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Hosea 11:6 — Word Study

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WLCוְחָלָ֥ה חֶ֙רֶב֙ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְכִלְּתָ֥ה בַדָּ֖יו וְאָכָ֑לָה מִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

BSAA swordchereb [cutting instrument, weapon of war] will flashchûwl [sweep, fall] through their citiesʻîyr [towns, populated areas] it will destroykâlâh [consume, put an end to] and consume [them]ʼâkal [devour, eat] in their own plansmôwʻêtsâh [counsels, purposes, evil designs]

Word
Listen & take awayHosea 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 6 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 (mi.mo.'a.Tzo.tei.Hem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Hosea 11:6quick helps
In a sentenceA sword will strike the cities, breaking down defenses and consuming the people in their own schemes.
Who is speakingThe prophet Hosea, conveying God's message of impending judgment.
Where we areIn a warning about the consequences of unrepentant behavior, following a call to return to God.
The hard wordחָלָ֥ה
Take awayThe destructive force of judgment will come from within their own plans.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectחֶרֶב verbחוּל 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 — Hosea 11:6

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 — God's Warning Through Hoseagenerated

5Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
6A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
7My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
8How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

Hosea 11:6 presents a stark warning from God about the consequences of Israel's refusal to repent. The imagery of a sword cutting through cities indicates imminent destruction, as God laments over His people's stubbornness. This verse is part of a larger narrative where God expresses both judgment and compassion, highlighting the tension between His justice and mercy.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Hosea 10:14the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
2Hosea 13:16Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.
3Leviticus 26:31–33I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices.
4Deuteronomy 28:52They will besiege all the cities throughout your land, until the high and fortified walls in which you trust have fallen. They will besiege all your cities throughout the land that the LORD your God has given you.
5Deuteronomy 32:25Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man.

The Key Word חָלָ֥ה, cha.Lahgenerated

The word חוּל (chuwl) is a verb meaning to twist or whirl. It conveys strong emotions or physical struggles, often associated with childbirth or fear. In this context, it depicts the swift and destructive action of a sword, emphasizing the severity of the judgment.

The parsing as a sequential perfect third person feminine singular indicates that the action is completed and directed towards the feminine noun 'sword'. This choice of verb underlines the suddenness and intensity of the impending destruction.


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 חָלָ֥ה governs the sentence, indicating the action of the sword. It is followed by a prepositional phrase describing where this action occurs, and then two clauses detailing the consequences of that action.

The structure emphasizes the swift and destructive nature of the sword's action, with the verb leading the sentence and the subsequent phrases elaborating on the impact of that action.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חָלָ֥ה as ἠσθένησεν (G770), meaning 'to be weak' or 'to be ill'. This choice suggests an interpretation of the sword's action as causing weakness or vulnerability, rather than just a physical attack.

This translation shows a slight narrowing of the Hebrew's broader implications of twisting and whirling, focusing instead on the resulting state of the cities and their people.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Hosea 11:6 warns that a sword will strike through the cities, destroying their defenses and consuming the people in their own plans. This reflects God's judgment on Israel for their refusal to turn back to Him.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the sword represent in this verse?

The sword symbolizes God's judgment and the destructive consequences of Israel's unrepentant behavior.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Hosea?

This verse illustrates the tension between God's judgment and His desire for His people to return to Him, highlighting the consequences of their choices.

What does it mean to be consumed in their own plans?

Being consumed in their own plans indicates that their schemes and counsels, which are contrary to God's will, will lead to their destruction.

Why is the imagery of a sword significant?

The imagery of a sword conveys the sudden and violent nature of God's judgment, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation for Israel.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see my own plans leading me away from God's will?
  2. How can I be more aware of the consequences of my actions, as warned in this verse?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure that my decisions align with God's purposes?
  4. How does understanding God's judgment help me appreciate His mercy?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Hosea 11:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the sword shall abide on the cities,.... Or "shall fall" (y), and continue; meaning the sword of the Assyrians, whereby Ephraim should be brought into subjection to them, and the king of Assyria

Read John Gill on Hosea 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. And the sword shall abide on his cities - (cf.

Read Robert Jamieson on Hosea 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The sword; either intestine or foreign wars, or both. Shall abide; shall be long, not be as a sudden incursion which doth much mischief to surprised and unfortified places, but it shall be a lasting war; three years Samaria was besieged, so the sword did abide. On his cities; all the cities of Ephraim, the enemy should have courage and leisure to attend the siege of every one of them. Shall consume; shall prevail to take, sack, burn, and ruin the branches. His branches; lesser towns and villages. Devour them; swallow them up with speed and ease, without remedy. Because of their own counsels; which they first took, , and ever since irreclaimably have followed, in opposition to all the good…

Read Matthew Poole on Hosea 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Hosea 11:6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour [them], because of their own counsels.Ver. 6. And the sword shall abide on his cities] Heb. shall keep residence or rush upon his cities. It can do no less; it cannot return into the scabbard, rest or be still, till the Lord, who put it into commission, call back again his commission, Jeremiah 47:6-7. It is a dreadful thing when the sword abideth on a people; as in Germany, that stage of war; Ireland, still a land of divine ire, &c. England hath some halcyons at present, praise be given to God; and let every good man pray with David, "Scatter thou the people that delight in war," Psalms 68:30. The…

Read John Trapp on Hosea 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) The rendering of the English version is here incorrect. Render, Then shall the sword be brandished amid his cities, and utterly destroy his princes. The word for “princes” is, literally, bars, the heroes, leaders, or defenders of the state being aptly called barriers, or bulwarks. Analogous metaphors frequently occur in the Old Testament; such is the interpretation of the Targum.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Hosea 11 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 6. The sword shall abide on his cities] Israel was agitated with external and intestine wars from the time of Jeroboam the Second. Although Zechariah his son reigned twelve years, yet it was in continual troubles; and he was at last slain by the rebel Shallum, who, having reigned one month, was slain by Menahem. Pekahiah succeeded his father Menahem, and reigned two years, and was killed by Pekah, son of Remaliah. He joined Rezin, king of Syria, and made an irruption into the land of Judah; but Ahaz having obtained succour from Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, Pekah was defeated, and the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, were carried away captives by…

Read AdamClarke on Hosea 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. And the sword, &c.] Rather, And the sword shall whirl about in his cities, and shall make an end of his defences (lit. his bars; comp. Jeremiah 51:30). The sword is personified as the symbol of war, as Ezekiel 14:17.

Read Cambridge on Hosea 11 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And the sword shall abide on his cities - Literally, “shall light, shall whirl” down upon.

Read Albert Barnes on Hosea 11 →

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

A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.

NETBNew English Translation2006

A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the sword shall fall upon his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them , because of their own counsels.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the sworde shall fall on his cities, and shall consume his barres, and deuoure them, because of their owne counsels.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and the sword shall turn about in his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour [them], because of their own counsels.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Grievous hath been the sword in his cities, And it hath ended his bars, and consumed — from their own counsels.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

The sword has been grievous in his cities, || And it has ended his bars, and consumed—from their own counsels.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the sword shall fall on his cities, and shall make an end of his boughs, and consume them, because of their [evil] counsels.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The sword will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own plans.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

War will sweep through their cities, putting an end to their boasting and destroying their plans.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the sword will go through his towns, wasting his children and causing destruction because of their evil designs.

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.

וְandclauseverbחָלָ֥הit.will.whirlsubjectחֶ֨רֶב֙a.swordprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseעָרָ֔יcitiesוhisוְandclauseverbכִלְּתָ֥הit.will.put.an.end.tonoun phrase · objectבַדָּ֖יbarsוhisוְandclauseverbאָכָ֑לָהit.will.devour.[them]prepositional phrase · prepositionalמִֽfromnoun phraseמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיschemesהֶֽםtheir

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 agree on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls, however, show some restoration, with one word partly restored and the rest supplied by an editor, indicating some textual damage.

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

וְחָלָ֥ה חֶ֙רֶב֙ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְכִלְּתָ֥ה בַדָּ֖יו וְאָכָ֑לָה מִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְחָלָ֥הἠσθένησενחֶ֙רֶב֙ῥομφαίαבְּעָרָ֔יוαὐτοῦוְכִלְּתָ֥הκατέπαυσενבַדָּ֖יוαὐτοῦוְאָכָ֑לָהφάγονταιמִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם׃διαβουλίων

7 of the 7 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q82a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[וחלה] [חרב] [בערי׳ו] [וכלתה] בדי׳ו [ואכלה] [ממעצותי׳הם]

nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.

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.

Hosea 11:6חוּלand it willand it will whiחוּלחֶ֫רֶבa sworda swordחֶ֫רֶבעִירin cities hin cities hisעִירכָּלָהand it willand it will putכָּלָהבַּדbars hisbars hisבַּדאָכַלand it willand it will devאָכַלמוֹעִצָהfrom schemefrom schemes thמוֹעִצָהחָרֵבto dryto dryחָרֵבעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרבָּדָאto deviseto deviseבָּדָאיָעַץto adviseto adviseיָעַץטֶ֫רֶםbeforebeforeטֶ֫רֶםרָעָבfaminefamineרָעָבחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדקָצִירharvestharvestקָצִירחֵמָהragerageחֵמָהעֶבְרָהfuryfuryעֶבְרָהחָרַשׁto plow/plto plow/plotחָרַשׁשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםשְׁרִירוּתstubbornnestubbornnessשְׁרִירוּתלֵבheartheartלֵב
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 Hosea 11:6

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and it will whirl a sword in cities his and it will put an end to bars his and it will devour [them] from schemes their
וְחָלָ֥הve.cha.Lah and it will whirl H2342 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to twist or whirl, and can describe dancing, pain, or fear. It is used to convey strong emotions or physical struggles, such as childbirth or great fear.
Amplified meaning
sweep, fall
Tyndale gloss
to twist: tremble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חוּל (chuwl) is built from a primitive root meaning to twist or whirl. It covers a range of meanings, including to dance, writhe in pain, bear children, and wait anxiously. The word can also imply strength or firmness, as noted in some entries. Various forms indicate different nuances, such as being made to writhe or suffering anguish.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חוּל [חִיל] vb. whirl, dance, writhe

Qal

dance

twist, writhe

whirl, whirl about

Po‛lel

dance

writhe in travail with, bear, bring forth (poet.)

wait anxiously

Po‛lal

be made to writhe

be brought forth

Hiph. cause to be in anguish

Hoph. be born

Hithpol.

whirling

writhing, suffering torture

wait longingly

Hithpalp. and she writhed in anxiety

base

[חול, חִיל] vb. be firm, strong

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2342a חוּל [חִיל] whirl, dance, writhe .. dance

. twist, writhe

. whirl, whirl about

.. dance

. writhe in travail with, bear, bring forth (poet.)

. wait anxiously

.. be made to writhe

. be brought forth

. cause to be in anguish

. be born

. . whirling

. writhing, suffering torture

. wait longingly

. and she writhed in anxiety

H2342b חול, חִיל br firm, strong

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2342 chuwl khool

or chiyl {kheel}; a primitive root; properly, to twist or

whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to

dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear;

figuratively, to wait, to pervert:--bear, (make to) bring

forth, (make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously

(with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be) grievous, hope,

look, make, be in pain, be much (sore) pained, rest, shake,

shapen, (be) sorrow(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain),

tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חוּל (chul) — to twist: tremble.

: tremble/fear

1) to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to dance

1a2) to twist, writhe

1a3) to whirl, whirl about

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to dance

1b2) to writhe (in travail with), bear, bring forth

1b3) to wait anxiously

1c) (Pulal)

1c1) to be made to writhe, be made to bear

1c2) to be brought forth

1d) (Hophal) to be born

1e) (Hithpolel)

1e1) whirling (participle)

1e2) writhing, suffering torture (participle)

1e3) to wait longingly

1f) (Hithpalpel) to be distressed

חִיל (chil) — be firm.

to be firm, strong

חוּל (chul) — to twist: give birth.

: give_birth

1) to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to dance

1a2) to twist, writhe

1a3) to whirl, whirl about

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to dance

1b2) to writhe (in travail with), bear, bring forth

1b3) to wait anxiously

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqq3fs
and it will whirl a sword in cities his and it will put an end to bars his and it will devour [them] from schemes their
חֶ֙רֶב֙che.rev a sword H2719 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
413× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Amplified meaning
cutting instrument, weapon of war
Tyndale gloss
sword
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶ֫רֶב (chereb) means 'sword' and can also refer to other cutting instruments like knives and tools. It is derived from a root meaning 'drought,' highlighting its destructive nature. The term is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote weapons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶ֫רֶב 411 n.f. sword (as weapon)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2719 חֶ֫רֶב sword (as weapon)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2719 chereb kheh'-reb

from 2717; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its

destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp

implement:--axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool.

see HEBREW for 02717

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶ֫רֶב (che.rev) — sword.

1) sword, knife

1a) sword

1b) knife

1c) tools for cutting stone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sord.

See ARMOR, III, 5.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Sword

Of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Ex. 32:27; 1 Sam. 31:4; 1 Chr. 21:27; Ps. 149:6: Prov. 5:4; Ezek. 16:40; 21:3-5).

It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deut. 32:25; Ps. 7:12; 78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Ps. 57:4; 64:3; Prov. 12:18). The word of God is likened also to a…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[ARMS, ARMOR]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used by

Gideon Jud 7:20

Goliath 1Sa 21:9

Peter Mt 26:51; Joh 18:10

→ David' s army equipped with 1Ch 21:5

→ To be beaten into plowshares Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3

→ Made of plowshares Joe 3:10

→ Two-edged Heb 4:12; Re 1:16; 2:12

→ FIGURATIVE

Of war Ge 27:40

and it will whirl a sword in cities his and it will put an end to bars his and it will devour [them] from schemes their
בְּעָרָ֔יוbe.'a.Rav in cities his H5892 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
towns, populated areas
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

and it will whirl a sword in cities his and it will put an end to bars his and it will devour [them] from schemes their
וְכִלְּתָ֥הve.khi.le.Tah and it will put an end to H3615 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
208× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to finish or end something, like completing a task or using up a resource, as seen in Genesis 2:2 where God finished creating the heavens and earth.
Amplified meaning
consume, put an end to
Tyndale gloss
to end: finish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּלָה (*kalah*) is a primitive root meaning to end or finish. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to complete, accomplish, perish, and destroy. The entries indicate various uses in both intransitive and transitive forms, covering actions like finishing a task or causing something to cease. Notably, it can also imply negative connotations, such as plotting or destruction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּלָה 204 vb. be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent

Qal

be complete, at an end, of a period of time

be completed, finished, of a work

be accomplished, fulfilled

be idealy complete, be determined, always in a bad sense, plotted

be spent, used up (prop. come to an end), of water

waste away, be exhausted, fail

come to an end, vanish = perish, be destroyed

Pi.

complete, bring to an end, finish, a thing, task, work, etc.

complete a period of time

finish doing a thing

make an end, end

accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass

accomplish in thought, determine

put an end to, cause to cease

cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend

destroy, sts. exterminate

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3615 כָּלָה be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, spent .. . be complete, at an end, of a period of time

. be completed, finished, of a work

. be accomplished, fulfilled

. be idealy complete, be determined, always in a bad sense, plotted

. . be spent, used up (prop. come to an end), of water

. waste away, be exhausted, fail

. come to an end, vanish = perish, be destroyed

. . . complete, bring to an end, finish, a thing, task, work, etc.

. complete a period of time

. finish doing a thing

. make an end, end

. accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass

. accomplish in thought, determine

. . put an end to, cause to cease

. cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend

. destroy, sts. exterminate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3615 kalah kaw-law'

a primitive root; to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be

finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare,

consume):--accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine,

destroy (utterly), be (when ... were) done, (be an) end (of),

expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, X fully, X

have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make

clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּלָה (ka.lah) — to end: finish.

: finish

1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be complete, be at an end

1a2) to be completed, be finished

1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled

1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense)

1a5) to be spent, be used up

1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail

1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish

1b2) to complete (a period of time)

1b3) to finish (doing a thing)

1b4) to make an end, end

1b5) to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass

1b6) to accomplish, determine (in thought)

1b7) to put an end to, cause to cease

1b8) to cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend

1b9) to destroy, exterminate

1c) (Pual) to be finished, be ended, be completed

כָּלָה (ka.lah) — to end: destroy.

: destroy

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-3fs — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vpq3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

qets, 'ephec, kalah; telos, sunteleo:

The end of anything is its termination, hence, also, final object or purpose.

It is the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly in the Old Testament of qets (properly, "a cutting off") and other words from the same root (Ge 6:13, "The end of all flesh is come before me"); 'acharith, "hinder part," is also frequently translated "end" (De 11:12; Ps 37:37,38, American Revised Version: "There is a happy end to the man of peace .... The end of the wicked shall be cut off"; the English Revised Version "latter end" (Ps 37:37), margin "reward" or "future posterity"; Ps 73:17

Easton's Bible Dictionary

End

In Heb. 13:7, is the rendering of the unusual Greek word ekbasin, meaning “outcome”, i.e., death. It occurs only elsewhere in 1 Cor. 10:13, where it is rendered “escape.”

and it will whirl a sword in cities his and it will put an end to bars his and it will devour [them] from schemes their
בַדָּ֖יוva.Dav bars his H907 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for empty or false talk, like a lie or brag, is used to describe someone who speaks falsely. It appears in the Bible as a warning against dishonesty. In the KJV, it is translated as liar or lie.
Tyndale gloss
bluster
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּד (bad) refers to empty or idle talk, as well as to those who engage in such speech, described as empty talkers or praters. It can also denote a brag or lie, and is associated with the concept of a liar. The word is built from a root that suggests emptiness, and it appears in contexts related to deceitful speech.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בַּד] n.m.

empty, idle talk

concr. empty talkers, praters

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H907 [בַּד] . empty, idle talk

. concr. empty talkers, praters

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

907 bad bad

from 908; a brag or lie; also a liar:--liar, lie.

see HEBREW for 0908

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּד (bad) — bluster.

empty talk, idle talk, liar, lie

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and it will whirl a sword in cities his and it will put an end to bars his and it will devour [them] from schemes their
וְאָכָ֑לָהve.'a.Kha.lah and it will devour [them] H398 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Amplified meaning
devour, eat
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person feminine singular
Hc/Vqq3fs
and it will whirl a sword in cities his and it will put an end to bars his and it will devour [them] from schemes their
מִֽמֹּעֲצ֖וֹתֵיהֶֽם׃mi.mo.'a.Tzo.tei.Hem from schemes their H4156 Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means counsel or plan, referring to a purpose or device. It involves thinking or advising, like when Solomon sought wisdom. The Bible uses it to describe decision-making.
Amplified meaning
counsels, purposes, evil designs
Tyndale gloss
counsel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוֹעִצָה (mo`etsah) refers to a purpose or counsel, encompassing meanings like plan, principle, and device. It is derived from another Hebrew word, indicating its roots in the concept of intention or strategy. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts related to planning and advice.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מוֹעֵצָה] n.f. counsel, plan, principle, device

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4156 [מוֹעִצָה] counsel, plan, principle, device

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4156 mow`etsah mo-ay-tsaw'

from 3289; a purpose:--counsel, device.

see HEBREW for 03289

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוֹעֵצָה (mo.e.tsah) — counsel.

counsel, plan, principal, device

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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