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Isaiah 1:31 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְהָיָ֤ה הֶחָסֹן֙ לִנְעֹ֔רֶת וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ לְנִיצ֑וֹץ וּבָעֲר֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם יַחְדָּ֖ו וְאֵ֥ין מְכַבֶּֽה׃ ס

BSAThe strong manchâçôn [powerful, mighty warrior] will becomehâyâh tindernᵉʻôreth [like tow, refuse of flax] and his workpôʻal [deeds, accomplishments] [will be] a sparknîytsôwts [small, fiery particle] bothshᵉnayim will burnbâʻar [be consumed by fire] togetheryachad [in unity, as one] with no oneʼayin [nothing, none] to quench the flameskâbâh [extinguish, put out, fire, burning]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 31 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 (me.kha.Beh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 1:31quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes the fate of the strong man and his work, emphasizing their inevitable destruction by fire.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, conveying a message from God.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger passage addressing the consequences of rebellion against God.
The hard wordמְכַבֶּֽה
Take awayAll strength and accomplishments will ultimately lead to destruction.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectכָּבָה verbהָיָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 10 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Isaiah 1:31

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Consequences of Rebelliongenerated

28But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
29Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.
30For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered, like a garden without water.
31The strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames.

Isaiah 1:31 describes the downfall of the strong man and his work, illustrating that even the mightiest will face destruction without divine intervention. This verse fits within a broader discourse on the consequences of turning away from God, as seen in the preceding verses where rebels and sinners are warned of their fate. The imagery of fire signifies judgment and the finality of their end, reinforcing the theme of accountability before God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 32:21Mighty chiefs will speak from the midst of Sheol about Egypt and her allies: ‘They have come down and lie with the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.’
2Isaiah 27:4I am not angry. If only thorns and briers confronted Me, I would march and trample them, I would burn them to the ground.
3Isaiah 43:17who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
4Isaiah 50:11Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who array yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and of the firebrands you have lit! This is what you will receive from My hand: You will lie down in a place of torment.
5Judges 15:14When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.

The Key Word הֶחָסֹן֙, he.cha.Songenerated

The word חָסֹן (chason) is an adjective meaning 'strong' or 'powerful.' It describes a person with great strength, often likened to a mighty warrior. In this verse, it emphasizes the futility of strength when faced with divine judgment.

The parsing indicates that it functions as a noun in this context, specifically referring to a strong person. The use of this term sets the stage for the contrast between human strength and the consuming power of fire.


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 verse is structured around two main clauses, both linked by the conjunction וְ, and. The first clause introduces the subjects, הֶחָסֹן֙ and פֹּעַל, while the second clause describes their fate.

The finite verbs הָיָ֤ה and בָעֲר֧וּ govern their respective subjects, establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship. The use of יַחְדָּ֖ו emphasizes their unity in destruction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הֶחָסֹן֙ as (the), which simplifies the description but retains the sense of strength. This choice reflects a more general characterization rather than the specific might implied in the Hebrew.

The Greek word for מְכַבֶּֽה is not provided, but the context suggests a similar emphasis on extinguishing fire, aligning with the theme of inevitable destruction.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 1:31 warns that the strong man will become like tinder, and his work will be a spark; both will burn together without anyone to put out the flames. This imagery illustrates the finality of judgment against those who oppose God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the strong man will become like tinder?

This phrase indicates that even the strongest individuals will ultimately be reduced to something easily consumed by fire, symbolizing their vulnerability in the face of divine judgment.

Why is the work of the strong man compared to a spark?

The comparison to a spark emphasizes the fleeting nature of human accomplishments, which can be easily extinguished or destroyed.

What does the verse say about the absence of someone to quench the flames?

This highlights the inevitability of destruction; there will be no one to intervene or save them from the consequences of their actions.

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

It reflects the recurring theme of judgment against those who rebel against God, illustrating that all strength and power are ultimately futile without divine support.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see human strength failing in the face of challenges?
  2. How can I ensure that my actions and work are aligned with God's will?
  3. What does this verse teach me about the consequences of turning away from God?
  4. How can I support others in recognizing their need for divine strength?

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

Jerome comments on this verse, interpreting the imagery of strength and ash as a warning against pride and rebellion.

JeromeVerse 31. c. 347–420
And your strength will be like the ash of the broom. For ash, ἀποτίναγμα is interpreted by Symmachus: when the broom is beaten, and whatever dirt it has is thrown away.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 1:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the strong shall be as tow,.... החסון, "that strong one", who is eminently so; the little horn, whose look is more stout than his fellows, Daniel 7:20 the beast who had great power and authority

Read John Gill on Isaiah 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. The strong - powerful rulers (Amos 2:9). Shall be as tow, and the maker of it - rather, his work.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The strong; either, 1. Your idols, which you think to be strong, and able to defend you, as appears by your confidence in them. Or, 2. The strongest persons among you, who think to secure themselves against the threatened danger by their wealth, or power, or wisdom; and much more they that are weak and helpless. Shall be as tow; shall be as suddenly and easily consumed by my judgments as tow is by fire. The maker of it; the maker of the idol, who can neither save himself nor his workmanship. Or, his work; either all that he doth or can do, or that which he hath done, his wicked course of life, shall bring him to ruin.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 1:31 And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench [them].Ver. 31. And the strong shall be as tow.] The idol is here called the strong one, either by an irony, sicut siquis scelestum bonum virum dicat, as if one should say to a knave, You are a right honest man: or else according to the idolater’ s false opinion of it, and vain expectation of it: like as in 2 Chronicles 28:23, the gods of Damascus are said to have "smitten" or "plagued" Ahaz: not that they did so indeed (for an idol is "nothing in the world," and this strong in the text is weak as water, Jeremiah 10:5 2 Corinthians 8:4), but he thought they…

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(31) The maker of it as a spark.—Better, his work as a spark. The sin itself becomes the instrument of destruction. The mighty and the proud, who were foremost in the work of idolatry, and who did not repent, should perish with their work—i.e., with the idol which their hands had made. The tow and the spark are chosen as representing the most rapid form of combustion.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

29–31. The judgment will also bring about a purification of religion, by revealing the folly of trusting in other deities than Jehovah.

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And the strong - Those who have been thought to be strong, on whom the people relied for protection and defense - their rulers, princes, and the commanders of their armies. As tow - The coarse or broken part of flax, or hemp.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

31. And the strong — The “strong” men — “strong” rulers of the nation, of which the present rulers are the fit representatives. As tow — Beaten flax. A symbol of weakness.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 1 →

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

The strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The strong will be like tinder, and his work like a spark. They will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them .

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the strong shall be as towe, and the maker thereof, as a sparke: and they shall both burne together, and none shall quench them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the strong shall be for tow, and his work a spark; and they shall both burn together, and there shall be none to quench [them].

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the strong hath been for tow, And his work for a spark, And burned have both of them together, And there is none quenching!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the strong has been for tow, || And his work for a spark, || And both of them have burned together, || And there is none quenching!

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the mighty oppressor shall become as tow, and his workman as a spark; and they shall both burn together, with none to quench.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The strong man will be like tinder, and his work like a spark; they will both burn together, and no one will quench them.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And your strength shall be as the ashes of tow, and your work as a spark: and both shall burn together, and there shall be none to quench it.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Your strong people will become like tinder, and their work will become like a spark. They will burn together, and nobody will be able to put out the flames.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the strong will be as food for the fire, and his work as a flame; and they will be burned together, with no one to put out the fire.

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.

וְandclauseclauseclauseverbהָיָ֤הhe.will.becomenoun phrase · subjectהֶthe.strongחָסֹן֙[person]prepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ(into)נְעֹ֔רֶתtowוּandclausenoun phrase · subjectפֹעֲל֖workוֹhisprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְ[willנִיצ֑וֹץbecome].(into).a.sparkוּandclauseclauseverbבָעֲר֧וּthey.will.burnnoun phrase · subjectשְׁנֵיbothהֶ֛םof.themadverbialיַחְדָּ֖וtogetherוְandclausepredicateאֵ֥יןthere.[will].not.[be]subjectמְכַבֶּֽה[one.who].extinguishes

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, "The strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames." The Dead Sea Scrolls (1Qisaa and 4Q60) closely align with the Masoretic Text, with minor variations in spelling and word forms but conveying the same overall meaning. The Septuagint does not provide a complete translation for comparison, but it shares some words with the Masoretic Text. Overall, the main witnesses agree on the essential message of the verse, highlighting the fate of the strong and their works in the context of judgment.

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

וְהָיָ֤ה הֶחָסֹן֙ לִנְעֹ֔רֶת וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ לְנִיצ֑וֹץ וּבָעֲר֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם יַחְדָּ֖ו וְאֵ֥ין מְכַבֶּֽה׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהָיָ֤הἔσταιהֶחָסֹן֙לִנְעֹ֔רֶתστιππύουוּפֹעֲל֖וֹκαὶוּבָעֲר֧וּκατακαυθήσονταιיַחְדָּ֖וἅμαוְאֵ֥יןοὐκ

7 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Qisaaa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

והיה החסנ׳כם לנעורת ופעל׳כם לניצוץ ובערו שני׳הם יחדו ואין מכבה

10 words on the leather.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q60a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[והיה] [החסן] [לנערת] [ופעל׳ו] [לניצוץ] [ובערו] [שני׳הם] יחדו [ואין] [מכבה]

1 word on the leather — 9 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Isaiah 1:31הָיָהand he willand he will becהָיָהחָסֹןthe strong the strong [perחָסֹןנְעֹ֫רֶתtowtowנְעֹ֫רֶתפֹּ֫עַלand work hiand work hisפֹּ֫עַלנִיצוֹץa sparka sparkנִיצוֹץבָּעַרand they wiand they will bבָּעַרשְׁנַ֫יִםboth of theboth of themשְׁנַ֫יִםיַ֫חַדtogethertogetherיַ֫חַדאַ֫יִןand there nand there notאַ֫יִןכָּבָה[will be on[will be one whכָּבָהחסןto hoardto hoardחסןנָעַרto shaketo shakeנָעַרפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלנָצַץto shineto shineנָצַץבַּ֫עַרstupidstupidבַּ֫עַריָחַדbe joinedbe joinedיָחַדהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיאַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןזַךְpurepureזַךְשָׁלֵםto completto completeשָׁלֵםלֶהָבָהflameflameלֶהָבָהכָּבָהto quenchto quenchכָּבָהעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִליָעַדto appointto appointיָעַדרוּןto overcomto overcomeרוּןכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹ
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 Isaiah 1:31

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

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

and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
וְהָיָ֤הve.ha.Yah and he will become H1961 Verb · Qal · sequential 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
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
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.

and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
הֶחָסֹן֙he.cha.Son the strong [person] H2634 Particle
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means being strong or powerful, like a mighty warrior. It describes someone with great physical or mental strength. This concept appears in various books, including Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
powerful, mighty warrior
Tyndale gloss
strong
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָסֹן (chason) is an adjective meaning 'strong.' It is derived from the root word represented by Strong's H2630. The entries consistently describe it as powerful, without any significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָסֹן adj. strong

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2634 חָסֹן strong

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2634 chacon khaw-sone'

from 2630; powerful:--strong.

see HEBREW for 02630

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָסֹן (cha.son) — strong.

strong

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Adj — Particle
HTd/Aamsa
and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
לִנְעֹ֔רֶתlin.'O.ret tow H5296 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Negoereth refers to tow, or the refuse of flax, which is the fibers that are shaken out when flax is beaten. It is mentioned in the Bible as a byproduct of the flax industry.
Amplified meaning
like tow, refuse of flax
Tyndale gloss
tow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְעֹ֫רֶת (*n`oreth*) refers to tow, specifically the refuse or remnants shaken off from flax during processing. It is derived from the root word for shaking, indicating its nature as something that is separated from the main material. The entries consistently describe it as a strand of flax or tow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְעֹ֫רֶת n.f. tow (as shaken off from the flax when beaten)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5296 נְעֹ֫רֶת tow (as shaken off from the flax wehn beaten)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5296 n`oreth neh-o'-reth

from 5287; something shaken out, i.e. tow (as the refuse of

flax):--tow.

see HEBREW for 05287

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְעֹ֫רֶת (ne.o.ret) — tow.

a strand of flax, tow (as shaken from flax when beaten)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

to (ne`oreth (Jud 16:9; Isa 1:31)): The coarser part of flax, with short threads, used as an example of easily inflammable material. Also Isa 43:17 the King James Version for pishtah, the usual word for "flax" (so the English Revised Version), here as used for a wick (so the American Standard Revised Version, the English Revised Version margin).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Tow

(Judg. 16:9). See FLAX.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (A piece of string) Jud 16:9; Isa 1:31

→ See FLAX

and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
וּפֹעֲל֖וֹu.fo.'a.Lo and work his H6467 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A work or deed is what this word refers to, describing something that has been done or made. It can also mean wages or the result of an action.
Amplified meaning
deeds, accomplishments
Tyndale gloss
work
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֹּ֫עַל (po'al) refers to an act or work, encompassing meanings like deed, thing done, and wages of work. It is noted as poetic and late in usage. The word is built from the root associated with action, and it can also imply acquisition, particularly of treasures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֹּ֫עַל 37 n.m. doing, deed, work (poet. and late)

deed, thing done

work, thing made

wages of work

acquisition of treasures

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6467 פֹּ֫עַל doing, deed, work (poet. and late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6467 po`al po'-al

from 6466; an act or work (concretely):--act, deed, do,

getting, maker, work.

see HEBREW for 06466

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֹּ֫עַל (po.al) — work.

1) work, deed, doing

1a) deed, thing done

1b) work, thing made

1c) wages of work

1d) acquisition (of treasure)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
לְנִיצ֑וֹץle.ni.Tzotz a spark H5213 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A spark refers to a small, fiery particle that flies out from a flame or fire. It's a tiny, glowing piece of something that's burning. The Bible uses this word to describe a small, fiery piece.
Amplified meaning
small, fiery particle
Tyndale gloss
spark
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נִיצוֹץ (niytsowts) means 'spark' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word corresponding to Strong's H5340. The term is used in a figurative sense in Isaiah 1:31.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נִיצוֹץ n.[m.] spark;—Is 1:31 (fig.).

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5213 נִיצוֹץ spark

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5213 niytsowts nee-tsotes'

from 5340; a spark:--spark.

see HEBREW for 05340

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִיצוֹץ (ni.tsots) — spark.

spark

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spark.

See LEVIATHAN.

and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
וּבָעֲר֧וּu.va.'a.Ru and they will burn H1197 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
94× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be brutish means to be stupid or barbarous, and can also refer to consuming something by fire or eating. It is used to describe someone who is dull-hearted or unreceptive.
Amplified meaning
be consumed by fire
Tyndale gloss
to burn: burn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּעַר (ba'ar) has two primary meanings: to burn or consume, and to be brutish or stupid. It encompasses actions related to fire, such as kindling and burning, as well as figurative uses like consuming guilt. Additionally, it can denote a state of dullness or lack of receptiveness. The lexicons provide various nuances, particularly in how the burning aspect can relate to wrath or destruction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּעַר] vb. burn, consume

Qal burn

Pi.

kindle

burn

fig. consume, utterly remove

Pu. burn (i.e. be supplied with fire), of fire-jar

Hiph.

kindle

burn up

base

[בָּעַר] vb. denom. be brutish

Qal be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive

Niph. brutish, stupid

Pi. feed, graze

Hiph. cause to be grazed over

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1197a [בָּעַר] burn, consume .burn

. . kindle

. burn

. fig. consume, utterly remove

. burn (i.e. be supplied with fire), of fire-jar

. . kindle

. burn up

H1197b [בָּעַר] vb. denom. be brutish .be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive

. brutish, stupid

. feed, graze

. cause to be grazed over

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1197 ba`ar baw-ar'

a primitive root; to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by

eating); also (as denominative from 1198) to be(-come)

brutish:--be brutish, bring (put, take) away, burn, (cause to)

eat (up), feed, heat, kindle, set ((on fire)), waste.

see HEBREW for 01198

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּעַר (ba.ar) — to burn: burn.

: burn/ignite

1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning

1a2) to burn, be burning

1a3) to burn, consume

1a4) Jehovah's wrath, human wrath (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to kindle, burn

1b2) to consume, remove (of guilt) (fig.)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to kindle

1c2) to burn up

1c3) to consume (destroy)

1d) (Pual) to burn

בָּעַר (ba.ar) — be brutish.

v denom

1) to be stupid, brutish, barbarous

1a) (Qal) to be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive

1b) (Niphal) to be stupid, dull-hearted

1c) (Piel) to feed, graze

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to be grazed over

בָּעַר (ba.ar) — to burn: destroy.

: destroy

1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning

1a2) to burn, be burning

1a3) to burn, consume

1a4) Jehovah's wrath, human wrath (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to kindle, burn

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
שְׁנֵיהֶ֛םshe.nei.Hem both of them H8147 Suffix
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj | Suff — Suffix
HAcbdc/Sp3mp
and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
יַחְדָּ֖וyach.Dav together H3162 Adverb
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This adverb means together, describing people doing something in unity, like in Psalm 133:1.
Amplified meaning
in unity, as one
Tyndale gloss
unitedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַ֫חַד (yachad) refers to the concept of unitedness or being together. It can function as a noun meaning 'unitedness' and as an adverb meaning 'together.' The word is built from a root that emphasizes unity and is used in various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַ֫חַד 45 n.[m.] unitedness

as subst.

elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together

base

יָחְדָּו 92 adv. together

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3162a יַ֫חַד unitedness . as subst.

. elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together

H3162b יָחְדָּו adv. together

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3162 yachad yakh'-ad

from 3161; properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly:--alike,

at all (once), both, likewise, only, (al-)together, withal.

see HEBREW for 03161

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַ֫חַד (ya.chad) — unitedness.

1) union, unitedness

יָחְדָּו (yach.dav) — together.

adv

together

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
וְאֵ֥יןve.'Ein and there not H369 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Amplified meaning
nothing, none
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
and he will become the strong [person] tow and work his a spark and they will burn both of them together and there not [will be one who] extinguishes
מְכַבֶּֽה׃ סme.kha.Beh [will be one who] extinguishes H3518 Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To quench means to put out or extinguish something, like a fire or a flame, as seen in Ezekiel 20:47 where God warns of a fire that will not be quenched. It can also refer to satisfying a desire or need.
Amplified meaning
extinguish, put out, fire, burning
Tyndale gloss
to quench
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּבָה (kabah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to quench or extinguish, particularly in reference to fire or light. It has a range of uses, including both the action of putting out a flame and the state of being extinguished. The entries highlight its forms in different stems, such as Qal and Piel, which indicate the verb's active and causative aspects.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּבָה] vb. be quenched, extinguished, go out, of fire or lamp

Qal be quenched, extinguished

Pi. quench, extinguish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3518 כָּבָה be quenched, extinguished, go out, of fire or lamp .be quenched, extinguished

. quench, extinguish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3518 kabah kaw-baw'

a primitive root; to expire or (causatively) to extinguish

(fire, light, anger):--go (put) out, quench.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבָה (ka.vah) — to quench.

1) to quench, put out, be put out, be quenched, be extinguished

1a) (Qal) to be quenched, be extinguished

1b) (Piel) to quench, extinguish

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
HVprmsa
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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