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Ezekiel 8:2 — Word Study

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WLCוָאֶרְאֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּ֤ה דְמוּת֙ כְּמַרְאֵה־ אֵ֔שׁ מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה מָתְנָ֛יו וּלְמַ֖טָּה אֵ֑שׁ וּמִמָּתְנָ֣יו וּלְמַ֔עְלָה כְּמַרְאֵה־ זֹ֖הַר כְּעֵ֥ין הַחַשְׁמַֽלָה׃

BSAThen I lookedrâʼâh [beheld, gazed] and sawhinnêh a figuredᵉmûwth [likeness, resemblance] like that of a manmarʼeh [a human being, a male] From His waistmôthen [loins, the middle of His body] downmaṭṭâh His appearancemarʼeh was like fireʼêsh [resembled, was similar to, burning, flame] and from His waistmôthen [loins, the middle of His body] upmaʻal [He]marʼeh was as brightzôhar [shining, radiant] as the gleamʻayin [brilliance, luster] of amberchashmal [a shiny metal]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 2 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.chash.Ma.lah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 8:2quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel describes a vision of a figure resembling a man, with a fiery appearance below and a bright, gleaming appearance above.
Who is speakingEzekiel, the prophet, recounting a divine vision.
Where we areThis verse is part of a vision that Ezekiel receives from God, detailing a supernatural being.
The hard wordחַשְׁמַל
Take awayThe vision conveys a powerful image of divine presence and glory.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectדְּמוּת verbרָאָה 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 8:2

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 — Ezekiel's Vision of Godgenerated

1In the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me; and there the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me.
2Then I looked and saw a figure like that of a man. From His waist down His appearance was like fire, and from His waist up He was as bright as the gleam of amber.
3He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes jealousy was seated.
4And there I saw the glory of the God of Israel, like the vision I had seen in the plain.

Ezekiel 8:2 describes a vivid vision where Ezekiel sees a figure resembling a man, with a striking appearance. This vision is part of a larger narrative where Ezekiel is shown the glory of God and the abominations in Jerusalem. The imagery of fire and brightness reflects divine majesty and power, linking to themes found throughout the prophetic literature, such as in Ezekiel 1:4–26 and Daniel 7:9–10.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 1:4–26I looked and saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire was a gleam like amber,
2Daniel 7:9–10As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
3Revelation 1:14–15The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word חַשְׁמַל, ha.chash.Ma.lahgenerated

The word חַשְׁמַל (chashmal) refers to a shining substance, likely amber or a similar metal. It conveys a sense of brightness and radiance, often associated with divine visions. The parsing indicates it is a feminine singular noun, suggesting a specific type of material that reflects light.

This term appears only a few times in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing its unique role in describing the appearance of divine beings or phenomena. Its use in this context highlights the brilliance and otherworldly nature of the vision Ezekiel experiences.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

All translations agree on the rendering of חַשְׁמַל as a shiny substance, often translated as 'amber' or 'electrum'.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה (va'er'eh), meaning 'and I saw', governs the entire verse, indicating the action of perceiving the vision. The structure is complex, with multiple clauses describing the appearance of the figure.

The sentence features a main clause followed by several descriptive phrases that elaborate on the figure's appearance, using prepositional phrases to specify the qualities of the figure both above and below the waist.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה as εἶδον (G1492), meaning 'I saw', which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning.

The choice of ὁμοίωμα (G3667) for דְמוּת emphasizes the likeness or resemblance of the figure, suggesting an interpretation that highlights the visual aspect of the vision.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 8:2 describes a vision where Ezekiel sees a figure resembling a man. The figure has a fiery appearance below the waist and is bright above, resembling amber. This imagery reflects God's glory and presence.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Ezekiel see in this vision?

Ezekiel sees a figure that looks like a man, with a fiery appearance below and a bright appearance above, symbolizing divine glory.

What is the significance of the fire in this vision?

Fire in the Bible often represents God's presence, holiness, and judgment, indicating the power and majesty of the figure Ezekiel sees.

Why is the substance described as shiny?

The shiny substance, likely amber, emphasizes the brilliance and otherworldly nature of the vision, highlighting the divine character of the figure.

How does this vision relate to other prophetic visions?

This vision connects with other prophetic accounts of divine appearances, such as in Ezekiel 1:4–26 and Daniel 7:9–10, which also depict majestic and awe-inspiring figures.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this vision teach us about God's presence and glory?
  2. How can we understand the imagery of fire and brightness in our own lives?
  3. In what ways do we see God's majesty reflected in creation?
  4. How can we respond to the divine revelations we encounter in Scripture?

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

Jerome references this vision in his commentary, noting the appearance of fire and brightness as a significant aspect of Ezekiel's experience.

JeromeVersion 2. c. 347–420
And there fell upon me the hand of the Lord God there. And I saw, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire from the appearance of his loins, and downward fire: and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness,
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 8 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 8:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And then one beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire,.... The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "behold the likeness of a man"; reading איש, "a man", for אש, "fire"; but without

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 8 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

A likeness of a man; that man whom he had seen upon the throne, i.e. of Christ. The appearance of fire: see . This fire denotes the wrath of God against Jerusalem, and it is observed it was fire downward, wrath already coming down upon the Jews. The appearance of brightness, to signify the majesty and glory of Christ. See more .

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 8:2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.Ver. 2. Then I beheld, and lo a likeness.] Of a man, likely. This was the Lord Christ, whose eyes are like a flaming fire, and even our God (as well as the Jews’ God) is a consuming fire. Here, in the fire, was set forth his vengeance against the wicked; in his brightness upwards, his majesty, say some; his clemency, say others. As the colour of amber.] Or, Of a coal intensely hot, as Ezekiel 1:27

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 8 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) A likeness as the appearance of fire.—This is not, as often supposed, a reappearance of the vision of Ezekiel 1. That vision bursts again on the prophet after he has been carried in the spirit to the Temple at Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8:4). This is not expressly described as a human form, but from the mention of the loins, and of “the form of an hand,” in Ezekiel 8:3 it is implied that it was so. No further description is given, except that it was something bright and glorious like fire; and by the repetition of the words “likeness,” “appearance,” and “form of an hand,” the prophet here, as in Ezekiel 1, takes pains to show that it was only a vision, not an outward reality. It is also to be…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 8 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 2. The appearance of fire] See Clarke on Ezekiel 1:27.

Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. as the appearance of fire] More naturally, the appearance of a man, as LXX., cf. ch. Ezekiel 1:26-27, “the appearance of a man” (a different word, however), where the description is the same, viz. fire from the loins downwards and amber from the loins upwards. The prophet speaks with reverential vagueness of God—“a likeness as the appearance of a man,” and “he put forth the likeness of a hand.”

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 8 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The appearance of fire - In margin reference, seen as the appearance of a man enthroned upon the cherubim. Here He stands apart from the throne revealing Himself to His servant. Compare Daniel 3:25 note.

Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 8 →

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

Then I looked and saw a figure like that of a man. From His waist down His appearance was like fire, and from His waist up He was as bright as the gleam of amber.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Then I saw, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire—from the appearance of his waist and downward, fire, and from his waist and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then I looked and saw a figure like that of a man. From His waist down His appearance was like fire, and from His waist up He was as bright as the gleam of amber.

NETBNew English Translation2006

As I watched, I noticed a form that appeared to be a man. From his waist downward was something like fire, and from his waist upward something like a brightness, like an amber glow.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire: and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color of amber.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then I beheld, and lo, there was a likenesse, as the appearance of fire, to looke to, from his loynes downeward, and from his loynes vpward, as the appearance of brightnes, and like vnto amber.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the look of glowing brass.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and I look, and lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire, from the appearance of His loins and downward — fire, and from His loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of copper.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and I look, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire, from the appearance of His loins and downward—fire, and from His loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color of electrum.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And I saw, and, behold, there was a likeness similar to the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins downward, it was fire; and from his loins upward, it was similar to the appearance of a bright light, like the glitter of amber.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So I looked, and behold, there was a likeness with the appearance of a man. From the appearance of his hips downward there was fire. And from his hips upward there was the appearance of something shining, like glowing metal.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I saw, and behold a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins, and downward, fire: and from his loins, and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the appearance of amber.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I looked around and saw a being that looked like a man. From what seemed to be his waist downwards, he looked like fire. From what seemed to be his waist upwards, he looked like brightly glowing metal.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And looking, I saw a form like fire; from the middle of his body and down there was fire: and up from the middle of his body a sort of shining, like electrum.

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.

וָandclauseverbאֶרְאֶ֗הI.sawוְandclauseclauseהִנֵּ֤הthere!clausesubjectדְמוּת֙a.likenessprepositional phrase · predicateכְּlike.[the]noun phraseמַרְאֵהappearanceאֵ֔שׁof.fireclauseclauseprepositional phrase · predicateprepositional phraseמִ[was].fromnoun phraseמַּרְאֵ֥הthe.appearancenoun phraseמָתְנָ֛יhis.hipsוhisוּandprepositional phraseלְ(to)מַ֖טָּהdownwardssubjectאֵ֑שׁfireוּand.[was]clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseמִfromnoun phraseמָּתְנָ֣יhipsוhisוּandprepositional phraseלְ(to)adverb phraseמַ֔עְלָupwardsהprepositional phrase · predicateprepositional phraseכְּlike.[the]noun phraseמַרְאֵהappearanceזֹ֖הַרof.brightnessprepositional phraseכְּlikenoun phraseעֵ֥יןthe.appearancenoun phraseהַofnoun phraseחַשְׁמַֽלָ(toה[the].shining.substance

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text of Ezekiel 8:2 describes a vision of a figure resembling a man, with a fiery appearance from the waist down and a bright, amber-like glow from the waist up. The Septuagint, while not providing a direct translation in this instance, matches 11 of the 15 words from the Masoretic Text, indicating a significant level of agreement in the content, though the exact wording and structure may differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variants for this verse, so the primary comparison remains between the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint, which largely aligns in meaning despite differences in presentation.

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

וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּ֤ה דְמוּת֙ כְּמַרְאֵה־ אֵ֔שׁ מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה מָתְנָ֛יו וּלְמַ֖טָּה אֵ֑שׁ וּמִמָּתְנָ֣יו וּלְמַ֔עְלָה כְּמַרְאֵה־ זֹ֖הַר כְּעֵ֥ין הַחַשְׁמַֽלָה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וָאֶרְאֶ֗הεἶδονוְהִנֵּ֤הἰδοὺדְמוּת֙ὁμοίωμαאֵ֔שׁἀνδρόςמִמַּרְאֵ֥הἀπὸמָתְנָ֛יוαὐτοῦוּלְמַ֖טָּהκάτωאֵ֑שׁπῦρוּמִמָּתְנָ֣יוαὐτοῦכְּמַרְאֵה־ὅρασιςהַחַשְׁמַֽלָה׃ἠλέκτρου

11 of the 15 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 8:2רָאָהand I sawand I sawרָאָההִנֵּהand there!and there!הִנֵּהדְּמוּתa likenessa likenessדְּמוּתמַרְאֶהlike [the] like [the] appeמַרְאֶהאֵשׁfirefireאֵשׁמַרְאֶה[was] from [was] from [theמַרְאֶהמַתְנַ֫יִםhips hiships hisמַתְנַ֫יִםמַ֫טָּהand downwarand downwardsמַ֫טָּהאֵשׁfirefireאֵשׁמַתְנַ֫יִםand [was] fand [was] from מַתְנַ֫יִםמַ֫עַלand upwardsand upwardsמַ֫עַלמַרְאֶהlike [the] like [the] appeמַרְאֶהזֹ֫הַרbrightnessbrightnessזֹ֫הַרעַ֫יִןlike [the] like [the] appeעַ֫יִןחַשְׁמַלshining subshining substanחַשְׁמַלרָאָהProviderProviderרָאָהדָּמָהto resemblto resembleדָּמָהעָוַרto blindto blindעָוַרעָלָהto ascend:to ascend: riseעָלָהזָהַרto shineto shineזָהַרהֵןlook!look!הֵןדְּמוּתlikenesslikenessדְּמוּתיָפֶהbeautifulbeautifulיָפֶהמַרְאֶהappearanceappearanceמַרְאֶהלֶהָבָהflameflameלֶהָבָהיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתאֵזוֹרgirdlegirdleאֵזוֹרחָגַרto girdto girdחָגַרעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטנֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםמַתְנַ֫יִםloinloinמַתְנַ֫יִם
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 8:2

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 I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
וָאֶרְאֶ֗הva.'er.'Eh and I saw H7200 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
beheld, gazed
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

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

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

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

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

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

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

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

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

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

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

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

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

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

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

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

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

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

so.

See TOOLS.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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

Nave's Topical Bible

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

→ Used for cutting stone 1Ki 7:9

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 10:15

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
וְהִנֵּ֤הve.hi.Neh and there! H2009 Conjunction · particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tj
and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
דְמוּת֙de.Mut a likeness H1823 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a likeness or resemblance, often used to describe something that is similar to something else. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, describing creation and God's relationship with humanity. It helps us understand how things are connected.
Amplified meaning
likeness, resemblance
Tyndale gloss
likeness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דְּמוּת (dmuwth) means likeness or similitude, particularly in terms of external appearance. It can also function adverbially to mean 'in the likeness of' or 'like as.' The word is derived from a root that conveys the idea of resemblance, and it encompasses both the concept of a model or shape.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דְּמוּת n.f. likeness, similitude

likeness, similitude, of external appearance

adverbially,in likeness of, like as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1823 דְּמוּת likeness, similitude . likeness, similitude, of external appearance

. adverbially,in likeness of, like as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1823 dmuwth dem-ooth'

from 1819; resemblance; concretely, model, shape;

adverbially, like:--fashion, like (-ness, as), manner,

similitude.

see HEBREW for 01819

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דְּמוּת (de.mut) — likeness.

1) likeness, similitude

adv

2) in the likeness of, like as

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
כְּמַרְאֵה־ke.mar.'eh- like [the] appearance of H4758 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
103× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a sight or appearance, and can describe something beautiful or a supernatural vision. It encompasses various aspects of seeing, including physical and mental perceptions, and is used in different contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a human being, a male
Tyndale gloss
appearance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַרְאֶה (mar'eh) refers to sight, appearance, or vision, encompassing both physical and supernatural aspects of what is seen. It can denote a phenomenon, spectacle, or the power of seeing. The word is derived from a root meaning to see, and it covers a range of meanings related to visual perception.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַרְאֶה 102 n.m. sight, appearance, vision

sight, phenomenon, spectacle

appearance

appearance, sight, vision

in gen. what is seen

specif. a (supernat.) vision

sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4758 מַרְאֶה sight, appearance, vision . . sight, phenomenon, spectacle

. appearance

. appearance, sight, vision

. in gen. what is seen

. specif. a (supernat.) vision

. sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4758 mar'eh mar-eh'

from 7200; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance

(the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if

handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a

vision:--X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as

beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to

look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight,

visage, vision.

see HEBREW for 07200

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַרְאֶה (mar.eh) — appearance.

1) sight, appearance, vision

1a) sight, phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, vision

1b) what is seen

1c) a vision (supernatural)

1d) sight, vision (power of seeing)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
אֵ֔שׁ'Esh fire H784 Noun common · both singular absolute
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Amplified meaning
resembled, was similar to, burning, flame
Tyndale gloss
fire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire

fire, of conflagration

of supernatural fire

fire for cooking, roasting, parching

esp. of altar fire

fig. of Yahweh's anger

in various combinations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration

. of supernatural fire

. fire for cooking, roasting, parching

. esp. of altar fire

. fig. of Yahweh's anger

. in various combinations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

784 'esh aysh

a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--

burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.

1) fire

1a) fire, flames

1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)

1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)

1d) altar-fire

1e) God's anger (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fir ('esh; pur):

These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fire

(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).

Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;

is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
מִמַּרְאֵ֥הmi.mar.'Eh [was] from [the] appearance of H4758 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
103× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a sight or appearance, and can describe something beautiful or a supernatural vision. It encompasses various aspects of seeing, including physical and mental perceptions, and is used in different contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
appearance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַרְאֶה (mar'eh) refers to sight, appearance, or vision, encompassing both physical and supernatural aspects of what is seen. It can denote a phenomenon, spectacle, or the power of seeing. The word is derived from a root meaning to see, and it covers a range of meanings related to visual perception.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַרְאֶה 102 n.m. sight, appearance, vision

sight, phenomenon, spectacle

appearance

appearance, sight, vision

in gen. what is seen

specif. a (supernat.) vision

sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4758 מַרְאֶה sight, appearance, vision . . sight, phenomenon, spectacle

. appearance

. appearance, sight, vision

. in gen. what is seen

. specif. a (supernat.) vision

. sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4758 mar'eh mar-eh'

from 7200; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance

(the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if

handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a

vision:--X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as

beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to

look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight,

visage, vision.

see HEBREW for 07200

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַרְאֶה (mar.eh) — appearance.

1) sight, appearance, vision

1a) sight, phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, vision

1b) what is seen

1c) a vision (supernatural)

1d) sight, vision (power of seeing)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
מָתְנָ֛יוma.te.Nav hips his H4975 Noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to the waist or small of the back, often translated as loins or hips, as seen in Proverbs 30:31. It can also describe the sides of an animal. The word is only used in plural form.
Amplified meaning
loins, the middle of His body
Tyndale gloss
loin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַתְנַ֫יִם (matanim) refers to the loins or hips, derived from a root meaning to be slender. It appears in the plural form and is associated with the term for a greyhound in Proverbs 30:31. The word captures the anatomical region of the waist or small of the back.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַתְנַ֫יִם n.m.du. loins

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4975 מַתְנַ֫יִם loins

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4975 mothen mo'-then

from an unused root meaning to be slender; properly, the

waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins:--+

greyhound, loins, side.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מׇתְנַ֫יִם (mo.ten) — loin.

1) loins, hips

1a) used with zar.zir (זַרְזִיר "greyhound" H2223) in Pr 30:31; perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-md | Suff — Noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
HNcmdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
וּלְמַ֖טָּהu.le.Ma.tah and downwards H4295 Conjunction · preposition
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means something is located downward or below something else, often used to describe physical location or position. It appears in various forms, such as beneath or under. In the Bible, it is used to describe something as very low or under something else.
Tyndale gloss
beneath
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַ֫טָּה (mattah) means 'downwards' or 'beneath.' It is derived from a root that suggests a downward direction and can function adverbially. The entries indicate it covers meanings like 'below,' 'under,' and 'very low,' but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַ֫טָּה, מָ֑֫טָּה adv. downwards

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4295 מַ֫טָּה, מָ֑֫טָּה downwards

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4295 mattah mat'-taw

from 5786 with directive enclitic appended; downward, below

or beneath; often adverbially with or without prefixes:--

beneath, down(-ward), less, very low, under(-neath).

see HEBREW for 05786

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַ֫טָּה (mat.tah) — beneath.

1) downwards, below

1a) downwards

1b) under (of age)

1c) beneath

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | Adv — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R/Acmsc
and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
אֵ֑שׁ'Esh fire H784 Noun common · both singular absolute
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Tyndale gloss
fire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire

fire, of conflagration

of supernatural fire

fire for cooking, roasting, parching

esp. of altar fire

fig. of Yahweh's anger

in various combinations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration

. of supernatural fire

. fire for cooking, roasting, parching

. esp. of altar fire

. fig. of Yahweh's anger

. in various combinations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

784 'esh aysh

a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--

burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.

1) fire

1a) fire, flames

1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)

1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)

1d) altar-fire

1e) God's anger (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fir ('esh; pur):

These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fire

(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).

Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;

is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
וּמִמָּתְנָ֣יוu.mi.ma.te.Nav and [was] from hips his H4975 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to the waist or small of the back, often translated as loins or hips, as seen in Proverbs 30:31. It can also describe the sides of an animal. The word is only used in plural form.
Amplified meaning
loins, the middle of His body
Tyndale gloss
loin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַתְנַ֫יִם (matanim) refers to the loins or hips, derived from a root meaning to be slender. It appears in the plural form and is associated with the term for a greyhound in Proverbs 30:31. The word captures the anatomical region of the waist or small of the back.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַתְנַ֫יִם n.m.du. loins

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4975 מַתְנַ֫יִם loins

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4975 mothen mo'-then

from an unused root meaning to be slender; properly, the

waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins:--+

greyhound, loins, side.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מׇתְנַ֫יִם (mo.ten) — loin.

1) loins, hips

1a) used with zar.zir (זַרְזִיר "greyhound" H2223) in Pr 30:31; perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-md | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
HC/R/Ncmdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
וּלְמַ֔עְלָהu.le.Ma'.lah and upwards H4605 Conjunction · preposition · suffix
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means above or higher, used to describe something's location or position. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Genesis 1:7, where God separates the waters above from the waters below. This word helps us understand God's creation.
Tyndale gloss
above
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַ֫עַל (ma'al) refers to the concept of being above or upward. It is primarily used as a noun meaning 'higher part' but appears adverbially and prepositionally in phrases indicating positions such as 'above' or 'on higher ground.' The word is built from a root meaning 'to go up' and is found in various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַ֫עַל 140 subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4605 מַ֫עַל subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4605 ma`al mah'al

from 5927; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially

with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.:--

above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on (X very) high, over,

up(-on, -ward), very.

see HEBREW for 05927

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַ֫עַל (ma.al) — above.

subst

1) higher part, upper part

adv

1a) above

prep

1b) on the top of, above, on higher ground than

with locative

1c) upwards, higher, above

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | Adv | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · suffix
HC/R/Acbsa/Sd
and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
כְּמַרְאֵה־ke.mar.'eh- like [the] appearance of H4758 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
103× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a sight or appearance, and can describe something beautiful or a supernatural vision. It encompasses various aspects of seeing, including physical and mental perceptions, and is used in different contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
appearance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַרְאֶה (mar'eh) refers to sight, appearance, or vision, encompassing both physical and supernatural aspects of what is seen. It can denote a phenomenon, spectacle, or the power of seeing. The word is derived from a root meaning to see, and it covers a range of meanings related to visual perception.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַרְאֶה 102 n.m. sight, appearance, vision

sight, phenomenon, spectacle

appearance

appearance, sight, vision

in gen. what is seen

specif. a (supernat.) vision

sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4758 מַרְאֶה sight, appearance, vision . . sight, phenomenon, spectacle

. appearance

. appearance, sight, vision

. in gen. what is seen

. specif. a (supernat.) vision

. sight, vision = power of seeing (and enjoying), late

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4758 mar'eh mar-eh'

from 7200; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance

(the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if

handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a

vision:--X apparently, appearance(-reth), X as soon as

beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to

look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight,

visage, vision.

see HEBREW for 07200

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַרְאֶה (mar.eh) — appearance.

1) sight, appearance, vision

1a) sight, phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, vision

1b) what is seen

1c) a vision (supernatural)

1d) sight, vision (power of seeing)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
זֹ֖הַרZo.har brightness H2096 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to brightness or shining, like the brightness of the sun in Psalm 19:6. It describes something that gives off light or radiance.
Amplified meaning
shining, radiant
Tyndale gloss
brightness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֹ֫הַר (zohar) refers to brightness or shining. It is derived from a root meaning to shine, and is used in contexts that emphasize brilliance or luminosity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֹ֫הַר n.[m.] shining, brightness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2096 זֹ֫הַר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2096 zohar zo'-har

from 2094; brilliancy:--brightness.

see HEBREW for 02094

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֹ֫הַר (zo.har) — brightness.

brightness, shining

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

brit'-nes: Used by the King James Version in Heb 1:3 for "effulgence of his glory," as in the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version. The Greek apaugasma may mean either "reflection" or "radiation." Patristic usage favors the latter; compare The Wisdom of Solomon 7:26; also the Nicene Creed: "Light of Light," i.e. the Son not only manifests the Father, but is of the same substance. "What emanates from light, must have the nature of light" (Delitzsch).

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
כְּעֵ֥יןke.'Ein like [the] appearance of H5869 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
brilliance, luster
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
HR/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and I saw and there! a likeness like [the] appearance of fire [was] from [the] appearance of hips his and downwards fire and [was] from hips his and upwards like [the] appearance of brightness like [the] appearance of shining substance towards
הַחַשְׁמַֽלָה׃ha.chash.Ma.lah shining substance towards H2830 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute · suffix
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Chashmal refers to a shiny metal, possibly bronze or polished metal, used to describe a divine vision in Ezekiel. It is often translated as 'amber' due to its shining appearance.
Amplified meaning
a shiny metal
Tyndale gloss
amber
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חַשְׁמַל (chashmal) refers to a shining substance, likely amber, electrum, or possibly bronze, though its exact meaning is uncertain. The entries suggest it denotes a polished or metallic quality, with the term appearing in contexts that imply a lustrous appearance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַשְׁמַל n.[m.] etym. and exact mng. dub.; evidently some shining substance; AV amber

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2830 חַשְׁמַל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2830 chashmal khash-mal'

of uncertain derivation; probably bronze or polished spectrum

metal:--amber.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַשְׁמַל (chash.mal) — amber.

a shining substance, amber or electrum or bronze (uncertain)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms | Suff — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute · suffix
HTd/Ncfsa/Sd
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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