Genesis 37:15 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּ אִ֔ישׁ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תֹעֶ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּ הָאִ֛ישׁ לֵאמֹ֖ר מַה־ תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ׃
BSAa manʼîysh [certain individual, male person] found himmâtsâʼ▸ wanderingtâʻâh [to go astray, lost] in the fieldsâdeh [open land, countryside] and askedshâʼal▸ [inquired, sought information] Whatmâh [what thing, how] are you looking forbâqash▸ [seeking, searching]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּ | and he found him | Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| אִ֔ישׁ | a man | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְהִנֵּ֥ה | and there! | Conjunction, particle |
| תֹעֶ֖ה | [he was] wandering | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה | in the open country | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּ | and he asked him | Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| הָאִ֛ישׁ | the man | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לֵאמֹ֖ר | saying | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| מַה־ | what? | Pronoun |
| תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ | are you seeking | Verb, Piel, imperfect second person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?” |
| KJV | ¶ And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? |
| ASV | And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? |
| YLT | And a man findeth him, and lo, he is wandering in the field, and the man asketh him, saying, 'What seekest thou?' |
| WEB | A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?” |
| BBE | And a man saw him wandering in the country, and said to him, What are you looking for? |
The translations agree on the depiction of Joseph's wandering in the field.
The sentence has a main clause and additional phrases that provide context and detail about the encounter.




5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאִישׁ
verbתָּעָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 37:15
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 — Joseph's Search for His Brothersgenerated
Genesis 37:15 describes how Joseph, sent by his father Jacob to check on his brothers, finds himself lost in the field. A man encounters him and inquires about what he is searching for. This moment illustrates Joseph's disorientation and the beginning of his journey into the unknown, as he seeks his brothers who are tending their flocks.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 21:14 | Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. |
| 2 | Judges 4:22 | When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg through his temple. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 6:19 | And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria. |
| 4 | John 1:38 | Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?” |
| 5 | John 4:27 | Just then His disciples returned and were surprised that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, “What do You want from her?” or “Why are You talking with her?” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תֹּעֶ֖ה, to.'Ehgenerated
The word תֹּעֶ֖ה (to'eh) is a participle form of the verb תָּעָה (ta'ah), meaning to wander or go astray. It captures the sense of being lost, both physically and morally, and can imply a lack of direction or purpose.
In this verse, it describes Joseph's state as he is wandering in the field, emphasizing his search for his brothers and his feeling of being lost in the vast countryside.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that Joseph is found wandering in the field.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּ, and he found him, which governs the entire sentence. It is followed by a participial phrase describing Joseph's state, and a question posed by the man.
The structure places emphasis on the encounter: the man finds Joseph and immediately inquires about his search, highlighting the urgency and significance of the interaction.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word תֹּעֶ֖ה is rendered as πλανώμενον (planōmenon), which means 'wandering'. This choice maintains the sense of being lost but also carries a connotation of being led astray.
This translation may suggest a broader interpretation of Joseph's situation, hinting at themes of guidance and misdirection.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 37:15 tells us that a man found Joseph wandering in the field and asked him what he was looking for. This moment highlights Joseph's search for his brothers and his feeling of being lost.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Joseph was lost and unsure of where to find his brothers, illustrating his disorientation.
The man likely noticed Joseph's confusion and wanted to help him find his brothers.
Joseph's experience reflects the challenges of seeking direction and purpose, especially in unfamiliar situations.
This moment marks the beginning of Joseph's significant journey, leading to events that would change his life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to feel lost or wandering in our own lives?
- How can we seek guidance when we feel disoriented like Joseph?
- In what ways can we help others who are searching for direction?
- What lessons can we learn from Joseph's journey about perseverance and faith?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, drawing parallels between Joseph's search and the broader themes of seeking and guidance.
“And Joseph was wandering about,” because he could not find his brothers. And it was right that he wandered about, for he was seeking those that were going astray.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 37 →
Jacob sent his son to manifest solicitude for his brothers, and God the Father sent his only-begotten Son to visit the human race, which was weak from sin and like lost sheep.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 37 →
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 37:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd a certain man found him,.... Many of the Jewish writers (l) say, this was an angel, the angel Gabriel, in the likeness of a man; but according to Aben Ezra, it was a traveller he met on the road;
Read John Gill on Genesis 37 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 37 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 37:15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, [he was] wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?Ver. 15. What seekest thou?] This was not the angel Gabriel, as the Hebrews will have it; but some courteous passenger, that thus offereth himself to wandering Joseph, and sets him in his way again. At Athens there were public curses appointed against such as showed not those their error that were out of the way. See the like, Deuteronomy 27:18. "Brethren," saith St James, "if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he saves a soul from death"; yea, he pulls him out of the fire of hell, saith Jude for they that err from…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 37 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges15. a certain man] Evidently Joseph and his brethren were well known, and not unfavourably, in the region of Shechem. The lad’s wandering in uncertainty appeals to the reader’s sympathy. The Targum of Palestine says the “man” was the angel Gabriel.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 37 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible15. Wandering in the field — Wandering about the field that belonged to his father at Shechem.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 37 →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
a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?”
A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?”
a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?”
When Joseph reached Shechem, a man found him wandering in the field, so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”
Tyndale line
¶ And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
And a certain man found him, and behold he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
Then a man found him: for lo, hee was wandring in the fielde, and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
Strictly literal
And a man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the country; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
And a man findeth him, and lo, he is wandering in the field, and the man asketh him, saying, 'What seekest thou?'
And a man finds him, and behold, he is wandering in the field, and the man asks him, saying, “What do you seek?”
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering astray in the field; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
A certain man found Joseph. Behold, Joseph was wandering in a field. The man asked him, “What do you seek?”
From the Latin
And a man found him there wandering in the field, and asked what he sought.
Simplified
and arrived in Shechem. A man there found him wandering about in the field, so he asked him, “What are you looking for?”
And a man saw him wandering in the country, and said to him, What are you looking for?
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.
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 Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word in this verse, indicating consistency in the account of Joseph's encounter in the field.
וַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּ אִ֔ישׁ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תֹעֶ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּ הָאִ֛ישׁ לֵאמֹ֖ר מַה־ תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ׃
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.
וימצאהו האישׁ והנה תעה בשׂדה וישׁאלהו האישׁ לאמר מה תבקשׁ
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 37:15
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.
מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.
מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find
Qal
find
find out
= come upon, light upon
noteworthy phrases
Niph. pass. of Qal, be found
Hiph.
cause to find, attain
cause to light upon, come upon, come
cause to encounter
present unto
base
H4672 מָצָא attain to, find
4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'
a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or
exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;
figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,
befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to
hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,
out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,
light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,
ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.
1) to find, attain to
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to find
1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)
1a1b) to find (what is lost)
1a1c) to meet, encounter
1a1d) to find (a condition)
1a1e) to learn, devise
1a2) to find out
1a2a) to find out
1a2b) to detect
1a2c) to guess
1a3) to come upon, light upon
1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with
1a3b) to hit
1a3c) to befall
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be found
1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered
1b1b) to appear, be recognised
1b1c) to be discovered, be detected
1b1d) to be gained, be secured
1b2) to be, be found
1b2a) to be found in
1b2b) to be in the possession of
1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be
1b2d) to be left (after war)
1b2e) to be present
1b2f) to prove to be
1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to find, attain
1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come
1c3) to cause to encounter
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms
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.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
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
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)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
See ANTHROPOLOGY.
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;
Four Hebrew terms are rendered "man" in the Authorized Version: Adam, the name of the man created in the image of God. It appears to be derived from adam , "he or it was red or ruddy," like Edom. This was the generic term for the human race. Ish , "man," as distinguished from woman, husband. Geber , "a man," from gabar , "to be strong," generally with reference to his strength. Methim , "men," always masculine. Perhaps it may be derived from the root muth , "he died."
הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
HC/Tj — Conjunction · particleHC/Tj
תָּעָה (ta`ah) is a Hebrew verb that means to wander or go astray, both physically and ethically. It can refer to being led astray, as in a moral sense, or to the effects of intoxication. The word has various forms, including Qal (to err), Niphal (to be made to wander), and Hiphil (to cause to wander).
תָּעָה vb. err
Qal
physically wander about
of intoxication
ethically
Niph.
be made to wander about, as a drunkard
ethically: be led astray
Hiph.
physically cause to wander about
of intoxication
mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead
base
H8582 תָּעָה err .. physically wander about
. of intoxication
. ethically
. . be made to wander about, as a drunkard
. ethically: be led astray
. . physically cause to wander about
. of intoxication
. mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead
8582 ta`ah taw-aw'
a primitive root; to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally
or figuratively); also causative of both:--(cause to) go
astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant,
seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the
way.
תָּעָה (ta.ah) — to go astray.
1) to err, wander, go astray, stagger
1a) (Qal) to err
1a1) to wander about (physically)
1a2) of intoxication
1a3) of sin (ethically)
1a4) wandering (of the mind)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard)
1b2) to be led astray (ethically)
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to wander
1c1) to cause to wander about (physically)
1c2) to cause to wander (of intoxication)
1c3) to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
Wandering
Of the Israelites in the wilderness in consequence of their rebellious fears to enter the Promised Land (Num. 14:26-35). They wandered for forty years before they were permitted to cross the Jordan (Josh. 4:19; 5:6).
The record of these wanderings is given in Num. 33:1-49. Many of the stations at which they camped cannot now be identified.
Questions of an intricate nature have been discussed regarding the “Wanderings,” but it is enough for us to take the sacred narrative as it stands, and rest assured that “He led them forth by the right way” (Ps. 107:1-7, 33-35). (See WILDERNESS.)
שָׂדַי (saday) and שָׂדֶה (sadeh) both refer to a field or land, encompassing cultivated areas, open fields, and regions opposed to mountains or seas. The terms can denote specific portions of ground and are associated with wildlife habitats. They derive from a root meaning to spread out, indicating flat, expansive areas.
שָׂדַי n.m. field, land
cultivated field
home of wild beasts
plain, opp. mt.
land, opp. sea
base
שָׂדֶה 819 n.m. id. [u.ak.ab]
(ordinary contr. form)open field, country
definite portion of ground, field, land
land, opp. sea
base
H7704a שָׂדַי field, land . cultivated field
. home of wild beasts
. plain, opp. mt.
. land, opp. sea
H7704b שָׂדֶה id. [7704a] . open field, country
. definite portion of ground, field, land
. land, opp. sea
7704 sadeh saw-deh'
or saday {saw-dah'-ee}; from an unused root meaning to spread
out; a field (as flat):--country, field, ground, land, soil,
X wild.
שָׂדַי (sa.day) — Sirion.
This name means field, land, plain
Another spelling of cher.mon (חֶרְמוֹן "(Mount )Hermon" H2768)
שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: soil.
: soil
1) field, land
1a) open field, country
1b) definite portion of ground, field, land
1c) land (opposed to sea)
שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: country.
: country/field
1) field, land
1a) open field, country
1b) definite portion of ground, field, land
1c) land (opposed to sea)
שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — Field (of the Launderer).
Combined with ka.vas (כָּבַס "Washer's" H3526)
This name means field, land
שָׂדֶה (sa.deh) — land: wildlife.
: wild(animals/plants)
1) field, land
1a) open field, country
1b) definite portion of ground, field, land
1c) land (opposed to sea)
שָׂדַי (sa.day) — field.
1) field, land
1a) cultivated field
1b) of home of wild beasts
1c) plain (opposed to mountain)
1d) land (opposed to sea)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
kun'-tri ('erets, "land," sadheh, "field"; agros, "field," chora, "region"): The foregoing are the principal words rendered "country" in English Versions of the Bible, though we find also 'adhamah, "earth" (Jon 4:2); 'i, "island" (Jer 47:4 the King James Version); gelilah, "circuit" (Eze 47:8 the King James Version); chebhel, "rope" (De 3:14); maqom, "place" (Ge 29:26 the King James Version); nepheth,"hill" or "height" (Jos 17:11 the King James Version); genos, "race" (Ac 4:36 the King James Version); ge, "earth"…
→ LOVE OF Jud 5:1-31; 2Sa 10:12; Ne 1:1-11; 2:1-20; 5:1-18; Ps 137:1-6
The Jews held religion and country as one (a theocracy), therefore
See CHURCH, LOVE OF
→ See also PATRIOTISM
שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in the context of requesting a favor or borrowing. It covers a range of uses, including seeking counsel, consulting deities, and even begging. The verb can appear in different forms, such as asking for oneself or granting requests. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, שְׁאֵל (she.el), meaning 'to ask'.
שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire
Qal
ask, ask for
specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow
in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
inquire of
inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.
in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
Niph. ask for oneself
Pi.
inquire carefully
beg, practise beggary
Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)
base
H7592 שָׁאַל ask, inquire .. . ask, ask for
. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow
. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
. . inquire of
. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.
. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)
. ask for oneself
. . inquire carefully
. beg, practise beggary
. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)
7592 sha'al shaw-al'
or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by
implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask
(counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand,
desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend,
pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.
שָׁאַל (sha.al) — to ask.
1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to ask, ask for
1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow
1a3) to enquire, enquire of
1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)
1a5) to seek
1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully
1c2) to beg, practise beggary
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to be given on request
1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to
Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms
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.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
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
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)
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
See ANTHROPOLOGY.
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;
Four Hebrew terms are rendered "man" in the Authorized Version: Adam, the name of the man created in the image of God. It appears to be derived from adam , "he or it was red or ruddy," like Edom. This was the generic term for the human race. Ish , "man," as distinguished from woman, husband. Geber , "a man," from gabar , "to be strong," generally with reference to his strength. Methim , "men," always masculine. Perhaps it may be derived from the root muth , "he died."
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
Part — PronounHPi
בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.
[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek
Pi.
seek to find
seek to secure
seek the face
desire, demand
require, exact
exact equivalent or penalty for
(late) ask, request
Pu. be sought
base
H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek
1245 baqash baw-kash'
a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically
in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,
beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,
(make) request, require, seek (for).
בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.
1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to seek to find
1a2) to seek to secure
1a3) to seek the face
1a4) to desire, demand
1a5) to require, exact
1a6) to ask, request
1b) (Pual) to be sought
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singularHVpi2ms
