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Ezekiel 44:23 — Word Study

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WLCוְאֶת־ עַמִּ֣י יוֹר֔וּ בֵּ֥ין קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹ֑ל וּבֵין־ טָמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר יוֹדִעֻֽם׃

BSAThey are to teachyârâh My peopleʻam [the nation of Israel, God's chosen] the difference betweenbêyn the holyqôdesh [set apart, sacred] and the commonchôl [profane, unholy] and show them how to discernyâdaʻ [to know, to distinguish] betweenbêyn the cleanṭâhôwr [pure, acceptable] and the uncleanṭâmêʼ [impure, defiled]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 44
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (yo.di.'Um) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 44:23quick helps
In a sentenceThe priests are instructed to teach the people how to distinguish between what is sacred and what is ordinary.
Who is speakingGod, addressing the priests regarding their responsibilities toward His people.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger section outlining the duties of the priests in the temple.
The hard wordיָרָה
Take awayThe priests must educate the people on holiness and purity.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָרָה 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 44:23

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 Duties of the Priestsgenerated

22And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman, but must marry a virgin of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow of a priest.
23They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
24In any dispute, they shall officiate as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They must keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed feasts, and they must keep My Sabbaths holy.
25A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so,

Ezekiel 44:23 outlines the responsibilities of the priests in teaching the people of Israel. They are tasked with helping the community understand the distinctions between the sacred and the common, as well as the clean and the unclean. This instruction is vital for maintaining the holiness of the community and ensuring that they live according to God's standards. The context emphasizes the importance of discernment in spiritual matters, which is a recurring theme in the Scriptures.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 22:26Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
2Leviticus 10:10–11You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,
3Deuteronomy 33:10He will teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel; he will set incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.
4Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
5Micah 3:9–11Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and pervert all that is right,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.Ezekiel 22:26 Leviticus 10:10–11 Deuteronomy 33:10 Hosea 4:6 Micah 3:9–11 Zephaniah 3:4 Haggai 2:11–13 Malachi 2:6–9 2 Timothy 2:24–25 Titus 1:9–11

The Key Word יָרָה, yo.Rugenerated

The verb יָרָה (yarah) means 'to instruct' or 'to teach,' and it carries the connotation of directing or pointing out something clearly. It is used in various contexts to indicate teaching or guiding others, especially in matters of law or morality.

In this verse, the priests are called to instruct the people, emphasizing their role as spiritual leaders. The Hiphil form indicates that they are causing the people to learn and understand the distinctions that are crucial for their spiritual lives.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase teach My people.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יוֹר֔וּ (yo.Ru), meaning 'they will instruct,' governs the sentence. It is followed by two parallel phrases that describe what the priests are to teach: the difference between the holy and the common, and how to discern between the clean and the unclean.

The structure emphasizes the dual responsibilities of the priests, highlighting the importance of both teaching and discernment in the spiritual life of the community.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָרָה as διδάχουσιν (dida'chousin), meaning 'they will teach.' This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew intent, focusing on the act of teaching.

The Greek word used indicates a similar emphasis on instruction, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning and reinforcing the role of the priests as educators of God's law.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 44:23 tells us that the priests are to teach the people of Israel about the differences between what is holy and what is common, as well as how to distinguish between clean and unclean. This instruction is essential for the community's spiritual health and adherence to God's laws.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to teach the difference between the holy and the common?

This means helping the people understand what is sacred and set apart for God versus what is ordinary or profane, ensuring they live according to God's standards.

Why is discernment between clean and unclean important?

Understanding the distinctions between clean and unclean is crucial for maintaining purity in worship and daily life, as outlined in the laws given to Israel.

Who are 'My people' in this verse?

'My people' refers to the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, who are to be guided by the priests in matters of holiness and purity.

How do the priests fulfill their teaching role?

The priests fulfill their role by instructing the people through teaching, example, and leading them in understanding God's laws and expectations.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I discern between the holy and the common in my own life?
  2. How can I better understand the concept of purity and impurity as it relates to my spiritual walk?
  3. What role do spiritual leaders play in teaching the community about God's standards?
  4. How can I apply the principles of discernment in my everyday decisions?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 44:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane,.... Persons and things; not in a ceremonial, nor merely in a moral, but in an evangelical sense, between truth and

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 44 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 44 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They shall teach; by their place they were bound to instruct the people, ,11; this was part of their work, to read the law, expound it, and resolve questions arising about it. They were to be, as ministers ought now to be, apt to teach, . Between the holy and profane; whether legally and ceremonially so, or morally and really so, that they might keep the people from pollutions. Between the unclean and the clean; the same thing in other words, only this seems to require priests’ patient instructing, till the people have learned to difference unclean and clean.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 44 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people [the difference] between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.Ver. 23. And they shall teach.] Ministers must be able and "apt to teach."

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 44 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23, 24. General duties of the priests towards the people. They shall teach the people to distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, cf. Ezekiel 22:26; Leviticus 10:10; Haggai 2:11; Malachi 2:7.

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 44 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

23, 24. The priests shall teach the people the difference between “the holy and the common,” that they may know the inner meaning of their symbolic ritual (Ezekiel 22:26; Haggai 2:11-14), administer

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 44 →

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

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Moreover, they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the ceremonially unclean and the clean.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And they shall teach my people the difference betweene the holy and prophane, and cause them to discerne betweene the vncleane and the cleane.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they shall teach my people [the difference] between holy and profane, and cause them to discern between unclean and clean.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'And My people they direct between holy and common, and between unclean and clean they cause them to discern.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And they direct My people between holy and common, and they cause them to discern between unclean and clean.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And my people shall they teach the difference between the holy and profane, and that between the unclean and the clean shall they make known unto them.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane; they will make them know the unclean from the clean.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they shall teach my people the difference between holy and profane, and shew them how to discern between clean and unclean.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They are to teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common, and explain to them how to distinguish between what is clean and what is unclean.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And they are to make clear to my people the division between what is holy and what is common, and to give them the knowledge of what is clean and what is unclean.

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.

וְandclausenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseעַמִּ֣peopleיmyverbיוֹר֔וּthey.will.instructprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseבֵּ֥יןbetweenקֹ֖דֶשׁa.holy.thingprepositional phraseלְandחֹ֑לa.profane.thingוּandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseבֵיןbetweenטָמֵ֥אan.unclean.[thing]prepositional phraseלְandטָה֖וֹרa.clean.[thing]verbיוֹדִעֻֽtheyobjectםwill.make.known.to.them

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 agree in their wording for this verse, with a complete match in the ten words. This consistency underscores the shared understanding of the priests' duties in both Hebrew and Greek traditions.

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

וְאֶת־ עַמִּ֣י יוֹר֔וּ בֵּ֥ין קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹ֑ל וּבֵין־ טָמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר יוֹדִעֻֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֶת־καὶעַמִּ֣יμουיוֹר֔וּδιδάχουσινבֵּ֥יןμέσονקֹ֖דֶשׁἁγίουלְחֹ֑לβεβήλουוּבֵין־μέσονטָמֵ֥אἀκαθάρτουלְטָה֖וֹרκαθαροῦיוֹדִעֻֽם׃αὐτοῖς

10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Ezekiel 44:23אֵתand the objand the object אֵתעַםpeople mypeople myעַםיָרָאthey will ithey will instrיָרָאבַּ֫יִןbetweenbetweenבַּ֫יִןקֹ֫דֶשׁa holy thina holy thingקֹ֫דֶשׁחֹלand a profaand a profane tחֹלבַּ֫יִןand betweenand betweenבַּ֫יִןטָמֵאan unclean an unclean [thiטָמֵאטָהוֹרand a cleanand a clean [thטָהוֹריָדַעthey will mthey will make יָדַעבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםקָדַשׁto consecrto consecrate: קָדַשׁחָלַלto boreto boreחָלַלטָמֵאto defileto defileטָמֵאטָהֵרbe purebe pureטָהֵרבָּדַלto separatto separateבָּדַלמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁחֵץarrowarrowחֵץמִקְרָאassemblyassemblyמִקְרָאשֶׁ֫קֶלshekelshekelשֶׁ֫קֶלטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאנְבֵלָהcarcasscarcassנְבֵלָהטָהוֹרpurepureטָהוֹרצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהמְנוֹרָהlampstandlampstandמְנוֹרָהאֲנִיIIאֲנִי
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 44:23

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 the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
עַמִּ֣י'a.Mi people my H5971 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
the nation of Israel, God's chosen
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
יוֹר֔וּyo.Ru they will instruct H3384 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine plural
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To show or teach something, like pointing it out or shooting an arrow. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe instructing or directing others.
Tyndale gloss
to shoot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרָא (*yarah*) encompasses meanings related to shooting, pouring, and throwing. It can refer to actions like shooting arrows or casting water, as well as figurative uses such as teaching or directing. The entries indicate that it has both a literal and a figurative range, with roots in the idea of flowing or pointing out.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָרָא] vb. shoot, pour

Qal shoot with arrows

Hiph. and they shot at; Pt. pl. the shooters, archers

Hoph. he that watereth shall himself also be watered

base

יָרָה vb. throw, shoot

Qal

throw, cast

cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

shoot arrows

throw water, rain

Niph. shot through (with arrows)

Hiph.

throw, cast

shoot (arrows)

throw water, rain

point out, shew

direct, teach, instruct

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3384a יָרָא shoot, pour H3384b יָרָה throw, shoot .. throw, cast

. cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

. shoot arrows

. throw water, rain

. shot through (with arrows)

. . throw, cast

. shoot (arrows)

. throw water, rain

. point out, shew

. direct, teach, instruct

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3384 yarah yaw-raw'

or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root;

properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to

lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot);

figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to

teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew,

shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרָא (ya.ra) — to shoot.

1) to shoot, pour

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to shoot arrows

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to shoot at

1b2) part. shooter, archer

1c) to throw water, rain

יָרָה (ya.rah) — to show.

1) to point out, show

1b) to direct, teach, instruct

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVhi3mp
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
בֵּ֥יןbein between H996 Prep
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Between is the meaning of this preposition, used to show a location or a choice, like either or, as seen in Exodus where it describes the space between two objects.
Tyndale gloss
between
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between

always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

996 beyn bane

(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,

the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a

distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before

each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,

either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +

from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.

: between

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.

: among

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Prep
HAcmsc
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
קֹ֖דֶשׁKo.desh a holy thing H6944 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
469× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Holy Place refers to a sacred or set-apart area, like the temple in Jerusalem. It is a place of sanctity and holiness, where God is worshipped. The Bible describes it as a place of reverence and awe.
Amplified meaning
set apart, sacred
Tyndale gloss
Holy Place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qodesh) refers to the concepts of apartness, sacredness, and holiness. It can denote a sacred place or thing, such as the Most Holy Place or a sanctuary. The term emphasizes the idea of being set apart, whether in relation to God, places, or objects.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קֹ֫דֶשׁ 469 n.m. apartness, sacredness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6944 קֹ֫דֶשׁ apartness, sacredness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6944 qodesh ko'-desh

from 6942; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract,

sanctity:--consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed

(thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing),

saint, sanctuary.

see HEBREW for 06942

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — holiness.

1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness

1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness

1a1) of God

1a2) of places

1a3) of things

1b) set-apartness, separateness

קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Most Holy Place.

This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness

Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Most Holy Place" G0039H)

קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — (Way of) Holiness.

Combined with de.rekh (דֶּ֫רֶךְ "Way" H1870H)

This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness

קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Holy Place.

This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness

Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Holy Place" G0039)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
לְחֹ֑לle.Chol and a profane thing H2455 Preposition
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes something or someone as common or unholy, like the profane place in Jeremiah 3:2. It means not set apart for God's use. This idea is seen in Ezekiel 22:26.
Amplified meaning
profane, unholy
Tyndale gloss
common
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֹל (chol) refers to the idea of being common or profane, derived from the root meaning 'exposed.' It encompasses concepts like unholiness and commonness. The term appears in contexts relating to profane places or things, and it is linked to the Hebrew word for sand.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֹל n.[m.] profaneness, commonness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2455 חֹל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2455 chol khole

from 2490; properly, exposed; hence, profane:--common,

profane (place), unholy.

see HEBREW for 02490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֹל (chol) — common.

profaneness, commonness, unholy, profane, common, sand

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition
HR/Aamsa
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
וּבֵין־u.vein- and between H996 Conjunction
407× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Between is the meaning of this preposition, used to show a location or a choice, like either or, as seen in Exodus where it describes the space between two objects.
Tyndale gloss
between
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּ֫יִן (beyn) is a noun meaning 'interval' or 'space between.' It primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'between' or 'among,' and can also indicate distinctions or choices. The dual form בֵּנַ֫יִם refers specifically to the space between two entities, such as armies. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between

always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H996 בַּ֫יִן subst. prop. interval, space between . always (exc. dual) as prep. in the interval of, between

. Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

996 beyn bane

(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly,

the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from 995; a

distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before

each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction,

either...or:--among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), +

from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between.

: between

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

בַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) — between: among.

: among

between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between

A sub-meaning of ben (בַּ֫יִן ": between" H0996)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep — Conjunction
HC/Acmsc
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
טָמֵ֥אta.Me' an unclean [thing] H2931 Adj
88× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to be unclean in a spiritual sense, often due to sin or impurity, as seen in Leviticus. It can refer to people, places, or things. The concept is key to understanding biblical purity laws.
Amplified meaning
impure, defiled
Tyndale gloss
unclean
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָמֵא (tame') means 'unclean' and is derived from a root that conveys a sense of defilement or pollution, particularly in a religious context. It covers ethical, religious, and ritual impurity, and can refer to both people and places.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָמֵא adj. unclean

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2931 טָמֵא unclean

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2931 tame' taw-may'

from 2930; foul in a relig. sense:--defiled, + infamous,

polluted(-tion), unclean.

see HEBREW for 02930

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָמֵא (ta.me) — unclean.

1) unclean, impure

1a) ethically and religiously

1b) ritually

1c) of places

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
לְטָה֖וֹרle.ta.Hor and a clean [thing] H2889 Preposition
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Tahor means pure or clean, and can refer to physical, moral, or ceremonial purity. In the Bible, it describes clean animals and morally upright people. It is often used to describe something as fair or pure.
Amplified meaning
pure, acceptable
Tyndale gloss
pure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָהוֹר (tahor) means clean or pure, covering physical, ceremonial, and moral senses. It is derived from the root word associated with H2891. The entries emphasize its application in various contexts, including animals and ethical purity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָהוֹר adj. clean, pure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2889 טָהוֹר clean, pure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2889 tahowr taw-hore'

or tahor {taw-hore'}; from 2891; pure (in a physical,

chemical, ceremonial or moral sense):--clean, fair,

pure(-ness).

see HEBREW for 02891

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָהוֹר (ta.hor) — pure.

1) pure, clean

1a) clean (ceremonially-of animals)

1b) pure (physically)

1c) pure, clean (morally, ethically)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Aamsa
and the object marker people my they will instruct between a holy thing and a profane thing and between an unclean [thing] and a clean [thing] they will make known to them
יוֹדִעֻֽם׃yo.di.'Um they will make known to them H3045 Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
to know, to distinguish
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

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

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

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

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

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

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

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

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

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

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

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

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

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

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

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVhi3mp/Sp3mp
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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