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Genesis 16:9 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה שׁ֖וּבִי אֶל־ גְּבִרְתֵּ֑ךְ וְהִתְעַנִּ֖י תַּ֥חַת יָדֶֽיהָ׃

BSASo the angelmălʼâk [messenger, representative] of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] toldʼâmar Returnshûwb [to turn back, to come back] toʼêl your mistressgᵉbereth [lady, woman of high social status] and submitʻânâh [be occupied, humble yourself] to her authoritytachath [under her hands, in her power]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 16
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 9 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 (ya.Dei.ha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 16:9quick helps
In a sentenceThe angel of the LORD instructs Hagar to return to her mistress and submit to her authority.
Who is speakingThe angel of the LORD, acting as God's messenger.
Where we areThis verse occurs during Hagar's encounter with the angel after fleeing from Sarai.
The hard wordמַלְאַךְ
Take awayHagar is called to humility and obedience in her difficult situation.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbאָמַר 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 16:9

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 Encounter with Hagargenerated

8“Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.
9So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.”
10Then the angel added, “I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they will be too numerous to count.”
11The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.

Genesis 16:9 describes the moment when the angel of the LORD speaks to Hagar, who is fleeing from her mistress Sarai. The angel's message emphasizes the importance of returning and submitting, highlighting themes of authority and humility. This passage illustrates God's care for Hagar and His desire for order in relationships, even in challenging circumstances.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ecclesiastes 10:4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
2Ephesians 5:21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
3Ephesians 6:5–6Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
4Titus 2:9Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
51 Peter 2:18–25Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.

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


The Key Word מַלְאַךְ, mal.'Akhgenerated

The word מַלְאַךְ (mal'ak) means 'messenger' and often refers to an angel or representative of God. It carries the connotation of being sent to deliver a message or carry out a task on behalf of another.

In this verse, the angel acts as God's messenger, conveying His will to Hagar. The use of this term underscores the divine authority behind the instruction given to her.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree in rendering the key phrase as 'angel of the LORD.' The BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all use similar phrasing, emphasizing the divine authority of the messenger.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is וַיֹּ֤אמֶר, and he said, which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes a direct command to Hagar, with two imperative verbs following: שׁ֖וּבִי, return, and הִתְעַנִּ֖י, humble yourself.

The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the angel's command, highlighting the importance of Hagar's return and submission.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מַלְאַךְ as ἄγγελος (angelos), maintaining the meaning of 'messenger.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew, emphasizing the role of the angel as a divine envoy.

The Greek term used for 'submit' is ταπεινώθητι (), which carries a similar connotation of humility and subjection, reflecting the intent of the original Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 16:9 shows the angel of the LORD telling Hagar to return to her mistress Sarai and to submit to her authority. This instruction highlights the themes of obedience and humility in her difficult situation.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the angel mean by 'submit to her authority'?

The angel is instructing Hagar to humble herself and accept her position under Sarai, emphasizing the importance of order and respect in relationships.

Why is Hagar being told to return?

Hagar is being instructed to return to Sarai to fulfill her role and responsibilities, which is part of God's plan for her life.

What can we learn from Hagar's situation?

Hagar's experience teaches us about the importance of humility and obedience, even in challenging circumstances, and how God cares for those in difficult situations.

How does this verse reflect God's authority?

The angel of the LORD speaks on God's behalf, demonstrating that His authority extends to all aspects of life, including personal relationships and social structures.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I practice humility in my own life?
  2. How do I respond to authority figures in my life?
  3. What does it mean to submit to someone else's authority?
  4. How can I seek God's guidance in difficult relationships?

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

The early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss themes of authority and humility in the context of God's guidance and the law.

Didymus the BlindON Genesis 244 c. 313–398
The literal sense is clear enough. From the point of view of allegory, it is suggested that even in the case of one who has done a purposeless act that he believes to be obligatory for those who revere the shadow of the law and who is in a…
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 16 →
Cyril of AlexandriaGLAPHYRA ON GENESIS, 3.79.9 c. 376–444
As in concrete image, we see here foreshadowed the fact that once the Emmanuel has appeared and his mystery has been shown to the world, the types of the Mosaic cult necessarily disappear, giving way to the evangelical teachings,
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 16 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 16:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the angel of the Lord said unto her,.... The same angel; though Jarchi thinks that one angel after another was sent, and that at every speech there was a fresh angel; and because this phrase is

Read John Gill on Genesis 16 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. Return to thy mistress, and, submit thyself under her hands.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 16 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 16:9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.Ver. 9. Return to thy mistress.] When now she had smarted, she is in case to be counselled. There is great skill in the choice of a fit time for admonition. It is not to give a man a purge in a fever-fit. Submit thyself.] Heb., Afflict thyself, or suffer thyself to be afflicted or humbled under her hands. The like counsel is given us all by St James, "Be afflicted, and weep, and mourn," &c, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and he will lift you up"

Read John Trapp on Genesis 16 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Submit thyself.—Heb., humble thyself. It is the verb translated dealt hardly in Genesis 16:6. The angel therefore commands her to take the position which Sarai was forcing upon her; and by so doing proves to us that there had been no personal maltreatment. Commentators have taken this notion, not from the Hebrew, but from the English Version.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 16 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9. And the angel of the Lord said] Notice the triple repetition of these sayings of the Angel in Genesis 16:9-11, containing in Genesis 16:9 the injunction to return and submit, in Genesis 16:10 the promise of a multitude of descendants, and in Genesis 16:11-12 the name and character of her future son. Genesis 16:9-10 both begin with the same words as Genesis 16:11, and probably are editorial additions from different versions of the story.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 16 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

9. Return… submit — The only way to attain the true freedom and independence. The word rendered submit thyself is the Hithpael form of the verb rendered dealt hardly in Genesis 16:6.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 16 →

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

So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then the Lord’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the angel of the LORD said to her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then the Angel of the Lord saide to her, Returne to thy dame, and humble thy selfe vnder her hands.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the Angel of Jehovah said to her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the messenger of Jehovah saith to her, 'Turn back unto thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hands;'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the Messenger of YHWH says to her, “Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hands”;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The angel of Yahweh said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the angel of the Lord said to her: Return to thy mistress, and humble thyself under her hand.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

“Go back to your mistress and do what she tells you,” the angel of the Lord told her.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the angel said to her, Go back, and put yourself under her authority.

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.

וַandclauseverbיֹּ֤אמֶרhe.saidprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoהּ֙hernoun phrase · subjectמַלְאַ֣ךְthe.angelיְהוָ֔הof.Yahwehclauseclauseverbשׁ֖וּבִיreturnprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseגְּבִרְתֵּ֑mistressךְyourוְandclauseverbהִתְעַנִּ֖יhumble.yourselfprepositional phrase · prepositionalתַּ֥חַתundernoun phraseיָדֶֽיhandsהָher

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 closely in wording, with the Septuagint providing a direct translation of the Hebrew. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using גברתיך for 'mistress' and ידה for 'hands,' indicating variations in the text tradition.

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

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה שׁ֖וּבִי אֶל־ גְּבִרְתֵּ֑ךְ וְהִתְעַנִּ֖י תַּ֥חַת יָדֶֽיהָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרεἶπενלָהּ֙αὐτῇמַלְאַ֣ךְἄγγελοςיְהוָ֔הκυρίουשׁ֖וּבִיἀποστράφητιאֶל־πρὸςגְּבִרְתֵּ֑ךְσουוְהִתְעַנִּ֖יταπεινώθητιתַּ֥חַתὑπὸיָדֶֽיהָ׃τὰς

10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויאמר לה מלאך יהוה שׁובי אל גברתיך והתעני תחת ידה

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: גברתיך (lady), ידה (hand)

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 16:9אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַרהָto herto herהָמַלְאָךְ[the] angel[the] angel ofמַלְאָךְיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהשׁוּבreturnreturnשׁוּבאֶלtotoאֶלגְּבֶ֫רֶתmistress yomistress yourגְּבֶ֫רֶתעָנָהand humble and humble yourעָנָהתַּחַתunderunderתַּחַתיָדhands herhands herיָדהָיָהto beto beהָיָהעוּןto dwellto dwellעוּןכַּףpalmpalmכַּףגְּבִירlordlordגְּבִירתּוֹחַתּוֹחַכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/GodיהוהמָנוֹחַManoahManoahמָנוֹחַשָׁלַחto send: dto send: departשָׁלַחנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫השִׁפְחָהmaidservanmaidservantשִׁפְחָהאָדוֹןlordlordאָדוֹןצוֹםfastfastצוֹם
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 16:9

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 he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
לָהּ֙lah to her H9034 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָ (ha) — her.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3fs
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
מַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'Akh [the] angel of H4397 Noun common · masculine singular construct
214× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A messenger or representative, often of God, like an angel, prophet, or priest, as seen in Isaiah 42:19 and Haggai 1:13, carrying out God's will.
Amplified meaning
messenger, representative
Tyndale gloss
messenger
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַלְאָךְ (mal'ak) means 'messenger' and can refer to an angel, particularly as a messenger of God. It is derived from a root meaning to dispatch as a deputy and encompasses roles such as ambassador, prophet, and teacher. The term is used in contexts that include divine communication.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַלְאָךְ 214 n.m. messenger

messenger

angel, as messenger of God

the theophanic angel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4397 מַלְאָךְ messenger . messenger

. angel, as messenger of God

. the theophanic angel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4397 mal'ak mal-awk'

from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a

messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a

prophet, priest or teacher):--ambassador, angel, king,

messenger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger.

: messenger

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) — messenger: angel.

: angel

1) messenger, representative

1a) messenger

1b) angel

1c) the theophanic angel

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 he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
יְהוָ֔הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
שׁ֖וּבִיShu.vi return H7725 Verb · Qal · imperative second person feminine singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
to turn back, to come back
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2fs — Verb · Qal · imperative second person feminine singular
HVqv2fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
גְּבִרְתֵּ֑ךְge.vir.Tekh mistress your H1404 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means 'lady' or 'mistress', referring to a woman of high social status, such as a queen or the mistress of a household. It is used to describe women like the Queen of Sheba or the mistress of a large estate.
Amplified meaning
lady, woman of high social status
Tyndale gloss
lady
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גְּבֶ֫רֶת (gbereth) refers to a lady or queen and can also mean a mistress of servants. It is a feminine form derived from another Hebrew word, גֶּבֶר (geber), which relates to strength or manhood. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to female authority and status.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גְּבֶ֫רֶת n.f.

lady, queen

mistress of servants

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1404 גְּבֶ֫רֶת . lady, queen

. mistress of servants

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1404 gbereth gheb-eh'-reth

feminine of 1376; mistress:--lady, mistress.

see HEBREW for 01376

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גְּבֶ֫רֶת (ge.ve.ret) — lady.

1) lady, queen

2) mistress (of servants)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2fs
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
וְהִתְעַנִּ֖יve.hit.'a.Ni and humble yourself H6031 Conjunction · verb hithpael imperative second person feminine singular
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To afflict or oppress someone, making them feel low or depressed. In the Bible, it can also mean to humble oneself, as seen in Psalm 35:13. It involves being put down or becoming weak.
Amplified meaning
be occupied, humble yourself
Tyndale gloss
be occupied
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנָה (anah) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings related to affliction and humility. It can denote being occupied, as well as being bowed down, depressed, or afflicted. The word has various forms, including ways to humble oneself or to afflict others, and it appears in contexts of discipline and humility, particularly in relation to fasting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָנָה] vb. be occupied, busied with

base

[עָנָה] vb. be bowed down, afflicted

Qal

be put down or become low, of song of triumph

be depressed, downcast

be afflicted

Niph.

humble oneself

be afflicted

Pi.

humble, mishandle, afflict

humble, a woman by cohabit.

afflict as a discipline

humble, weaken

Pu.

be afflicted, in discipline by God

be humbled by fasting

Hiph. afflict, in discipline

Hithp.

humble oneself

be afflicted

humble oneself in fasting

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6031a עָנָה be occupied, busied with H6031b עָנָה be bowed down, afflicted .. be put down or become low, of song of triumph

. be depressed, downcast

. be afflicted

. . humble oneself

. be afflicted

. . humble, mishandle, afflict

. humble, a woman by cohabit.

. afflict as a discipline

. humble, weaken

. . be afflicted, in discipline by God

. be humbled by fasting

. afflict, in discipline

. . humble oneself

. be afflicted

. humble oneself in fasting

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6031 `anah aw-naw'

a primitive root (possibly rather ident. with 6030 through

the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally

or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various

applications, as follows):--abase self, afflict(-ion, self),

answer (by mistake for 6030), chasten self, deal hardly with,

defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt,

ravish, sing (by mistake for 6030), speak (by mistake for

6030), submit self, weaken, X in any wise.

see HEBREW for 06030

see HEBREW for 06030

see HEBREW for 06030

see HEBREW for 06030

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנָה (a.nah) — be occupied.

(Qal) to be occupied, be busied with

עָנָה (a.nah) — to afflict.

1) to afflict, oppress, humble, be afflicted, be bowed down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be put down, become low

1a2) to be depressed, be downcast

1a3) to be afflicted

1a4) to stoop

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to humble oneself, bow down

1b2) to be afflicted, be humbled

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to humble, mishandle, afflict

1c2) to humble, be humiliated

1c3) to afflict

1d4) to humble, weaken oneself

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be afflicted

1d2) to be humbled

1e) (Hiphil) to afflict

1f) (Hithpael)

1f1) to humble oneself

1f2) to be afflicted

Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָי "to afflict" H6033)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hithpael-Impv-2fs — Conjunction · verb hithpael imperative second person feminine singular
HC/Vtv2fs
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
תַּ֥חַתTa.chat under H8478 Noun common · masculine singular construct
505× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.
Amplified meaning
under her hands, in her power
Tyndale gloss
underneath: under
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8478 tachath takh'-ath

from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only

adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix

underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,

in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead

of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,

with.

see HEBREW for 08430

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.

: under/below

1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m

1a) the under part adv accus

1b) beneath prep

1c) under, beneath

1c1) at the foot of (idiom)

1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)

1c3) of subjection or conquest

1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands

1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)

1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)

1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)

conj

1e) instead of, instead of that

1f) in return for that, because that in compounds

1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)

1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath

תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.

: instead/in_place/exchange

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
and he said to her [the] angel of Yahweh return to mistress your and humble yourself under hands her
יָדֶֽיהָ׃ya.Dei.ha hands her H3027 Noun common both dual construct · suffix
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbdc/Sp3fs — Noun common both dual construct · suffix
HNcbdc/Sp3fs
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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