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Ezra 4:5 — Word Study

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WLCוְסֹכְרִ֧ים עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹעֲצִ֖ים לְהָפֵ֣ר עֲצָתָ֑ם כָּל־ יְמֵ֗י כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס וְעַד־ מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָֽס׃

BSAThey hiredsâkar [bribed, to persuade against] counselorsyâʻats [advisers, to frustrate plans] against themʻal to frustratepârar [to break, thwart] their plansʻêtsâh [purposes, counsel] throughoutkôl the reignyôwm [royal power, kingdom] of CyrusKôwresh [the Persian king, ruler] kingmelek of PersiaPâraç [the ancient empire, land] and down toʻad [until, as far as] the reignmalkûwth [royalty, rule] of DariusDârᵉyâvêsh [the king's title, ruler] kingmelek of PersiaPâraç [the land, territory]

Word
Listen & take awayEzra 4
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (pa.Ras) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezra 4:5quick helps
In a sentenceThe people hired counselors to thwart the plans of the Jews during the reigns of Cyrus and Darius.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes actions taken by the adversaries of the Jews.
Where we areIn a historical account of opposition faced by the returning exiles in Ezra.
The hard wordלְהָפֵ֣ר
Take awayThe hiring of counselors signifies a deliberate attempt to undermine the rebuilding efforts.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָעַץ 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 — Ezra 4:5

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 — Opposition to the Rebuilding of the Templegenerated

4Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.
5They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
7And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.

Ezra 4:5 describes how adversaries of the Jewish people hired counselors to frustrate their rebuilding efforts. This occurred during the reign of Cyrus and continued into the reign of Darius, highlighting the challenges faced by the Jews as they returned from exile and sought to restore their homeland. The context reveals a pattern of resistance against the restoration of Jerusalem and its temple, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 2:1–2Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
2Nahum 1:11
3Acts 24:1–27Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
4Ezra 4:24Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
5Ezra 5:5–17But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so that they were not stopped until a report was sent to Darius and written instructions about this matter were returned.

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


The Key Word לְהָפֵ֣ר, le.ha.Fergenerated

The verb פָּרַר (pa.rar) means to break or frustrate. It is used here in the Hiphil stem, indicating an action that causes something to be ineffective or thwarted. This word often conveys a sense of division or violation, emphasizing the adversaries' intent to disrupt the plans of the Jews.

In this verse, the use of לְהָפֵ֣ר underscores the deliberate effort by the hired counselors to undermine the plans and purposes of the Jewish people, showcasing the opposition they faced during their efforts to rebuild.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations are consistent in rendering the key terms, with hired counselors and to frustrate appearing similarly across versions such as the BSB, KJV, and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb סֹכְרִ֧ים (were hiring) governs the sentence, with several phrases detailing the actions taken. The structure emphasizes the hiring of counselors as the primary action, with additional phrases providing context about their purpose and the timeframe.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the counselors and their role in the plans against the Jews, indicating the adversaries' proactive stance in opposing the rebuilding efforts.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates סֹכְרִ֧ים as μισθούμενοι (hired), which retains the sense of hiring for a purpose. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on the adversaries' actions.

The term לְהָפֵ֣ר is rendered as διασκεδάσαι, which also conveys the notion of breaking or disrupting, aligning with the intention to thwart the plans of the Jewish people.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezra 4:5 tells us that the people hired counselors to frustrate the plans of the Jews during the reigns of Cyrus and Darius. This shows the opposition that the returning exiles faced as they attempted to rebuild their temple and city.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that they hired counselors?

Hiring counselors indicates a strategic effort by the adversaries to undermine the rebuilding efforts of the Jewish people.

Why were the plans frustrated?

The plans were frustrated because the hired counselors aimed to disrupt the work of the Jews, indicating a strong opposition to their return and restoration.

Who were Cyrus and Darius?

Cyrus and Darius were Persian kings who played significant roles in the history of the Israelites, especially regarding their return from exile and efforts to rebuild Jerusalem.

How does this verse relate to the overall narrative of Ezra?

This verse highlights the challenges and opposition faced by the Jewish people as they sought to rebuild their temple and restore their community, a central theme in the book of Ezra.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways I can recognize opposition in my own efforts to do good?
  2. How can I seek wise counsel when facing challenges in my life?
  3. In what ways can I support others who are working to achieve their goals despite opposition?
  4. What lessons can I learn from the perseverance of the Jewish people in the face of adversity?

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

The early commentary from Bede notes the significance of the hired counselors and their role in opposing the rebuilding efforts of the temple.

BedeCommentary on Ezra and Nehemiah c. 673–735
But they hired counselors against them, etc. The distinction of the words is noteworthy; because they indeed hired counselors against the builders of the temple with a price given, in order that their plan might be destroyed;
Early Church Fathers on Ezra 4 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezra 4:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose,.... Either to advise and persuade the king of Persia's officers in those parts not to supply them with money, or to influence the great

Read John Gill on Ezra 4 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. No JFB commentary on this verse.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezra 4 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Hired counsellors against them; who by their artifices and interests in the Persian court should give some stop to their work. All the days of Cyrus king of Persia; for though Cyrus still favoured the Jews, yet he was then diverted by his wars, and his son Cambyses was left his viceroy, who was a very wicked prince, and an enemy to the Jews and their religion. Even until the reign of Darius, Heb. and until, &c., i.e. not only in the reign of Cyrus, but also of Cambyses, and of the magician, after whom was this Darius; of whom see Ezra 5$ 6$.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezra 4 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezra 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.Ver. 5. And hired counsellors against them] But good counsellors would not have been hired, either to bolster out a bad cause, or to outface a good; to justify the wicked for a reward, or to take away the righteousness of the righteous from him. There is a notable instance of this in Papinian, a Pagan counsellor. Thou mayest (said he to Antoninus, the fratricide) command my neck to the block, but not my tongue to the bar. I prize not my life to the pleading of an ill cause. These sordida poscinummia in the text were none such. Some…

Read John Trapp on Ezra 4 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) And hired counsellors against them.—They adopted a systematic course of employing paid agents at the court: continued for eight years, till B.C. 529. Cambyses, his son, succeeded Cyrus; he died B.C. 522; then followed the pseudo-Smerdis, a usurper, whose short reign Darius did not reckon, but dated his own reign from B.C. 522. A comparison of dates shows that this was the first Darius, the son of Hystaspes.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezra 4 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. Hired counsellors] They found means to corrupt some of the principal officers of the Persian court, so that the orders of Cyrus were not executed; or at least so slowly as to make them nearly ineffectual. Until the reign of Darius] This was probably Darius the son of Hystaspes.

Read AdamClarke on Ezra 4 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. This verse describes one effectual method of opposition, ‘hired counsellors against them’. This will not necessarily imply that bribes were given to the king’s ministers referred to elsewhere (Ezra 7:28, Ezra 8:25) as ‘his counsellors’. We should in that case have had the word more definitely expressed as ‘the counsellors’ or ‘the king’s counsellors’. It rather means that ‘the people of the land’ paid officials (probably connected with the satrapy of Syria) to make unfavourable reports at the king’s Court respecting ‘the people of Judah’. hired] Cf. the application of Samaritan money within the Jewish community, Nehemiah 6:12-13. The word used with special reference to Balaam in…

Read Cambridge on Ezra 4 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hired counselors - Rather, “bribed” officials at the Persian court to interpose delays and create difficulties, in order to hinder the work. Darius - i. e., Darius, the son of Hystaspes

Read Albert Barnes on Ezra 4 →

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

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

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They were hiring advisers to oppose them, so as to frustrate their plans, throughout the time of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius of Persia.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And they hired counsellers against them, to hinder their deuise, all the dayes of Cyrus King of Persia, euen vntill the reigne of Darius King of Persia.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and they hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and are hiring against them counsellors to make void their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even till the reign of Darius king of Persia.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and are hiring against them counselors to make void their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And they hired against them counsellors, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus the king of Persia, and even until the reign of Darius the king of Persia.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They also bribed counselors to frustrate their plans. They did this during all of Cyrus' days and into the reign of Darius king of Persia.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their design all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of the Persians.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They bribed officials to oppose them and to obstruct their plans. This continued during the whole reign of Cyrus king of Persia up until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And they gave payment to men who made designs against them and kept them from effecting their purpose, all through the time of Cyrus, king of Persia, till Darius became king.

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.

וְandclauseverbסֹכְרִ֧ים[they.were].hiringprepositional phrase · prepositionalעֲלֵיonהֶ֛םthemobjectיוֹעֲצִ֖יםcounselorsprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהָפֵ֣רfrustratenoun phrase · objectעֲצָתָ֑purposeםtheiradverb phrase · adverbialadverb phrasenoun phraseכָּלallnoun phraseיְמֵ֗יthe.daysnoun phraseכּ֚וֹרֶשׁof.Cyrusnoun phraseמֶ֣לֶךְthe.kingפָּרַ֔סof.Persiaוְandprepositional phraseעַדuntilnoun phraseמַלְכ֖וּתthe.reignnoun phraseדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁof.Dariusnoun phraseמֶֽלֶךְthe.kingפָּרָֽסof.Persia

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in their wording for this verse, indicating a consistent transmission of the text. The Dead Sea Scrolls show one word on the leather with the rest supplied by an editor, but the core meaning remains intact.

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

וְסֹכְרִ֧ים עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹעֲצִ֖ים לְהָפֵ֣ר עֲצָתָ֑ם כָּל־ יְמֵ֗י כּ֚וֹרֶשׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ פָּרַ֔ס וְעַד־ מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָֽס׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְסֹכְרִ֧יםμισθούμενοιעֲלֵיהֶ֛םαὐτοὺςיוֹעֲצִ֖יםβουλευόμενοιלְהָפֵ֣רδιασκεδάσαιעֲצָתָ֑םαὐτῶνכָּל־πάσαςיְמֵ֗יἡμέραςכּ֚וֹרֶשׁκύρουמֶ֣לֶךְβασιλέωςפָּרַ֔סπερσῶνוְעַד־ἕωςמַלְכ֖וּתβασιλείαςדָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁδαρείουמֶֽלֶךְ־βασιλέωςפָּרָֽס׃περσῶν

15 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q117a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[וסכרים] [עלי׳הם] [יועצים] [להפר] עצת׳ם [כל] [ימי] [כורש] [מלך] [פרס] [ועד] [מלכות] [דריוש] [מלך] [פרס]

1 word on the leather — 14 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Ezra 4:5סָכַרand [were] and [were] hiriסָכַרעַלon themon themעַליָעַץcounselorscounselorsיָעַץפָּרַרto frustratto frustrateפָּרַרעֵצָהpurpose thepurpose theirעֵצָהכֹּלallallכֹּליוֹם[the] days [the] days ofיוֹםכּוֹרֶשׁCyrusCyrusכּוֹרֶשׁמֶ֫לֶךְ[the] king [the] king ofמֶ֫לֶךְפָּרַסPersiaPersiaפָּרַסעַדand untiland untilעַדמַלְכוּת[the] reign[the] reign ofמַלְכוּתדָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁDariusDariusדָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁמֶ֫לֶךְ[the] king [the] king ofמֶ֫לֶךְפָּרַסPersiaPersiaפָּרַסמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְיָעַץto adviseto adviseיָעַץכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלכָּרָהto tradeto tradeכָּרָהשָׁכַרbe drunkbe drunkשָׁכַרעַלheightheightעַלאַבfatherfatherאַבעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדפָּרַסPersiaPersiaפָּרַסאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶלAhithophelAhithophelאֲחִיתֹ֫פֶלנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּראַשּׁוּרAsshurAsshurאַשּׁוּרכּוֹרֶשׁCyrusCyrusכּוֹרֶשׁמָדַיMedeMedeמָדַיבִּלְעָםBalaamBalaamבִּלְעָםכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאעֵצָהcounselcounselעֵצָה
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 Ezra 4:5

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 [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
וְסֹכְרִ֧יםve.so.khe.Rim and [were] hiring H7936 Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hire someone or be hired, as seen in the story of Jacob hiring himself out to Laban in Genesis 29. This word is about working for pay. It appears in various forms, such as earning wages or rewarding someone.
Amplified meaning
bribed, to persuade against
Tyndale gloss
to hire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סָכַר (sakar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to hire.' It can refer to hiring someone, hiring oneself out, or earning wages. The entries indicate its use primarily in the Qal stem, with a reference to Ezra 4:5. The word is built from a primitive root related to the concept of temporary purchase.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[סָכַר] vb. hire;—only Qal Ezr 4:5

ref

שָׂכַר vb. hire

Qal hire

Niph. hire oneself out

Hithp. earn wages

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7936a סָכַר hire H7936b שָׂכַר hire .hire

. hire oneself out

. earn wages

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7936 sakar saw-kar'

or (by permutation) cakar (Ezra 4:5) {saw-kar'}; a primitive

root (apparently akin (by prosthesis) to 3739 through the idea

of temporary purchase; compare 7937); to hire:--earn wages,

hire (out self), reward, X surely.

see HEBREW for 03739

see HEBREW for 07937

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָכַר (sa.khar) — to hire.

1) to hire

1a) (Qal) to hire

שָׂכַר (sa.khar) — to hire.

1) to hire

1a) (Qal) to hire

1b) (Niphal) to hire oneself out

1c) (Hithpael) to earn wages

Also means: sa.khar (סָכַר "to hire" H7936A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
HC/Vqrmpa
and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם'a.lei.Hem on them H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
יוֹעֲצִ֖יםyo.'a.Tzim counselors H3289 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
79× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to advise or counsel someone, like giving guidance or planning something. It is used in the Bible to describe people seeking advice or working together to make a plan. The KJV translates it as advise or counsel.
Amplified meaning
advisers, to frustrate plans
Tyndale gloss
to advise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָעַץ (ya`ats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to advise or counsel. It encompasses various forms, including advising, consulting, and deliberating, with nuances in different stems such as Qal, Niphal, and Hithpael. The word can also imply conspiracy in certain contexts. The entries suggest a focus on guidance and decision-making.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָעַץ vb. advise, counsel

Qal advise, counsel

Niph. consult together, exchange counsel

Hithp. conspire against

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3289 יָעַץ advise, counsel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3289 ya`ats yaw-ats'

a primitive root; to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or

resolve:--advertise, take advise, advise (well), consult,

(give, take) counsel(-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָעַץ (ya.ats) — to advise.

1) to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to advise, counsel, give counsel, consult

1a2) counsellor (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate, counsel together

1c) (Hithpael) to conspire

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural
HVqrmpa
and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
לְהָפֵ֣רle.ha.Fer to frustrate H6565 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To split or break something apart is the meaning of this word, often used figuratively to mean frustrate or violate. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
to break, thwart
Tyndale gloss
to break
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּרַר (pa.rar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to break or frustrate, with various forms indicating actions like splitting or dividing. It can refer to both literal and figurative breaking, such as violating or making something ineffective. The entries highlight different grammatical forms, including Hiphil and Qal, with uses in contexts like division or frustration.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּרַר] vb. Hiph. break, frustrate

Hoph.

be frustrated

be broken

Pilp. he hath shattered me.

base

[פָּרַר] vb. split, divide

Qal Hithpō‛. split or cracked through in the earth

Pō‛êl thou didst divide the sea.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6565a פָּרַר Hiph. break, frustrate H6565b פָּרַר split, divide

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6565 parar paw-rar'

a primitive root; to break up (usually figuratively, i.e. to

violate, frustrate:--X any ways, break (asunder), cast off,

cause to cease, X clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint,

dissolve, divide, make of none effect, fail, frustrate, bring

(come) to nought, X utterly, make void.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַר (pa.rar) — to break.

1) to break, frustrate

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to break, violate

1a2) to frustrate, make ineffectual

1b) (Hophal)

1b1) to be frustrated

1b2) to be broken

1b3) to break

1c) (Pilpel) to break to bits, shatter

Also means: pur (פּוּר "to break" H6331)

פָּרַר (pa.rar) — to split.

1) to split, divide

1a) (Qal) to split, crack through

1b) (Poel) to break apart

1c) (Hithpoel) to be split, be cracked through

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

frus'-trat (parar; atheteo): "Frustrate" (from frustra, "vain") is the translation of parar, "to break," "to make void," "to bring to nothing" (Ezr 4:5), "to frustrate their purpose" (Isa 44:25, "that frustrateth the signs of the liars"); of atheteo, "to displace," "to reject or make void or null": Ga 2:21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God" (by setting up the righteousness which is "through the law"), the Revised Version (British and American) "make void"; compare /APC 1Macc 11:36, "Nothing hereof shall be revoked," the Revised Version (British and American) "annulled" (atheteo).

Revised Version has "frustrateth" for "disappointeth" (Job 5:12, parar).

and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
עֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.Tam purpose their H6098 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
89× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means counsel or advice, implying a plan or purpose. It is used in the Bible when describing wise decision-making.
Amplified meaning
purposes, counsel
Tyndale gloss
counsel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵצָה (`etsah) refers to counsel or advice, and can also imply a plan or purpose. It is derived from a root meaning to advise or provide guidance. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts related to providing counsel or making decisions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵצָה n.f. counsel, advice

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6098 עֵצָה counsel, advice

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6098 `etsah ay-tsaw'

from 3289; advice; by implication, plan; also

prudence:--advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.

see HEBREW for 03289

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵצָה (e.tsah) — counsel.

counsel, advice, purpose

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3mp
and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
כָּל־kol- all H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

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

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

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

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

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

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

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

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

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

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
יְמֵ֗יye.Mei [the] days of H3117 Noun common · masculine plural construct
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
royal power, kingdom
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹם 2285 n.m. day

day, opp. night

Day as division of time

יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

Pl. days of anyone

Days

יוֹם = time

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night

. Day as division of time

. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

. Pl. days of anyone

. Days

. יוֹם = time

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3117 yowm yome

from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm

hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one

sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by

an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +

chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)

day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +

(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as

(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,

presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,

then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,

weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole

(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹם (yom) — day.

: day/when/time/period

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: old.

: old/(full/many)[days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: year.

: year[of_days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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 [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
כּ֚וֹרֶשׁKo.resh Cyrus H3566 Noun proper masculine
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Cyrus was a Persian king who allowed Israelite exiles to return to Jerusalem. He is first mentioned in 2 Chronicles 36:22. Cyrus means posses thou the furnace.
Amplified meaning
the Persian king, ruler
Tyndale gloss
Cyrus
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כוֹרֶשׁ (Kowresh) refers to Cyrus, the Persian king known for conquering Babylon and allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem. The entries highlight his significance during the Divided Monarchy, with mentions in 2 Chronicles 36:22 and Ezra 1:1-2. There is a note on the name's possible meaning, "posses thou the furnace," but no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כּ֫וֹרֶשׁ and כֹּ֫רֶשׁ n.pr.m. Cyrus—king of Persia, conqueror of Babylon, restorer of Jews to Palestine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3566 כּוֹרֶשׁ and כֹּרֶשׁ Cyrus

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3566 Kowresh ko'-resh

or (Ezra 1:1 (last time),2) Koresh {ko'-resh}; from the

Persians; Koresh (or Cyrus), the Persian king:--Cyrus.

see HEBREW for 02

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כּ֫וֹרֶשׁ (ko.resh) — Cyrus.

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ch.36.22;

son of: Gedaliah (H1436H)

Also named: ko.resh (כּ֫וֹרֶשׁ "Cyrus" H3567)

§ Cyrus = "posses thou the furnace"

the king of Persia and conqueror of Babylon; first ruler of Persia to make a decree allowing the Israelite exiles to return to Jerusalem

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

si'-rus (koresh; Old Persian Kurus; Babylonian Kur(r)as, Kur(r)asu; Greek Kuros, 2Ch 36:22, etc.):

1. Genealogy of Cyrus

2. His Country, Ansan or Anzan

3. His Origin (Herodotus)

4. His Origin (Xenophon)

5. His Origin (Nicolaus of Damascus)

6. His Origin (Ctesias)

7. Babylonian Records of His Reign--the Cylinder of Nabonidus 8. The Babylonian Chronicle

9. The Babylonian Chronicle--The Capture of Babylon

10. The Cylinder of Cyrus

11. Cyrus' History from Greek Sources

12. The Massagetae

13. The Sacae, Berbices, etc.

14. Doubt as to the Manner of His Death

15. Cyrus' Reputation

16. Why Did the Babylonians Accept Him?

17. Cyrus and the Jews

18. Cyrus in Persia--His Bas-relief

1. Genealogy of Cyrus:

The son of the earlier Cambyses, of the royal race of the Achemenians. His genealogy, as given by himself, is as follows: "I am Cyrus, king of the host, the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Cyrus

(Heb. Ko’resh), the celebrated “King of Persia” (Elam) who was conqueror of Babylon, and issued the decree of liberation to the Jews (Ezra 1:1, 2). He was the son of Cambyses, the prince of Persia, and was born about B.C. 599. In the year B.C. 559 he became king of Persia, the kingdom of Media being added to it partly by conquest. Cyrus was a great military leader, bent on universal conquest. Babylon fell before his army (B.C. 538) on the night of Belshazzar’s feast (Dan. 5:30), and then the ancient dominion of Assyria was also added to his empire (cf., “Go up, O Elam”, Isa.21:2).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(the sun), the founder of the Persian empire --see (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Daniel 6:28; 10:1,13) --was, according to the common legend, the son of Cambyses, a Persian of the royal family of the Achaemenidae. When he grew up to manhood his courage and genius placed him at the head of the Persians. His conquests were numerous and brilliant. He defeated and captured the Median king B.C. 559. In B.C. 546 (?) he defeated Croesus, and the kingdom of lydia was the prize of his success. Babylon fell before his army, and the ancient dominions of Assyria were added to his empire B.C. 538. The prophet Daniel’s home for a time was at his court. (Daniel 6:28) The edict of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple, (

and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
מֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekh [the] king of H4428 Noun common · masculine singular construct
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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 [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
פָּרַ֔סpa.Ras Persia H6539 Noun proper
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the ancient country of Persia, which included a vast territory from India to Egypt. The Bible mentions Persia in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, where it plays a significant role in the history of the Israelites.
Amplified meaning
the ancient empire, land
Tyndale gloss
Persia
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּרַס (Parac) refers to Persia, an ancient empire known for its vast territory stretching from India to Egypt and Thrace. The term is derived from a foreign origin and signifies the inhabitants of this region, the Persians. The name is associated with meanings like 'pure' or 'splendid'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּרַס 28 n.pr.terr. Persia

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6539 פָּרַס

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6539 Parac paw-ras'

of foreign origin; Paras (i.e. Persia), an Eastern country,

including its inhabitants:--Persia, Persians.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַס (pa.ras) — Persia.

§ Persia = "pure" or "splendid"

the empire Persia; encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south

Persia proper was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media, on the south by the Persian Gulf and on the east by Carmania

Persian, of Persia "pure" or "splendid"

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pur'-sha, (parats; Persia; in Assyrian Parsu, Parsua; in Achemenian Persian Parsa, modern Fars): In the Bible (2Ch 36:20,22,23; Ezr 1:1,8; Es 1:3,14,18; 10:2; Eze 27:10; 38:5; Da 8:20; 10:1; 11:2) this name denotes properly the modern province of Fars, not the whole Persian empire. The latter was by its people called Airyaria, the present Iran (from the Sanskrit word arya, "noble"); and even now the Persians never call their country anything but Iran, never "Persia." The province of Persis lay to the East of Elam (Susiana), and stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Great Salt Desert, having Carmania on the Southeast. Its…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Persia

An ancient empire, extending from the Indus to Thrace, and from the Caspian Sea to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The Persians were originally a Medic tribe which settled in Persia, on the eastern side of the Persian Gulf. They were Aryans, their language belonging to the eastern division of the Indo-European group. One of their chiefs, Teispes, conquered Elam in the time of the decay of the Assyrian Empire, and established himself in the district of Anzan. His descendants branched off into two lines, one line ruling in Anzan, while the other remained in Persia. Cyrus II., king of Anzan, finally united the divided power, conquered Media, Lydia, and Babylonia, and carried his arms into the far East. His son, Cambyses, added Egypt to the empire, which, however, fell to pieces after his death. It was reconquered and thoroughly organized by Darius, the son of Hystaspes, whose…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(pure, splended), Per’sians. Persia proper was a tract of no very large dimensions on the Persian Gulf, which is still known as Fars or Farsistan , a corruption of the ancient appellation. This tract was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media on the south by the Persian Gulf and on the east by Carmania. But the name is more commonly applied, both in Scripture and by profane authors to the entire tract which came by degrees to be included within the limits of the Persian empire. This empire extended at one time from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included. besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south. The only passage in Scripture where Persia designates the tract which has…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Hebrew Paras, Eze 27:10, a vast region in Asia, the southwestern province of which lying between ancient media on the north and the Persian Gulf on the south, appears to have been the ancient Persia, and is still called Pharsistan, or Fars. The Persians, who became so famous after Cyrus, the founder of their more extended monarchy, were anciently called Elamites; and later, in the time of the Roman emperors, Parthians. See PARTHIA.

The early history of the Persians, like that of most of the oriental nations, is involved in doubt and perplexity. Their descent is traced to Shem, through his son Elam, after whom they were originally named. It is probable that they enjoyed their independence for several ages, with a monarchical succession of their own; until they were subdued by the Assyrians and their country attached as a province…

and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
וְעַד־ve.'ad- and until H5704 Conjunction · preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Amplified meaning
until, as far as
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R
and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
מַלְכ֖וּתmal.Khut [the] reign of H4438 Noun common · feminine singular construct
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Royalty or royal power refers to the authority and dominion of a king or queen, like Solomon's reign in Israel. It can also mean the kingdom or territory ruled by a monarch. The word is used in the Bible to describe sovereign power and authority.
Amplified meaning
royalty, rule
Tyndale gloss
royalty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַלְכוּת (malkuwth) refers to concepts of royalty, royal power, reign, and kingdom. It is derived from the root meaning 'to rule' and encompasses ideas of dominion and sovereignty. The term appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, emphasizing authority and governance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְכוּת n.f. royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom

royal power, dominion

reign

kingdom, realm

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4438 מַלְכוּת royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4438 malkuwth mal-kooth'

or malkuth {mal-kooth'}; or (in plural) malkuyah

{mal-koo-yah'}; from 4427; a rule; concretely, a

dominion:--empire, kingdom, realm, reign, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְכוּת (mal.khut) — royalty.

1) royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power

1a) royal power, dominion

1b) reign

1c) kingdom, realm

Aramaic equivalent: mal.khu (מַלְכוּ "kingdom" H4437)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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 [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁda.re.Ya.vesh Darius H1867 Noun proper masculine
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Darius was a title given to several Persian kings, including Darius the Mede, who ruled after the fall of Babylon. He is mentioned in Daniel 5:31 and Ezra 4:5, where his role in the history of the Israelites is discussed. Darius means 'lord' in Hebrew.
Amplified meaning
the king's title, ruler
Tyndale gloss
Darius
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ (Dar'yavesh) refers to Darius, a title used for several Persian kings. The entries indicate that it is of Persian origin and means 'lord.' Notable figures include Darius the Mede, Darius the son of Hystaspes, and Darius III. The name appears in the context of the Exile and Return, with mentions in books like Nehemiah and Daniel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ n.pr.m. Darius

Darius Hystaspis, 522-485

Darius Codomannus, 336-332

‘Darius the Mede,’

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1867 דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ Darius

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1867 Dar`yavesh daw-reh-yaw-vaysh'

of Persian origin; Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of

several Persian kings:--Darius.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ (dar.ya.vesh) — Darius.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.12.22

§ Darius = "lord"

1) Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, king of the Chaldeans, who succeeded to the Babylonian kingdom on the death of Belshazzar; probably the same as "Astyages" the last king of the Medes (538 BC)

2) Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the founder of the Perso-Arian dynasty (521 BC)

3) Darius II or Darius III

3a) Darius II, Nothus (Ochus) was king of Persia during the time of Nehemiah (424/3-405/4 BC). Darius II is the most probable because he is mentioned by Nehemiah and ruled during the time of Nehemiah

3b) Darius III, Codomannus was king of Persia during its last years at the time of Alexander the Great and was his opponent (336-330 BC)

דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ (dar.ya.vesh) — Darius.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

da-ri'-us: The name of three or four kings mentioned in the Old Testament. In the original Persian it is spelled "Darayavaush"; in Babylonian, usually "Dariamush"; in Susian(?), "Tariyamaush"; in Egyptian "Antaryuash"; on Aramaic inscriptions, d-r-y-h-w-sh or d-r-y-w-h-w-sh; in Hebrew, dareyawesh; in Greek, Dareios; in Latin, "Darius." In meaning it is probably connected with the new Persian word Dara, "king." Herodotus says it means in Greek, Erxeies, coercitor, "restrainer," "compeller," "commander."

(1) Darius the Mede (Da 6:1; 11:1) was the son of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of the seed of the Medes (Da 9:1). He received the government of Belshazzar the Chaldean upon the death of that prince (Da 5:30,31; 6:1), and was made king over…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Darius

The holder or supporter, the name of several Persian kings. (1.) Darius the Mede (Dan. 11:1), “the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes” (9:1). On the death of Belshazzar the Chaldean he “received the kingdom” of Babylon as viceroy from Cyrus. During his brief reign (B.C. 538-536) Daniel was promoted to the highest dignity (Dan. 6:1, 2); but on account of the malice of his enemies he was cast into the den of lions. After his miraculous escape, a decree was issued by Darius enjoining “reverence for the God of Daniel” (6:26). This king was probably the “Astyages” of the Greek historians. Nothing can, however, be with certainty affirmed regarding him. Some are of opinion that the name “Darius” is simply a name of office, equivalent to “governor,” and that the “Gobryas” of…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(lord), the name of several kings of Media and Persia. DARIUS THE MEDE, (Daniel 6:1; 11:1) "the son of Ahasuerus," (Daniel 9:1) who succeeded to the Babylonian kingdom ont he death of Belshazzar, being then sixty-two years old. (Daniel 5:31; 9:1) (B.C. 538.) Only one year of his reign is mentioned, (Daniel 9:1; 11:1) but that was of great importance for the Jews. Daniel was advanced by the king to the highest dignity, (Daniel 6:1) ff., and in his reign was cast into the lions’ den. Dan. 6. This Darius is probably the same as "Astyages," the last king of the Medes. DARIUS, the son of Hystaspes the founder of the Perso-Arian…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. DARIUS THE MEDE

Da 5:31 9:1 11:1, was son of Astyages king of the Medes, and brother of Mandane mother of Cyrus, and of Amyit the mother of Evil-merodach and grandmother of Belshazzar: thus he was uncle, by the mother’s side, to Evil-merodach and to Cyrus. The Hebrew generally calls him Darius; the Septuagint, Artaxerxes; and Xenophon, Cyaxares. Darius dethroned Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans, and occupied the throne till his death two years after, when it reverted to the illustrious Cyrus. In his reign Daniel was cast into the lion’s den, Da 6:1-28.

2. DARIUS HYSTASPIS

Spoken of in Ezr 4:1-7:28, Haggai, and Zechariah, as the king who renewed the permission to rebuild the temple, given to the Jews by Cyrus and afterwards…

and [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
מֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh- [the] king of H4428 Noun common · masculine singular construct
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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 [were] hiring on them counselors to frustrate purpose their all [the] days of Cyrus [the] king of Persia and until [the] reign of Darius [the] king of Persia
פָּרָֽס׃pa.Ras Persia H6539 Noun proper
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the ancient country of Persia, which included a vast territory from India to Egypt. The Bible mentions Persia in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, where it plays a significant role in the history of the Israelites.
Amplified meaning
the land, territory
Tyndale gloss
Persia
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּרַס (Parac) refers to Persia, an ancient empire known for its vast territory stretching from India to Egypt and Thrace. The term is derived from a foreign origin and signifies the inhabitants of this region, the Persians. The name is associated with meanings like 'pure' or 'splendid'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּרַס 28 n.pr.terr. Persia

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6539 פָּרַס

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6539 Parac paw-ras'

of foreign origin; Paras (i.e. Persia), an Eastern country,

including its inhabitants:--Persia, Persians.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַס (pa.ras) — Persia.

§ Persia = "pure" or "splendid"

the empire Persia; encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south

Persia proper was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media, on the south by the Persian Gulf and on the east by Carmania

Persian, of Persia "pure" or "splendid"

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pur'-sha, (parats; Persia; in Assyrian Parsu, Parsua; in Achemenian Persian Parsa, modern Fars): In the Bible (2Ch 36:20,22,23; Ezr 1:1,8; Es 1:3,14,18; 10:2; Eze 27:10; 38:5; Da 8:20; 10:1; 11:2) this name denotes properly the modern province of Fars, not the whole Persian empire. The latter was by its people called Airyaria, the present Iran (from the Sanskrit word arya, "noble"); and even now the Persians never call their country anything but Iran, never "Persia." The province of Persis lay to the East of Elam (Susiana), and stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Great Salt Desert, having Carmania on the Southeast. Its…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Persia

An ancient empire, extending from the Indus to Thrace, and from the Caspian Sea to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The Persians were originally a Medic tribe which settled in Persia, on the eastern side of the Persian Gulf. They were Aryans, their language belonging to the eastern division of the Indo-European group. One of their chiefs, Teispes, conquered Elam in the time of the decay of the Assyrian Empire, and established himself in the district of Anzan. His descendants branched off into two lines, one line ruling in Anzan, while the other remained in Persia. Cyrus II., king of Anzan, finally united the divided power, conquered Media, Lydia, and Babylonia, and carried his arms into the far East. His son, Cambyses, added Egypt to the empire, which, however, fell to pieces after his death. It was reconquered and thoroughly organized by Darius, the son of Hystaspes, whose…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(pure, splended), Per’sians. Persia proper was a tract of no very large dimensions on the Persian Gulf, which is still known as Fars or Farsistan , a corruption of the ancient appellation. This tract was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media on the south by the Persian Gulf and on the east by Carmania. But the name is more commonly applied, both in Scripture and by profane authors to the entire tract which came by degrees to be included within the limits of the Persian empire. This empire extended at one time from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included. besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south. The only passage in Scripture where Persia designates the tract which has…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Hebrew Paras, Eze 27:10, a vast region in Asia, the southwestern province of which lying between ancient media on the north and the Persian Gulf on the south, appears to have been the ancient Persia, and is still called Pharsistan, or Fars. The Persians, who became so famous after Cyrus, the founder of their more extended monarchy, were anciently called Elamites; and later, in the time of the Roman emperors, Parthians. See PARTHIA.

The early history of the Persians, like that of most of the oriental nations, is involved in doubt and perplexity. Their descent is traced to Shem, through his son Elam, after whom they were originally named. It is probable that they enjoyed their independence for several ages, with a monarchical succession of their own; until they were subdued by the Assyrians and their country attached as a province…

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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