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Hosea 7:8 — Word Study

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WLCאֶפְרַ֕יִם בָּעַמִּ֖ים ה֣וּא יִתְבּוֹלָ֑ל אֶפְרַ֛יִם הָיָ֥ה עֻגָ֖ה בְּלִ֥י הֲפוּכָֽה׃

BSAEphraimʼEphrayim [he, the tribe of Joseph's son] mixesbâlal [blends, intermingles] with the nationsʻam [peoples, foreign countries] EphraimʼEphrayim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel] ishâyâh an unturnedhâphak [half-baked, not fully transformed] cakeʻuggâh [flat bread, round bread cake]

Word
Listen & take awayHosea 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 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 (ha.fu.Khah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Hosea 7:8quick helps
In a sentenceEphraim is compared to an unturned cake, indicating a lack of transformation and integration.
Who is speakingThe prophet Hosea, addressing the people of Israel.
Where we areIn a passage where God laments Israel's unfaithfulness and lack of repentance.
The hard wordעֻגָ֖ה
Take awayEphraim's failure to change leads to vulnerability among the nations.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאֶפְרַיִם verbבָּלַל 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 7:8

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 — Hosea's Lament Over Israelgenerated

7All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls upon Me.
8Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.
9Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice. Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.
10Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.

Hosea 7:8 describes Ephraim's mingling with foreign nations, illustrating Israel's spiritual decline and lack of identity. The metaphor of an unturned cake emphasizes their incomplete state, reflecting a failure to fully embrace their covenant relationship with God. This passage serves as a warning about the consequences of straying from divine guidance, as seen in the surrounding verses that discuss Israel's unfaithfulness and the resulting vulnerability to outside influences.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Hosea 5:7–13They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.
2Hosea 9:3They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
3Ezra 9:1–12After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
4Nehemiah 13:23–25In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
5Psalm 106:35but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word אֶפְרַיִם, 'ef.Ra.yimgenerated

The name אֶפְרַיִם ('efrayim) means 'doubly fruitful' and refers to both Joseph's son and the tribe that descended from him. Ephraim is significant in Israel's history, representing not only a tribe but also a region and the northern kingdom of Israel.

In this verse, Ephraim's identity is called into question as it mixes with the nations, suggesting a loss of distinctiveness and purpose. The repetition of Ephraim emphasizes its central role in the narrative of Israel's unfaithfulness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of Ephraim's mixing with the nations and the imagery of the unturned cake.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יִתְבּוֹלָ֑ל (he mixes himself) governs the sentence, with the subject ה֣וּא (he) referring to Ephraim. The structure highlights Ephraim's action of mingling and its resulting state.

The phrase עֻגָ֖ה (a bread cake) serves as a metaphor for Ephraim's condition, emphasizing the lack of transformation. The word order in Hebrew places emphasis on Ephraim's identity and its consequences.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint renders אֶפְרַיִם as εφραιμ, maintaining the name's significance while translating the action of mixing as συνανεμείγνυτο, which implies a deeper blending.

This choice of words suggests a more profound integration with the nations, indicating a loss of identity and purpose for Ephraim.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Hosea 7:8 tells us that Ephraim, representing the northern kingdom of Israel, mixes with other nations and is compared to an unturned cake. This metaphor illustrates their incomplete transformation and failure to remain distinct as God's chosen people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Ephraim mixes with the nations?

It signifies that Ephraim has lost its distinct identity and has become like other nations, compromising its values and faith.

Why is Ephraim compared to an unturned cake?

The comparison highlights Ephraim's incomplete state, suggesting that they have not fully embraced their relationship with God and are vulnerable as a result.

What is the significance of the name Ephraim?

Ephraim means 'doubly fruitful' and represents both Joseph's son and the tribe that descended from him, playing a key role in Israel's history.

How does this verse relate to the surrounding context?

This verse reflects a broader theme in Hosea, where Israel's unfaithfulness and failure to return to God lead to vulnerability and judgment.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways might I be mixing with the values of the world instead of standing firm in my faith?
  2. How can I ensure that I am fully transformed and not like an unturned cake in my spiritual life?
  3. What steps can I take to maintain my identity as a follower of God in a diverse society?
  4. How does understanding Ephraim's story help me reflect on my own spiritual journey?

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

Early Church Fathers comment on this verse, using it to illustrate Israel's spiritual state and the consequences of turning away from God.

JeromeCOMMENTARY ON Hosea 2:7 c. 347–420
The kingdom of the ten tribes has become like any other nation because they went away from the Lord. And he [Ephraim] is like a bread beneath the ashes that is not turned, that is, he does not repent.
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 7 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XI, Section 10 c. 540–604
Ephraim is a cake under the ashes not turned. For a cake under the ashes, that hath ashes upon it, lays the cleaner side flat to the ground, and has the upper side the fouler, in proportion as it carries the ashes upon it.
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 7 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Hosea 7:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people,.... Either locally, by dwelling among them, as some of them at least might do among the Syrians; or carnally, by intermarrying with them, contrary to

Read John Gill on Hosea 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

Read Robert Jamieson on Hosea 7 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ephraim; the kingdom of Israel. Hath mixed himself among the people, by leagues and commerce, by imitation of their manners, and by either entertaining their gods, and sacrificing to them, or at least worshipping idols as the nations about them did, directly contrary to the express law of God, 12:2,3. This was their sin, and the greater because voluntary: the expression seems to represent it as a thing of their own seeking, they did mix themselves with the heathen, whereas had the heathen sought it, it would in likelihood have been said that the nations mixed themselves with Ephraim; but this is in other words the same with ,7. Or this passage may be (as some conceive) a threat that the…

Read Matthew Poole on Hosea 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Hosea 7:8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.Ver. 8. Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people] viz. in confederacies, marriages, manners, superstitions. They were conformed to those nations from whom God had separated them with a wonderful separation, Exodus 33:16, and put them up by themselves from all the world in the promised land, as it were in an island, Isaiah 20:6. And this they had done not once, but often, as the conjugation importeth; and that wilfully, without any necessity; yea and that constantly and of custom, or desperate obstinace (Heb. ιϊαμμ he will mingle himself). so that there was little difference to be discerned between…

Read John Trapp on Hosea 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Cake not turned.—Referring to the destructive effect of foreign influences. Ephraim was consumed by the unhallowed fire of Baal-worship, with all its passion and sensualism—a cake burnt on one side to a cinder, and on the other left in a condition utterly unfit for food. So the activity of foreign idolatries and foreign alliances, and the consequent unfaithfulness to Israel’s God, are the nation’s ruin.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Hosea 7 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. A cake not turned.] In the East having heated the hearth, they sweep one corner, put the cake upon it, and cover it with embers; in a short time they turn it, cover it again, and continue this several times, till they find it sufficiently baked. All travellers into Asiatic countries have noted this.

Read AdamClarke on Hosea 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8–16. The outward evidences of Israel’s decay 8. he hath mixed himself among the people] Rather, he mixeth himself among the peoples. How? By courting the favour now of Egypt, now of Assyria (Hosea 7:11). a cake not turned] Burnt to a coal at the bottom, raw dough at the top: an apt emblem of a character full of inconsistencies (Bishop Horsley). The explanation is plausible, as long as we look at the figure by itself. But the context, which refers only to Israel’s political decline, favours another view. ‘A brand snatched from the burning’ is a figure of a country, rescued only just in time from destruction. Hosea’s ‘cake not turned’ may equally well be an emblem of a country half ruined by…

Read Cambridge on Hosea 7 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people - i. e., with the pagan; he “mixed” or “mingled” himself among or with them, so as to corrupt himself, as it is said, “they were mingled among the

Read Albert Barnes on Hosea 7 →

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

Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Ephraim mixes himself among the nations. Ephraim is a pancake not turned over.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Ephraim has mixed itself like flour among the nations; Ephraim is like a ruined cake of bread that is scorched on one side.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Ephraim, he mixeth himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Ephraim, he mixeth himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Ephraim hath mixt himselfe among the people. Ephraim is as a cake on the hearth not turned.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Ephraim, he mixeth himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Ephraim! among peoples he mixeth himself, Ephraim hath been a cake unturned.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Ephraim! He mixes himself among peoples, || Ephraim has been an unturned cake.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Ephraim mixeth himself indeed among the nations: Ephraim is a cake not turned.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Ephraim mixes himself among the peoples. Ephraim is a flat cake that has not been turned over.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Ephraim himself is mixed among the nations: Ephraim is become as bread baked under the ashes, that is not turned.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Ephraim mixes with the foreign nations; he is as useless as half-baked bread!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Ephraim is mixed with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

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.

clauseclauseאֶפְרַ֕יִםEphraimclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּamongnoun phrasetheעַמִּ֖יםpeoplessubjectה֣וּאheverbיִתְבּוֹלָ֑לhe.mixes.himselfclausesubjectאֶפְרַ֛יִםEphraimverbהָיָ֥הhe.has.becomenoun phrase · objectעֻגָ֖הa.bread.cakeadjective phraseclauseadverbialבְּלִ֥יnotverbהֲפוּכָֽהturned.over

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely in wording, with the Septuagint matching 9 of the 9 words from the Hebrew. This agreement indicates a consistent understanding of Ephraim's condition across both texts.

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

אֶפְרַ֕יִם בָּעַמִּ֖ים ה֣וּא יִתְבּוֹלָ֑ל אֶפְרַ֛יִם הָיָ֥ה עֻגָ֖ה בְּלִ֥י הֲפוּכָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אֶפְרַ֕יִםεφραιμבָּעַמִּ֖יםλαοῖςה֣וּאαὐτοῦיִתְבּוֹלָ֑לσυνανεμείγνυτοאֶפְרַ֛יִםεφραιμהָיָ֥הἐγένετοעֻגָ֖הἐγκρυφίαςבְּלִ֥יοὐהֲפוּכָֽה׃μεταστρεφόμενος

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.

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 7:8אֶפְרַ֫יִםEphraimEphraimאֶפְרַ֫יִםעַםamong the pamong the peoplעַםהוּאheheהוּאבָּלַלhe mixes hihe mixes himselבָּלַלאֶפְרַ֫יִםEphraimEphraimאֶפְרַ֫יִםהָיָהhe has becohe has becomeהָיָהעֻגָהa bread caka bread cakeעֻגָהבְּלִיnotnotבְּלִיהָפַךְturned overturned overהָפַךְאֶפְרָ֫תָהEphrathEphrathאֶפְרָ֫תָהעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםבְּלִילfodderfodderבְּלִילעוּגto baketo bakeעוּגבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָההָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאמְנַשֶּׁהMosesMosesמְנַשֶּׁההַרmountain: mountain: mountהַרטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתסֹ֫לֶתfine flourfine flourסֹ֫לֶתעִשָּׂרוֹןtenthtenthעִשָּׂרוֹןטַ֫עַםtastetasteטַ֫עַםיָצָאto come outo come out: coיָצָאדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתלָבָןwhitewhiteלָבָןשֵׂעָרhairhairשֵׂעָר
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 7:8

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.

Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
אֶפְרַ֕יִם'ef.Ra.yim Ephraim H669 Noun proper masculine
180× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ephraim means doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph's son and the tribe that descended from him. The tribe of Ephraim was a significant part of Israel's history. Ephraim is also the name of a region in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
he, the tribe of Joseph's son
Tyndale gloss
Ephraim
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶפְרַ֫יִם (Ephrayim) refers to Ephraim, a son of Joseph and Asenath, and the tribe descended from him. The term signifies 'double fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including a geographical region, a chief gate of Jerusalem, and a reference to the northern kingdom. Notably, it appears in Genesis 41:52.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶפְרַ֫יִם n.pr.m. Ephraim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H669 אֶפְרַ֫יִם Ephraim

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

669 'Ephrayim ef-rah'-yim

dual of masculine form of 672; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son

of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its

territory:--Ephraim, Ephraimites.

see HEBREW for 0672

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.41.52;

son of: Joseph (H3130) and Asenath (H0621);

brother of: Manasseh (H4519);

father of: Shuthelah (H7803), Becher (H1071H), Tahan (H8465), Ezer (H5827), Elead (H0496) and Beriah (H1283H); also called Ephrathite (NIV: Ephraimite) at 1Sa.1.1; Ephron (Qere, KJV: Ephrain) at 2Ch.13.19;

§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"

1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh

2) the tribe, Ephraim

3) the mountain country of Ephraim

4) sometimes used name for the northern kingdom (Hosea or Isaiah)

5) a city near Baal-hazor

6) a chief gate of Jerusalem

אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim (Gate).

§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"

a chief gate of Jerusalem

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ephraim

Double fruitfulness (“for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction”). The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt (Gen. 41:52; 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (48:10; comp. 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, “guiding his hands wittingly.” Before Joseph’s death, Ephraim’s family had reached the third generation (Gen. 50:23).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a city "in the district near the wilderness" to which our Lord retired with his disciples when threatened with violence by the priests. (John 11:54)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt, Ge 41:52. Although the youngest, he yet had the chief blessing of his grandfather Jacob, and the tribe was always more distinguished than that of Manasseh, Ge 48:8-20 Nu 2:18-21. The portion of Ephraim was large and central, and embraced some of the most fertile land in all Canaan. It extended from the Mediterranean across to the Jordan, north of the portions of Dan and Benjamin and included Shiloh, Shechem, etc. A range of mountainous country, which runs through it, is called "the mountains of Ephraim," or "mount Ephraim." This extends also farther south into the portion of Judah, and is there called "the mountains of Judah." Samaria, the capital of the ten tribes, being in Ephraim…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

fruitful; increasing

Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
בָּעַמִּ֖יםba.'a.Mim among the peoples H5971 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
1,873× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Amplified meaning
peoples, foreign countries
Tyndale gloss
Amaw
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people

a people, nation

= smaller units

= common people

people in gen., persons

phrases

base

[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5971 `am am

from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a

tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or

attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,

people.

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַם (am) — people.

: people/nation

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — kinsman.

kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Ammi.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — People's (Gate).

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.

Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)

§ kinsman, kindred

עַם (am) — Amaw.

This name means nation, people

עַם (am) — people: soldiers.

: soldiers/army

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

עַם (am) — people: creatures.

: creatures

1) nation, people

1a) people, nation

1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HRd/Ncmpa
Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
ה֣וּאhu' he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp3ms — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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 company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
יִתְבּוֹלָ֑לyit.bo.Lal he mixes himself H1101 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine singular
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To feed or anoint, this verb means to give provender to animals or to mix something, like oil. It is used to describe caring for animals or preparing something.
Amplified meaning
blends, intermingles
Tyndale gloss
to mix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּלַל (balal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to mix, mingle, or confuse. It can also refer to feeding animals, derived from a primitive root that implies overflowing, particularly with oil. The word appears in various forms, including Qal, Hithpoel, and Hiphil, covering actions like mingling among people or fading away. Notably, it is linked to the concept of providing fodder.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּלַל vb. mingle, mix, confuse, confound

Qal

mingle, confuse

mix

Hithpo. Ephraim, among the peoples doth he mix himself

Hiph. and we faded away

base

בָּלַל vb. denom. to give provender Ju 19:21

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1101a בָּלַל mingle, mix, confuse, confound . mingle, confuse

. mix

H1101b בָּלַל vb. denom. to give provender

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1101 balal baw-lal'

a primitive root; to overflow (specifically with oil.); by

implication, to mix; also (denominatively from 1098) to

fodder:--anoint, confound, X fade, mingle, mix (self), give

provender, temper.

see HEBREW for 01098

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּלַל (ba.lal) — to mix.

1) to mix, mingle, confuse, confound

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to mingle, confuse

1a2) to mix

1b) (Hithpoel) to mix oneself (among others)

1c) (Hiphil) to fade away

בָּלַל (ba.lal) — to feed.

to give provender, feed (animals)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-r-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVti3ms
Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
אֶפְרַ֛יִם'ef.Ra.yim Ephraim H669 Noun proper masculine
180× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ephraim means doubly fruitful, referring to Joseph's son and the tribe that descended from him. The tribe of Ephraim was a significant part of Israel's history. Ephraim is also the name of a region in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Ephraim
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶפְרַ֫יִם (Ephrayim) refers to Ephraim, a son of Joseph and Asenath, and the tribe descended from him. The term signifies 'double fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including a geographical region, a chief gate of Jerusalem, and a reference to the northern kingdom. Notably, it appears in Genesis 41:52.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶפְרַ֫יִם n.pr.m. Ephraim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H669 אֶפְרַ֫יִם Ephraim

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

669 'Ephrayim ef-rah'-yim

dual of masculine form of 672; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son

of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its

territory:--Ephraim, Ephraimites.

see HEBREW for 0672

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim.

A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.41.52;

son of: Joseph (H3130) and Asenath (H0621);

brother of: Manasseh (H4519);

father of: Shuthelah (H7803), Becher (H1071H), Tahan (H8465), Ezer (H5827), Elead (H0496) and Beriah (H1283H); also called Ephrathite (NIV: Ephraimite) at 1Sa.1.1; Ephron (Qere, KJV: Ephrain) at 2Ch.13.19;

§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"

1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh

2) the tribe, Ephraim

3) the mountain country of Ephraim

4) sometimes used name for the northern kingdom (Hosea or Isaiah)

5) a city near Baal-hazor

6) a chief gate of Jerusalem

אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) — Ephraim (Gate).

§ Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"

a chief gate of Jerusalem

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ephraim

Double fruitfulness (“for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction”). The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt (Gen. 41:52; 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (48:10; comp. 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, “guiding his hands wittingly.” Before Joseph’s death, Ephraim’s family had reached the third generation (Gen. 50:23).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

a city "in the district near the wilderness" to which our Lord retired with his disciples when threatened with violence by the priests. (John 11:54)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt, Ge 41:52. Although the youngest, he yet had the chief blessing of his grandfather Jacob, and the tribe was always more distinguished than that of Manasseh, Ge 48:8-20 Nu 2:18-21. The portion of Ephraim was large and central, and embraced some of the most fertile land in all Canaan. It extended from the Mediterranean across to the Jordan, north of the portions of Dan and Benjamin and included Shiloh, Shechem, etc. A range of mountainous country, which runs through it, is called "the mountains of Ephraim," or "mount Ephraim." This extends also farther south into the portion of Judah, and is there called "the mountains of Judah." Samaria, the capital of the ten tribes, being in Ephraim…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

fruitful; increasing

Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
הָיָ֥הha.Yah he has become H1961 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-kum':

(1) Greek ginomai, used in New Testament for a change of state, corresponding to Hebrew hayah of Old Testament. Compare Mt 18:3 with De 27:9.

(2) For what is fitting, suitable, proper, in New Testament: "prepei" (Mt 3:15; Eph 5:3; 1Ti 2:10); in Old Testament, na'awah, na'ah, Ps 93:5: "Holiness becometh thy house." in this sense, the adverb "becomingly" must be interpreted: "Walk becomingly toward them that are without" (1Th 4:12), i.e. in a way that is consistent with your profession.

Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
עֻגָ֖ה'u.Gah a bread cake H5692 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a round bread cake, often baked on hot stones. It was a common food in ancient times, like a flatbread or pancake. The KJV translates it as 'cake upon the hearth'.
Amplified meaning
flat bread, round bread cake
Tyndale gloss
bun
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֻגָה (uggah) refers to a disc or cake of bread, specifically a type of cake baked on hot stones. It is derived from the root word meaning to bake, and the entries consistently describe it as a round ash-cake or bun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֻגָה n.f. disc or cake of bread

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5692 עֻגָה disc or cake of bread

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5692 `uggah oog-gaw'

from 5746; an ash-cake (as round):--cake (upon the hearth).

see HEBREW for 05746

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֻגָה (ug.gah) — bun.

1) disc or cake (of bread)

1a) cake of hot stones (cake baked on hot stones)

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

See BREAD.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Cake

Cakes made of wheat or barley were offered in the temple. They were salted, but unleavened (Ex. 29:2; Lev. 2:4). In idolatrous worship thin cakes or wafers were offered “to the queen of heaven” (Jer. 7:18; 44:19).

Pancakes are described in 2 Sam. 13:8, 9. Cakes mingled with oil and baked in the oven are mentioned in Lev. 2:4, and “wafers unleavened anointed with oil,” in Ex. 29:2; Lev. 8:26; 1 Chr. 23:29. “Cracknels,” a kind of crisp cakes, were among the…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
בְּלִ֥יbe.Li not H1097 Noun common · masculine singular construct
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means without or nothing, often used for negation. It appears in various forms, such as without or not yet, in the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
without
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּלִי (bli) refers to a state of wearing out or destruction, and serves as an adverb of negation meaning 'without' or 'not.' It is derived from the root meaning failure and can indicate absence or lack in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence

fig. destruction

defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1097 בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence . fig. destruction

. defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1097 bliy bel-ee'

from 1086; properly, failure, i.e. nothing or destruction;

usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as

long as, etc.:--corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where

no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without.

see HEBREW for 01086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּלִי (be.li) — without.

subst

1) wearing out

adv of negation

2) without, no, not

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Ephraim among the peoples he he mixes himself Ephraim he has become a bread cake not turned over
הֲפוּכָֽה׃ha.fu.Khah turned over H2015 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To overturn means to turn something around or change it completely, often implying a reversal or transformation. This can be seen in the Bible when something is turned upside down or changed radically.
Amplified meaning
half-baked, not fully transformed
Tyndale gloss
to overturn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָפַךְ (haphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn or overturn, with implications of change and transformation. It can describe actions like turning back, being reversed, or even being perverse. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, including reflexive and passive uses, indicating a wide range of applications in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָפַךְ vb. turn, overturn

Qal

trans.

turn, turn about, turn over

overturn, overthrow

turn = change, transform

intrans.

turn, turn back

turn = change, change into

Niph.

reflex. & intrans.

turn oneself, turn, turn back

turn = change (oneself)

be perverse

pass.

be turned, turn over to

be reversed

be turned, changed

be overturned, overthrown

be upturned, of subterran. work of miners

Hithp.

turn this way & that, every way

transform oneself

Hoph. there have been turned upon me terrors

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2015 הָפַךְ turn, overturn .. trans. . turn, turn about, turn over

. overturn, overthrow

. turn = change, transform

. intrans. . turn, turn back

. turn = change, change into

. . reflex. & intrans. . turn oneself, turn, turn back

. turn = change (oneself)

. be perverse

. pass. . be turned, turn over to

. be reversed

. be turned, changed

. be overturned, overthrown

. be upturned, of subterran. work of miners

. . turn this way & that, every way

. transform oneself

. there have been turned upon me terrors

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2015 haphak haw-fak'

a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to

change, overturn, return, pervert:--X become, change, come, be

converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse,

retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary,

every way).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָפַךְ (ha.phakh) — to overturn.

1) to turn, overthrow, overturn

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to overturn, overthrow

1a2) to turn, turn about, turn over, turn around

1a3) to change, transform

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to turn oneself, turn, turn back

1b2) to change oneself

1b3) to be perverse

1b4) to be turned, be turned over, be changed, be turned against

1b5) to be reversed

1b6) to be overturned, be overthrown

1b7) to be upturned

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to transform oneself

1c2) to turn this way and that, turn every way

1d) (Hophal) to turn on someone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) feminine singular
HVqsfsa
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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