley of the Nile was originally inhabited by a low-class population, perhaps belonging to the Nigritian stock, before the Egyptians of history entered it. The ancient Egyptian language, of which the latest form is Coptic, is distantly connected with the Semitic family of speech.
Egypt consists geographically of two halves, the northern being the Delta, and the southern Upper Egypt, between Cairo and the First Cataract. In the Old Testament, Northern or Lower Egypt is called Mazor, “the fortified land” (Isa.…
(land of the Copts), a country occupying the northeast angle of Africa. Its limits appear always to have been very nearly the same. It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Palestine, Arabia and the Red Sea, on the south by Nubia, and on the west by the Great Desert. It is divided into upper Egypt --the valley of the Nile --and lower Egypt, the plain of the Delta, from the Greek letter; it is formed by the branching mouths of the Nile, and the Mediterranean Sea. The portions made fertile by the Nile comprise about 9582 square geographical miles, of which only about 5600 is under cultivation. --Encyc. Brit. The Delta extends about 200 miles along the Mediterranean, and Egypt is 520 miles long from north to south from the sea to the First Cataract. NAMES. --The common name of Egypt in the Bible is "Mizraim." It is in the dual number, which indicates the two…
A celebrated country in the north of Africa, at the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. The Hebrews called it Mizraim, Ge 10:6, and hence it is now called by the Arabs, Mizr. The Greeks and Romans called it Aegyptus, whence Egypt; but the origin of this name is unknown.
The habitable land of Egypt is for the most part a great valley, through which the river Nile pours its waters, extending in a straight line from north to south, and skirted on the east and west by ranges of mountains, which approach and recede from the river more or less in different parts. Where this valley terminates, towards the north, the Nile divides itself, about forty or fifty miles from the seacoast, into several arms, which inclose the so-called Delta. The ancients numbered seven arms and mouths; the eastern was that of Pelusium, now that of Tineh; and the…
נְעוּרִים (na`uwr) refers to youth or early life, encompassing both the state of juvenility and young people collectively. It appears in the plural form and has a feminine counterpart, נְעוּרוֹת (na`ur), which carries the same meaning. The term is notably used in Jeremiah 32:30.
נְעוּרִים n.[m.]pl. youth, early life
base
[נְעוּרוֹת] n.[f.]pl. id. [n.ei.ae];—only Je 32:30 (fig. of nation).
ref
H5271a נְעוּרִים youth, early life H5271b נְעוּרוֹת id. [5271a]
5271 na`uwr naw-oor'
or naur {naw-oor'}; and (feminine) nturah {neh- oo-raw'};
properly, passive participle from 5288 as denominative; (only
in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state
(juvenility) or the persons (young people):--childhood,
youth.
see HEBREW for 05288
נְעוּרִים (na.ur) — youth.
youth, early life
Also means: na.ur (נְעוּרוֹת "youth" H5271B)
נְעוּרוֹת (na.ur) — youth.
youth, early life
Another spelling of na.ur (נְעוּרִים "youth" H5271A)
Prep | N-cp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3fp
זָנָה (zanah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to commit fornication or to be a harlot. It encompasses a range of actions, including adultery and idolatry, with a focus on unfaithfulness, particularly in a figurative sense regarding one's relationship with God. The entries indicate that it can also refer to cult prostitution and moral defection, with various grammatical forms expressing different nuances of the term.
זָנָה vb. commit fornication, be a harlot
Qal
be or act as a harlot
fig. of improper intercourse with foreign nations
of intercourse with other deities
of moral defection
Pu. fornication was not done (in going) after thee
Hiph.
cause to commit fornication
commit fornication
base
H2181 זָנָה commit fornication, be a harlot
2181 zanah zaw-naw'
a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit
adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple
fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively,
to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the
spouse of Jehovah):--(cause to) commit fornication, X
continually, X great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be,
play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go
a-whoring, whorish.
זָנָה (za.nah) — to fornicate.
1) to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication
1a2) to commit adultery
1a3) to be a cult prostitute
1a4) to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.)
1b) (Pual) to play the harlot
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to commit adultery
1c2) to force into prostitution
1c3) to commit fornication
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.
שָׁם adv. there, thither
base
H8033 שָׁם there, thither
8033 sham shawm
a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or
thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +
thither, + whither.
see HEBREW for 0834
שָׁם (sham) — there.
1) there, thither
1a) there
1b) thither (after verbs of motion)
1c) from there, thence
1d) then (as an adverb of time)
Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
This name means there, thither
Conj | Adv — Adverb · suffixHD/Sd
מָעַךְ (ma`ak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to press or bruise. It encompasses actions like squeezing and being crushed, with specific forms indicating different nuances, such as being handled or pressed. The entries highlight its usage in contexts related to physical pressure or injury, but do not provide specific verse references.
[מָעַךְ] vb. press, squeeze
Qal not to be offered to י׳, reference to emasculation; and his spear pressed (thrust) into the ground
Pu. there were their breasts squeezed
base
H4600 מָעַךְ
4600 ma`ak maw-ak'
a primitive root; to press, i.e. to pierce, emasculate,
handle:--bruised, stuck, be pressed.
מָעַךְ (ma.akh) — to bruise.
1) to press, squeeze
1a) (Qal) to be crushed
1b) (Pual) to be handled, be pressed
V-Pual-Perf-3cp — Verb · Pual · perfect third person common pluralHVPp3cp
שַׁד (shad) refers to the female breast, applicable to both humans and animals. The term can also be associated with the variant שֹׁד (shod), which carries the same meaning. The entries indicate that the word is likely derived from another root, but they do not provide further detail on its usage in specific verses.
[שַׁד] n.m. female breast
base
שֹׁד n.m. id. [v.bh.ab]
base
H7699a שַׁד female breast H7699b שֹׁד id. [7699a]
7699 shad shad
or shod {shode}; probably from 7736 (in its original sense)
contracted; the breast of a woman or animal (as
bulging):--breast, pap, teat.
see HEBREW for 07736
שַׁד (shad) — breast.
1) breast, bosom, (female) breast
1a) breast (of woman)
1b) breast (of animal)
1c) breast (of both human and animal)
Also means: shod (שֹׁד "breast" H7699B)
שֹׁד (shod) — breast.
1) breast, bosom, (female) breast
1a) breast (of woman)
1b) breast (of animal)
1c) breast (of both human and animal)
N-md | Suff — Noun common masculine dual construct · suffixHNcmdc/Sp3fp
שָׁם (sham) is a Hebrew adverb meaning 'there' or 'thither,' indicating a location or direction. It can also refer to a point in time, translating to 'then.' The word is derived from a relative pronoun and is used in various contexts, including movement and temporal references.
שָׁם adv. there, thither
base
H8033 שָׁם there, thither
8033 sham shawm
a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or
thence:--in it, + thence, there (-in, + of, + out), +
thither, + whither.
see HEBREW for 0834
שָׁם (sham) — there.
1) there, thither
1a) there
1b) thither (after verbs of motion)
1c) from there, thence
1d) then (as an adverb of time)
Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
שָׁם (sham) — (Jerusalem) Is There.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
This name means there, thither
HC/D — Conjunction · adverbHC/D
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Piel-Perf-3cp — Verb · Piel · perfect third person common pluralHVpp3cp
דַּד (dad) refers to the breast, specifically highlighting its role as a seat of love or its shape. The term encompasses meanings such as breast, teat, and nipple. It is derived from a related word, דָּד (H1730), but the entries do not provide specific verse references.
[דַּד] n.m. breast, better teat, nipple
base
H1717 דַּד
1717 dad dad
apparently from the same as 1730; the breast (as the seat of
love, or from its shape):--breast, teat.
see HEBREW for 01730
דַּד (dad) — breast.
breast, nipple, teat
N-md — Noun common · masculine dual constructHNcmdc
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.
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…
בְּתוּלִים (bthuwliym) is a masculine plural form meaning 'virginity.' It refers both collectively and abstractly to the concept of virginity, and can imply the tokens associated with it, such as a maid or virgin. The entries consistently emphasize this focus on virginity without notable disagreement.
בְּתוּלִים n.f. virginity
base
H1331 בְּתוּלִים virginity
1331 bthuwliym beth-oo-leem'
masculine plural of the same as 1330; (collectively and
abstractly) virginity; by implication and concretely, the
tokens of it:--X maid, virginity.
see HEBREW for 01330
בְּתוּלִים (be.tu.lim) — virginity.
virginity
N-cp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fp