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Hosea 8:4 — Word Study

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WLCהֵ֤ם הִמְלִיכוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א מִמֶּ֔נִּי הֵשִׂ֖ירוּ וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֑עְתִּי כַּסְפָּ֣ם וּזְהָבָ֗ם עָשׂ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ עֲצַבִּ֔ים לְמַ֖עַן יִכָּרֵֽת׃

BSATheyhêm set up kingsmâlak [without my consent, not by Me] but notlôʼ by Memin [not with my approval] but withoutlôʼ My approvalyâdaʻ [not with my sanction] With their silverkeçeph [money, wealth] and goldzâhâb [a valuable metal] they makeʻâsâh idolsʻâtsâb [idolatrous images, objects of worship] tomaʻan their own destructionkârath [that they may be cut off, leading to their downfall]

Word
Listen & take awayHosea 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 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 (yi.ka.Ret) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Hosea 8:4quick helps
In a sentenceIsrael sets up kings and princes without God's approval, leading to their own destruction through idolatry.
Who is speakingThe prophet Hosea, conveying God's message to Israel.
Where we areA warning to Israel about their choices and the consequences of turning away from God.
The hard wordעֲצַבִּ֔ים
Take awayThe choices made without God's guidance lead to ruin.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהֵם verbמָלַךְ 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 8:4

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 Rejection of Israel's Kingsgenerated

3But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.
4They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
5He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?
6For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

Hosea 8:4 warns Israel that their actions in establishing kings and princes are done without God’s consent. The verse illustrates Israel's tendency to rely on their own understanding and wealth, leading them to create idols that result in their destruction. This reflects a broader theme in Hosea where Israel's unfaithfulness to God is met with dire consequences, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 12:16–20When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,
22 Kings 15:10–30Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place.
3Matthew 25:12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’
4Luke 13:25–27After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
5John 10:14I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,

The Key Word הִמְלִיכוּ֙, him.li.Khugenerated

The verb מָלַךְ (malak) means 'to reign' or 'to make someone king.' In this context, it indicates that Israel has taken the initiative to appoint leaders without divine approval, emphasizing their disregard for God's authority.

The Hiphil form indicates causation, suggesting that Israel actively made kings rather than waiting for God's selection. This reflects a significant theme in Hosea: the consequences of human decisions made apart from God.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb הִמְלִיכוּ֙ governs the structure, indicating that Israel has taken action to appoint kings. The sentence flows with additional clauses providing context about their actions and the consequences of those actions.

The structure emphasizes the sequential nature of their choices: setting up kings, making idols, and ultimately facing destruction, all linked by the conjunctions that connect their actions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the verb הִמְלִיכוּ֙ is rendered as ἐβασίλευσαν, which carries the same meaning of establishing kings. This choice aligns with the Hebrew intent but may reflect a broader understanding of kingship in the Greek context.

The Greek word for עֲצַבִּ֔ים is εἴδωλα, which similarly emphasizes the idolatrous nature of the images made by Israel, suggesting a direct translation of the Hebrew concept.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Hosea 8:4 tells us that Israel has set up kings and princes without God's approval, relying on their wealth to create idols. This leads to their own destruction, highlighting the consequences of turning away from God's guidance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that they set up kings without God's approval?

It indicates that Israel acted independently of God's will, choosing their leaders based on their desires rather than divine guidance.

How does wealth play a role in their actions?

Israel uses their silver and gold to create idols, showing how their trust in material wealth leads them away from God.

What are the consequences of their actions?

The verse warns that their choices will lead to destruction, emphasizing the dangers of idolatry and disobedience to God.

How does this verse connect to the broader themes in Hosea?

It reflects the recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness and the resulting judgment, as God calls them back to faithfulness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life might I be setting up 'kings' without seeking God's guidance?
  2. How can I ensure that my decisions align with God's will rather than my own understanding?
  3. What role does material wealth play in my spiritual life, and am I using it wisely?
  4. How can I identify and remove 'idols' in my life that distract me from my relationship with God?

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

The early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss the consequences of ignoring God's authority in leadership and worship, as seen in their writings.

CyprianEpistle LXVII:4 c. 200–258
When Peter is speaking to the people concerning the bishop to be ordained in the place of Judas, it says, “Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, for the multitude was together.” But we notice that the apostles observed this,
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 8 →
John ChrysostomHOMILIES CONCERNING THE STATUES 3:5 c. 347–407
Hear how he reproves the unfaithful, when he says, “You have taken counsel, but not of me, and made treaties, but not by my Spirit.” For this is the habit of those who love: they desire that all concerns of their beloved should be…
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 8 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXV, Section 41 c. 540–604
But it can be reasonably asked, How it is said in this place that the Lord makes the hypocrite to reign, when by the Prophet He complains especially of this thing, saying, They have reigned, but not of Me: they have become princes,
Early Church Fathers on Hosea 8 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Hosea 8:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They have set up kings, but not by me,.... Not by his authority, order, and command; not by asking advice of him, or his leave, but of themselves, and of their own, accord: this refers to the case of

Read John Gill on Hosea 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

Read Robert Jamieson on Hosea 8 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They; Israel, the prevailing faction among them in Hosea’ s time. Have set up kings; Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea, who usurped the throne. But not by me; not by my direction, or with my approbation; they neither prayed his blessing nor asked his leave. And this may be applied to the very first founding of the kingdom of Israel, divided from the house of David. They have made princes; rulers and magistrates, or nobles. And I knew it not: he that will not approve any one evil, when his omniscience discerns all, is pleased to say he knew not what he did not approve. They made them idols; heathen like, they have made them gods, and set up idolatry, so have perverted all in church and…

Read Matthew Poole on Hosea 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Hosea 8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew [it] not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.Ver. 4. They have set up kings, but not by me, &c.] The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin render it, "They have reigned themselves"; like as St Paul telleth the haughty Corinthians, who, carried aloft by their waxen wings, domineered and despised others, "ye have reigned as kings without us," &c., 1 Corinthians 4:8. But our reading is according to the original; and so they are charged with a double defection; the one civil, from the house of David, "they have set up kings," &c.; the other ecclesiastical, from the sincere…

Read John Trapp on Hosea 8 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Set up kings.—It is possible that the prophet alludes to the history of the northern kingdom as a whole. Though the revolt of the Ten Tribes received Divine sanction (1 Kings 11:9-11), it was obviously contrary to the Divine and prophetic idea which associated the growth of true religion with the line of David (Hosea 3:5). But it is best to regard the passage as referring to the short reigns of usurpers and to the foul murders which disgraced the annals of the northern kingdom since the death of Jeroboam II. Jehovah repudiates all participation in their anarchy. Knew it not.—Should be, knew them not—viz., the gold and silver splendours wherewith Israel had adorned its apostacy.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Hosea 8 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. They have set up kings, but not by me] Properly speaking, not one of the kings of Israel, from the defection of the ten tribes from the house of David, was the anointed of the Lord. I knew it not] It had not my approbation. In this sense the word know is frequently understood. That they may be cut off.] That is, They shall be cut off in consequence of their idolatry.

Read AdamClarke on Hosea 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. Israel’s great offence—making a schism in the ‘theocratic’ community. Setting up idols was virtually rebellion against Jehovah; whatever Ahijah said (1 Kings 11:31, &c.), or a lower class of prophets after him (comp. Amos 7:12-13), the great prophets, such as Hosea, could not sanction any of the N. Israelitish dynasties (see on Hosea 1:11). See next note. not by me] Rather, not from me. There is a verbal contradiction between these words and those ascribed to Shemaiah in 2 Kings 12:24. A prophet could only declare the will of God with regard to the particular case laid before him. The disunion of north and south was so great, that for the sake of peace it was better to separate. But when…

Read Cambridge on Hosea 8 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They have set up kings, but not by ME - God Himself foretold to Jeroboam by Ahijah the prophet, that He would “rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon, and give ten tribes” to him, “and” would

Read Albert Barnes on Hosea 8 →

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

They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They enthroned kings without my consent! They appointed princes without my approval! They made idols out of their silver and gold, but they will be destroyed!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made for themselves idols, that they may be cut off.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

They haue set vp a King, but not by me: they haue made princes, and I knew it not: of their siluer and their gold haue they made them idoles: therefore shall they be destroyed.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

They have made kings, and not by Me, They have made princes, and I have not known, Their silver and their gold they have made to them idols, So that they are cut off.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

They have made kings, and not by Me, || They have made princes, and I have not known, || Their silver and their gold they have made to them idols, || So that they are cut off.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They set up kings, but not my advice: they chose princes and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made themselves idols so that they will be cut off.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, but it was only so they might be cut off.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

They have reigned, but not by me: they have been princes, and I knew not: of their silver, and their gold they have made idols to themselves, that they might perish.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They appointed kings without my consent and chose princes without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

They have put up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, but I had no knowledge of it; they have made images of silver and gold, so that they may be cut off.

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.

clauseclausesubjectהֵ֤םtheyverbהִמְלִיכוּ֙they.have.made.kingsוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּ֔fromנִּיmeclauseclauseverbהֵשִׂ֖ירוּthey.have.installed.leadersוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיָדָ֑עְתִּיI.knewclauseclausenoun phrase · objectnoun phraseכַּסְפָּ֣silverםtheirוּandnoun phraseזְהָבָ֗goldםtheirverbעָשׂ֤וּthey.have.madeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָforהֶם֙themselvessecond objectעֲצַבִּ֔יםidolsclauseלְמַ֖עַןso.thatclauseverbיִכָּרֵֽתit.may.be.cut.off

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Hosea 8:4 states, 'They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.' The Septuagint closely matches the Masoretic Text, with 13 of the 14 words aligned, indicating a strong agreement in meaning, though the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls are not specifically noted here, so their agreement or differences with the Masoretic Text remain unexamined in this instance. Overall, the Septuagint supports the core message found in the Masoretic Text.

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

הֵ֤ם הִמְלִיכוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א מִמֶּ֔נִּי הֵשִׂ֖ירוּ וְלֹ֣א יָדָ֑עְתִּי כַּסְפָּ֣ם וּזְהָבָ֗ם עָשׂ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ עֲצַבִּ֔ים לְמַ֖עַן יִכָּרֵֽת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הֵ֤םἑαυτοῖςהִמְלִיכוּ֙ἐβασίλευσανוְלֹ֣אοὐמִמֶּ֔נִּיἐμοῦהֵשִׂ֖ירוּἦρχανוְלֹ֣אοὐκכַּסְפָּ֣םἀργύριονוּזְהָבָ֗םκαὶעָשׂ֤וּἐποίησανלָהֶם֙ἑαυτοῖςעֲצַבִּ֔יםεἴδωλαלְמַ֖עַןὅπωςיִכָּרֵֽת׃ἐχολεθρευθῶσιν

13 of the 14 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 8:4הֵ֫מָּהtheytheyהֵ֫מָּהמָלַךְthey have mthey have made מָלַךְלֹאand notand notלֹאמִן־from mefrom meמִן־שָׂרַרthey have ithey have instaשָׂרַרלֹאand notand notלֹאיָדַעI knewI knewיָדַעכֶּ֫סֶףsilver theisilver theirכֶּ֫סֶףזָהָבand gold thand gold theirזָהָבעָשָׂהthey have mthey have madeעָשָׂההֶםfor themselfor themselvesהֶםעָצָבidolsidolsעָצָבמַ֫עַןso thatso thatמַ֫עַןכָּרַתit may be cit may be cut oכָּרַתהֲלַךְto goto goהֲלַךְכָּסַףto longto longכָּסַףעָצַבto hurtto hurtעָצַבעוּןto dwellto dwellעוּןמֵןstringstringמֵןסוּרto turn asto turn aside: סוּריָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדמְרִיrebellionrebellionמְרִיסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרשָׁנָהyearyearשָׁנָהתַּחַתunderneathunderneath: undתַּחַתרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרלֹאnotnotלֹאאֲנִיIIאֲנִיבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןשֶׁ֫קֶלshekelshekelשֶׁ֫קֶל
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 8:4

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.

they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
הֵ֤םhem they H1992 Pronoun
553× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to refer to a group of men, emphasizing that it is specifically them. It is often translated as 'they' or 'them' in the Bible, and appears in books like Exodus and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
they(masc.)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1992 hem haym

or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from

1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)

many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,

their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.

see HEBREW for 01981

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).

they, these, the same, who

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3mp
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
הִמְלִיכוּ֙him.li.Khu they have made kings H4427 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
348× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To advise or counsel is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to reign or rule as a king. It is used in the Bible to describe the actions of leaders, like King Solomon, who sought wisdom to rule God's people. This word is found in the book of 1 Kings.
Amplified meaning
without my consent, not by Me
Tyndale gloss
to reign
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלַךְ (malak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to reign, become king or queen, or to counsel. It encompasses various forms, including Qal (to reign), Hiphil (to make someone king), and Niphal (to consider). The word appears in contexts related to royalty and governance, with a notable reference in Daniel 9:1 for its use in the passive form.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָלַךְ 346 vb. denom. be, or become king, or queen, reign

Qal 296 be (become) king, reign

Hiph. make king, or queen, cause to reign

Hoph. Dn 9:1.

base

[מָלַךְ] vb. counsel, advise;—only Niph. Impf. i.e. I considered carefully, Ne 5:7.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4427a מָלַךְ vb. denom. be, or become king, or queen, reign H4427b מָלַךְ counsel, advise—only Niph. Impf.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4427 malak maw-lak'

a primitive root; to reign; inceptively, to ascend the

throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by

implication) to take counsel:--consult, X indeed, be (make,

set a, set up) king, be (make) queen, (begin to, make to)

reign(-ing), rule, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלַךְ (ma.lakh) — to reign.

1) to be or become king or queen, reign

1a) (Qal) to be or become king or queen, reign

1b) (Hiphil) to make one king or queen, cause to reign

1c) (Hophal) to be made king or queen

מָלַךְ (ma.lakh) — to advise.

1) to counsel, advise

1a) (Niphal) to consider

Aramaic equivalent: me.lakh (מְלֵךְ "counsel" H4431)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
HVhp3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

of Judah and Israel. For the list see table at the end of this volume.

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Israel warned against seeking

1Sa 8:9-18

- Sin of Israel in seeking

1Sa 12:17-20

- Israel in seeking, rejected God as their king

1Sa 8:7; 10:19

- Israel asked for, that they might be like the nations

1Sa 8:5,19,20

- First given to Israel in anger

Ho 13:11

- God reserved to himself the choice of

De 17:14,15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12

- When first established in Israel, not hereditary

De 17:20; 1Sa 13:13,14; 15:28,29

they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
מִמֶּ֔נִּיmi.Me.ni from me H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Amplified meaning
not with my approval
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
הֵשִׂ֖ירוּhe.Si.ru they have installed leaders H7786 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to reign or rule, often implying a sense of power or victory. It is translated as 'make princes', 'have power', or 'reign' in various Bible versions.
Tyndale gloss
to reign
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂרַר (sarár) is a verb meaning to act as a prince or to rule. It encompasses the ideas of reigning, governing, and having power, with forms indicating both direct ruling and the act of making others rulers. The entries suggest its use in various contexts, including governance over Israel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׂרַר] vb. denom. be, or act as, prince, rule

Qal Abim. ruled over Isr. three years

Hithp. that thou shouldst also keep playing the prince over us.

Hiph. they made princes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7786 שָׂרַר vb. denom. be, or act as, prince, rule

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7786 suwr soor

a primitive root; properly, to vanquish; by implication, to

rule (causatively, crown):--make princes, have power, reign.

See 5493.

see HEBREW for 05493

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׂוּר (sur) — to reign.

1) to be or act as prince, rule, contend, have power, prevail over

1a) (Qal) to rule over, govern

1b) (Hiphil) to make rulers, play the prince

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhp3cp — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
HVhp3cp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
יָדָ֑עְתִּיya.Da.'e.ti I knew H3045 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
945× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to know means to ascertain by seeing, and is used in many senses, including to learn, perceive, and recognize, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
not with my sanction
Tyndale gloss
to know
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָדַע 943 vb. know

Qal

know, learn to know

perceive

perceive and see; find out and discern

discriminate, distinguish

know by experience

recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

consider

not know = not expect

know a person, be acquainted with

know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

be skilful in

abs. have knowledge, be wise

Niph.

be made known, be or become known, of things

make oneself known of pers.

be perceived

be instructed

Pi. cause to know

Pu. known

Hiph. make known, declare

Hoph. made known

Hithp. make oneself known

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know

. perceive

. perceive and see; find out and discern

. discriminate, distinguish

. know by experience

. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess

. consider

. not know = not expect

. know a person, be acquainted with

. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse

. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it

. be skilful in

. abs. have knowledge, be wise

. . be made known, be or become known, of things

. make oneself known of pers.

. be perceived

. be instructed

. cause to know

. known

. make known, declare

. made known

. make oneself known

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3045 yada` yaw-dah'

a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);

used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,

euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,

care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,

punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted

with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,

(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X

could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)

discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,

can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause

to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have

(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be

learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X

prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man

of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.

1) to know

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to know

1a1a) to know, learn to know

1a1b) to perceive

1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern

1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish

1a1e) to know by experience

1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess

1a1g) to consider

1a2) to know, be acquainted with

1a3) to know (a person carnally)

1a4) to know how, be skilful in

1a5) to have knowledge, be wise

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed

1b2) to make oneself known

1b3) to be perceived

1b4) to be instructed

1c) (Piel) to cause to know

1d) (Poal) to cause to know

1e) (Pual)

1e1) to be known

1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)

1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare

1g) (Hophal) to be made known

1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself

Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
כַּסְפָּ֣םkas.Pam silver their H3701 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
403× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Amplified meaning
money, wealth
Tyndale gloss
silver: money
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) refers to silver and money, derived from a root meaning 'to be pale.' It encompasses various aspects of silver, including its use as a metal, ornament, and a measure of wealth or value. The term appears in contexts related to payment and price, indicating its significance in transactions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֶּ֫סֶף 402 n.m. silver, money

= silver ore, raw silver

silver as bright, shining

silver, as wealth

silver as spoil of war

silver as merchandise

silver as costly gift

silver as material

silver as measure of weight and value

among vbs. and phr.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3701 כֶּ֫סֶף silver, money

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3701 keceph keh'-sef

from 3700; silver (from its pale color); by implication,

money:--money, price, silver(-ling).

see HEBREW for 03700

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: money.

: money/payment/silver

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: price.

: price

1) silver, money

1a) silver

1a1) as metal

1a2) as ornament

1a3) as colour

1b) money, shekels, talents

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3mp
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
וּזְהָבָ֗םu.ze.ha.Vam and gold their H2091 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
389× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Amplified meaning
a valuable metal
Tyndale gloss
gold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָהָב 385 n.m. gold

= gold-ore, gold in raw state

gold as wealth

gold as spoil of war

gold as merchandise

gold as costly gift

gold as material

gold described by its source

gold defined by var. adj. and pts.

as measure of weight and value

= golden oil, from colour

often named with

the chief vbs. used

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2091 זָהָב gold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2091 zahab zaw-hawb'

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,

something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--

gold(-en), fair weather.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.

1) gold

1a) as precious metal

1b) as a measure of weight

1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
עָשׂ֤וּ'a.Su they have made H6213 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
לָהֶם֙la.Hem for themselves H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
עֲצַבִּ֔ים'a.tza.Bim idols H6091 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to describe an idolatrous image, like the golden calf in Exodus 32. It emphasizes the physical object of worship, rather than the false god itself.
Amplified meaning
idolatrous images, objects of worship
Tyndale gloss
idol
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָצָב (atsab) means 'idol' or 'image' and is derived from the root word for 'to carve' or 'to fashion.' The entries consistently define it as an idolatrous image, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָצָב] n.[m.] idol

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6091 [עָצָב] idol

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6091 `atsab aw-tsawb'

from 6087; an (idolatrous) image:--idol, image.

see HEBREW for 06087

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָצָב (a.tsav) — idol.

idol, image

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
לְמַ֖עַןle.Ma.'an so that H4616 Particle
272× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means because of something or for a specific purpose. It is used to explain why something happens or is done. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's intentions or purposes.
Tyndale gloss
because
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַ֫עַן (ma`an) is a preposition and conjunction meaning 'for the sake of' or 'on account of.' It conveys purpose or intent, indicating a motive or aim, and is used adverbially. The word is derived from a root meaning 'heed' or 'purpose' and appears in contexts that express reasons or intentions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַ֫עַן] subst. purpose, intent, only with לְ, in לְמַ֫עַן 271 prep. and conj. for the sake of, on account of, to the intent or in order that

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4616 מַ֫עַן prep. and conj. for the sake of, on account of, to the intent or in order that

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4616 ma`an mah'-an

from 6030; properly, heed, i.e. purpose; used only

adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim),

teleologically, in order that:--because of, to the end

(intent) that, for (to,... 's sake), + lest, that, to.

see HEBREW for 06030

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַ֫עַן (ma.an) — because.

1) purpose, intent prep

1a) for the sake of

1b) in view of, on account of

1c) for the purpose of, to the intent that, in order to conj

1d) to the end that

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

so (co', although the Hebrew might be pointed cewe'; Assyrian Sib'u; Septuagint Segor, Soa; Manetho, Seuechos; Latin Sevechus; Herodotus (ii. 137 ff), Sabakon): In all probability the "Sabaeo" of Herodotus, the Shabaka, who founded the Ethiopian dynasty, the XXVth of Egyptian kings. His date is given as 715-707 BC (Flinders Petrie, History of Egypt, III, 281 ff), but we may suppose that before his accession to the throne he was entitled to be designated king, as being actually regent. To this So, Hoshea, king of Israel, made an appeal for assistance to enable him to throw off the yoke of the Assyrian Shalmaneser IV (2Ki 17:3). But Hoshea's submission to So brought him no advantage, for Shalmaneser came up throughout all the land and laid siege to Samaria. Not long after the fall of Samaria, So ventured upon an eastern campaign, and…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

So

(Nubian, Sabako), an Ethiopian king who brought Egypt under his sway. He was bribed by Hoshea to help him against the Assyrian monarch Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17:4). This was a return to the policy that had been successful in the reign of Jeroboam I.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

"So, king of Egypt," is once mentioned in the Bible -- (2 Kings 17:4) So has been identified by different writers with the first and second kings of the Ethiopian twenty-fifth dynasty, called by Manetho, Sabakon (Shebek) and Sebichos (Shebetek).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

King of Egypt, made an alliance with Hoshea king of Israel, and promised him assistance; but was unable to prevent Shalmaneser king of Assyria from taking Samaria and subverting the kingdom, B. C. 721, 2Ki 17:4. See PHARAOH.

So is believed to have been the Servetus or Sabaco II of secular history, the second king of the Ethiopian or twenty-fifth dynasty, and the predecessor of Trihakah. A singular fact has been brought to light by the recent explorations at Nineveh, corroborating the Scripture record the more forcibly, because unexpected and direct. The Bible shows that Egypt and Assyria, though remote, were often in conflict during the height of the Assyrian ruins power, and that So was at war with Shalmaneser. After war comes the treaty of peace; and as the Bible prepares us to suppose such treaties were made, the Assyrian ruins…

they they have made kings and not from me they have installed leaders and not I knew silver their and gold their they have made for themselves idols so that it may be cut off
יִכָּרֵֽת׃yi.ka.Ret it may be cut off H3772 Verb · Niphal · jussive third person masculine singular
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to cut or destroy something, but it also has a special meaning related to making a covenant or agreement. In Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abram, symbolized by cutting animals in half, showing the seriousness of the promise. This word is used to describe important agreements and alliances.
Amplified meaning
that they may be cut off, leading to their downfall
Tyndale gloss
to cut: cut
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּרַת (karath) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut off, cut down, or make a covenant. It encompasses a range of actions from physically cutting to forming alliances, often implying destruction or elimination. The verb appears in various forms, indicating different nuances such as being cut off or destroyed. Notably, it can also refer to the act of making a covenant, which traditionally involved cutting flesh.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּרַת 291 vb. cut off, cut down

Qal

cut off

cut down

hew, timber

cut, or make a covenant

Niph.

be cut off

be cut down

be chewed between the teeth

be cut off, in a more general sense fail

Pual

be cut off

be cut down

Hiph.

cut off, flattering lips

cut off, destroy the life of

cut down, destroy, cities

take away

permit to perish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3772 כָּרַת cut off, cut down .. cut off

. cut down

. hew, timber

. cut, or make a covenant

. . be cut off

. be cut down

. be chewed between the teeth

. be cut off, in a more general sense fail

.. be cut off

. be cut down

. . cut off, flattering lips

. cut off, destroy the life of

. cut down, destroy, cities

. take away

. permit to perish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3772 karath kaw-rath'

a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by

implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant

(i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh

and passing between the pieces):--be chewed, be

con-(feder-)ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail,

feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ((covenant)), X

lose, perish, X utterly, X want.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: cut.

: cut/fell

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be cut off

1c2) to be cut down

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cut off

1d2) to cut off, destroy

1d3) to cut down, destroy

1d4) to take away

1d5) to permit to perish

1e) (Hophal) cut off

כָּרַת (ka.rat) — to cut: make(covenant).

: make(covenant)

1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to hew

1a4) to cut or make a covenant

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off

1b2) to be cut down

1b3) to be chewed

1b4) to be cut off, fail

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · jussive third person masculine singular
HVNj3ms
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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