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Hosea 2:14 — Word Study

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WLCלָכֵ֗ן הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ וְהֹֽלַכְתִּ֖יהָ הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְדִבַּרְתִּ֖י עַל לִבָּֽהּ׃

BSAbe desolateshâmêm vinegephen figtᵉʼên whichʼăsher to sayʼâmar wagesʼethnâh they(masc.)hêm whichʼăsher to givenâthan to loveʼâhab to setsûwm Jaaryaʻar to eatʼâkal alivechay fieldsâdeh

Word
Listen & take awayHosea 2
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 14 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 (li.Bah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Hosea 2:14quick helps
In a sentenceGod expresses His intention to win back Israel by leading her to a desolate place where He can speak tenderly to her.
Who is speakingThe LORD, addressing Israel as His beloved.
Where we areIn the context of God's promise of restoration after judgment.
The hard wordמְפַתֶּ֔יהָ
Take awayGod's desire is to restore a loving relationship with His people.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbאֶתְנָה 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 2:14

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 Promise of Restorationgenerated

13I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she burned incense to them, when she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers. But Me she forgot,” declares the LORD.
14“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly.
15There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
16In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call Me ‘my Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘my Master.’

Hosea 2:14 is part of a passage where God speaks of His desire to restore Israel after her unfaithfulness. He plans to allure her, leading her to the wilderness, a place of solitude where He can communicate with her in a loving manner. This reflects God's deep longing for a renewed relationship with His people, contrasting with the previous verses that highlight their infidelity.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 30:18Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
2Jeremiah 16:14Yet behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’
3Song of Solomon 1:4
4John 6:44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
5John 12:32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”

The Key Word מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ, me.fa.Tei.hagenerated

The word מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ (*mefa'teihah*) is a piel participle form of the root פָּתָה (*pathah*), which means to entice or persuade. Here, it conveys the idea of God actively seeking to win back Israel's heart, suggesting a gentle and inviting approach rather than coercion.

This verb implies a relational dynamic where God is not merely commanding but is engaging in a loving pursuit of His people, inviting them back to Him after their waywardness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses allure to capture the essence of מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ, to allure, which governs the actions of leading and speaking. The structure emphasizes God's initiative in restoring the relationship by leading Israel to a place where He can communicate with her.

The sentence flows with a series of actions: alluring, leading, and speaking, all of which highlight God's desire to reconnect with His people in a personal and intimate manner.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ with the Greek word ἀφανιῶ (*aphanió*), which carries a connotation of seduction or allure. This choice suggests a deeper interpretation of God's actions as not just leading but also captivating Israel's attention.

This translation reflects a nuanced understanding of God's approach, indicating that He seeks to draw Israel back with love and care rather than through force.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Hosea 2:14 shows God promising to win back Israel by leading her to a quiet place in the wilderness where He can speak to her with kindness. This reflects His desire to restore their broken relationship after Israel's unfaithfulness.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that God will allure Israel?

It means that God is actively seeking to win Israel's heart back to Him through gentle persuasion and love.

Why lead her to the wilderness?

The wilderness symbolizes a place of solitude where God can communicate intimately with Israel, away from distractions.

What does it mean to speak tenderly?

To speak tenderly means to communicate with kindness and love, showing care and compassion.

How does this verse reflect God's character?

This verse highlights God's desire for a loving relationship with His people, demonstrating His willingness to forgive and restore.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's allure in my own life?
  2. How can I respond to God's invitation to draw closer to Him?
  3. What does it mean for me to communicate tenderly with others?
  4. How can I create a 'wilderness' space in my life for God to speak to me?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early commentators like Jerome and Cyril of Alexandria reflect on this verse, discussing God's allure and the significance of His words to Israel.

JeromeCommentary on Hosea 2:14 c. 347–420
"Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope." LXX: "Therefore, behold, I will seduce her,
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 2 →
Cyril of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON Hosea 2:22 c. 376–444
“Behold, I will mislead her” not from what is necessary and useful to life … but from the things that are shameful and harmful to the fulfillment of any enjoyment.… And as her ways are usefully hedged around with thorns so that she may not…
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 2 →
Cyril of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON Hosea 2:22 c. 376–444
Since she [Israel] is accessible like a well-watered land to the herds of demons, he [the Lord] promises to treat her as a wilderness.… He will display it to their desires as an austere, untrodden and waterless place,
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 2 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Hosea 2:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Therefore, behold, I will allure her,.... Since these rough ways will not do, I will take another, a more mild and gentle way; instead of threatening, terrifying, and punishing, I will allure,

Read John Gill on Hosea 2 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. Therefore - rather, Nevertheless (Henderson). The English version gives a more lovely idea of God.

Read Robert Jamieson on Hosea 2 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Therefore: this particle seems to connect these following passages with those that went before, as causal, or giving a reason why God will do thus, and so are difficulter than if read as zkl might be, either as a particle that speaks order or time of things, and is as much as afterwards; so it will be easy, I will visit, &c., afterwards I will allure; first punish, next comfort: or else it may be adversative, as much as yet, or but; so it is plain, thus, She like an adulteress hath sinned, and I have punished; but, or yet, or notwithstanding, I will allure: or else it is a particle that doth more strongly affirm; so rendered the place would be less obscure, thus, I will destroy her vines, &…

Read Matthew Poole on Hosea 2 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Hosea 2:14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.Ver. 14. Therefore, behold, I will allure her] A strange "therefore." It may very well have "behold" at the heels of it: for the sense is this; because she hath quite forgotten me, and will never be converted of herself, I will prevent her by my mercy, recalling her mildly but mightily by my gospel. Seducam eam et deducam in desertum. Such another sweet text as this we have in Isaiah 57:17-18 : "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him."…

Read John Trapp on Hosea 2 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) Therefore.—This word does not make God’s gentle treatment a consequence of the sin of Israel. Some prefer to render by nevertheless, but the Hebrew word lakhçn is sometimes used in making strong transitions, linked, it is true, with what precedes, but not as an inference. (Comp. Isaiah 10:24.) Grace transforms her suffering into discipline. The exile in Babylon shall be a repetition of the experiences of the wilderness in which she was first espoused to Jehovah. There will I speak to her heart; i.e., comfortingly, lovingly.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Hosea 2 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 14. I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.] After inflicting many judgments upon her, I will restore her again. I will deal with her as a very affectionate husband would do to an unfaithful wife. Instead of making her a public example, he takes her in private, talks to and reasons with her; puts her on her good behaviour; promises to pass by all, and forgive all, if she will now amend her ways. In the meantime he provides what is necessary for her wants and comfortable support, and thus opening a door of hope for her, she may be fully reconciled; rejoice as at the beginning, when he first took her by the hand, and she became his bride.…

Read AdamClarke on Hosea 2 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14–23. And now the notes of threatening are dying away; bright and glorious days are announced for both sections of the nation. There shall be a second Exodus; no more idolatry; no more war; no. cloud upon Israel’s relation to her God. (Notice in passing the limitations of this stage of religious knowledge; the Messianic hope is as yet confined entirely to the people of Israel.)

Read Cambridge on Hosea 2 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore - The inference is not what we should have expected. Sin and forgetfulness of God are not the natural causes of, and inducements to mercy. But God deals not with us, as we act one to another.

Read Albert Barnes on Hosea 2 →

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

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly.

NETBNew English Translation2006

However, in the future I will allure her; I will lead her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Therefore beholde, I will allure her, and bring her into the wildernesse, and speake friendly vnto her.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak to her heart.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Therefore, lo, I am enticing her, And have caused her to go to the wilderness, And I have spoken unto her heart,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

“Therefore, behold, I am enticing her, || And have caused her to go to the wilderness, || And I have spoken to her heart,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(2:16) Therefore, behold, will I allure her, and lead her forth into the wilderness, and I will speak comfortingly unto her heart.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So I am going to win her back. I will bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the wilderness: and I will speak to her heart.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

See what I'm going to do! I will win her back, taking her into the desert where I will speak to her heart-to-heart.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For this cause I will make her come into the waste land and will say words of comfort to her.

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.

conjunction phraseprepositional phraseלָthereforeכֵ֗ןclauseclauseהִנֵּ֤הhere!clauseclausesubjectאָֽנֹכִי֙Iverbמְפַתֶּ֔י[am].aboutobjectהָto.persuade.herוְandclauseverbהֹֽלַכְתִּ֖יIobjectהָwill.lead.hernoun phrase · adverbialהַtheמִּדְבָּ֑רwildernessוְandclauseverbדִבַּרְתִּ֖יI.will.speakprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלtonoun phraseלִבָּֽheartהּher

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in the main elements of the verse, with all nine words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration and editorial additions, but the core message of God's allure remains consistent across witnesses.

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

לָכֵ֗ן הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ מְפַתֶּ֔יהָ וְהֹֽלַכְתִּ֖יהָ הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְדִבַּרְתִּ֖י עַל לִבָּֽהּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לָכֵ֗ןἀφανιῶהִנֵּ֤הἄμπελονאָֽנֹכִי֙αὐτῆςמְפַתֶּ֔יהָκαὶוְהֹֽלַכְתִּ֖יהָεἶπενהַמִּדְבָּ֑רἐστινוְדִבַּרְתִּ֖יμισθώματάעַללִבָּֽהּ׃ἔδωκάν

9 of the 9 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 — 4Q78a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[והשמתי] [גפנ׳ה] [ותאנת׳ה] אשר [אמרה] [אתנה] [המה] [ל׳י] [אשר] נתנו ל׳י מאהב׳י [ושמתי׳ם] [ליער] [ואכלת׳ם] [חית] [השדה]

3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 13 supplied entire by an editor.

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

[מאהב׳י] [ושמתי׳ם] [ליער] [ואכלת׳ם] אית [השדה]

6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 5 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 2:14כֵּןthereforethereforeכֵּןהִנֵּהhere!here!הִנֵּהאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יפָּתָה[am] about [am] about to pפָּתָההָלַךְand I will and I will leadהָלַךְמִדְבָּרthe wildernthe wildernessמִדְבָּרדָבַרand I will and I will speaדָבַרעַלtotoעַללֵבheart herheart herלֵבכּוּןto establito establish: pכּוּןדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרהֵןlook!look!הֵןהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְעַלheightheightעַללֵבָבheartheartלֵבָבכֹּהthusthusכֹּהאָדוֹןLordLordאָדוֹןנֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהמִצְוָהcommandmencommandmentמִצְוָהאַחְאָבAhabAhabאַחְאָבדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהצִןZinZinצִןסִינַיSinaiSinaiסִינַימֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁה
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 2:14

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.

therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
לָכֵ֗ןla.Khen therefore H3651 Preposition · adverb
771× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
right
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest

right

veritable, true

pl. concr. honest (men)

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

כֵּן adv. so

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3651 ken kane

from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as

adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)

rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and

relation; often with other particles):--+ after that

(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be

(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like

(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,

straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,

thus, true, well, X you.

see HEBREW for 03559

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֵּן (ken) — right.

adv

adj

1) right, just, honest, true, veritable

1a) right, just, honest

1b) correct

1c) true, veritable

[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.

adv

forasmuch as, since

כֵּן (ken) — so.

adv

1) so, therefore, thus

1a) thus, so

1b) just so

1c) therefore

1d) so...as (paired with adv)

1e) then

1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)

1g) (with prep)

1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)

1g2) hitherto

1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)

1g4) afterwards

1g5) in such case

Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/D — Preposition · adverb
HR/D
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
הִנֵּ֤הhi.Neh here! H2009 Particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

her, in composition:

therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
אָֽנֹכִי֙'a.no.Khi I H595 Pronoun
359× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This simple Hebrew word just means 'I', referring to the speaker, like in Genesis 27 where Esau says 'I' when talking to his father Isaac.
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָֽנֹכִ֫י (*anokiy*) is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is a variant spelling of אֲנִי (*ani*), which also means 'I.' The entries confirm its use as a personal pronoun without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H595 אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

595 'anokiy aw-no-kee'

sometimes {aw-no'-kee}; a primitive pro.; I:--I, me, X

which.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָֽנֹכִ֫י (a.no.khi) — I.

I (first pers. sing.)

Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp1bs — Pronoun
HPp1bs
therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
מְפַתֶּ֔יהָme.fa.Tei.ha [am] about to persuade her H6601 Verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To patah means to entice or deceive someone, often by making something seem simple or appealing.
Tyndale gloss
to open wide
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּתָה (pathah) is a Hebrew verb that means to be spacious or open, and it can also imply simplicity or gullibility. It encompasses a range of meanings from enticing and deceiving to persuading and being persuaded. The lexicons suggest that it can refer to both physical openness and moral or mental simplicity, with some entries indicating a sinister aspect of deception.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּתָה] vb. be spacious, wide, open

Qal poss. one open as to lips

Hiph. may God make wide for Japhet (give him an extensive inheritance)

base

[פָּתָה] vb. denom. be simple

Qal

be open-minded (?), simple

be enticed, deceived

Niph. be deceived

Pielpersuade, woman, seduce, virgin; entice, husband; a man to sin

deceive

Pual

be persuaded

be deceived

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6601a פָּתָה be spacious, wide, open H6601b [פָּתָה] vb. denom. be simple

.

. be open-minded (?), simple

. be enticed, deceived

. be deceived

.

. persuade, woman, seduce, virgin; entice, husband; a man to sin

. deceive

.

. be persuaded

. be deceived

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6601 pathah paw-thaw'

a primitive root; to open, i.e. be (causatively, make) roomy;

usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be

(causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)

delude:--allure, deceive, enlarge, entice, flatter, persuade,

silly (one).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּתָה (pa.tah) — to open wide.

1) to be spacious, be open, be wide

1a) (Qal) to be spacious or open or wide

1b) (Hiphil) to make spacious, make open

פָּתָה (pa.tah) — to entice.

1) to be simple, entice, deceive, persuade

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be open-minded, be simple, be naive

1a2) to be enticed, be deceived

1b) (Niphal) to be deceived, be gullible

1c) (Piel)

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to persuade, seduce

1c2) to deceive

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be persuaded

1d2) to be deceived

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVprmpc/Sp3fs — Verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
HVprmpc/Sp3fs
therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
וְהֹֽלַכְתִּ֖יהָve.ho.lakh.Ti.ha and I will lead her H1980 Verb hiphil sequential perfect first person common singular · suffix
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vhq1cs/Sp3fs — Verb hiphil sequential perfect first person common singular · suffix
Hc/Vhq1cs/Sp3fs
therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
הַמִּדְבָּ֑רha.mid.Bar the wilderness H4057 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
271× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Tyndale gloss
mouth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִדְבָּר (midbar) primarily means 'mouth' in the sense of an organ of speech, but it also refers to 'wilderness' or 'desert.' The word is derived from a root meaning to drive, suggesting open fields for pasturing cattle. It encompasses various forms of uninhabited land and is notably used in contexts related to the wilderness, such as the Wilderness of Sinai.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מִדְבָּר] n.m. mouth, as organ of speech, Ct 4:3

ref

מִדְבָר 270 n.m. wilderness

tracts of land, used for the pasturage of flocks and herds

uninhabited land

large tracts of such land bearing various names, in certain districts of which there might be towns and cities

fig.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4057a מִדְבָּר mouth, as organ of speech H4057b מִדְבָר wilderness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4057 midbar mid-bawr'

from 1696 in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open

field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert;

also speech (including its organs):--desert, south, speech,

wilderness.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — mouth.

1) mouth

1a) mouth (as organ of speech)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — wilderness.

1) wilderness

1a) pasture

1b) uninhabited land, wilderness

1c) large tracts of wilderness (around cities)

1d) wilderness (fig.)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — Wilderness (of Sinai).

This name means wilderness, uninhabited land

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wil'-der-nes.

See DESERT; JUDAEA, WILDERNESS OF; WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wilderness

(1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer. 23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place. This word is used of the wilderness of Beersheba (Gen. 21:14), on the southern border of Palestine; the wilderness of the Red Sea (Ex. 13:18); of Shur (15:22), a portion of the Sinaitic peninsula; of Sin (17:1), Sinai (Lev. 7:38), Moab (Deut. 2:8), Judah (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See DESERT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Wandering of the Israelites in, see ISRAEL

→ Typical of the sinner' s state De 32:10

→ Jesus' temptation in Mt 4:1; Mr 1:12,13; Lu 4:1

→ See DESERT

therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
וְדִבַּרְתִּ֖יve.di.bar.Ti and I will speak H1696 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect first person common singular
1,142× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Tyndale gloss
to speak: speak
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)

Qal speak

Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk

Pi. speak

Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for

Hithp. speaking this word

Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1696 dabar daw-bar'

a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used

figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive

sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,

declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,

say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,

use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.

: speak/tell/command

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.

: subdue

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.

: promise/declare

1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing

1a) (Qal) to speak

1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to speak

1c2) to promise

1d) (Pual) to be spoken

1e) (Hithpael) to speak

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vpq1cs — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vpq1cs
therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
עַל'al- to H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
therefore here! I [am] about to persuade her and I will lead her the wilderness and I will speak to heart her
לִבָּֽהּ׃li.Bah heart her H3820 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
595× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Tyndale gloss
heart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart

seldom of things in the midst of the sea

elsewhere of men

the inner man in contrast with the outer

the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

specific reference to mind

spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

spec. ref. to conscience

[various]

for the man himself

as seat of appetites

as seat of emotions and passions

seat of courage

base

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea

. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer

. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will

. specific reference to mind

. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will

. spec. ref. to conscience

. [various]

. for the man himself

. as seat of appetites

. as seat of emotions and passions

. seat of courage

H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3820 leb labe

a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very

widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;

likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,

consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),

(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X

heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X

themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,

wisdom.

see HEBREW for 03824

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֵב (lev) — heart.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

1a) inner part, midst

1a1) midst (of things)

1a2) heart (of man)

1a3) soul, heart (of man)

1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

1a6) conscience

1a7) heart (of moral character)

1a8) as seat of appetites

1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage

לֵב (lev) — Leb.

§ Leb- = "heart of"

(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc/Sp3fs — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3fs
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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