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Genesis 34:15 — Word Study

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WLCאַךְ־ בְּזֹ֖את נֵא֣וֹת לָכֶ֑ם אִ֚ם תִּהְי֣וּ כָמֹ֔נוּ לְהִמֹּ֥ל לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־ זָכָֽר׃

BSAWe will consentʼûwth [agree, give permission] on oneʼak conditionʼim [stipulation, requirement] that you becomehâyâh [are, come to be] circumcisedmûwl [cut off, dedicated] like uskᵉmôw [similar to, in the same manner as] every one ofkôl [all, each] your maleszâkâr [men, male children]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 34
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 15 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 (za.Khar) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 34:15quick helps
In a sentenceThe men agree to a condition for their sister's marriage, requiring circumcision.
Who is speakingThe sons of Jacob, negotiating with the men of Shechem.
Where we areIn the context of a negotiation following a serious offense.
The hard wordנֵא֣וֹת
Take awayAgreement hinges on a significant cultural and physical requirement.
3 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאוּת 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 34:15

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 Negotiation for Marriagegenerated

14“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us.
15We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males.
16Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people.
17But if you will not agree to be circumcised, then we will take our sister and go.”

Genesis 34:15 occurs in a tense moment when Jacob's sons negotiate with the men of Shechem after their sister Dinah has been violated. The brothers propose that the men must undergo circumcision as a condition for them to consent to intermarriage. This reflects the cultural significance of circumcision in their covenant with God, as well as the seriousness of the offense against their family.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Galatians 4:12I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to

But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;Galatians 4:12

The Key Word נֵא֣וֹת, ne.'otgenerated

The verb אוּת (uwth) is in the Niphal form, indicating a passive or reflexive action, meaning 'to consent' or 'to agree.' It emphasizes the act of giving permission or assent, particularly in a communal context.

This word appears infrequently, suggesting its specific use in significant agreements or treaties, highlighting the importance of consent in relationships and community interactions.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term consent to convey the idea of agreement.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb נֵא֣וֹת governs the clause, indicating the action of agreeing. This clause is supported by a conditional phrase introduced by אִם (im), which sets the stipulation for the agreement.

The structure emphasizes the conditional nature of the consent, with the requirement of circumcision placed as central to the negotiation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נֵא֣וֹת with ὁμοιωθησόμεθα, which suggests a sense of becoming similar or agreeing to a condition. This choice reflects the cultural context in which the agreement is made, emphasizing the necessity of conformity to a shared practice.

The translation choice indicates an interpretation that aligns with the communal aspect of the agreement, highlighting the importance of shared identity through circumcision.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 34:15 shows Jacob's sons negotiating with the men of Shechem. They agree to allow marriage with their sister on the condition that the men become circumcised, which is a significant cultural and religious requirement for them.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to consent in this context?

To consent here means to agree to the terms set forth by Jacob's sons, which includes undergoing circumcision.

Why is circumcision such an important condition?

Circumcision is a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants, representing both physical and spiritual commitment.

What are the implications of this agreement?

The agreement reflects the cultural practices of the time and the significance of maintaining religious identity through physical acts.

How does this negotiation affect the relationship between the families?

It sets the stage for potential unity through marriage, but also highlights the tensions arising from the violation of Dinah.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does this negotiation reveal about the values of Jacob's family?
  2. How do cultural practices shape agreements in relationships?
  3. In what ways do we see similar conditions or requirements in our own agreements today?
  4. What can we learn from the importance placed on consent in this passage?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 34:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But in this will we consent unto you,.... Upon the following condition, that Dinah should be given in marriage: if ye will be as we [be], that every male of you be circumcised; as the sons of Jacob

Read John Gill on Genesis 34 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 34 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 34:15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we [be], that every male of you be circumcised;Ver. 15. That every male of you be circumcised.] Lo, herein was their deceit. How often is religion pretended, made a stale and stalking-horse to worldly and wicked aims and respects! A horrible profanation: as when Naboth was put to death at a fast; Henry VII, Emperor, poisoned in the sacramental bread, by a monk. Herod pretends to worship Christ; intends to worry him, &c. "From such stand off," saith St Paul; or, if ye come near them, "set a mark upon them". Foenum habet in cornu.

Read John Trapp on Genesis 34 →

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

We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males.

NETBNew English Translation2006

We will give you our consent on this one condition: You must become like us by circumcising all your males.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised;

RVARevised Version, American1894

Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But in this will we consent to you: If ye will be as we are, that every male of you shall be circumcised;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But in this will we consent vnto you, if ye will be as we are, that euery man childe among you be circumcised:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But only in this will we consent to you, if ye will be as we, that every male of you be circumcised;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'Only for this we consent to you; if ye be as we, to have every male of you circumcised,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Only for this we consent to you: if you are as we, to have every male of you circumcised,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But on this condition will we consent unto you; if ye will become as we are, that every male of you be circumcised:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Only on this condition will we agree with you: If you will become circumcised as we are, if every male among you is circumcised.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But in this we may be allied with you, if you will be like us, and all the male sex among you be circumcised:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

We will only agree to it with this condition: all of you must be circumcised like us.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But on this condition only will we come to an agreement with you: if every male among you becomes like us and undergoes circumcision;

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.

clauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalאַךְonlyprepositional phraseבְּinזֹ֖אתthisverbנֵא֣וֹתwe.will.agreeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoכֶ֑םyouclauseאִ֚םifclauseverbתִּהְי֣וּyou.will.beprepositional phrase · prepositionalכָמֹ֔likeנוּusprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְbyclauseverbהִמֹּ֥לbeing.circumcisedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoכֶ֖םyounoun phrase · subjectכָּלeveryזָכָֽרmale

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 largely agree in their wording, with a notable exception in the order and choice of the words for 'like' and 'to circumcise.' The Samaritan Pentateuch presents minor variations, using different terms for 'like' and 'circumcise,' but retains the overall meaning of the agreement.

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

אַךְ־ בְּזֹ֖את נֵא֣וֹת לָכֶ֑ם אִ֚ם תִּהְי֣וּ כָמֹ֔נוּ לְהִמֹּ֥ל לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־ זָכָֽר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בְּזֹ֖אתτούτῳנֵא֣וֹתὁμοιωθησόμεθαלָכֶ֑םὑμῖνאִ֚םἐὰνתִּהְי֣וּγένησθεכָמֹ֔נוּἡμεῖςלְהִמֹּ֥לπεριτμηθῆναιלָכֶ֖םὑμῶνכָּל־πᾶνזָכָֽר׃ἀρσενικόν

10 of the 11 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

אך בזאת נאות לכם אם תהיו כמונו להמול לכם כל זכר

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: כמונו (like), המול (circumcise)

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 34:15אַךְonlyonlyאַךְזֶהin thisin thisזֶהאוּתwe will agrwe will agreeאוּתכֶםto youto youכֶםאִםififאִםהָיָהyou will beyou will beהָיָהכְּמוֹlike uslike usכְּמוֹמוּלby being ciby being circumמוּלכֶםof youof youכֶםכֹּלeveryeveryכֹּלזָכָרmalemaleזָכָרכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלזָכַרto remembeto rememberזָכַראָכֵןsurelysurelyאָכֵןשֶׂהשֶׂההָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאכֵּןrightrightכֵּןמַחְסוֹרneedneedמַחְסוֹרהֶ֫בֶלvanityvanityהֶ֫בֶלתּוֹרָהinstructioinstructionתּוֹרָהשִׁירsongsongשִׁיראַךְsurelysurelyאַךְזֶהthisthisזֶהחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁחֹ֫מֶרclayclayחֹ֫מֶרעָרְלָהforeskinforeskinעָרְלָהזָכָרmalemaleזָכָרעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָה
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 34:15

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.

only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
אַךְ־'akh- only H389 Adverb
161× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to emphasize something, like saying 'surely' or 'certainly'. It can also be used to limit or restrict something, like saying 'only' or 'but'.
Tyndale gloss
surely
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַךְ (ak) is an adverb meaning 'surely' or 'indeed,' often used to emphasize what follows. It can also carry a restrictive sense, translating to 'only' or 'but.' The entries indicate its use in various contexts, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַךְ 159 adv. 1. surely. 2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H389 אַךְ 1. surely. 2. with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

389 'ak ak

akin to 403; a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by

limitation) only:--also, in any wise, at least, but,

certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless, notwithstanding, only,

save, surely, of a surety, truly, verily, + wherefore, yet

(but).

see HEBREW for 0403

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַךְ (akh) — surely.

1) indeed, surely (emphatic)

2) howbeit, only, but, yet (restrictive)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM — Adverb
HD
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
בְּזֹ֖אתbe.Zot in this H2063 Preposition · particle
604× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means this or that, often used to point out something specific. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
this
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֹאת (zot) is a demonstrative pronoun and adverb meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone or be used in apposition to a noun, often serving as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns to add emphasis. In poetry, it may function as a relative pronoun, though this is rare.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

standing alone

In appos. to subst.

More oft. as pred.

It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

With prefixes (in special senses)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2063 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone

. In appos. to subst.

. More oft. as pred.

. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

. With prefixes (in special senses)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2063 zo'th zothe'

irregular feminine of 2089; this (often used adverb):--

hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she,

so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing),

thus.

see HEBREW for 02089

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֹאת (zot) — this.

1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, such

1a) (alone)

1a1) this one

1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another

1b) (appos to subst)

1b1) this

1c) (as predicate)

1c1) this, such

1d) (enclitically)

1d1) then

1d2) who, whom

1d3) how now, what now

1d4) what now

1d5) wherefore now

1d6) behold here

1d7) just now

1d8) now, now already

1e) (poetry)

1e1) wherein, which, those who

1f) (with prefixes)

1f1) in this (place) here, then

1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter

1f3) thus and thus

1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus

1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side

1f6) on this account

1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Tm — Preposition · particle
HR/Tm
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
נֵא֣וֹתne.'ot we will agree H225 Verb · Niphal · imperfect first person common plural
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To consent means to agree or give permission, like when someone says yes to a proposal. In the Bible, it's used when people agree to follow God's commands, as seen in the book of Exodus.
Amplified meaning
agree, give permission
Tyndale gloss
to consent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוּת (uwth) is a Hebrew verb that appears only in the Niphal form, meaning to consent or agree. The entries indicate that it is a primitive root, focusing on the idea of assent.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אוּת] vb. only Niph. Impf. consent, agree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H225 [אוּת] only Niph. Impf. consent, agree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

225 'uwth ooth

a primitive root; properly, to come, i.e. (implied) to

assent:--consent.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוּת (ut) — to consent.

(Niphal) to consent, agree

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-1cp — Verb · Niphal · imperfect first person common plural
HVNi1cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-gre' (sumphoneo, "to be of the same mind," "to come to a mutual understanding"): This is the sense of the word in Mt 20:2; Joh 9:22, and other passages. In Mr 14:56 the word is isos and has the thought not only that their words did not agree, but also that the testimony was not in agreement with or equal to what the law required in such a case. The thought of being equal occurs also in 1Joh 5:8.

The figurative use of the word in Mt 18:19 makes it of special interest. The word there is sumphoneo, from which comes our word symphony, meaning a harmonious blending. This agreement therefore is complete. Three persons are…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
לָכֶ֑םla.Khem to you H9036 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶם (khem) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2mp
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
אִ֚ם'im if 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
stipulation, requirement
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
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
תִּהְי֣וּtih.Yu you will be H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Amplified meaning
are, come to be
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

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

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

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

Come into being, become

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

sq. prep.

become

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

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

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

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

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

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

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

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

. sq. prep.

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

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

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

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

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

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

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

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

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

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

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

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

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

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

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

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVqi2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
כָמֹ֔נוּkha.Mo.nu like us H3644 Preposition · suffix
143× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means like or as, used to compare things. It appears in the Bible to describe similarities or to make comparisons, such as in the book of Psalms.
Amplified meaning
similar to, in the same manner as
Tyndale gloss
like
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּמוֹ (kemo) is an adverb and conjunction meaning 'like' or 'as,' often used to draw comparisons or indicate similarity. It can also mean 'when' or 'according to.' The word is derived from a pleonastic form of the prefix כְּ (k-) and is related to the word מוֹ (mo). There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּמוֹ adv. and conj. like, as, when (lit. the like of what (viz.) …, a pleon. form of כְּ (v. מוֹ), and, like it, prop. a subst.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3644 כְּמוֹ adv. and conj. like, as, when (lit. the like of what (viz.) …, a pleon. form of כְּ (v. מוֹ), and, like it, prop. a subst.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3644 kmow kem-o'

or kamow {kaw-mo'}; a form of the prefix "k-", but used

separately (compare 3651); as, thus, so:--according to, (such)

as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto),

thus, when, worth.

see HEBREW for 03651

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּמוֹ (ke.mo) — like.

adv

1) like, as, the like of which

conj

2) when, according as, as it were

כְּמוֹ (ke.mo) — (Geruth) Chimham.

Combined with ge.rut (גֵּרוּת "Geruth" H1628)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bp
English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

US, pronoun objective case of we.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.

Us, pron. oblique case of we

only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
לְהִמֹּ֥לle.hi.Mol by being circumcised H4135 Preposition · verb niphal infinitive construct common
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Circumcision is the literal meaning of this word, but it can also imply destruction or cutting off. In Genesis 17:10, God commands Abraham to circumcise all males as a sign of covenant. It represents a physical and spiritual separation.
Amplified meaning
cut off, dedicated
Tyndale gloss
to circumcise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוּל (muwl) is a Hebrew verb meaning to circumcise, with various forms indicating different grammatical aspects, such as being circumcised or causing circumcision. It also carries connotations of cutting off or destruction. The entries note its use in contexts like Joshua 5:2 and Genesis 17:11, where it specifically refers to the act of circumcision.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מוּל] vb. circumcise

Qal circumcise

Niph. be circumcised

Hiph. in the name of י׳, yea I will make them to be circumcised

Hithp. be cut off, of arrows, i.e. made blunt.

base

[מָלַל] vb. circumcise

Qal Jos 5:2.

Niph. Gn 17:11

Hithpo. be cut off: ψ 58:8.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4135a מוּל circumcise H4135b מָלַל circumcise

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4135 muwl mool

a primitive root; to cut short, i.e. curtail (specifically

the prepuce, i.e. to circumcise); by implication, to blunt;

figuratively, to destroy:--circumcise(-ing), selves), cut

down (in pieces), destroy, X must needs.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוּל (mul) — to circumcise.

1) to circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut, be cut off

1a) (Qal) to circumcise

1b) (Niphal) to be circumcised, circumcise oneself

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to be circumcised

1c1) of destruction (fig.)

1d) (Hithpolel) to be cut off

1e) (Polel) cut down

מָלַל (ma.lal) — to circumcise.

1) to circumcise

1a) (Qal)

1b) (Niphal)

2) (Hithpolel) to be cut off

Also means: mul (מוּל "to circumcise" H4135A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Niphal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb niphal infinitive construct common
HR/VNcc
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
לָכֶ֖םla.Khem of you H9036 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶם (khem) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2mp
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
כָּל־kol- every H3605 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Amplified meaning
all, each
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

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

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

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

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

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

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

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

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
only in this we will agree to you if you will be like us by being circumcised of you every male
זָכָֽר׃za.Khar male H2145 Adj
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means male, referring to men or male animals, emphasizing their importance. It is used in the Bible to distinguish between males and females. The word is often translated as 'him' or 'male' in English.
Amplified meaning
men, male children
Tyndale gloss
male
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָכָר (zakar) refers to a male, specifically the male of humans and animals. It is used both as a noun to denote male offspring and as an adjective to describe humans as male. The term is derived from a root meaning 'remembered,' emphasizing the male as a noteworthy sex.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָכָר n.m. & adj. male

subst. male, offspring of men and animals

adj. sg. male (only human beings)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2145 זָכָר male . subst. male, offspring of men and animals

. adj. sg. male (only human beings)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2145 zakar zaw-kawr'

from 2142; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or

animals, as being the most noteworthy sex):--X him, male,

man(child, -kind).

see HEBREW for 02142

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָכָר (za.khar) — male.

1) male (of humans and animals)

adj

2) male (of humans)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mal

(1) zakhar, zakhar, zakhur (the root means "to stand out," "to be prominent," here a physiological differentiation of the sex, as neqebhah, "female," which see);

(2) 'ish literally, "man";

(3) by circumlocution, only in the books of Samuel and Kings, mashtin beqir; ouron pros toichon, which the Revised Version (British and American) euphemistically renders "man-child" (1Sa 25:22,34; 1Ki 14:10)):

Gesenius has rightly pointed out that this phrase designates young boys, who do not as yet wear clothes, of whom the above description is accurate, while it does not apply in the case of adults, even in the modern Orient. We know this from the statement of Herodotus ii.35, relating to Egypt, and from Jud 3:24;

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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