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Ezekiel 44:31 — Word Study

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WLCכָּל־ נְבֵלָה֙ וּטְרֵפָ֔ה מִן־ הָע֖וֹף וּמִן־ הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לֹ֥א יֹאכְל֖וּ הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ פ

BSAThe priestskôhên [spiritual leaders, ministers] may notlôʼ [are not permitted to] eatʼâkal anykôl [dead, dying] birdʻôwph [fowl, winged creature] or animalbᵉhêmâh [beast, living creature] found deadnᵉbêlâh [that is, that dies of itself, a carcase] or torn [by] [wild] [beasts]ṭᵉrêphâh [that has been, killed, ripped apart, feral, savage]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 44
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 31 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 (ha.ko.ha.Nim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 44:31quick helps
In a sentenceThe priests are prohibited from eating any dead birds or animals that have been torn apart.
Who is speakingThe text addresses the priests, outlining their dietary restrictions.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger section detailing the responsibilities and privileges of the priests.
The hard wordנְבֵלָה
Take awayThe priests must maintain purity in their dietary practices.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Poole, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbאָכַל 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 44:31

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 Dietary Laws for Priestsgenerated

28In regard to their inheritance, I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession.
29They shall eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them.
30The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes.
31The priests may not eat any bird or animal found dead or torn by wild beasts.

Ezekiel 44:31 outlines specific dietary restrictions for the priests, emphasizing their need to maintain purity and holiness in their service to God. This is part of a broader context where God provides guidelines for the conduct of the priests, ensuring they adhere to standards that reflect their sacred role within the community. These rules are consistent with earlier laws given in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 22:31You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.
2Leviticus 17:15And any person, whether native or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening; then he will be clean.
3Leviticus 22:8He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, which would make him unclean. I am the LORD.
4Deuteronomy 14:21You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
5Romans 14:20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.Exodus 22:31 Leviticus 17:15 Leviticus 22:8 Deuteronomy 14:21 Romans 14:20 1 Corinthians 8:13

The Key Word כֹּל, kol-generated

The word כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'any,' indicating totality. It is used here to emphasize that no type of dead bird or animal is permitted for consumption by the priests.

This word is a noun in the masculine singular construct form, which allows it to specify a broad range of items without limitation. It underscores the comprehensive nature of the prohibition placed upon the priests.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the prohibition that the priests may not eat any dead birds or animals.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is יֹאכְל֖וּ (they will eat), which governs the entire clause. The structure emphasizes the prohibition by placing the negative particle לֹ֥א (not) before the verb, highlighting that the priests are not allowed to partake in these foods.

The sentence is structured around the noun phrases that specify what the priests are prohibited from eating, with the prepositional phrases providing additional details about the conditions of the animals.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, כֹּל is rendered as πᾶν (pan), which also means 'all' or 'every.' This choice maintains the comprehensive prohibition against consuming any dead animals.

The Greek term θνησιμαῖον is used for נְבֵלָה, emphasizing the state of being dead, consistent with the Hebrew meaning.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 44:31 states that the priests are not allowed to eat any birds or animals that are dead or have been torn apart by wild beasts. This rule is part of the laws governing the priests' conduct and their need to remain pure in their service.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Why are the priests prohibited from eating dead animals?

This prohibition is part of the laws that ensure the priests maintain purity and holiness in their service to God, as outlined in the Torah.

What types of animals are included in this prohibition?

The prohibition includes any bird or animal that is found dead or has been torn apart by wild beasts.

Are there other dietary restrictions for the priests?

Yes, there are several dietary laws outlined in the Torah that govern what priests can and cannot eat, ensuring they remain ceremonially clean.

How does this verse relate to the overall role of the priests?

This verse highlights the importance of purity in the priests' roles, as they serve as mediators between God and the people.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it mean to you that the priests had specific dietary laws to follow?
  2. How can we apply the principle of maintaining purity in our own lives today?
  3. What other areas of life do you think require similar standards of holiness?
  4. How can understanding these laws help us appreciate the role of the priests in the Old Testament?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Jerome comments on this verse, emphasizing the dietary restrictions placed on the priests and their implications for the chosen people.

JeromeVerse 31 c. 347–420
Every dead body and every animal caught by a beast, whether birds or livestock, the priests shall not eat. And according to the letter, this command applies to every chosen people, the royal and priestly,
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 44 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 44:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

The priests shall not eat of anything that is dead of itself, or torn,.... They shall have no need to eat of such things, being plentifully provided for with better; nor will it become them so to do

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

This was forbidden to all the Jews, much more to the priests, .

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

Ezekiel 44:31 The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.Ver. 31. The priests shall not eat, &c.] They shall not be greedy of filthy lucre, nor oppressive. Popish priests made so much gain of the dead, and so "devoured widows’ houses," under a pretence of dirges, trentals, masses for the dead, &c., that there was a necessity in, this kingdom of a statute of mortmain to restrain them. The figurative use is often based on the notion that the ‘ dead hand’ means the posthumous control exercised by the testator over the uses to which the property is to be applied. ŒD

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 44 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(31) Dead of itself, or torn.—Comp. Leviticus 22:8. The same law was binding upon all the Israelites. (Leviticus 17:15.) In the wilderness they were required to “cast it to the dogs” (Exodus 23:31); afterwards they might give it to a stranger or sell it to an alien. (Deuteronomy 14:21.)

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

31. On this prohibition Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 22:8. Cf. Leviticus 17:15. The injunctions in Ezekiel 44:30 are very general. The prophet presupposes former customs familiar to the people, which he desires to continue. Everywhere in these chapters his directions are in the main a reproduction of a past customary and understood practice.

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

29-31. The priests lived from the temple offerings, having as theirs the meat offering (Leviticus 2:1-16; Leviticus 6:14-16; Leviticus 7:9-11; Numbers 28:12-13), the sin offering (Leviticus 6:18-29;

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

The priests may not eat any bird or animal found dead or torn by wild beasts.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The priests shall not eat of anything that dies of itself or is torn, whether it is bird or animal.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The priests may not eat any bird or animal found dead or torn by wild beasts.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The priests will not eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or was torn to pieces by a wild animal.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The priests shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself, or is torn, whether it be bird or beast.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The priests shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself, or is torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether of fowl or beast.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The Priests shall not eate of any thing, that is dead, or torne, whether it be foule or beast.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The priests shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself, or of that which is torn, whether of fowl or of beast.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Any carcase and torn thing, of the fowl, and of the beasts, the priests do not eat.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The priests do not eat any carcass or torn thing, from the bird or from the beast.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Any thing that hath died of itself, or that is torn, whether it be fowl or beast, shall the priests not eat.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The priests will not eat any carcass or animal torn by a beast, whether bird or beast.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself or caught by a beast, whether it be fowl or cattle.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The priests are not permitted to eat any bird or animal found dead or killed by wild beasts.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The priests may not take for food any bird or beast which has come to a natural death or whose death has been caused by another animal.

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.

clausenoun phrase · objectכָּלanynoun phrasenoun phraseנְבֵלָה֙carcassוּandטְרֵפָ֔הa.torn.animalprepositional phraseprepositional phraseמִןfromnoun phraseהָtheע֖וֹףbird[s]וּandprepositional phraseמִןfromnoun phraseהַtheבְּהֵמָ֑הanimal[s]adverbialלֹ֥אnotverbיֹאכְל֖וּthey.will.eatnoun phrase · subjectהַtheכֹּהֲנִֽיםpriests

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 all ten words matched. This consistency indicates a strong preservation of the text across these translations.

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

כָּל־ נְבֵלָה֙ וּטְרֵפָ֔ה מִן־ הָע֖וֹף וּמִן־ הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לֹ֥א יֹאכְל֖וּ הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כָּל־πᾶνנְבֵלָה֙θνησιμαῖονוּטְרֵפָ֔הθηριάλωτονמִן־ἐκהָע֖וֹףπετεινῶνוּמִן־ἐκהַבְּהֵמָ֑הκτηνῶνלֹ֥אοὐיֹאכְל֖וּφάγονταιהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ פἱερεῖς

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 44:31כֹּלanyanyכֹּלנְבֵלָהcarcasscarcassנְבֵלָהטְרֵפָהand torn fland torn fleshטְרֵפָהמִן־fromfromמִן־עוֹףthe bird[s]the bird[s]עוֹףמִן־and fromand fromמִן־בְּהֵמָהthe animal[the animal[s]בְּהֵמָהלֹאnotnotלֹאאָכַלthey will ethey will eatאָכַלכֹּהֵןthe prieststhe priestsכֹּהֵןכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלנָבֵלbe senselebe senselessנָבֵלמֵןstringstringמֵןעוּףto flyto flyעוּףטֶ֫רֶףpreypreyטֶ֫רֶףכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהטְרֵפָהtorn animatorn animalטְרֵפָהמַאֲכָלfoodfoodמַאֲכָלנְבֵלָהcarcasscarcassנְבֵלָהחֵ֫לֶבfatfatחֵ֫לֶבבְּהֵמָהanimalanimalבְּהֵמָהשָׁמַיheavenheavenשָׁמַיעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףאָדָםthe man (Athe man (Adam)אָדָם
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 44:31

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.

any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
כָּל־kol- any H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
dead, dying
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
נְבֵלָה֙ne.ve.Lah carcass H5038 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
48× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a dead body or carcass, whether human or animal, often translated as 'dead body' or 'carcass'. It can also symbolize an idol.
Amplified meaning
that is, that dies of itself, a carcase
Tyndale gloss
carcass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְבֵלָה (nevelah) refers to a carcass or corpse, applicable to both humans and animals. It can also denote carrion and, in a figurative sense, an idol. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be flabby' and encompasses the idea of a dead body, whether it died naturally or otherwise.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְבֵלָה n.f. carcass, corpse

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5038 נְבֵלָה carcass, corpse

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5038 nbelah neb-ay-law'

from 5034; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human

or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol:--

(dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died,

(beast) that (which) dieth of itself.

see HEBREW for 05034

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְבֵלָה (ne.ve.lah) — carcass.

1) carcass, corpse

1a) of humans, idols, animals

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
וּטְרֵפָ֔הu.te.re.Fah and torn flesh H2966 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to an animal that has been torn apart by another animal. In Exodus 22:13 and Leviticus 7:24, it describes the remains of an animal that has been attacked by a predator.
Amplified meaning
that has been, killed, ripped apart, feral, savage
Tyndale gloss
torn animal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טְרֵפָה (trephah) refers to an animal that has been torn, typically by wild beasts. It is derived from a related term and denotes prey or flesh that has been ravaged. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to torn animals and do not present any significant disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טְרֵפָה n.f. animal torn (by wild beasts); torn flesh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2966 טְרֵפָה animal torn (by wild beasts); torn flesh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2966 trephah ter-ay-faw'

feminine (collectively) of 2964; prey, i.e. flocks devoured

by animals:--ravin, (that which was) torn (of beasts, in

pieces).

see HEBREW for 02964

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טְרֵפָה (te.re.phah) — torn animal.

that which is torn, animal torn (by beasts)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

@basar, she'er):

1. Etymology:

Used in all senses of the word, the latter, however, most frequently in the sense of kin, family, relationship (compare sha'arah, "kins-woman," Le 18:17): Le 18:6; 25:49; Pr 11:17; Jer 51:35, and probably Ps 73:26. In all other places she'er means "flesh" = body (Pr 5:11) or = food (Ps 78:20,27; Mic 3:2,3). Tibhchah, is "(slaughtered) flesh for food," "butcher's meat" (1Sa…

Flesh

In the Old Testament denotes (1) a particular part of the body of man and animals (Gen. 2:21; 41:2; Ps. 102:5, marg.); (2) the whole body (Ps. 16:9); (3) all living things having flesh, and particularly humanity as a whole (Gen. 6:12, 13); (4) mutability and weakness (2 Chr. 32:8; comp. Isa. 31:3; Ps. 78:39). As suggesting the idea of softness it is used in the expression “heart of flesh” (Ezek. 11:19). The expression “my flesh and bone” (

The substance of which the bodies of men and animals are composed. In the Bible, besides the ordinary sense, Job 33:25, it denotes mankind as a race, Ge 6:12 Ps 145:21 Isa 40:5-6; and all living creatures on the earth, Ge 6:17,19. It is often used in opposition to "spirit," as we use body and soul, Job 14:22; and sometimes means the body as animated and sensitive, Mt 26:41, and the seat of bodily appetites, Pr 5:11

any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
מִן־min- from H4480 Preposition
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
הָע֖וֹףha.'of the bird[s] H5775 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
71× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word simply means a bird, like the ones that fly in the sky. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms, often symbolizing freedom.
Amplified meaning
fowl, winged creature
Tyndale gloss
bird
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹף (owph) refers to flying creatures, including birds and insects. It is derived from the root meaning to cover with wings, emphasizing the aspect of flight. The term encompasses various types of fowl and winged insects, and it is noted in the Aramaic as well. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹף 70 n.m. coll. flying creatures, fowls, insects

fowl, birds

winged insects

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5775 עוֹף flying creatures, fowls, insects . fowl, birds

. winged insects

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5775 `owph ofe

from 5774; a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as

covering with wings), often collectively:--bird, that flieth,

flying, fowl.

see HEBREW for 05774

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹף (oph) — bird.

1) flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds

1a) fowl, birds

1b) winged insects

Aramaic equivalent: oph (עוֹף "bird" H5776)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
וּמִן־u.min- and from H4480 Conjunction · preposition
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/R — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
הַבְּהֵמָ֑הha.be.he.Mah the animal[s] H929 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Amplified meaning
beast, living creature
Tyndale gloss
animal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to a beast or animal, typically denoting domesticated livestock or cattle, and occasionally wild beasts. It is derived from a root that suggests being mute, implying a 'dumb beast.' The term encompasses all living creatures other than humans, with a specific mention of large quadrupeds.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּהֵמָה 187 n.f. beast, animal, cattle

of living creatures other than man

opp. also to wild beasts

rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H929 בְּהֵמָה beast, animal, cattle . of living creatures other than man

. opp. also to wild beasts

. rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

929 bhemah be-hay-maw'

from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly,

a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often

collective):--beast, cattle.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) — animal.

1) beast, cattle, animal

1a) beasts (coll of all animals)

1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals)

1c) wild beasts

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
לֹ֥אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
are not permitted to
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
יֹאכְל֖וּyo.khe.Lu they will eat H398 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
any carcass and torn flesh from the bird[s] and from the animal[s] not they will eat the priests
הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ פha.ko.ha.Nim the priests H3548 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
spiritual leaders, ministers
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- First notice of persons acting as

Ge 4:3,4

- During patriarchal age heads of families acted as

Ge 8:20; 12:8; 35:7

- After the exodus young men (first-born) deputed to act as

Ex 24:5; 19:22

- The sons of Aaron appointed as, by perpetual statute

Ex 29:9; 40:15

- All except seed of Aaron excluded from being

Nu 3:10; 16:40; 18:7

- Sanctified by God for the office

Ex 29:44

- Publicly consecrated

Ex 28:3; Nu 3:3

- CEREMONIES AT CONSECRATION OF

. Washing in water

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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