Genesis 4:20 — Word Study
WLCוַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־ יָבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה׃
BSAAdahʻÂdâh [Lamech's wife, a mother in the early descendants of Cain] gave birth toyâlad▸ [to beget, as a mother] JabalYâbâl△ [the son of Lamech and Adah] ◂hehûwʼ washâyâh■ the fatherʼâb [a paternal ancestor, founder of a lineage] of those who dwellyâshab [to sit, remain, or abide] in tentsʼôhel [nomadic homes, portable shelters] and [raise] livestockmiqneh [to care for, possess, cattle, sheep, or goats, domestic animals]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתֵּ֥לֶד | and she bore | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| עָדָ֖ה | Adah | Noun proper feminine |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| יָבָ֑ל | Jabal | Noun proper masculine |
| ה֣וּא | he | Pronoun |
| הָיָ֔ה | he was | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| אֲבִ֕י | [the] father of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| יֹשֵׁ֥ב | dweller[s] of | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular common |
| אֹ֖הֶל | tent | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וּמִקְנֶֽה׃ | and livestock | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock. |
| KJV | And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. |
| ASV | And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle. |
| YLT | And Adah beareth Jabal, he hath been father of those inhabiting tents and purchased possessions; |
| WEB | Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. |
| BBE | And Adah gave birth to Jabal: he was the father of such as are living in tents and keep cattle. |
Where they part company is over the phrase describing Jabal's descendants — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by a descriptive clause that elaborates on Jabal's significance.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectעָדָה
verbיָלַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 10 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 4:20
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 Lineage of Caingenerated
Genesis 4:20 records the birth of Jabal by Adah, who is noted as the mother of significant figures in the early lineage of Cain. This passage highlights the development of pastoral life, as Jabal is identified as the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock, indicating a shift towards a nomadic lifestyle that would shape future generations. The context of this genealogy emphasizes the unfolding of human civilization post-Fall, as families begin to establish their identities and professions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 4:21 | And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 2:50–52 | These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 4:4–5 | Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem. |
| 4 | John 8:44 | You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. |
| 5 | Romans 4:11–12 | And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָבָל, ya.Valgenerated
The name יָבָל (*Yabal*) refers to a man from the antediluvian period, specifically the son of Lamech and Adah. He is recognized as a founder of pastoral life, indicating the beginning of a societal shift towards herding and nomadic living.
This word is significant as it marks the emergence of a lifestyle that relies on livestock, showcasing an important development in human history. The root of the name is associated with the concept of a 'stream of water,' perhaps symbolizing the flow of life and sustenance that livestock provides.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term father to describe Jabal's role.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַתֵּ֥לֶד, and she bore, which governs the entire sentence. The structure is straightforward, with a subject followed by the object and a description of Jabal's significance.
The sentence flows from the action of Adah giving birth to Jabal, and then it describes his role as the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock, emphasizing his importance in the context of early human society.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָבָל as ἔτεκεν, meaning 'he bore.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on lineage and birth.
The use of οἰκούντων for 'those who dwell' indicates a broader interpretation of habitation, possibly emphasizing the lifestyle of nomadic living more than the Hebrew text does.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 4:20 tells us that Adah gave birth to Jabal, who became the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. This verse highlights the beginning of a new way of life for humanity, where people began to settle and care for animals as part of their daily existence.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jabal was the son of Lamech and Adah, recognized as the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
To dwell in tents refers to a nomadic lifestyle where people live in portable shelters, often moving with their livestock.
Livestock represents a significant aspect of early agricultural society, providing food, clothing, and resources for families.
The name Adah means 'ornament' in Hebrew and is associated with two women in the Bible.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the lifestyle described in this verse reflect the changes in human society after the Fall?
- What can we learn from Jabal's role as a pioneer in pastoral life?
- In what ways do we see the significance of family lineage in our own lives today?
- How does understanding the context of this verse help us appreciate the development of early human civilization?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers have commented on this verse, noting the significance of Jabal's role in the development of pastoral life.
He begot, he says, Ada Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and shepherds, and the name of his brother was Jubal. He was the father of those who play the harp and organ.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 4 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 4:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Adah bare Jabal,.... According to Hillerus (m), this name, and Jubal and Tubal, after mentioned, all signify a river; why Lamech should call all his sons by names signifying the same thing, is not easy to say.
Read John Gill on Genesis 4 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. Jabal the father of such as dwell in tents, and ... have cattle. Jabal means "flowing".
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 4 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe taught shepherds to dwell in tents, and to remove them from place to place, for conveniency of pasture. The first authors or inventors of any thing are commonly called its fathers. And he was the inventor of the art of keeping and managing cattle.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 4 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and [of such as have] cattle.Ver. 20. Adah bare Jabal.] Jabal, a good husband. Jubal, a merry Greek; whence the word iubilo in Latin, and our English jovial. Jabal, that dwelt in tents, and tended the herds, had Jubal to his brother, the father of hand and wind music. Jabal and Jubal, frugality and mirth, good husbandry and sweet content, dwell together. Virgil makes mention of a happy husbandman in his time, who "Regum aequabat opes animis, seraque reversus Nocte domum, dapibus mensas onerabat inemptis." - Georg.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 4 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(19-22) Lamech took unto him two wives.—Whether polygamy began with Lamech is uncertain, but it is in keeping with the insolent character of the man. The names of his wives bear testimony to the existence, even at this early date, of considerable refinement; for I can scarcely believe that we need go to the Assyrian dialect for the meaning of two words for which Hebrew suffices. They are explained in Assyrian as being edhatu, “darkness,” and tzillatu, “the shades of night.” In Hebrew Adah means ornament, especially that which is for the decoration of the person; while Zillah means shadow, which agrees very closely with the Assyrian explanation. Both have distinguished children. Jabal…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 4 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 20. Jabal - was the father] The inventor or teacher, for so the word is understood, 1 Samuel 10:12. He was the first who invented tent-making, and the breeding and managing of cattle; or he was, in these respects, the most eminent in that time. Though Abel was a shepherd, it is not likely he was such on an extensive scale.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 4 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20. Jabal] The meaning of this name is doubtful. Dillmann conjectures “a wanderer.” Jabal, like Abel (see note, on Genesis 4:2), is a founder of the shepherd’s and herdsman’s life. father of] i.e. the founder, or originator, of nomad life. To the Hebrews, to live in tents was the alternative to life in the village or the town. It is strange to find that tent life is here placed later than the building of a town (Genesis 4:17). such as dwell in tents, &c.] Literally, “such as dwell in tents and cattle”; i.e. those who wander about, occupied in the care of flocks and herds, and pitching their camps at different places. The eldest brother represents the Bedouin chieftain, the second brother…
Read Cambridge on Genesis 4 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible20. Jabal… father of… tents… cattle — Though descended from a city-builder, he adopted the nomadic life; but, unlike Abel, who probably held to a settled habitation and kept only sheep or small
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 4 →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
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first of those who live in tents and keep livestock.
Tyndale line
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
And Adah bare Iabal, who was the father of such as dwell in the tents, and of such as haue cattell.
Strictly literal
And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of those who dwell in tents, and [breed] cattle.
And Adah beareth Jabal, he hath been father of those inhabiting tents and purchased possessions;
And Adah bears Jabal, he has been father of those inhabiting tents and [having] purchased livestock;
And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle.
Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of those who lived in tents who have livestock.
From the Latin
And Ada brought forth Jabel: who was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of herdsmen.
Simplified
Adah had a son named Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock.
And Adah gave birth to Jabal: he was the father of such as are living in tents and keep cattle.
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 states: וַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־ יָבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה׃. The Septuagint aligns closely with this text, with 8 of the 10 words matched. The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word.
וַתֵּ֥לֶד עָדָ֖ה אֶת־ יָבָ֑ל ה֣וּא הָיָ֔ה אֲבִ֕י יֹשֵׁ֥ב אֹ֖הֶל וּמִקְנֶֽה׃
8 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.
ותלד עדה את יבל הוא היה אבי ישׁב אהל ומקנה
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 4:20
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.
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring
forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be
delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,
labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be
the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bear, bring forth
1a1a) of child birth
1a1b) of distress (simile)
1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)
1a2) to beget
1b) (Niphal) to be born
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cause or help to bring forth
1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife
1c3) midwife (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be born
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to beget (a child)
1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqw3fs
bor: According to the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:20-23:33) a slave whom his master had purchased was to be released after six years. Should he choose to remain in his master's service a religious ceremony was necessary to ratify his decision. "Then his master shall bring him unto God" (better than "unto the judges" of the King James Version), "and shall bring him to the door, or unto the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl" (Ex 21:6). It is highly improbable that "unto God" means "to a sanctuary"; for there was no special reason for performing this ceremony near the door of a sanctuary. On the other hand the entrance to a private house was a sacred spot. According to primitive thinking near the door dwelt the household gods whose function it was to…
עָדָה (Adah) refers to a name meaning 'ornament.' It is associated with two women in the Old Testament: one is the wife of Lamech, mother of Jabal and Jubal, and the other is a Hittite wife of Esau, mother of Eliphaz, who is also called Basemath. The word is built from the root meaning 'ornament'.
עָדָה n.pr.f. wife,
of Lamech
of Esau
base
H5711 עָדָה wife, . of Lamech
. of Esau
5711 `Adah aw-daw'
from 5710; ornament; Adah, the name of two women:--Adah.
see HEBREW for 05710
עָדָה (a.dah) — Adah.
A woman living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.4.19; married to Lamech (H3929);
mother of: Jabal (H2989) and Jubal (H3106)
§ Adah = "ornament"
1) the 1st of the 2 wives of Lamech and mother of Jabal and Jubal
2) a Hittitess, 1 of the 3 wives of Esau and mother of Eliphaz
2a) also called 'Bashemath'
עָדָה (a.dah) — Adah.
A woman living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.26.34;
daughter of: Elon (H0356); married to Esau (H6215);
mother of: Eliphaz (H0464); also called Basemath (KJV: Bashemath) at Gen.26.34;
Also named: bos.mat (בָּֽשְׂמַת "Basemath" H1315H)
§ Adah = "ornament"
1) the 1st of the 2 wives of Lamech and mother of Jabal and Jubal
2) a Hittitess, 1 of the 3 wives of Esau and mother of Eliphaz
2a) also called 'Bashemath'
N-proper — Noun proper feminineHNpf
a'-da (`adhah, "adornment"):
(1) One of the two wives of Lamech the descendant of Cain (Ge 4:19,20,23). The narrative in Ge assigns to her two sons, Jabal the "father" of tent-dwelling people, and Jubal the "father" of all such as handle the harp and pipe." Josephus says that Lamech had 77 sons by Ada and Zillah (Ant., I, ii, 2).
(2) According to Ge 36:2,4,10,12,16, the Hittite wife of Esau, daughter of Elon, and mother of Eliphaz. In this chapter Esau's other wives are Oholibamah, a Hivite, and Basemath the daughter of Ishmael. The names are differently given elsewhere (Ge 26:34; 28:9). Basemath is said to be the daughter of Elon. The daughter of Ishmael is called Mahalath. In place of Oholibamah the Hivite we find Judith the…
(ornament, beauty). The first of the two wives of Lamech, by whom were borne to him Jabal and Jubal. (Genesis 4:19) (B.C. 3600). A Hittitess, one of the three wives of Esau, mother of Eliphaz. (Genesis 36:2,10,12,16) In (Genesis 26:34) she is called BASHEMATH. (B.C. 1797.)
an assembly
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
יָבָל (Yabal) refers to a man from the antediluvian period, specifically the son of Lamech and Adah, and is noted as a founder of pastoral life. He is mentioned in Genesis 4:20 and is the brother of Jubal. The name is associated with the concept of a 'stream of water'.
יָבָל n.pr.m. son of Lamech by Adah, and founder of pastoral life acc. to Gn 4:20 (J)
ref
H2989 יָבָל son of Lamech by Adah, and founder of pastoral life
2989 Yabal yaw-bawl'
the same as 2988; Jabal, an antediluvian:--Jabal.
see HEBREW for 02988
יָבָל (ya.val) — Jabal.
A man living at the time before the Flood, only mentioned at Gen.4.20;
son of: Lamech (H3929) and Adah (H5711);
brother of: Jubal (H3106), Tubal-cain (H8423), Naamah (H5279)
§ Jabal = "stream of water"
the son of Lamech by Adah and brother of Jubal; described as the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
ja'-bal (yabhal, meaning uncertain): In Ge 4:20, a son of Lamech by Adah. He is called `the father of those who dwell in tents and (with) herds.' So Gunkel, Gen3, 52, who says that the corresponding word in Arabic means "the herdsman who tends the camels." Skinner, Gen, 120, says that both Jabal and Jubal suggest yobhel, which in Phoenician and Hebrew "means primarily `ram,' then `ram's horn' as a musical instrument, and finally `joyous music' (in the designation of the year of Jubilee)." See also Skinner, Gen, 103, on the supposed connection in meaning with Abel.
David Francis Roberts
Jabal
A stream, a descendant of Cain, and brother of Jubal; “the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle” (Gen. 4:20). This description indicates that he led a wandering life.
(stream), the son of Lamech and Adah, (Genesis 4:20) and brother of Jubal. He is described as the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
Son of Lamech and Adah, and a descendant of Cain. He is supposed to have been the first to adopt the nomadic mode of life, still practiced in Arabia and Tartary, and to have invented portable tents, perhaps of skins, Ge 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.
הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it
an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
It resumes the subj. with emph.
Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
As an emph. predicate, of God
In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
base
H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)
. It resumes the subj. with emph.
. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible
. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject
. As an emph. predicate, of God
. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)
. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.
1931 huw' hoo
of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a
primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or
it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also
(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;
sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally
(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),
it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,
this, those, which (is), who.
הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.
pron 3p s
1) he, she, it
1a) himself (with emphasis)
1b) resuming subj with emphasis
1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)
1d) (anticipating subj)
1e) (emphasising predicate)
1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron
2) that (with article)
Pron — PronounHPp3ms
ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.
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.
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.
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
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
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
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
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'.
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
H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell
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.
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)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular commonHVqrmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word אֹ֫הֶל (*ohel*) means 'tent' and is derived from a root meaning 'to be conspicuous.' It encompasses various meanings, including a nomad's tent, a dwelling or home, and specifically refers to the sacred tent used for worship, known as the tabernacle. The entries consistently highlight its association with transience and habitation.
אֹ֫הֶל 343 n.m. tent
tent of nomad
dwelling, habitation
the sacred tent used in worship of God
base
H168 אֹ֫הֶל tent
168 'ohel o'-hel
from 166; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a
distance):--covering, (dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle,
tent.
see HEBREW for 0166
אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent.
: tent
1) tent
1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience
1b) dwelling, home, habitation
1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)
Also means: o.hel (אֹ֫הֶל ": home" H0168H)
אֹ֫הֶל (o.hel) — tent: home.
: home
1) tent
1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience
1b) dwelling, home, habitation
1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
tent ('ohel; skene; 'ohel is a derivative of 'ahal, "to be clear," "to shine"; hence, 'ohel, "to be conspicuous from a distance"): In the great stretches of uncultivated lands in the interior of Syria or Arabia, which probably have much the same aspect today as in Abraham's time, it is an easy matter to espy an encampment of roving Bedouin, "a nation .... that dwelleth without care .... that have neither gates nor bars" (Jer 49:31). The peaks of their black (compare So 1:5) goats' hair tents stand out in contrast against the lighter colors of the soil.
There seems to be little doubt about the antiquity of the Arab tent, and one can rightly believe that-the dwelling-places of Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, and their descendants were made on the same pattern and of the same materials (
Tent
(1.) Heb. ‘ohel (Gen. 9:21, 27). This word is used also of a dwelling or habitation (1 Kings 8:66; Isa. 16:5; Jer. 4:20), and of the temple (Ezek. 41:1). When used of the tabernacle, as in 1 Kings 1:39, it denotes the covering of goat’s hair which was placed over the mishcan.
(2.) Heb. mishcan (Cant. 1:8), used also of a dwelling (Job 18:21; Ps. 87:2), the grave (
Among the leading characteristics of the nomad races, those two have always been numbered whose origin has been ascribed to Jabal the son of Lameth, (Genesis 4:20) viz., to be tent-dwellers and keepers of cattle. The same may be said of the forefathers of the Hebrew race; nor was it until the return into Canaan from Egypt that the Hebrews became inhabitants of cities. An Arab tent is called beit , "house;" its covering consists of stuff, about three quarters of a yard broad, made of black goat’s-hair, (Solomon 1:5) laid parallel with the tent’s length. This is sufficient to resist the heaviest rain. The tent-poles or columns are usually nine in number, placed in three groups; but many tents have only one pole, others two or three. The ropes which hold the tent in its place are fastened, not to the tent-cover itself, but to loops…
Dwelling in tents was very general in ancient times among Eastern nations, Ge 4:20; their way of life being pastoral, locomotion became necessary for pasturage, and dwellings adapted for such a life became indispensable, Isa 38:12. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt in tents, Ge 18:1 Heb 11:9; and on the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, throughout their peregrinations until they obtained the promised land, and to some extent afterwards, they adopted the same kind of habitation. See BOOTHS. Hence the expression. "Every man to his tents, O Israel," etc.,
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.
מִקְנֶה 76 n.m. cattle
base
H4735 מִקְנֶה cattle
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
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)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
