Menu

Genesis 12:2 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃

BSAI will makeʻâsâh [create, bring into existence] you into a greatgâdôwl [large, powerful, esteemed] nationgôwy and I will bless youbârak [praise, honor, bestow good things upon] I will make your nameshêm [exalt, magnify, reputation, character, identity] greatgâdal [renowned, respected] so that you will behâyâh [become, exist as] a blessingBᵉrâkâh [gift from God, source of prosperity]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 12
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 (be.ra.Khah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 12:2quick helps
In a sentenceGod promises Abram that he will become a great nation and be blessed.
Who is speakingThe LORD, addressing Abram.
Where we areIn the context of God's covenant with Abram.
The hard wordגָּד֔וֹל
Take awayThe promise includes both personal blessing and a broader impact.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 — Genesis 12:2

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 — The Call of Abramgenerated

1Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
2I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you. ”
4So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Genesis 12:2 is part of God's call to Abram, where He outlines the blessings that will come to Abram and through him to others. This promise marks a significant moment in biblical history, as it sets the stage for the development of the nation of Israel and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Abram's lineage.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 13:16I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
2Genesis 15:5And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
3Genesis 17:5–6No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
4Genesis 18:18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
5Genesis 22:17–18I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 27 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙, ve.'e.'es.Khagenerated

The verb עָשָׂה (asah) means to make or do, indicating the act of bringing something into existence. It is a foundational term in Hebrew, used to describe God's creative actions and human endeavors alike.

In this verse, it emphasizes God's active role in shaping Abram's identity and destiny. The use of the first person singular indicates a direct promise from God to Abram, highlighting the personal nature of this covenant.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase make you into a great nation.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb אֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ governs the entire verse, indicating what God will do for Abram. The structure is straightforward, with a series of clauses detailing the promises made.

The sentence flows logically, presenting a sequence of actions: making Abram a great nation, blessing him, and magnifying his name, culminating in the purpose of being a blessing.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עָשָׂה as σε, indicating a direct address to Abram. This choice highlights the personal nature of the promise.

The Greek word ἔθνος for גּוֹי also signifies a nation, maintaining the original intent of God's promise to Abram.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 12:2 shows God's promise to Abram that he will become a great nation and be blessed. This verse emphasizes the significance of Abram's future and the blessings that will flow from him to others.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for Abram to become a great nation?

It signifies that Abram's descendants will grow into a significant people, playing a crucial role in God's plan.

How does God bless Abram?

God's blessing involves favor, protection, and the promise of prosperity for Abram and his descendants.

What is the significance of Abram's name being made great?

A great name indicates honor and respect, not just for Abram himself, but for his legacy and the nation that will arise from him.

What does it mean to be a blessing?

To be a blessing means that Abram will be a source of good and prosperity for others, reflecting God's favor.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen God's blessings in my life?
  2. How can I be a blessing to others in my community?
  3. What does it mean to me to have a 'great name' in my own life?
  4. How can I trust in God's promises as Abram did?

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

Early commentators like Didymus the Blind and John Chrysostom reflect on the significance of God's promises to Abram, emphasizing their literal fulfillment and the extraordinary nature of the blessings bestowed.

Didymus the BlindON Genesis 210-11 c. 313–398
As for the promise to make of him “a great nation,” is it necessary to give a meaning other than the literal one? Because it is clear that it was realized in its historical sense.
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 12 →
John ChrysostomHOMILIES ON Genesis 31.13 c. 347–407
The scope of the promise is extraordinary: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and magnify your name.” Not only will I place you at the head of a great nation and cause your name to be great, but as well, “I will bless you,
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 12 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 12:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And I will make of thee a great nation,.... In a literal sense, as the people of the Jews were that descended from him, and in a spiritual sense believers in all ages and of all nations, that walk in

Read John Gill on Genesis 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: I will make of thee a great nation.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 12 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I will bless thee with all my blessings, spiritual, temporal, and eternal; and thou shalt be, both a pattern and instrument of blessedness to others; to thy posterity, who shall be blessed for thy sake; to thy servants and friends, who shall be blessed by thy instruction and help; and to all the world, as it follows.

Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:Ver. 2. And I will make of thee a great nation.] Why then should the scornful Jews call us nations or Gentiles in contempt? yea, heathen bastards, heathen dogs, as they do at this day? Surely, either themselves are of this great Goi or nation here mentioned, or else they have not Abraham to their father; choose them which. I will bless thee.] As a father his children, with all spiritual comforts, and earthly contentments; with the blessings of the right hand, and of the left; with "the upper and nether springs," as Caleb blessed his daughter Achsah. "He will give…

Read John Trapp on Genesis 12 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2, 3) Thou shalt be a blessing.—More correctly, Be thou a blessing. The promises made to Abram are partly personal and partly universal, embracing the whole world. In return for all that he abandons he is to become the founder of a powerful nation, who will honour his name, and teach the inheritors of their spiritual privileges to share in their veneration for him. But in the command to “be” or “become a blessing,” we reach a higher level, and it is the glory of Abram’s faith that it was not selfish, and in return for his consenting to lead the life of a stranger, he was to be the means of procuring religious privileges, not only for his own descendants, but also “for all families of the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 12 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 2. I will make of thee a great nation] i.e., The Jewish people; and make thy name great, alluding to the change of his name from Abram, a high father, to Abraham, the father of a multitude.

Read AdamClarke on Genesis 12 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. The promise, (1) of national greatness, (2) of personal privilege, embraces a double relation, to the world and to the individual. a great nation] This thought stands in the forefront. The personal aspect of the promise made to Abram is from the first merged in the thought of its historic influence throughout the ages. I will bless thee] The experience of happiness in the personal relation to Jehovah is to be the pledge of the ultimate fulfilment of blessing to the world. make thy name great] Contrast Genesis 11:4. The blessing of Abram, in its spiritual influence upon the world, will be of more enduring renown than any of the material forces of the world. be thou a blessing] i.e. one…

Read Cambridge on Genesis 12 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2. I will make of thee a great nation — Great promises correspond with the great sacrifices commanded. 1) He left his nation, but should himself be the founder of a great nation.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 12 →

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

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:

RVARevised Version, American1894

and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And I will make of thee a great nation, and will blesse thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I will make of thee a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I make you become a great nation, and bless you, and make your name great; and be a blessing.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I will make you the ancestor of a great nation and I will bless you. I will make sure you have a great reputation and that you are a blessing to others.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And I will make of you a great nation, blessing you and making your name great; and you will be a blessing:

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.

וְandclauseverbאֶֽעֶשְׂIobjectךָ֙will.make.youprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְintonoun phraseג֣וֹיa.nationגָּד֔וֹלgreatוַandclauseverbאֲבָ֣רֶכְIobjectךָ֔will.bless.youוַandclauseverbאֲגַדְּלָ֖הI.will.make.greatnoun phrase · objectשְׁמֶ֑nameךָyourוֶandclauseverbהְיֵ֖הbeobjectבְּרָכָֽהa.blessing

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 Genesis 12:2 states, "וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃" The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in that all eight words match in meaning, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs from the Masoretic Text by using the word "הוי" (become) instead of the Masoretic "אֶֽעֶשְׂךָ" (I will make you), indicating a slight variation in the translation of the verb.

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

וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙σεלְג֣וֹיἔθνοςגָּד֔וֹלμέγαוַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔σεוַאֲגַדְּלָ֖הμεγαλυνῶשְׁמֶ֑ךָσουוֶהְיֵ֖הἔσῃבְּרָכָֽה׃εὐλογητός

8 of the 8 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ואעשׂך לגוי גדול ואברכך ואגדלה שׁמך והוי ברכה

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: הוי (become)

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.

Genesis 12:2עָשָׂהso I may maso I may make yעָשָׂהגּוֹיinto a natiinto a nationגּוֹיגָּדוֹלgreatgreatגָּדוֹלבָּרַךְand I will and I will blesבָּרַךְגָּדַלand I will and I will makeגָּדַלשֵׁםname yourname yourשֵׁםהָיָהand you beand you beהָיָהבְּרָכָהa blessinga blessingבְּרָכָהגָּדַלto magnifyto magnifyגָּדַלשׂוּםto set: mato set: makeשׂוּםבָּרַךְto blessto blessבָּרַךְגֵּוָהbackbackגֵּוָהגְּדִלִיםtasseltasselגְּדִלִיםהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהעָצוּםmightymightyעָצוּםמַמְלָכָהkingdomkingdomמַמְלָכָהקָטָןsmallsmallקָטָןמְאֹדmuchmuchמְאֹדאָרַרto curseto curseאָרַריֶ֫לֶדyouthyouthיֶ֫לֶדתָּמִידcontinuallcontinuallyתָּמִידקָרָאto call: cto call: call tקָרָאיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהקְלָלָהcursecurseקְלָלָה
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 Genesis 12:2

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.

so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ve.'e.'es.Kha so I may make you H6213 Conjunction · verb qal first person common singular · suffix
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
create, bring into existence
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cs | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal first person common singular · suffix
HC/Vqu1cs/Sp2ms
so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
לְג֣וֹיle.Goy into a nation H1471 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
561× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Tyndale gloss
Gentile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גּוֹי (goy) refers to a nation or people, often indicating non-Hebrew groups, but can also encompass descendants of Abraham and Israel. It may figuratively describe a swarm of locusts or animals. The plural form, גּוֹיִם (goyim), is noted as a proper noun referring to the people of Goim, specifically mentioned in Genesis 14:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גּוֹי 661 n.m. nation, people

base

גּוֹיִם n.pr.gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1471a גּוֹי nation, people H1471b גּוֹיִם n. pr. gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1471 gowy go'-ee

rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same

root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation;

hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a

flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

see HEBREW for 01465

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גּוֹי (goy) — nation.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

גּוֹיִם (go.yim) — Goiim.

People descended from Goy(?), first mentioned at Gen.14.1

§ Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

גּוֹי (goy) — Gentile.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

1c) Goyim? = "nations"

Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)

גּוֹי (goy) — (Harosheth)-hagoyim.

Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

Combined with cha.ro.shet (חֲרֹ֫שֶׁת "Harosheth" H2800)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Sins of Isa 30:1,2

→ Chastised Isa 14:26,27; Jer 5:29; 18:6-10; 25:12-33; Eze 2:3-5; 39:23,24; Da 7:9-12; 9:3-16; Ho 7:12; Joe 1:1-20; Am 9:9; Zep 3:6,8

→ Perish Ps 9:17; Isa 60:12

so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
גָּד֔וֹלga.Dol great H1419 Adj
526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Amplified meaning
large, powerful, esteemed
Tyndale gloss
Great (Sea)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great

in magnitude and extent

in number

in intensity

in sound, loud

in age

in importance

in phrases

cstr.

as subst. concr. do great things

† as subst. neut. greatness of arm

base

הַגְּדוֹלִים n.pr.m. father of Zabdiel Ne 11:14 (RV & so most; but 𝔊 RVm al. the great).

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent

. in number

. in intensity

. in sound, loud

. in age

. in importance

. in phrases

. cstr.

. as subst. concr. do great things

. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm

H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1419 gadowl gaw-dole'

or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any

sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +

exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,

thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,

proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.

see HEBREW for 01431

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

1e) older (in age)

1f) in importance

1f1) important things

1f2) great, distinguished (of men)

1f3) God Himself (of God)

subst

1g) great things

1h) haughty things

1i) greatness

Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14

§ Haggedolim = "the great one"

(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).

adj

great

Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.

adj

1) great

1a) large (in magnitude and extent)

1b) in number

1c) in intensity

1d) loud (in sound)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔va.'a.Va.rekh.kha and I will bless you H1288 Conjunction · verb piel first person common singular · suffix
330× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To bless means to praise or honor God, often by kneeling in worship. In the Bible, people bless God and God blesses people, showing favor and care for them, as seen in the story of Abraham and his descendants.
Amplified meaning
praise, honor, bestow good things upon
Tyndale gloss
to bless
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּרַךְ (*barak*) is built from a primitive root meaning 'to kneel' and encompasses a range of meanings including 'to bless' and 'to curse.' It can refer to blessing God or men, as well as the act of kneeling in adoration. The entries note that it can also imply a curse in certain contexts, reflecting a nuanced use in greetings and farewells.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּרַךְ] 329 vb. kneel, bless

Qal

kneel down

bless

Niph. bless oneself

Pi.

bless God, adore with bended knees

God blesses

men bless men

salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing

bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates

Pu.

pass. to be blessed, adored

prospered by God

have prosperity invoked, by Balaam

in gratitude

Hiph. and he made his camel kneel

Hithp. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1288 בָּרַךְ kneel, bless .. kneel down

. bless

. bless oneself

. . bless God, adore with bended knees

. God blesses

. men bless men

. salute, greet, with an invocation of blessing

. bless, with the antithetical meaning curse from the greeting in departing, saying adieu to, taking leave of; but rather a blessing overdone and so really a curse as in vulgar English as well as in the Shemitic cognates

. . pass. to be blessed, adored

. prospered by God

. have prosperity invoked, by Balaam

. in gratitude

. and he made his camel kneel

. bless oneself, congratulate oneself in his heart

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1288 barak baw-rak'

a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as

an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit);

also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):--X

abundantly, X altogether, X at all, blaspheme, bless,

congratulate, curse, X greatly, X indeed, kneel (down),

praise, salute, X still, thank.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּרַךְ (ba.rakh) — to bless.

1) to bless, kneel

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to kneel

1a2) to bless

1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself

1c) (Piel) to bless

1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored

1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel

1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself

2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse

Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-1cs | Suff — Conjunction · verb piel first person common singular · suffix
HC/Vpu1cs/Sp2ms
so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖הva.'a.ga.de.Lah and I will make great H1431 Conjunction · verb piel infinitive construct first person common singular
117× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To make something or someone great, important, or powerful. This Hebrew word means to magnify or grow, and is used in the Bible to describe God's power and greatness. The KJV translates it as 'magnify' or 'great'.
Amplified meaning
renowned, respected
Tyndale gloss
to magnify
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּדַל (gadal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to grow up or become great. It encompasses a range of meanings including to magnify, promote, and make powerful. The word has various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of growth and greatness. Notably, it can also imply self-magnification.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּדַל 115 vb. grow up, become great

Qal

grow up

become great

to be magnified

Pi.

cause to grow

make great, powerful

magnify

Pu. brought up

Hiph.

make great

magnify

do great things

Hithp. I will magnify myself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1431 גָּדַל grow up, become great .. grow up

. become great

. to be magnified

. . cause to grow

. make great, powerful

. magnify

. brought up

. . make great

. magnify

. do great things

. I will magnify myself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1431 gadal gaw-dal'

a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare 1434), i.e. to

be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body,

mind, estate or honor, also in pride):--advance, boast, bring

up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax),

great(-er, come to...estate, + things), grow(up),increase,

lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass,

promote, proudly (spoken), tower.

see HEBREW for 01434

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּדַל (ga.dal) — to magnify.

1) to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to grow up

1a2) to become great

1a3) to be magnified

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cause to grow

1b2) to make great, powerful

1b3) to magnify

1c) (Pual) to be brought up

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to make great

1d2) to magnify

1d3) to do great things

1e) (Hithpael) to magnify oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb piel infinitive construct first person common singular
HC/Vpc1cs
so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
שְׁמֶ֑ךָshe.Me.kha name your H8034 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
864× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a name represents a person's identity, honor, and character, like God's name symbolizing His power and authority. It appears in Genesis and other books, often referring to God's name or a person's reputation. This concept is central to understanding biblical identity.
Amplified meaning
exalt, magnify, reputation, character, identity
Tyndale gloss
name
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)

of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it

usu. of pers.

= reputation

esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons

name, as designation of God

of false gods, use forbidden

= memorial, monument

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8034 shem shame

a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea

of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an

appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by

implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,

(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.

see HEBREW for 07760

see HEBREW for 08064

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁם (shem) — name.

1) name

1a) name

1b) reputation, fame, glory

1c) the Name (as designation of God)

1d) memorial, monument

Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2ms
so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
וֶהְיֵ֖הveh.Yeh and you be H1961 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Amplified meaning
become, exist as
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular
HC/Vqv2ms
so I may make you into a nation great and I will bless you and I will make great name your and you be a blessing
בְּרָכָֽה׃be.ra.Khah a blessing H1293 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
69× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a blessing is a gift from God, bringing prosperity and praise. It appears in Genesis and Psalms, where people bless God and each other. This concept is central to Jewish and Christian traditions.
Amplified meaning
gift from God, source of prosperity
Tyndale gloss
blessing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּרָכָה (berakah) means 'blessing' and encompasses a range of meanings including prosperity, praise of God, gifts, and treaties of peace. It is derived from the root word for 'to bless.' The entries highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּרָכָה n.f. blessing

blessing

source of blessing

blessing, prosperity

blessing, praise of God

a gift, present

treaty of peace

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1293 בְּרָכָה blessing

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1293 Brakah ber-aw-kaw'

from 1288; benediction; by implication prosperity:--blessing,

liberal, pool, present.

see HEBREW for 01288

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּרָכָה (be.ra.khah) — blessing.

1) blessing

2) (source of) blessing

3) blessing, prosperity

4) blessing, praise of God

5) a gift, present

6) treaty of peace

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(berakhah; eulogia): Sometimes means the form of words used in invoking the bestowal of good, as in De 33:1; Jos 8:34; and Jas 3:10. Sometimes it means the good or the benefit itself which has been conferred, as in Ge 27:36, "Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?" and Pr 10:22, "The blessing of Yahweh, it maketh rich." "The cup of blessing" (to poterion tes eulogias, a special use of the word in 1Co 10:16), means the cup for which we bless God, or which represents to us so much blessin g from God.

James M. Gray

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Referring both to God and to man. When God blesses, he bestows that efficacy which renders his blessing effectual. His blessings are either temporal or spiritual, bodily or mental; but in every thing they really convey the good which they import, Nu 6:23-27. The blessings of men to other men, unless they be inspired prophecies, as in Ge 32:32 De 33:1 1:1-29, are only good wishes, personal or official, and as it were a peculiar kind of prayer to the Author of all good for the welfare of the subject of them. Blessing, on the part of man towards God, is an act of thanks-giving for his mercies, Ps 103:1; or rather, for that special mercy which at the time occasions the act of…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ For blessing before eating, see PRAYER

→ See THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER BEFORE TAKING FOOD

→ See also BENEDICTIONS

→ RESPONSIVE BLESSINGS OF THE LAW De 28:1-14

For the responsive curses of the law, see CURSE

→ CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE Ex 15:26; 19:5; 20:6; 23:22; Le 26:3-43; De 4:1,40; 5:10,29; 7:9,12-15; 11:26-28; 12:28; 15:4,5; 28:1-14; 29:9; 30:1-10,15-20; Jos 1:8; 1Ki 2:3,4; 3:14; 8:23; 9:3-9; 1Ch 22:13; 28:7,8; 2Ch 7:17-22; 26:5; 27:6; 30:9; 31:10;

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate