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Genesis 24:21 — Word Study

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WLCוְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־ לֹֽא׃

BSAMeanwhile, the manʼîysh [a male person, individual] watchedshâʼâh silentlychârash [held his peace, to gaze in wonder] to seeyâdaʻ whetherʼim [if, to know] or notlôʼ the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had made his journeyderek [way, path] a successtsâlach [prosperous, to rush forward]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 24
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 21 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 (Lo') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 24:21quick helps
In a sentenceA man observes a woman quietly, seeking to discern if the LORD has granted success to his journey.
Who is speakingThe servant of Abraham, tasked with finding a wife for Isaac.
Where we areIn the narrative of Abraham's servant searching for a bride for Isaac, highlighting divine guidance.
The hard wordמִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה
Take awayThe servant's silent observation reflects his faith in God's providence.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה verbשָׁאָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 10 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 24:21

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 Journey of Abraham's Servantgenerated

20And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.
21Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
22And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.
23“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

Genesis 24:21 describes the moment when Abraham's servant watches a woman at the well, hoping she is the one chosen by God for Isaac. This scene unfolds within a larger narrative where the servant is seeking divine confirmation of his mission, emphasizing the importance of God's guidance in significant life decisions. The servant's quiet observation is a testament to his faith and reliance on the LORD's direction, mirroring themes found in other biblical accounts of seeking God's will.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Samuel 7:18–20Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
2Psalm 34:1–6I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
3Psalm 107:1–8Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
4Psalm 116:1–7I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice— my appeal for mercy.
5Luke 2:19–51But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

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


The Key Word אִישׁ, ve.ha.'Ishgenerated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) refers to a male person or individual, often translated as 'man.' It can denote not only a male but also a husband or a servant, reflecting various roles within society. The parsing indicates it is a noun in the singular form, emphasizing a specific individual in this context.

This term appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, highlighting its significance in describing human relationships and roles. It is built from a root suggesting existence, reinforcing the idea of a person as a being with agency.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase watched her silently.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה, was gazing, which governs the sentence. It is supported by a series of phrases: a prepositional phrase indicating the object of the gaze, an infinitive phrase explaining the purpose of the observation, and a clause that presents the condition of success.

The structure emphasizes the servant's silent observation and the purpose behind it, showcasing the importance of discernment in understanding God's will.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew אִישׁ is rendered as ἄνθρωπος, meaning 'man' in a general sense. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the individual character.

The Greek κατεμάνθανεν reflects a similar sense of observation, suggesting a deep engagement with the situation, which aligns with the Hebrew's emphasis on gazing in wonder.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 24:21 tells us that Abraham's servant was quietly watching a woman at the well to see if God had helped him succeed in his mission. This moment is part of a larger story where the servant is seeking God's guidance in finding a wife for Isaac, reflecting the importance of divine direction in our decisions.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the man was watching her silently?

The silence indicates the servant's contemplation and faith, as he seeks to discern God's will regarding the woman he is observing.

Why is the servant concerned about the success of his journey?

The servant's mission is significant, as he is tasked with finding a wife for Isaac, and he desires to ensure that it aligns with God's plan.

How does this verse reflect the theme of divine guidance?

The servant's silent observation and his desire to know if the LORD had made his journey successful highlight the reliance on God's providence in important life decisions.

What can we learn from the servant's approach?

The servant's attentive and silent watchfulness teaches us the value of patience and discernment when seeking God's direction in our own lives.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's guidance more earnestly?
  2. How can I cultivate a spirit of silence and observation to better discern God's will?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure that my journey aligns with God's purposes?
  4. How does this passage encourage me to trust in God's providence during uncertain times?

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

John Chrysostom comments on this verse, noting the servant's observant nature and his silent prayer for divine guidance.

John ChrysostomHOMILIES ON Genesis 48.17 c. 347–407
The dutiful servant therefore now saw God’s providence distinctly. “He kept observing her closely,” the text goes on, “and remained silent so as to know if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.” What is the meaning of “kept…
Early Church Fathers on Genesis 24 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 24:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the man wondering at her,.... At her affability and courteousness to a stranger; at her humility and condescension to take upon her such a service; at her readiness, diligence, and laboriousness

Read John Gill on Genesis 24 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 24 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The man wondered at her, i.e. at the wonderful providence of God, and the eminent answer of his prayer.

Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 24 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.Ver. 21. Wondering at her.] At her courtesy; but more at God’ s good providence, and so sweet a return of his prayers. The Greek hath it, He considered her, and held his peace.

Read John Trapp on Genesis 24 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) And the man wondering at her . . . —The verb is rare, and the LXX., Syr., and Vulg., followed by Gesenius and Fürst, translate, “And the man gazed attentively at her, keeping silence, that he might know,” &c. The servant, we may well believe, was astonished at the exactness and quickness with which his prayer was being answered, but this is not the point to which the rest of the verse refers; rather, it sets him before us as keenly observing all she said and did, and carefully coming to the conclusion that the comely and generous maiden was the destined bride of the son of his lord.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 24 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 21. The man, wondering at her] And he was so lost in wonder and astonishment at her simplicity, innocence, and benevolence, that he permitted this delicate female to draw water for ten camels, without ever attempting to afford her any kind of assistance! I know not which to admire most, the benevolence and condescension of Rebekah, or the cold and apparently stupid indifference of the servant of Abraham. Surely they are both of an uncommon cast.

Read AdamClarke on Genesis 24 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. looked stedfastly … his peace] Lat. contemplabatur eam tacitus. The servant was astonished to find that the sign for which he had prayed had been given in the case of the first girl that had come to draw water; hence his look of eagerness, questioning, and silent thought.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 24 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

21. Wondering — Literally, and the man [stood] gazing at her and keeping silence to know whether Jehovah had prospered his journey or not.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 24 →

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

Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Silently the man watched her with interest to determine if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the man looked stedfastly on her; holding his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the man, wondering at her, held his peace, to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous, or not.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So the man wondred at her, and helde his peace, to knowe whether the Lord had made his iourney prosperous or not.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the man was astonished at her, remaining silent, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the man, wondering at her, remaineth silent, to know whether Jehovah hath made his way prosperous or not.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the man, wondering at her, remains silent, to know whether YHWH has made his way prosperous or not.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the man was wondering at her; remaining silent, to discover whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The man watched her in silence to see whether Yahweh had prospered his journey or not.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But he musing beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The man observed her in silence to see if the Lord had made his journey successful or not.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the man, looking at her, said nothing, waiting to see if the Lord had given his journey a good outcome.

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.

וְandclauseclausenoun phrase · subjectהָtheאִ֥ישׁmanverbמִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה[was].gazingprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֑toהּherclauseverbמַחֲרִ֕ישׁ[being].silentprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoclauseverbדַ֗עַתknowclause · objectclauseהַֽhadclauseverbהִצְלִ֧יחַhe.made.successful?subjectיְהוָ֛הYahwehnoun phrase · objectדַּרְכּ֖journeyוֹhisclauseאִםor?clauseadverbialלֹֽאnot

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


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

The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint, with 9 of the 10 words matching. The Samaritan Pentateuch shows two differences: it uses משׁתה (drinking) and צליח (be strong), indicating a variation in the portrayal of the servant's actions and God's success.

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

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־ לֹֽא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהָאִ֥ישׁἄνθρωποςמִשְׁתָּאֵ֖הκατεμάνθανενלָ֑הּαὐτὴνלָדַ֗עַתγνῶναιהַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַεὐόδωκενיְהוָ֛הκύριοςדַּרְכּ֖וֹαὐτοῦאִם־לֹֽא׃οὔ

9 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

והאישׁ משׁתה לה ומחרישׁ לדעת הצליח יהוה דרכו אם לא

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: משׁתה (drinking), צליח (be strong)

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 24:21אִישׁand the manand the manאִישׁשָׁאָה[was] gazin[was] gazingשָׁאָההָto herto herהָחָרַשׁbeing silenbeing silentחָרַשׁיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעצָלַח¿ had he ma¿ had he made sצָלַחיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהדֶּ֫רֶךְjourney hisjourney hisדֶּ֫רֶךְאִםor?or?אִםלֹאnotnotלֹאהָיָהto beto beהָיָהדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהשָׁאָהto crashto crashשָׁאָהרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַקָצֵרbe shortbe shortקָצֵראֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןרָRamothRamothרָרוּחַspiritspiritרוּחַנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹל
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 24:21

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 the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
וְהָאִ֥ישׁve.ha.'Ish and the man H376 Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Amplified meaning
a male person, individual
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Art | N-ms — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Td/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See ANTHROPOLOGY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Man

(1.) Heb. ‘Adam, used as the proper name of the first man. The name is derived from a word meaning “to be red,” and thus the first man was called Adam because he was formed from the red earth. It is also the generic name of the human race (Gen. 1:26, 27; 5:2; 8:21; Deut. 8:3). Its equivalents are the Latin homo and the Greek anthropos (Matt. 5:13, 16). It denotes also man in opposition to woman (Gen. 3:12; Matt. 19:10).

(2.) Heb. ‘ish, like the Latin vir and Greek aner, denotes properly a man in opposition to a woman (1 Sam. 17:33;

→ CREATED Ge 1:26,27; 2:7; 5:1,2; De 4:32; Job 4:17; 10:2,3,8,9; 31:15; 33:4; 35:10; Ps 8:5; 100:3; 119:73; 138:8; 139:14; Ec 7:29; Isa 17:7; 42:5; 43:7; 45:12; 64:8; Jer 27:5; Zec 12:1; Mal 2:10; Mr 10:6; Heb 2:7

See CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, below

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖הmish.ta.'Eh [was] gazing H7583 Verb · Hithpael · participle (active) masculine singular common
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to gaze in wonder or be astonished, often at something amazing or terrifying. In the Bible, it is used to describe the reaction of people to God's power or miracles, like in Isaiah 29:9. The word conveys a sense of being stunned or amazed.
Tyndale gloss
to gaze
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאָה (sha'ah) is a Hebrew verb primarily used in the Hithpael form, meaning 'to gaze.' It conveys the idea of being astonished or stunned, as noted in the entries. The word appears in Genesis 24:21, where it is associated with the act of gazing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁאָה] vb. Hithp. gaze;—Gn 24:21 (J)

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7583 שָׁאָה Hithp. gaze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7583 sha'ah shaw-aw'

a primitive root (identical with 7582 through the idea of

whirling to giddiness); to stun, i.e. (intransitively) be

astonished:--wonder.

see HEBREW for 07582

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאָה (sha.ah) — to gaze.

1) (Hithpael)

1a) to gaze

1b) gazing (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael — Verb · Hithpael · participle (active) masculine singular common
HVtrmsc
and the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
לָ֑הּLah 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 the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
מַחֲרִ֕ישׁma.cha.Rish being silent H2790 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to be quiet or silent, but also to scratch or engrave, like a farmer plowing a field. It is used in various contexts, including being silent or deaf. The KJV translates it in different ways, including 'cease' or 'hold peace'.
Amplified meaning
held his peace, to gaze in wonder
Tyndale gloss
to plow/plot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָרַשׁ (*charash*) encompasses meanings related to cutting, engraving, and plowing, as well as devising, often with a negative connotation. It also has a related form, חָרֵשׁ (*charesh*), which means to be silent or deaf. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical actions to metaphorical implications of secrecy and silence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָרַשׁ] vb. cut in, engrave, plough, devise

Qal

cut in, engrave

plough

devise

Niph. Zion, as a field she shall be ploughed

Hiph. fabricating mischief against

base

[חָרֵשׁ] vb. 1. be silent, dumb, speechless; 2. be deaf; chiefly poet.

Qal

be silent, alw. of God’s keeping silence when men pray

be deaf

Hiph.

be silent (= exhibit silence)

once causat. make silent

be deaf, shew deafness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2790a חָרַשׁ cut in, engrave, plough, devise H2790b חָרֵשׁ . be silent, dumb, speechless

. be deaf; chiefly poet.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2790 charash khaw-rash'

a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to

engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate

(of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense);

hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone;

hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of

dumbness):--X altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise,

ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace,

plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep

silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue,

worker.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרַשׁ (cha.rash) — to plow/plot.

1) to cut in, plough, engrave, devise

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut in, engrave

1a2) to plough

1a3) to devise

1b) (Niphal) to be ploughed

1c) (Hiphil) to plot evil

חָרֵשׁ (cha.resh) — be quiet.

1) to be silent, be dumb, be speechless, be deaf

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be silent

1a2) to be deaf

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to be silent, keep quiet

1b2) to make silent

1b3) to be deaf, show deafness

1c) (Hithpael) to remain silent

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
HVhrmsa
and the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
לָדַ֗עַתla.Da.'at to know H3045 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
and the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַha.hitz.Li.ach ¿ had he made successful H6743 Particle · verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To prosper or succeed, as seen in the story of Joseph in Genesis, who rose to power in Egypt. This Hebrew word means to push forward and make progress. It is used to describe success and prosperity.
Amplified meaning
prosperous, to rush forward
Tyndale gloss
to rush
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָלַח (tsalach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rush or advance, with a focus on prospering or succeeding. It can refer to both literal and figurative progress, and can be used transitively or intransitively. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including causing prosperity. There is an Aramaic equivalent, צְלַח (tse.lach), which also means to prosper.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צָלַח] vb. rush

base

[צָלֵחַ, צָלַח] vb. advance, prosper

Qal prosper

Hiph.

make prosperous, bring to successful issue

shew, experience, prosperity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6743a צָלַח rush H6743b צָלֵחַ, צָלַח advance, prosper

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6743 tsalach tsaw-lakh'

or tsaleach {tsaw-lay'-akh}; a primitive root; to push

forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive

or intransitive):--break out, come (mightily), go over, be

good, be meet, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to,

send) prosper(-ity, -ous, - ously).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָלַח (tsa.lach) — to rush.

(Qal) to rush

צָלֵחַ (tsa.lech) — to prosper.

1) to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable

1a) (Qal) to prosper

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to make prosperous, bring to successful issue, cause to prosper

1b2) to show or experience prosperity, prosper

Aramaic equivalent: tse.lach (צְלַח "to prosper" H6744)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part | V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Particle · verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular
HTi/Vhp3ms
and the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
יְהוָ֛הYah.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 the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
דַּרְכּ֖וֹdar.Ko journey his H1870 Noun common both singular construct · suffix
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
way, path
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffix
HNcbsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

and the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
אִם־'im- or? H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Amplified meaning
if, to know
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

or: The word is used once for either (1Sa 26:10), and is still in poetic use in this sense; as in, "Without or wave or wind" (Coleridge); "Or the bakke or some bone he breketh in his dzouthe" (Piers Plowman (B), VII, 93; compare Merchant of Venice, III, ii, 65). It is also used with "ever" for before (Ps 90:2; Ecclesiasticus 18:19), which the American Standard Revised Version substitutes in Ec 12:6 (compare 12:1,2); So 6:12; Da 6:24.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the man [was] gazing to her being silent to know ¿ had he made successful Yahweh journey his or? not
לֹֽא׃Lo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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