Isaiah 14:31 — Word Study
WLCהֵילִ֤ילִֽי שַׁ֙עַר֙ זַֽעֲקִי־ עִ֔יר נָמ֖וֹג פְּלֶ֣שֶׁת כֻּלֵּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י מִצָּפוֹן֙ עָשָׁ֣ן בָּ֔א וְאֵ֥ין בּוֹדֵ֖ד בְּמוֹעָדָֽיו׃
BSAWailyâlal [howl, mourn] O gateshaʻar [city entrance] Cry outzâʻaq [shout, proclaim] O cityʻîyr [town, settlement] Melt awaymûwg [dissolve, be terrified] allkôl you PhilistinesPᵉlesheth [inhabitants of Philistia] Forkîy ◂a cloud of smokeʻâshân comesbôwʼ■ from the northtsâphôwn [the direction of divine judgment] and there are noʼayin stragglersbâdad [loners, isolated ones] in its ranksmôwʻâd△ [troops, assembled army]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֵילִ֤ילִֽי | wail | Verb, Hiphil, imperative second person feminine singular |
| שַׁ֙עַר֙ | O gate | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| זַֽעֲקִי־ | cry out | Verb, Qal, imperative second person feminine singular |
| עִ֔יר | O city | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| נָמ֖וֹג | melt away | Verb, Niphal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| פְּלֶ֣שֶׁת | O Philistia | Noun proper |
| כֻּלֵּ֑ךְ | all of you | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| כִּ֤י | for | Particle |
| מִצָּפוֹן֙ | from [the] north | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| עָשָׁ֣ן | smoke | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בָּ֔א | [is] coming | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| וְאֵ֥ין | and there not | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| בּוֹדֵ֖ד | [is] an isolated [one] | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בְּמוֹעָדָֽיו׃ | among ranks its | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks. |
| KJV | Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times. |
| ASV | Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks. |
| YLT | Howl, O gate; cry, O city, Melted art thou, Philistia, all of thee, For from the north smoke hath come, And there is none alone in his set places. |
| WEB | Howl, gate! Cry, city! You are melted away, Philistia, all of you; for smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks. |
| BBE | Send out a cry, O door! Make sounds of sorrow, O town! All your land has come to nothing, O Philistia; for there comes a smoke out of the north, and everyone keeps his place in the line. |
Where they part company is in the emotional intensity of the call to wail — see How Translations Differ.
The verse contains a main call to action followed by supporting phrases that explain the urgency of the situation.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectעָשָׁן
verbיָלַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 14 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 14:31
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 — A Warning to Philistiagenerated
Isaiah 14:31 presents a vivid scene of impending doom for the Philistines. The prophet Isaiah urges the gate and city to wail and cry out in alarm as a cloud of smoke signals the approach of destruction from the north. This passage emphasizes the urgency of the situation, as there are no stragglers among the advancing forces, indicating a complete and organized threat. The surrounding verses describe the downfall of the Philistines and the consequences of their actions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 13:6 | Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. |
| 2 | Isaiah 16:7 | Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken. |
| 3 | Isaiah 20:1 | Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it, |
| 4 | Jeremiah 1:14 | Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 25:16–20 | And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הֵילִ֤ילִֽי, hei.Li.ligenerated
The verb יָלַל (yalal) is in the Hiphil form, indicating a causative action, meaning to wail or howl. This form emphasizes the act of making a loud, mournful cry, often associated with deep emotional distress. The onomatopoeic nature of the word captures the sound of lamentation, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
In this context, הֵילִ֤ילִֽי calls for an urgent response to the threat, urging the inhabitants to express their sorrow and fear as destruction draws near. The Septuagint translates this as ὀλολύζετε, which also conveys a sense of loud mourning, reinforcing the emotional weight of the command.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations of this verse generally agree, with all versions reflecting the call to wail and cry out.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse comprises several clauses, starting with an imperative call to action: הֵילִ֤ילִֽי, wail. This is followed by additional imperatives and descriptive phrases that outline the response expected from the city and its inhabitants.
The structure emphasizes the urgency of the situation, with the main verbs commanding action and the subsequent phrases providing context about the impending threat from the north.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the word ὀλολύζετε to translate הֵילִ֤ילִֽי, which carries a similar meaning of howling or lamentation. This choice reinforces the emotional intensity of the command and aligns with the context of mourning.
The translation reflects a consistent understanding of the Hebrew text, emphasizing the call for alarm as destruction approaches.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 14:31 calls for the gate and city to wail and cry out as destruction approaches from the north. The Philistines are warned that they will face judgment, and there will be no escape from the advancing forces.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To wail here signifies a deep emotional response to impending destruction, expressing sorrow and fear as the Philistines face judgment.
The north often symbolizes a place of threat or judgment in biblical literature, indicating where danger or divine judgment originates.
This phrase emphasizes the completeness and organization of the advancing forces, suggesting that the threat is imminent and unavoidable.
This verse serves as a climactic warning to the Philistines, following descriptions of their downfall and the consequences of their actions, reinforcing the seriousness of the message.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond to warnings in my life, especially when faced with difficult situations?
- What are some ways I can express my emotions in times of distress?
- How can I prepare myself for challenges that may come from unexpected directions?
- In what ways can I support others who are facing their own battles?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome quotes this verse to emphasize the urgency of the warning to the Philistines, illustrating the impending destruction they face.
Howl, O gate! Cry out, O city! Philisthaea is laid waste, all of it. For from the north comes smoke, and there is no escaping its horde. He calls the gate for those who are at the gate, and the city for the inhabitants of the city.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 14 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 14:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHowl, O gate,.... Or gates of the cities of Palestine; the magistrates that sat there to execute judgment, or the people that passed through there; or because now obliged to open to their enemies;
Read John Gill on Isaiah 14 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHowl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 14 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleO gate: the gate is put either, 1. Metaphorically, for the people passing through the gates, or for the magistrates and others who used to meet in the gate for judgment, or upon other occasions; or, 2. Synecdochically, for the city, as gates are commonly put, as , and as it is explained in the next words. O city: city is here put collectively for their cities, of which see . Dissolved, Heb. melted; which may be understood either, 1. Of the fainting of their spirits and courage, as ,24, &c.; or, 2. Of the dissolution of their state. From the north; either, 1. From Judea; which lay northward from some part of the Philistines’ land. But in truth Judea lay more east than north from Palestine…
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 14 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 14:31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, [art] dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none [shall be] alone in his appointed times.Ver. 31. Howl, O gate.] Philistines are elsewhere taxed for flashy and foolish mirth Here they are told they have more cause to fear than flear, to sigh than sing, to howl than hollo. “ Quis globus, O cives, caligiue, volvitur atra? Hostis adest. ” - Virg. From the north a smoke,] i.e., Hezekiah’ s army raising a dust, and setting all in a combustion.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 14 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(31) Howl, O gate . . .—The “gate,” as elsewhere, is the symbol of the city’s strength. The “city” stands probably for Ashdod, as the most conspicuous of the Philistine cities. From the north.—Here of the Assyrian invaders, as in Jeremiah 1:14; Jeremiah 10:22; Jeremiah 46:20 of the Chaldean. The “smoke” may be either that of the cities which the Assyrians burnt, or, more probably, the torch-signals, or beacons, which they used in their night marches or encampments (Jeremiah 6:1; Jeremiah 1:2). (See Note on Isaiah 4:5.) None shall be alone in his appointed times.—Better, there is no straggler at the appointed places: i.e., all the troops shall meet at the rendezvous which was indicated by…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 14 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 31. There shall come from the north a smoke - "From the north cometh a smoke"] That is, a cloud of dust raised by the march of Hezekiah's army against Philistia; which lay to the south-west from Jerusalem. A great dust raised has, at a distance, the appearance of smoke: Fumantes pulvere campi; "The fields smoking with dust." - VIRG. AEn. xi. 908.
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 14 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges31. As in Isaiah 14:29 the prophet had rebuked the premature rejoicing of the Philistines, so here he calls them to public lamentation in view of the advancing enemy. thou … art dissolved] Render as an imper. melt away, entire Philistia! Smoke may be either a symbol of war (Jeremiah 1:13 f.) or it may be a vivid picture of the burning villages that mark the track of the invader. The phrase from the north points almost unmistakeably to the Assyrians (see on ch. Isaiah 10:27). none shall be … times] Most critics render: there is no straggler in his battalions (cf. ch. Isaiah 5:27). The last word closely resembles that for “appointed times,” but is differently vocalised, and does not occur…
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 14 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHowl, O gate - That is, ye who throng the gate. The gates of a city were the chief places of concourse.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 14 →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
Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.
Howl, gate! Cry, city! You are melted away, Philistia, all of you; for smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.
Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.
Wail, O city gate! Cry out, O city! Melt with fear, all you Philistines! For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.
Tyndale line
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and none standeth aloof at his appointed times.
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, all Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.
Howle, O gate, crie, O citie: thou whole lande of Palestina art dissolued, for there shall come from the North a smoke, and none shalbe alone, at his time appointed.
Strictly literal
Howl, O gate! cry, O city! thou, Philistia, art wholly dissolved; for there cometh from the north a smoke, and none remaineth apart in his gatherings [of troops].
Howl, O gate; cry, O city, Melted art thou, Philistia, all of thee, For from the north smoke hath come, And there is none alone in his set places.
Howl, O gate; cry, O city, || You are melted, Philistia, all of you, || For smoke has come from the north, || And there is none alone in his set places.”
Wail, O gate; cry out, O city; thou art dissolved, O thou entire Palestine; for from the north a smoke is coming, and there is no one solitary among those that are bidden to come.
Howl, gate; cry, city; all of you will melt away, Philistia. For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke, and there is no straggler in his ranks.
From the Latin
Howl, O gate; cry, O city: all Philistia is thrown down: for a smoke shall come from the north, and there is none that shall escape his troop.
Simplified
Howl, gates! Weep, town! Melt away in fear, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke is approaching from the north—an army with no soldier hanging back.
Send out a cry, O door! Make sounds of sorrow, O town! All your land has come to nothing, O Philistia; for there comes a smoke out of the north, and everyone keeps his place in the line.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls align closely, with minor variations in wording. Both sources convey the same essential message of mourning and alarm for the Philistines, indicating a consistent tradition regarding this prophetic warning.
הֵילִ֤ילִֽי שַׁ֙עַר֙ זַֽעֲקִי־ עִ֔יר נָמ֖וֹג פְּלֶ֣שֶׁת כֻּלֵּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י מִצָּפוֹן֙ עָשָׁ֣ן בָּ֔א וְאֵ֥ין בּוֹדֵ֖ד בְּמוֹעָדָֽיו׃
11 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.
הילילי שער זעקי עיר נמוג פלשת כול׳ך כי מצפון עשן בא ואין מודד במודעי׳ו
14 words on the leather.
[הילילי] [שער] זעקי עיר נםוג פלשת כל׳ך [כי] [מצפון] [עשן] [בא] [ואין] בודד בםידעי׳ו
6 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 7 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.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 14:31
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.
יָלַל (yalal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to howl or wail, often with a wailing tone. It is classified as a primitive root and appears in the Hiphil form, indicating an action of making a howling sound. The entries consistently emphasize its onomatopoeic nature, reflecting the sound associated with the action.
[יָלַל] vb. Hiph. howl, make a howling (onomatop.)
base
H3213 [יָלַל] Hiph. howl, make a howling (onomatop.)
3213 yalal yaw-lal'
a primitive root; to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with
a boisterous one):--(make to) howl, be howling.
יָלַל (ya.lal) — to wail.
(Hiphil) to howl, wail, make a howling
V-Hiphil-Impv-2fs — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person feminine singularHVhv2fs
שַׁ֫עַר (sha'ar) means 'gate' and is derived from a root that signifies an opening. It encompasses various types of gates, including those of cities, palaces, and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like 'gate of heaven.' The entries consistently highlight its role as an entrance or threshold.
שַׁ֫עַר 373 n.m. gate
base
H8179 שַׁ֫עַר gate
8179 sha`ar shah'-ar
from 8176 in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or
gate:--city, door, gate, port (X -er).
see HEBREW for 08176
שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate.
: gate
1) gate
1a) gate (of entrance)
1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)
1b1) city, town
1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)
1d) heaven
שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate: town.
: town
1) gate
1a) gate (of entrance)
1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)
1b1) city, town
1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)
1d) heaven
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
gat (Hebrew normally (over 300 times) sha`ar; occasionally deleth, properly, "gateway" (but compare De 3:5); elsewhere the gateway is pethach (compare especially Ge 19:6); Aramaic tera`; Greek pulon, pule; the English Revised Version and the King James Version add caph, "threshold," in 1Ch 9:19,22; and the King James Version adds delathayim, "double-door," in Isa 45:1; thura, "door," Ac 3:2):
(1) The usual gateway was provided with double doors, swung on projections that fitted into sockets in the sill and lintel. Ordinarily the material was wood (Ne 2:3,17), but greater…
Gate
(1.) Of cities, as of Jerusalem (Jer. 37:13; Neh. 1:3; 2:3; 3:3), of Sodom (Gen. 19:1), of Gaza (Judg. 16:3).
(2.) Of royal palaces (Neh. 2:8).
(3.) Of the temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6:34, 35; 2 Kings 18:16); of the holy place (1 Kings 6:31, 32; Ezek. 41:23, 24); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate (Acts 3:2).
The gate and gateways of eastern cities anciently held and still hold an important part, not only in the defence but in the public economy of the place. They are thus sometimes taken as representing the city itself. (Genesis 22:17; 24:60; 12:12; Judges 5:8; Ruth 4:10; Psalms 87:2; 122:2) Among the special purposes for which they were used may be mentioned. As places of public resort. (Genesis 19:1; 23:10; 34:20; 24; 1 Samuel 4:18) etc. Places for public deliberation, administration of Justice, or of audience for kings and rulers or ambassadors. (16:18; 21:19; 25:7;
The gates of eastern walled towns were usually of wood, Jud 16:3, often covered with thick plates of iron or copper, Ps 107:16 Isa 45:2 Ac 12:10, secured by bolts and bars, De 3:5 1Ki 4:13, and flanked by towers, 2Sa 18:24,33. A city was usually regarded as taken when its gates were won, De 28:52 Jud 5:8. Hence "gate" sometimes signifies power, dominion; almost in the same sense as the Turkish sultan’s…
זָעַק (za`aq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cry out or call for help, often in a context of distress or need. It can also refer to assembling or summoning people, particularly for military purposes. The word has various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of calling or gathering.
[זָעַק] vb. cry, cry out, call
Qal
call, to one's aid
cry, cry out, in need
Niph. be called together, assemble, join
Hiph.
call, call out, or together, for military service
make a crying
have proclamation made
call out, or at
base
H2199 זָעַק cry, cry out, call .. call, to one's aid
. cry, cry out, in need
. be called together, assemble, join
. . call, call out, or together, for military service
. make a crying
. have proclamation made
. call out, or at
2199 za`aq zaw-ak'
a primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by
analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly:--
assemble, call (together), (make a) cry (out), come with such
a company, gather (together), cause to be proclaimed.
זָעַק (za.aq) — to cry out.
1) to cry, cry out, call, call for help
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call (to one's aid)
1a2) to cry, cry out (in need)
1b) (Niphal) to be assembled, be called together, be joined together
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to call, call out, call together, summon
1c2) to make a crying, proclaim
1c3) to have a proclamation made
1c4) to call out to, call out at
Aramaic equivalent: ze.iq (זְעִ֑ק "to cry out" H2200)
V-Qal-Impv-2fs — Verb · Qal · imperative second person feminine singularHVqv2fs
The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.
עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage
base
עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town
city, town, abode of men
of fortress in a city
appar. fortified place, of any size
base
H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men
. of fortress in a city
. appar. fortified place, of any size
5892 `iyr eer
or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)
{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a
watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or
post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.
see HEBREW for 05782
עִיר (ir) — excitement.
1) excitement, anguish
1a) of terror
עִיר (ir) — city.
1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)
1a) city, town
עִיר (ir) — City (of On).
Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)
This name means city, town
Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)
עִיר (ir) — Ir-.
#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;
son of: Tehinnah (H8468)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
sit'-i (`ir, qiryah; polis):
I. THE CANAANITE CITY
1. Origin
2. Extent
3. Villages
4. Sites
5. External Appearance
6. General
II. THE CITY OF THE JEWISH OCCUPATION
1. Tower or Stronghold
2. High Place
3. Broad Place
4. Streets
5. General Characteristics
III. STORE CITIES
IV. LEVITICAL CITIES
LITERATURE
I. The Canaanite City.
1. Origin:
The development of the Canaanite city has been traced by Macalister in his report on the excavation at Gezer (Palestine Exploration Fund Statement, 1904, 108 ff). It originated on the slopes of a bare rocky spur, in which the Neolithic Troglodytes quarried their habitations out of the solid rock, the stones therefrom being used to form a casing to the earthen ramparts, with which the site was afterwards surrounded and which served as a protection against the intrusion of enemies. Later Semitic intruders occupied the site, stone houses were built, and high stone defense…
City
The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain (Gen. 4:17). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12). Next, we have a record of the cities of the Canaanites, Sidon, Gaza, Sodom, etc. (10:12, 19; 11:3, 9; 36:31-39). The earliest description of a city is that of Sodom (19:1-22). Damascus is said to be the oldest existing city in the world. Before the time of Abraham there were cities in Egypt (Num. 13:22). The Israelites in Egypt were employed in building the “treasure cities” of Pithom and Raamses (Ex. 1:11); but it does not seem that they had any cities of their own in Goshen (Gen.…
The towns and cities of Palestine were commonly built on heights, for better security against robbers or invaders. These heights, surrounded by walls, sometimes formed the entire city. In other cases, the citadel alone crowned the hill, around and at the base of which the town was built; and in time of danger the surrounding population all took refuge in the fortified place. Larger towns and cities were often not only defended by strong outer walls, with towers and gates, but by a citadel or castle within these limits-a last resort when the rest of the city was taken, Jud 9:46,51. The "fenced cities" of the Jews, De 3:5, were of various sizes and degrees of strength; some being surrounded by high and thick stone walls, and others by feebler ramparts, often of clay or sun-dried…
מוּג (muwg) is a Hebrew verb meaning to melt. It can refer to the literal act of melting or softening, as well as figuratively to describe feelings of fear or helplessness. The entries indicate various forms, including causing something to melt and melting away. There is a slight variation in the nuances of its figurative meanings across the lexicons.
מוּג vb. melt
Qal
melt
trans. cause to melt
Niph. melt away, fig. for be helpless, disorganized
Po‛l. soften, dissolve
Po‛. Hithpo‛l. mely; hyperb. for flow
base
H4127 מוּג melt .. melt
. trans. cause to melt
. melt away, fig. for be helpless, disorganized
. soften, dissolve
. mely; hyperb. for flow
4127 muwg moog
a primitive root; to melt, i.e. literally (to soften, flow
down, disappear), or figuratively (to fear, faint):--consume,
dissolve, (be) faint(-hearted), melt (away), make soft.
מוּג (mug) — to melt.
1) to melt, cause to melt
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to melt, faint
1a2) to cause to melt
1b) (Niphal) to melt away
1c) (Polel) to soften, dissolve, dissipate
1d) (Hithpolel) to melt, flow
V-Niphal-Ptc — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singularHVNp3ms
פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת (Plesheth) refers to Philistia, a region associated with the Philistines, described as a land of sojourners. The term is linked to the concept of migration and covers the territory on the west coast of Canaan, often identified with Palestine. It appears in poetic and late texts, indicating its historical and geographical significance.
פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת n.pr.terr. Philistia, poet. and late
base
H6429 פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת Philistia, poet. and late
6429 Plesheth pel-eh'-sheth
from 6428; rolling, i.e. migratory; Pelesheth, a region of
Syria:--Palestina, Palestine, Philistia, Philistines.
see HEBREW for 06428
פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת (pe.le.shet) — Philistia.
Philistia = "land of sojourners"
the general territory on the west coast of Canaan or the entire country of Palestine
Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "Philistine" H6430G)
N-proper — Noun properHNpl
fi-lis'-ti-a: The country is referred to under various designations in the Old Testament: namely, pelesheth (Philistia) (Ps 60:8 (Hebrew 10); 87:4), 'erets pelishtim, "land of the Philistines" (Ge 21:32,34), geloth hapelishtim; Septuagint ge ton Phulistieim, "the regions of the Philistines" (Jos 13:2). The Egyptian monuments have Puirsatha, Pulsath (Budge), Peleset (Breasted) and Purasati (HGHL), according to the different voweling of the radicals; the Assyrian form is Palastu or Pilistu, which corresponds very closely to the Egyptian and the Hebrew. The extent of the land is indicated in Jos 13:2 as being from the Shihor, or Brook of Egypt (Revised Version), to the border…
Philistia
=Palestine (q.v.), “the land of the Philistines” (Ps. 60:8; 87:4; 108:9). The word is supposed to mean “the land of wanderers” or “of strangers.”
(Heb. Pelesheth) (land of sojourners). The word thus translated (in) (Psalms 60:8; 87:4; 108:9) is in the original identical with that elsewhere rendered Palestine, which always means land of the Philistines. (Philistia was the plain on the southwest coast of Palestine. It was 40 miles long on the coast of the Mediterranean between Gerar and Joppa, and 10 miles wide at the northern end and 20 at the southern.--ED.) This plain has been in all ages remarkable for the extreme richness of its soil. It was also adapted to the growth of military power; for while the itself permitted. the use of war-chariots, which were the chief arm of offence, the occasional elevations which rise out of it offered secure sites for towns and strongholds. It was, moreover, a commercial country: from its position it must have been at all times the great…
→ The sea coast in the west of the territories of the tribes of Dan and Simeon Ps 60:8; 87:4; 108:9
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2fs
כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'
כִּי conj. that, for, when
that
Of time, when, of the past
elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
Because, since
base
כִּי אם־
each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
that if
for if
(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
limiting the prec. clause, except
the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
after an oath, surely
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that
. . Of time, when, of the past
. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
. Because, since
H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if
. for if
. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except
. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
. after an oath, surely
H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
3588 kiy kee
a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional
prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent
or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative
conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by
other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,
where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,
even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +
nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,
therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,
whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
כִּי (ki) — for.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
1f) but rather, but
1g) except that
1h) only, nevertheless
1i) surely
1j) that is
1k) but if
1l) for though
1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.
1) except if
1a) but if
1b) even though
כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since
1a) that
1a1) yea, indeed
1b) when (of time)
1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
1c) because, since (causal connection)
1d) but (after negative)
Conj — ParticleHTc
for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.
In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…
צָפוֹן (tsaphown) means 'north' and is derived from a root meaning 'hidden' or 'dark.' It is used specifically to refer to the northern direction, often associated with gloominess and the unknown. The term also appears in the context of a name, 'Zaphon,' which similarly denotes the north.
צָפוֹן 153 n.f. north (as the hidden, dark)
base
H6828 צָפוֹן north
6828 tsaphown tsaw-fone'
or tsaphon {tsaw-fone'}; from 6845; properly, hidden, i.e.
dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and
unknown):--north(-ern, side, -ward, wind).
see HEBREW for 06845
צָפוֹן (tsa.phon) — north.
1) north (of direction), northward
1a) north
1b) northward
צָפוֹן (tsa.phon) — Zaphon.
This name means north
Also named: tsa.phon (צָפוֹן "Zaphon" H6829)
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
See EAST. The Babylonians and Assyrians are represented as coming from "the north," because they invaded Israel by a northern route in order to avoid the desert, Jer 1:14 46:6,24 Zep 2:13. "Fair weather," says Job, or golden weather, "cometh out of the north," Job 37:22. This is as true in Syria and Arabia now as it was three thousand years ago. A traveler there remarks, "Our friends, who have been long residents, informed us that we should have fair weather for our start on the morrow, as the wind was from the north."
"... And so we have found it come to pass that the clouds of a golden hue always followed upon a north wind, and indicated a clear day; and as in the times of the Savior, we could always say when it was evening…
עָשָׁן (ashan) means smoke, and can refer to both literal smoke and metaphorical uses, such as vapor or anger. It is derived from the root word for 'to smoke' and is used in various contexts in the Old Testament.
H6227 עָשָׁן smoke
6227 `ashan aw-shawn'
from 6225; smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust,
anger):--smoke(-ing).
see HEBREW for 06225
עָשָׁן (a.shan) — smoke.
1) smoke
1a) smoke
1b) in metaphor, simile
1c) smoke (fig.)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
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.
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
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
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
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
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
בָּדַד (badad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be separate or isolated. It conveys the idea of solitude or withdrawal, and can refer to a solitary state, such as an army straggler. The entries consistently highlight its reflexive nature of being alone.
[בָּדַד] vb. be separate, isolated
base
H909 [בָּדַד] be separate, isolated
909 badad baw-dad'
a primitive root; to divide, i.e. (reflex.) be
solitary:--alone.
בָּדַד (ba.dad) — be alone.
1) to withdraw, be separate, be isolated
1a) (Qal) an army straggler (part.)
1a1) of Ephraim (metaph.)
2) (TWOT) alone
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
מוֹעָד (mow`ad) refers to an 'appointed place,' often in the context of military ranks or assemblies. It is derived from a root meaning to assemble and can also imply an appointed time. The word appears in Isaiah 14:31, highlighting its use in specific contexts.
[מוֹעָד] n.[m.] appointed place (of soldier in army); Is 14:31
ref
H4151 [מוֹעָד] appointed place
4151 mow`ad mo-awd'
from 3259; properly, an assembly (as in 4150); figuratively,
a troop:--appointed time.
see HEBREW for 03259
see HEBREW for 04150
מוֹעָד (mo.ad) — ranks.
appointed place (in army)
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
