Ezekiel 5:3 — Word Study
WLCוְלָקַחְתָּ֥ מִשָּׁ֖ם מְעַ֣ט בְּמִסְפָּ֑ר וְצַרְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם בִּכְנָפֶֽיךָ׃
BSABut you are to takelâqach [get, receive] a fewmᵉʻaṭ [little, small in number] strands of hairmiçpâr [from the head] and securetsûwr [bind, tie up] themʼêth in the folds of your garmentkânâph [skirts, edges, robe, cloak]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ | and you will take | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect second person masculine singular |
| מִשָּׁ֖ם | from there | Preposition, adverb |
| מְעַ֣ט | a few | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בְּמִסְפָּ֑ר | in number | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְצַרְתָּ֥ | and you will confine | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect second person masculine singular |
| אוֹתָ֖ם | the object marker them | Particle, suffix |
| בִּכְנָפֶֽיךָ׃ | in skirts your | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But you are to take a few strands of hair and secure them in the folds of your garment. |
| KJV | Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. |
| ASV | And thou shalt take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. |
| YLT | And thou hast taken thence a few in number — and hast bound them in thy skirts; |
| WEB | You shall take a small number of these and bind them in the folds of your robe. |
| BBE | And take from them a small number of hairs, folding them in your skirts. |
The translations agree on the key actions and objects in this verse.
The main verb is followed by two phrases that specify the action and its context, creating a clear directive.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbלָקַח
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 5:3
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 Siege of Jerusalemgenerated
Ezekiel 5:3 is part of a series of prophetic actions that Ezekiel performs to illustrate the coming judgment on Jerusalem. In this verse, he is commanded to take a few strands of hair from his head and secure them in his garment, symbolizing a remnant that will survive despite the impending destruction. This act serves as a visual representation of God's message to His people during a time of crisis, much like the prophetic acts seen in Ezekiel 4:1.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 25:12 | But the captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 39:10 | But Nebuzaradan left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had no property, and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 40:6 | So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 52:16 | But Nebuzaradan captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields. |
| 5 | Matthew 7:14 | But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — לָקַח, ve.la.kach.Tagenerated
The verb לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and includes a range of actions such as receiving, seizing, or carrying away. In this context, it emphasizes the act of taking something specific — a few strands of hair — to fulfill God's command.
The parsing indicates a sequential perfect tense for the second person masculine singular, meaning it is a direct command to Ezekiel. This highlights the immediacy and importance of the action he is to undertake.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered similarly across translations, with the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all agreeing on the core meaning of taking a few strands of hair.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs לָקַחְתָּ֥ and צַרְתָּ֥ govern the actions in the verse, with the first verb indicating the taking of hair and the second verb indicating the securing of it. This structure emphasizes the sequence of commands given to Ezekiel.
The sentence structure follows a clear order: the main action of taking is followed by the specifics of what is to be taken and how it is to be secured, reflecting a logical progression typical in Hebrew prose.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates לָקַח as λήμψῃ, which carries a similar meaning of taking or receiving. This choice reflects the intent of the original Hebrew while adapting to the Greek linguistic context.
The LXX maintains the imperative form, which underscores the command nature of the instruction given to Ezekiel.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezekiel 5:3 instructs Ezekiel to take a few strands of hair and secure them in his garment. This action symbolizes a remnant that will survive the destruction of Jerusalem, illustrating God's message during the siege.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The strands of hair represent a remnant of the people who will survive the destruction, symbolizing hope amidst judgment.
Securing the hair in his garment visually represents the preservation of a remnant and serves as a prophetic sign for the people of Israel.
This action reveals God's intention to preserve a remnant of His people despite impending judgment, emphasizing His mercy in the midst of destruction.
This verse connects to the broader message of Ezekiel by illustrating the themes of judgment and restoration, showing that even in judgment, God has a plan for His people.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the symbolism of the hair relate to the concept of remnant in the Bible?
- What are some ways God preserves His people in difficult times today?
- In what ways can we act as a remnant in our communities, reflecting God's hope?
- How can understanding this verse deepen our appreciation for God's mercy?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 5:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shall also take thereof a few in number,.... These are they that were left in the land of Judea by Nebuzaradan, for vinedressers and husbandmen, and such as returned out of Egypt into the land
Read John Gill on Ezekiel 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThereof, i.e. of the last third which were to be dispersed. A few, or small quantity. In number; or, by number, as them in thy skirts; as men tie up in a handkerchief, or in the skirt of their garment, what they would not lose. So some few shall be kept, God will not cut off the whole house of Israel, but reserves a remnant.
Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEzekiel 5:3 Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.Ver. 3. Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number.] A remnant is still reserved, "that the Lord God may dwell among men." See Jeremiah 44:28 2 Kings 25:12 Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 6:10.
Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) A few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.—A small remnant of the people was still left in the land after the great captivity (2 Kings 25:22); but even of these some were to perish by violence (“cast them into the midst of the fire”) in the disorders which arose, and from this “shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.” (See Jeremiah 40, 41) The ultimate result was the expatriation of all that remained in Judæa, and the entire emptying of the land of the chosen people. At this point the use of symbolism ceases for a while, and the prophet now, for the first time, begins to utter his prophecies in plain language. Accordingly, he changes his style from prose to the more…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. few in number] Or, “by number,”—accurately numbering them. (Isaiah 40:26.) Of those dispersed a few shall meantime be preserved.
Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleOf the third part a few are yet to be taken and kept in the fold of the garment (representing those still to remain in their native land), and yet even of those few some are to be cast into the fire.
Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 5 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3, 4. To take a few hairs “by number,” and preserve them thus carefully only emphasizes the fate of the mass; but even of this remnant (Isaiah 10:20-22; Isaiah 11:11; Ezekiel 6:8-9), flying into
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 5 →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
But you are to take a few strands of hair and secure them in the folds of your garment.
You shall take a small number of these and bind them in the folds of your robe.
But you are to take a few strands of hair and secure them in the folds of your garment.
But take a few strands of hair from those and tie them in the ends of your garment.
Tyndale line
Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
And thou shalt take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
And thou shalt take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
Thou shalt also take of them a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
Thou shalt also take thereof a fewe in nomber, and binde them in thy lappe.
Strictly literal
And thou shalt take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts;
And thou hast taken thence a few in number — and hast bound them in thy skirts;
And you have taken there a few in number—and have bound them in your skirts;
And take thence a few in number, and tie them up in the corners of thy garment.
But take a small number of hairs from them and tie them into the folds of your robe.
From the Latin
And thou shalt take thereof a small number: and shalt bind them in the skirt of thy cloak.
Simplified
Take just a few hairs and tuck them into the hem of your clothes.
And take from them a small number of hairs, folding them in your skirts.
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 agree on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the prophetic act being described.
וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ מִשָּׁ֖ם מְעַ֣ט בְּמִסְפָּ֑ר וְצַרְתָּ֥ אוֹתָ֖ם בִּכְנָפֶֽיךָ׃
7 of the 7 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 5:3
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.
The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.
לָקַח 965 vb. take
Qal
take, take in hand
take and carry along with oneself
take from, or out of
take, carry away
take away from, so as to deprive of
esp. take away life
take to or for a person
take up, upon = put upon
= fetch
take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
take = capture, seize
take = carry off
in phr. take vengeance
Niph.
be captured, of ark
be taken away, removed
be taken, brought unto
Pu.
be taken from, out of
= be stolen from
be taken captive
be taken away, removed
Hoph.
be taken, brought unto
be taken out of
be taken away from
Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
base
H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand
. take and carry along with oneself
. . take from, or out of
. take, carry away
. take away from, so as to deprive of
. esp. take away life
. take to or for a person
. take up, upon = put upon
. = fetch
. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)
. take = capture, seize
. take = carry off
. in phr. take vengeance
. . be captured, of ark
. be taken away, removed
. be taken, brought unto
. . be taken from, out of
. = be stolen from
. be taken captive
. be taken away, removed
. . be taken, brought unto
. be taken out of
. be taken away from
. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning
3947 laqach law-kakh'
a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of
applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,
get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,
seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.
: take
1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to take, take in the hand
1a2) to take and carry along
1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away
1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept
1a5) to take up or upon, put upon
1a6) to fetch
1a7) to take, lead, conduct
1a8) to take, capture, seize
1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be taken away, be removed
1b3) to be taken, brought unto
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be taken from or out of
1c2) to be stolen from
1c3) to be taken captive
1c4) to be taken away, be removed
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto
1d2) to be taken out of
1d3) to be taken away
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to take hold of oneself
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singularHc/Vqq2ms
tak: Most of the very numerous examples of this word are still in good use and only a few call for special attention. "To take" in the sense of "capture" is still common, but when a person or living animal is in point, modern English usually adds "prisoner" or "captive." English Versions of the Bible not infrequently has this addition (Ge 14:14, etc.), but more commonly "take" is used without it (Jos 10:39; Job 5:13; Sirach 23:21; Joh 7:30, etc.). An occasional obscurity is thus caused, as in Ge 27:3, "take me venison" for "hunt venison for me." "To take advice" (2Ch…
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
HR/D — Preposition · adverbHR/D
מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.
מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few
base
H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few
4592 m`at meh-at'
or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often
adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),
lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,
soon, X very.
see HEBREW for 04591
מְעַט (me.at) — little.
1) littleness, few, a little, fewness
1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little
1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
מִסְפָּר (mispar) means 'number' or 'tale.' It can refer to definite or indefinite quantities, ranging from large to small. The word also encompasses concepts of narration and recounting. The entries consistently highlight its numerical and narrative aspects without significant disagreement.
מִסְפָּר 133 n.m. number, tale
base
H4557 מִסְפָּר number, tale
4557 micpar mis-pawr'
from 5608; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite
(large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly)
narration:--+ abundance, account, X all, X few, (in-)finite,
(certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, + time.
see HEBREW for 05608
מִסְפָּר (mis.par) — number.
1) number, tale
1a) number
1a1) number
1a2) innumerable (with negative)
1a3) few, numerable (alone)
1a4) by count, in number, according to number (with prep)
1b) recounting, relation
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
num'-ber:
I. NUMBER AND ARITHMETIC
II. NOTATION OF NUMBERS
1. By Words
2. By Signs
3. By Letters
III. NUMBERS IN OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
IV. ROUND NUMBERS
V. SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
1. Seven and Its Multiples
(1) Ritual Use of Seven
(2) Historical Use of Seven
(3) Didactic or Literary Use of Seven
(4) Apocalyptic Use of Seven
2. The Number Three
3. The Number Four
4. The Number Ten
5. The Number Twelve
6. Other Significant Numbers
VI. GEMATRIA
LITERATURE
I. Number and Arithmetic.
The system of counting followed by the Hebrews and the Semites generally was the decimal system, which seems to have been suggested by the use of the ten fingers. Hebrew had separate words only for the first nine units and for ten and its multiples. Of the sexagesimal system, which seems to have been introduced into Babylonia by the Sumerians and which, through its development there, has influenced the measurement of time and space in the…
Like most Oriental nations, it is probable that the Hebrews in their written calculations made use of the letters of the alphabet. That they did so in post-Babylonian times we have conclusive evidence in the Maccabaean coins; and it is highly probable that this was the ease also in earlier times. But though, on the one hand, it is certain that in all existing MSS of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the numerical expressions are written at length, yet, on the other, the variations in the several versions between themselves and from the Hebrew text, added to the evident inconsistencies in numerical statement between certain passages of that text itself seems to prove that some shorter mode of writing was originally in vogue, liable to be misunderstood, and in fact misunderstood by copyists and translators. These variations appear to have proceeded from the alphabetic method of writing…
Isa 65:11. See GAD 3.
צוּר (tsur) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings including to confine, bind, or besiege, as well as to show hostility or to fashion. It can imply both literal and figurative applications, such as being an adversary or enclosing something. The entries indicate that it covers various contexts, from distressing to fortifying.
צוּר vb. confine, bind, besiege
base
[צוּר] vb. shew hostility to, treat as foe
base
[צוּר] vb. fashion, delineate
base
H6696a צוּר confine, bind, besiege H6696b צוּר shew hostility to, treat as foe H6696c צוּר fashion, delineate
6696 tsuwr tsoor
a primitive root; to cramp, i.e. confine (in many
applications, literally and figuratively, formative or
hostile):--adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up),
cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up
in bags.
צוּר (tsur) — to confine.
1) to bind, besiege, confine, cramp
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to confine, secure
1a2) to shut in, beseige
1a3) to shut up, enclose
צוּר (tsur) — to provoke.
(Qal) to show hostility to, be an adversary, treat as foe
צוּר (tsur) — to form.
(Qal) to form, fashion, delineate
Conj | V-Qal-2ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine singularHc/Vqq2ms
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).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
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
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)
DirObjM | Suff — Particle · suffixHTo/Sp3mp
כָּנָף (kanaph) means 'wing' or 'extremity' and can refer to various edges or corners, such as those of a bird, garment, or building. It encompasses meanings like border, corner, and skirt, indicating both physical and metaphorical edges. The word is derived from a root that suggests an edge or extremity.
כָּנָף 109 n.f. wing, extremity
base
H3671 כָּנָף wing, extremity
3671 kanaph kaw-nawf'
from 3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or
army) a wing, (of a garment or bed-clothing) a flap, (of the
earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle:--+ bird, border,
corner, end, feather(-ed), X flying, + (one an-)other,
overspreading, X quarters, skirt, X sort, uttermost part,
wing((-ed)).
see HEBREW for 03670
כָּנָף (ka.naph) — wing.
1) wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt
1a) wing
1b) extremity
1b1) skirt, corner (of garment)
Prep | N-fd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp2ms