Menu

Genesis 34:23 — Word Study

Depth

WLCמִקְנֵהֶ֤ם וְקִנְיָנָם֙ וְכָל־ בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם הֲל֥וֹא לָ֖נוּ הֵ֑ם אַ֚ךְ נֵא֣וֹתָה לָהֶ֔ם וְיֵשְׁב֖וּ אִתָּֽנוּ׃

BSAWill notlôʼ their livestockmiqneh [cattle, possessions, and all their beasts] their possessionsqinyân and allkôl theirhêm animals [become ours]bᵉhêmâh Onlyʼak let us consentʼûwth [agree to, give permission] and they will dwellyâshab [live, reside, and remain] among usʼêth [with us, in our midst]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 34
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 ('i.Ta.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 34:23quick helps
In a sentenceThe men propose that the livestock and possessions of the other group could be theirs if they agree to a condition.
Who is speakingThe men of Jacob, discussing terms with Hamor and Shechem.
Where we areIn the midst of negotiations for intermarriage and unity between two groups.
The hard wordמִקְנֵהֶם
Take awayThe proposal hinges on consent, suggesting a potential alliance.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא 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 34:23

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 Unitygenerated

22But only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us and be one people: if all our men are circumcised as they are.
23Will not their livestock, their possessions, and all their animals become ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell among us.”
24All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.
25Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.

Genesis 34:23 presents a moment of negotiation between Jacob's family and the men of Shechem, where they discuss terms for unity and intermarriage. The context involves a sensitive agreement that could lead to significant changes in their relationships and possessions. This negotiation is critical as it sets the stage for future events in the narrative, reflecting the complexities of alliances in the ancient world.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 1:12–13let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
2Proverbs 23:4–5Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
3Proverbs 28:20A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
4John 2:16To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”
5John 6:26–27Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.Proverbs 1:12–13 Proverbs 23:4–5 Proverbs 28:20 John 2:16 John 6:26–27 Acts 19:24–26 1 Timothy 6:6–10

The Key Word מִקְנֵהֶם, mik.ne.Hemgenerated

The word מִקְנֵה (miqneh) refers specifically to livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats, which are domestic animals that can be owned. It is derived from a root meaning 'something bought,' indicating its connection to property and possession.

In this verse, it emphasizes the potential acquisition of the livestock of the other group, framing the negotiation in terms of material gain and ownership.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is הֲל֥וֹא, will not, which frames the entire proposal. The structure includes several noun phrases that specify what will become theirs, followed by a conditional clause about consent.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the livestock and possessions, making it clear that these are central to the negotiation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מִקְנֵהֶם as ὑπάρξοντα, which means 'possessions' or 'belongings.' This choice broadens the scope from just livestock to include all forms of property, suggesting a more comprehensive view of what could be acquired.

This interpretation indicates a potential emphasis on the overall wealth and resources of the other group, rather than just their livestock.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 34:23 shows Jacob's family negotiating with the men of Shechem about joining together. They ask if the livestock and possessions of Shechem's people could become theirs if they agree to a condition, emphasizing the importance of consent in forming alliances.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the term 'livestock' refer to in this context?

In this context, 'livestock' refers to domesticated animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats that can be owned and traded.

Why is consent emphasized in this negotiation?

Consent is crucial as it determines whether the two groups can unite and intermarry, impacting their future relationships.

What does this verse reveal about ancient negotiations?

This verse illustrates that negotiations often involved material considerations and conditions that needed to be agreed upon for alliances to form.

How do the translations handle the concept of possessions?

Translations consistently refer to the possessions and livestock as part of the negotiation, highlighting their importance in the agreement.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are the implications of negotiating terms for unity between different groups?
  2. How can understanding the context of this negotiation inform our view of relationships today?
  3. What role does consent play in forming alliances, both in ancient times and now?
  4. How do material possessions influence relationships and agreements in your own experiences?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 34:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Shall not their cattle, and their substance, and every beast of theirs, [be] ours?.... Which would in course come into their families in process of time, by intermarrying with them, or, being more

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

These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 34 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Shall not their substance be ours? Either for our use and benefit in the way of commerce and trade; or because they will descend to the issue of our children as well as theirs; or because we being more numerous and potent than they, can easily overrule them, and when we think meet, dispose all things to our own advantage. Thus they cover their private design with the specious show of public good.

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

Genesis 34:23 [Shall] not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs [be] ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.Ver. 23. Shall not their cattle, &c.] Profit persuades mightily with the multitude. They all look to their own way; "Every one for his gain from his quarter". "Who will show us any good?" is Vox populi . And who begs not attention, or inoculates not his faithful endeavour into his friend’ s creed and belief, with a tale of gain!

Read John Trapp on Genesis 34 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 23. Shall not their cattle and their substance - be ours? This was a bait held out for the poor unsuspecting people of Hamor by their prince and his son, who were not much less deceived than the people themselves.

Read AdamClarke on Genesis 34 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. cattle … substance] It would be a good business transaction.

Read Cambridge 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

Will not their livestock, their possessions, and all their animals become ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell among us.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Won’t their livestock and their possessions and all their animals be ours? Only let’s give our consent to them, and they will dwell with us.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Will not their livestock, their possessions, and all their animals become ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell among us.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

If we do so, won’t their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? So let’s consent to their demand, so they will live among us.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Shall not their cattle and their substance and all their beasts be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Shall not their cattle and their substance and all their beasts be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Will not their cattle, and their substance, and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Shall not their flockes and their substance and all their cattell be ours? onely let vs consent herein vnto them, and they will dwell with vs.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Their cattle, and their possessions, and every beast of theirs, shall they not be ours? only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

their cattle, and their substance, and all their beasts — are they not ours? only let us consent to them, and they dwell with us.'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

their livestock, and their substance, and all their beasts—are they not ours? Only let us consent to them, and they dwell with us.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs will they not be ours? only let us consent unto them, that they may dwell with us.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Will not their livestock and their property—all their animals be ours? So let us agree with them, and they will live among us.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess, shall be ours: only in this let us condescend, and by dwelling together, we shall make one people.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If that happens, won't all their livestock and property—all their animals—end up belonging to us? We just have to agree to this and they will come and live among us.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then will not their cattle and their goods and all their beasts be ours? so let us come to an agreement with them so that they may go on living with us.

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.

clauseclausenoun phrasenoun phraseמִקְנֵlivestockהֶ֤םtheirוְandnoun phraseקִנְיָנָpropertyם֙theirוְandnoun phraseכָלallnoun phraseבְּהֶמְתָּ֔animal[s]םtheirclauseהֲ?clauseadverbialל֥וֹאnotprepositional phrase · predicateלָ֖[belong].toנוּussubjectהֵ֑ם[will].theyclauseadverbialאַ֚ךְonlyverbנֵא֣וֹתָהlet.us.agreeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoהֶ֔םthemוְandclauseverbיֵשְׁב֖וּthey.will.dwellprepositional phrase · prepositionalאִתָּֽwithנוּus

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 align closely, with 11 of the 12 words matching. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch presents two differing words: מקניהם (purchase) and נאות (uncertain), indicating slight variations in the understanding of property and consent.

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

מִקְנֵהֶ֤ם וְקִנְיָנָם֙ וְכָל־ בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם הֲל֥וֹא לָ֖נוּ הֵ֑ם אַ֚ךְ נֵא֣וֹתָה לָהֶ֔ם וְיֵשְׁב֖וּ אִתָּֽנוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְקִנְיָנָם֙ὑπάρξονταוְכָל־καὶבְּהֶמְתָּ֔םτετράποδαהֲל֥וֹאοὐξלָ֖נוּἡμῶνהֵ֑םἔσταιאַ֚ךְμόνονנֵא֣וֹתָהὁμοιωθῶμενלָהֶ֔םαὐτοῖςוְיֵשְׁב֖וּοἰκήσουσινאִתָּֽנוּ׃ἡμῶν

11 of the 12 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

מקניהם וקנינם וכל בהמתם הלוא לנו הם אך נאות להם וישׁבו אתנו

2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: מקניהם (purchase), נאות ()

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 34:23מִקְנֶהlivestock tlivestock theirמִקְנֶהקִנְיָןand possessand possession[קִנְיָןכֹּלand alland allכֹּלבְּהֵמָהanimal[s] tanimal[s] theirבְּהֵמָהלֹא¿ not¿ notלֹאנוּ[belong] to[belong] to usנוּהֵ֫מָּה[will] they[will] theyהֵ֫מָּהאַךְonlyonlyאַךְאוּתlet us agrelet us agreeאוּתהֶםwith themwith themהֶםיָשַׁבand let theand let them dwיָשַׁבאֵתwith uswith usאֵתקָנָהto buyto buyקָנָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלהֲלַךְto goto goהֲלַךְאָנָהto meetto meetאָנָהאָכֵןsurelysurelyאָכֵןקִנְיָןacquisitioacquisitionקִנְיָןרָכַשׁto gatherto gatherרָכַשׁמִקְנֶהlivestocklivestockמִקְנֶהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףאָדָםthe man (Athe man (Adam)אָדָםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדמְרִיrebellionrebellionמְרִיסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרמַחְסוֹרneedneedמַחְסוֹרהֶ֫בֶלvanityvanityהֶ֫בֶל
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 34:23

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.

livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
מִקְנֵהֶ֤םmik.ne.Hem livestock their H4735 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
76× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Livestock, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, are domestic animals that can be bought and owned, as described in the Bible, including in the book of Genesis and the story of Abraham's wealth.
Amplified meaning
cattle, possessions, and all their beasts
Tyndale gloss
livestock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִקְנֶה (miqneh) refers to cattle or livestock, specifically domestic animals that can be purchased. It encompasses general terms for herds and flocks, including cows, sheep, and goats. The word is derived from a root meaning 'something bought' and relates to property and possession.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִקְנֶה 76 n.m. cattle

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4735 מִקְנֶה cattle

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4735 miqneh mik-neh'

from 7069; something bought, i.e. property, but only

livestock; abstractly, acquisition:--cattle, flock, herd,

possession, purchase, substance.

see HEBREW for 07069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִקְנֶה (miq.neh) — livestock.

1) cattle, livestock

1a) cattle, livestock

1a1) in general of a purchasable domestic animal

1b) cows, sheep, goats (in herds and flocks)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3mp
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
וְקִנְיָנָם֙ve.kin.ya.Nam and possession[s] their H7075 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to something acquired or purchased, including creatures, wealth, or property. It describes things gained through buying or obtaining, such as riches or goods.
Tyndale gloss
acquisition
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קִנְיָן (qinyan) refers to an acquisition or possession, encompassing things that are obtained, such as property or wealth. It is derived from a root meaning 'to create' and can also refer to creatures in a broader sense. The entries consistently highlight its connection to ownership and material goods.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קִנְיָן n.[m.] thing got or acquired, acquisition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7075 קִנְיָן thing got or acquired, acquisition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7075 qinyan kin-yawn'

from 7069; creation, i.e. (concretely) creatures; also

acquisition, purchase, wealth:--getting, goods, X with money,

riches, substance.

see HEBREW for 07069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קִנְיָן (qin.yan) — acquisition.

1) thing acquired, acquisition, possession, purchased property, wealth

1a) thing acquired (by purchase)

1b) creatures (more general)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
וְכָל־ve.khol and all H3605 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

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

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

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

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

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

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

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

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

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

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
בְּהֶמְתָּ֔םbe.hem.Tam animal[s] their H929 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Tyndale gloss
animal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to a beast or animal, typically denoting domesticated livestock or cattle, and occasionally wild beasts. It is derived from a root that suggests being mute, implying a 'dumb beast.' The term encompasses all living creatures other than humans, with a specific mention of large quadrupeds.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּהֵמָה 187 n.f. beast, animal, cattle

of living creatures other than man

opp. also to wild beasts

rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H929 בְּהֵמָה beast, animal, cattle . of living creatures other than man

. opp. also to wild beasts

. rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

929 bhemah be-hay-maw'

from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly,

a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often

collective):--beast, cattle.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) — animal.

1) beast, cattle, animal

1a) beasts (coll of all animals)

1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals)

1c) wild beasts

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3mp
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
הֲל֥וֹאha.Lo' ¿ not H3808 Particle · 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 | Part — Particle · particle
HTi/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
לָ֖נוּLa.nu [belong] to us H9035 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נוּ (nu) — us.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp1bp — 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

livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
הֵ֑םHem [will] they H1992 Pronoun
553× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
they(masc.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1992 hem haym

or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from

1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)

many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,

their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.

see HEBREW for 01981

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).

they, these, the same, who

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3mp
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
אַ֚ךְ'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
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
נֵא֣וֹתָהne.'o.tah let us agree H225 Verb · Niphal · infinitive construct 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 to, 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-1cp — Verb · Niphal · infinitive construct first person common plural
HVNc1cp
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
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
לָהֶ֔םla.Hem with them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
וְיֵשְׁב֖וּve.ye.she.Vu and let them dwell H3427 Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
live, reside, and remain
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
HC/Vqu3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dwel:

(1) In the Old Testament "dwell" is a translation of 9 words, of which by far the most frequent is yashabh, "to sit down," translated "dwell" over 400 times (Ge 4:20; Jos 20:4; 1Ch 17:1,4,5, etc.); also very frequently "sit," and sometimes "abide," "inhabit," "remain." Another word often rendered "dwell" is shakhan or shakhen ("to settle down"), from which is derived the rabbinic word shekhinah (literally, "that which dwells"), the light on the mercy-seat which symbolized the Divine presence (Ex 25:8, etc.). In order to avoid appearing to localize the Divine Being, wherever God is said to "dwell" in a place, the Targum renders that He "causes His Shekinah to dwell"…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dwell

Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men. Houses were afterwards built, the walls of which were frequently of mud (Job 24:16; Matt. 6:19, 20) or of sun-dried bricks.

God “dwells in light” (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph.…

livestock their and possession[s] their and all animal[s] their ¿ not [belong] to us [will] they only let us agree with them and let them dwell with us
אִתָּֽנוּ׃'i.Ta.nu with us H854 Preposition · suffix
929× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Amplified meaning
with us, in our midst
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

Of companionship, together with

Of localities

אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

in one's possession or keeping

in one's knowledge or memory

מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with

. Of localities

. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping

. in one's knowledge or memory

. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

854 'eth ayth

probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a

preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,

at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,

in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional

prefix.

see HEBREW for 0579

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — with.

1) with, near, together with

1a) with, together with

1b) with (of relationship)

1c) near (of place)

1d) with (poss.)

1e) from...with, from (with other prep)

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

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

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

Donate