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Isaiah 29:24 — Word Study

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WLCוְיָדְע֥וּ תֹֽעֵי־ ר֖וּחַ בִּינָ֑ה וְרוֹגְנִ֖ים יִלְמְדוּ־ לֶֽקַח׃

BSAThen the waywardtâʻâh [errant, those who go astray] in spiritrûwach [the breath of life, the mind and emotions] will comeyâdaʻ to understandingbîynâh [discernment, wisdom, and knowledge] and those who grumblerâgan [murmur, complain in rebellion] will acceptlâmad instructionleqach [teaching, learning, and insight]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 29
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 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 (Le.kach) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 29:24quick helps
In a sentenceThe wayward in spirit will gain understanding, while those who grumble will learn to accept instruction.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, conveying God's message to the people.
Where we areThis verse concludes a section where God addresses the consequences of rebellion and the promise of restoration.
The hard wordיָדַע
Take awayUnderstanding and instruction are promised to those who have strayed and complained.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectרָגַן verbיָדַע 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 — Isaiah 29:24

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

Context — God's Promise of Restorationgenerated

21those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.
22Therefore the LORD who redeemed Abraham says of the house of Jacob: “No longer will Jacob be ashamed and no more will his face grow pale.
23For when he sees his children around him, the work of My hands, they will honor My name, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and they will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”

Isaiah 29:24 is part of a message from God through the prophet Isaiah, emphasizing that those who have gone astray in spirit will find understanding, and those who have murmured will learn to accept guidance. This reflects God's desire to restore His people, as seen in the preceding verses that address their shame and the hope of redemption.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 29:10–11For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.
2Isaiah 28:7These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
3Zechariah 12:10Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
4Matthew 21:28–32But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
5Luke 7:47Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

The Key Word יָדַע, ve.ya.de.'Ugenerated

The Hebrew word יָדַע (yada`) is a verb meaning 'to know,' which encompasses a range of meanings from perception to recognition. In this context, it indicates a deep understanding that comes from experience and discernment.

The parsing as a sequential perfect suggests a completed action in the past that has ongoing implications. This highlights that the knowledge gained is not just intellectual but transformative, allowing those who were lost to truly understand.


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 יָדְע֥וּ governs the structure, with two clauses following: the first describes the wayward in spirit gaining understanding, and the second describes the murmurers learning instruction. This structure emphasizes the actions and their subjects in a straightforward manner.

The word order in Hebrew places the subjects before the verbs, which highlights the individuals being addressed — those who have gone astray and those who grumble — emphasizing their need for understanding and instruction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָדַע as γνώσονται, which emphasizes the knowledge that will be acquired. This choice indicates a focus on the certainty of gaining understanding.

For בִּינָ֑ה, the translation σύνεσιν suggests a nuanced understanding, aligning with the broader context of wisdom and discernment that is being promised.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 29:24 tells us that those who have strayed in spirit will come to understanding, while those who complain will learn to accept instruction. This verse highlights God's promise to restore and guide His people.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the wayward in spirit to come to understanding?

It signifies a transformation where those who have strayed will gain insight and discernment about their lives and God's ways.

Why are those who grumble mentioned in this verse?

They represent those who resist guidance; the verse assures that they too will learn to accept instruction and change their ways.

How does this verse relate to the theme of restoration?

It illustrates God's willingness to restore those who have gone astray and to teach them, emphasizing His mercy and guidance.

What can we learn from the promise of understanding and instruction?

It encourages us to seek knowledge and be open to learning, especially when we recognize our own waywardness.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I feel I have gone astray, and how can I seek understanding?
  2. How can I be more receptive to instruction and guidance from others?
  3. What steps can I take to transform my complaints into constructive learning?
  4. How does God's promise of restoration encourage me in my spiritual journey?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 29:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

They also that erred in spirit,.... In judgment, and in spiritual things; as the Jews have done, ever since the Messiah's coming, being given up to a spirit of error, as the Targum, on Isaiah 29:10

Read John Gill on Isaiah 29 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. They also that erred - (Isaiah 28:7.) Shall learn doctrine - rather, shall receive discipline or instruction.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 29 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They also that erred in spirit; those Gentiles whose spirits or minds were ignorant of and erred from God’ s truth, and who were led aside by a lying spirit, or by the spirit of error and delusion, to idolatry, and all manner of impiety, Shall come to understanding; shall come to the knowledge of the truth. They that murmured shall learn doctrine; they that would not receive the doctrine of God, but murmured at God’ s faithful prophets and teachers, who delivered it, which was the practice of divers, both Jews and Gentiles, shall now learn doctrine, and receive God’ s truth in the love of it.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 29 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 29:24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.Ver. 24. They also that erred in spirit.] Erroneous opinions, and muttering against ministers, are here instanced as two special obstacles to effectual conversion. Those that relinquish not these two evils are far enough from God’ s kingdom, and yet today nothing is more ordinary; hence so few converts, so many apostates.

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 29 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) They that murmured shall learn doctrine.—Better, instruction. The word is prominent in the sapiential books of Israel, and is therefore adapted to describe the process of growth and education that followed on conversion. The word, too, “murmured” is noticeable, as occurring only in Deuteronomy 1:27; Psalms 106:25, of which its use here may be an echo.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 29 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. The meaning is that even the least capable and most refractory classes of the community shall willingly subject themselves to the teaching of revelation. understanding and doctrine are words characteristic of the Hebrew Wisdom Literature (Isaiah 28:29).

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 29 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They also that erred in spirit - (see Isaiah 29:9-10). Shall learn doctrine - When” this would occur the prophet does not state.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 29 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

22-24. Jehovah, who called Abraham out of heathendom, says, that in consequence of this happy change, which shall take place in the nation when the oppressor shall be removed, and the poor and meek

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 29 →

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

Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

They also who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will receive instruction.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Those who stray morally will gain understanding; those who complain will acquire insight.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall receive instruction.

RVARevised Version, American1894

They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall learn doctrine.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then they that erred in spirit, shall haue vnderstanding, and they that murmured, shall learne doctrine.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And they that are of erring spirit shall know understanding, and the disobedient shall learn doctrine.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the erring in spirit have known understanding, And murmurers learn doctrine!'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the erring in spirit have known understanding, || And murmurers learn doctrine!”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

They also that were erring in spirit shall acquire understanding, and they that murmured shall obtain instruction.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Those who err in spirit will gain understanding, and complainers will learn knowledge.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they that erred in spirit, shall know understanding, and they that murmured, shall learn the law.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Those who've gone astray will understand their mistakes; those who grumble will learn how to receive instruction.”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Those whose hearts were turned away from him will get knowledge, and those who made an outcry against him will give attention to his teaching.

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.

וְandclauseverbיָדְע֥וּthey.will.knownoun phrase · subjectתֹֽעֵי[those.who].go.astrayר֖וּחַof.spiritobjectבִּינָ֑הunderstandingוְandclausesubjectרוֹגְנִ֖ים[those.who].murmurverbיִלְמְדוּthey.will.learnobjectלֶֽקַחinsight

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 both agree on the wording of this verse, confirming the same seven words. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew structure, though it presents the words in a different order.

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

וְיָדְע֥וּ תֹֽעֵי־ ר֖וּחַ בִּינָ֑ה וְרוֹגְנִ֖ים יִלְמְדוּ־ לֶֽקַח׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְיָדְע֥וּγνώσονταιתֹֽעֵי־οἱר֖וּחַπνεύματιבִּינָ֑הσύνεσινוְרוֹגְנִ֖יםγογγύζοντεςיִלְמְדוּ־μαθήσονταιלֶֽקַח׃ὑπακούειν

7 of the 7 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

וידעו תועי רוח בינה ורוגנים ילמדו לקח

7 words on the leather.

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 29:24יָדַעand they wiand they will kיָדַעתָּעָה[those who][those who] go תָּעָהרוּחַspiritspiritרוּחַבִּינָהunderstandiunderstandingבִּינָהרָגַןand murmureand murmurersרָגַןלָמַדthey will lthey will learnלָמַדלֶ֫קַחinstructioninstructionלֶ֫קַחרִיחַto smellto smellרִיחַלָקַחto take: tto take: takeלָקַחבִּיןto understto understandבִּיןאֲנִיIIאֲנִיאָשַׁרto blessto blessאָשַׁרשָׁגָהto wanderto wanderשָׁגָהנְשָׁמָהbreathbreathנְשָׁמָהקָדִיםeasteastקָדִיםשֵׂ֫כֶלunderstandunderstandingשֵׂ֫כֶלחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהלָהַםto swallowto swallowלָהַםמָדוֹןstrifestrifeמָדוֹןחֹקstatute: dstatute: decreeחֹקיָסַףto addto addיָסַףשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָה
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 29:24

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 they will know [those who] go astray of spirit understanding and murmurers they will learn instruction
וְיָדְע֥וּve.ya.de.'U and they will know H3045 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
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.
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
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
and they will know [those who] go astray of spirit understanding and murmurers they will learn instruction
תֹֽעֵי־to.'ei- [those who] go astray of H8582 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to go astray or wander, and can be used physically or morally. It can also mean to cause someone to err or stumble.
Amplified meaning
errant, those who go astray
Tyndale gloss
to go astray
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּעָה (ta`ah) is a Hebrew verb that means to wander or go astray, both physically and ethically. It can refer to being led astray, as in a moral sense, or to the effects of intoxication. The word has various forms, including Qal (to err), Niphal (to be made to wander), and Hiphil (to cause to wander).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּעָה vb. err

Qal

physically wander about

of intoxication

ethically

Niph.

be made to wander about, as a drunkard

ethically: be led astray

Hiph.

physically cause to wander about

of intoxication

mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8582 תָּעָה err .. physically wander about

. of intoxication

. ethically

. . be made to wander about, as a drunkard

. ethically: be led astray

. . physically cause to wander about

. of intoxication

. mentally and morally, cause to err, mislead

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8582 ta`ah taw-aw'

a primitive root; to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally

or figuratively); also causative of both:--(cause to) go

astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant,

seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the

way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּעָה (ta.ah) — to go astray.

1) to err, wander, go astray, stagger

1a) (Qal) to err

1a1) to wander about (physically)

1a2) of intoxication

1a3) of sin (ethically)

1a4) wandering (of the mind)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard)

1b2) to be led astray (ethically)

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to wander

1c1) to cause to wander about (physically)

1c2) to cause to wander (of intoxication)

1c3) to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and they will know [those who] go astray of spirit understanding and murmurers they will learn instruction
ר֖וּחַRu.ach spirit H7307 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
the breath of life, the mind and emotions
Tyndale gloss
spirit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּחַ (ruach) means breath, wind, or spirit. It encompasses various meanings, including the breath of life, emotional disposition, and the spirit of God. The term can refer to both physical phenomena, like wind, and abstract concepts, such as moral character or mental acts. Notably, it is used frequently in the context of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit

breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

wind (117 t.)

spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

spirit of the living, breathing being

spirit as seat of emotion

occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

rarely of the will

רוּחַ esp. of moral character

spirit of God (94 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7307 רוּחַ breath, wind, spirit . breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

. wind (117 t.)

. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

. spirit of the living, breathing being

. spirit as seat of emotion

. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

. rarely of the will

. רוּחַ esp. of moral character

. spirit of God (94 t.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7307 ruwach roo'-akh

from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or

even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger,

unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by

resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including

its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X

cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)),

tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).

see HEBREW for 07306

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit.

: spirit

1) wind, breath, mind, spirit

1a) breath

1b) wind

1b1) of heaven

1b2) quarter (of wind), side

1b3) breath of air

1b4) air, gas

1b5) vain, empty thing

1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)

1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour

1c2) courage

1c3) temper, anger

1c4) impatience, patience

1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)

1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse

1c7) prophetic spirit

1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)

1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being

1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)

1e1) desire

1e2) sorrow, trouble

1f) spirit

1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts

1f2) rarely of the will

1f3) as seat especially of moral character

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spir'-it (ruach; pneuma; Latin, spiritus):

1. Primary and Figurative Senses

(1) As Wind, Breath

(2) As Anger or Fury

(3) As Mental and Moral Qualities in Man

2. Shades of Meaning

(1) As Life-Principle

(2) As Surviving Death

(3) Spiritual Manifestations

3. Human and Divine Spirit

(1) The Human as Related with the Divine

(2) Operations of the Divine Spirit as Third Person of the Trinity

4. Old Testament Applications

5. Various Interpretations

1. Primary and Figurative Senses:

(1) As Wind, Breath:

Used primarily in the Old Testament and New Testament of the wind, as in Ge 8:1; Nu 11:31; Am 4:13 ("createth the wind"); Heb 1:7 (angels, "spirits" or "winds" in margin); often used of the breath, as…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Spirit

(Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2 Thess. 2:8 it means “breath,” and in Eccl. 8:8 the vital principle in man. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by which man is distinguished (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 5:5; 6:20; 7:34), and the soul in its separate state (Heb. 12:23), and hence also an apparition (Job 4:15; Luke 24:37, 39), an angel (Heb. 1:14), and a demon (Luke 4:36; 10:20). This…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A word employed in various senses in Scripture.

1. For THE HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who inspired the prophets, animates good men, pours his unction into our hearts, imparts to us life and comfort; and in whose name we are baptized and blessed, as well as in that of the Father and the Son. When the adjective Holy is applied to the term Spirit, we should always understand it as here explained; but there are many places whether it must be taken in this sense, although the term Holy is omitted. See HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT.

2. BREATH, respiration; or the principle of animal life, common to men and animal: this God has given, and this he recalls when he takes away life, Ec 3:21. See SOUL.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called “the inner man,” Ro 7:22; Eph 3:16

→ See ANGELS

→ See DEMONS

→ See HOLY SPIRIT

→ See MAN, A SPIRIT

→ See SATAN

and they will know [those who] go astray of spirit understanding and murmurers they will learn instruction
בִּינָ֑הbi.Nah understanding H998 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means understanding or discernment, like having wisdom or knowledge. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms, guiding people to make good decisions.
Amplified meaning
discernment, wisdom, and knowledge
Tyndale gloss
understanding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּינָה (biynah) means understanding and encompasses the act, faculty, and object of knowledge, even personified in some contexts. It is derived from the root meaning to discern or comprehend. The Aramaic equivalent is בִּינָה (H0999).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּינָה n.f. understanding

the act

the faculty

the object of knowledge

personified

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H998 בִּינָה understanding . the act

. the faculty

. the object of knowledge

. personified

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

998 biynah bee-naw'

from 995; understanding:--knowledge, meaning, X perfectly,

understanding, wisdom.

see HEBREW for 0995

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּינָה (bi.nah) — understanding.

1) understanding, discernment

1a) act

1b) faculty

1c) object

1d) personified

Aramaic equivalent: bi.nah (בִּינָה "understanding" H0999)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
and they will know [those who] go astray of spirit understanding and murmurers they will learn instruction
וְרוֹגְנִ֖יםve.rog.Nim and murmurers H7279 Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to grumble or murmur, often in rebellion. In the Bible, it describes the Israelites' complaints against God. It can also mean to whisper or be a backbiter.
Amplified meaning
murmur, complain in rebellion
Tyndale gloss
to grumble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָגַן (ragan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to murmur or whisper, often in a context of rebellion or grumbling. It can refer to individuals who murmur (Qal) or backbite (Niphal). The entries highlight its use in both a general sense of complaint and more malicious whispering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָגַן vb. murmur, whisper

murmur (rebelliously)

Qal murmurers;

Niph. and they murmured in their tents

whisper (maliciously), backbite, slander:

Niph. backbiter

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7279 רָגַן murmur, whisper

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7279 ragan raw-gan'

a primitive root; to grumble, i.e. rebel:--murmur.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָגַן (ra.gan) — to grumble.

1) to murmur, whisper

1a) (Qal) murmurer (participle)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to murmur

1b2) backbiter (participle)

Also means: nir.gan (נִרְגָּן "whisperer" H5372)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine plural
HC/Vqrmpa
and they will know [those who] go astray of spirit understanding and murmurers they will learn instruction
יִלְמְדוּ־yil.me.du- they will learn H3925 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
86× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To learn or teach in the Bible means to guide someone, like using a rod to direct an animal. It is about instructing or training someone, as seen in Proverbs and Psalms. Teaching is an important theme in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
to learn: teach
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָמַד (lamad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to learn or teach. It encompasses the ideas of exercising in a skill, being trained, and instructing others. The root suggests a connection to motivation or incentive, as seen in the context of teaching with a rod. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to learn), Piel (to teach), and Pual (to be taught).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָמַד vb. exercise in, learn

Qal learn something

Piel teach

Pual trained; taught

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3925 לָמַד exercise in, learn .learn something

.teach

.trained; taught

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3925 lamad law-mad'

a primitive root; properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to

teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive):(un-) accustomed,

X diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach(-er, -

ing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: teach.

: teach

1) to learn. teach, exercise in

1a) (Qal) to learn

1b) (Piel) to teach

1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained

Also means: la.mad (לָמַד ": learn" H3925H)

לָמַד (la.mad) — to learn: learn.

: learn

1) to learn. teach, exercise in

1a) (Qal) to learn

1b) (Piel) to teach

1c) (Pual) to be taught, be trained

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
and they will know [those who] go astray of spirit understanding and murmurers they will learn instruction
לֶֽקַח׃Le.kach instruction H3948 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to teaching or instruction, and it can also mean learning or insight. In the Bible, it is used to describe the teachings of God or the wisdom of a teacher, like in Proverbs 1:8 where it says to heed the teaching of a father.
Amplified meaning
teaching, learning, and insight
Tyndale gloss
teaching
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֶ֫קַח (leqach) refers to learning or teaching, encompassing both the act of instruction and the content taught. It implies something received, whether as personal insight or as a doctrine. The term can also carry a negative connotation, suggesting persuasion or inveiglement. The entries collectively highlight its use in contexts of education and influence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֶ֫קַח n.m. learning, teaching (concrete; prob. what is received)

instruction, subjective, as personal acquirement

teaching, obj., as thing taught; also = teaching-power, persuasiveness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3948 לֶ֫קַח learning, teaching (concrete; prob. what is received) . instruction, subjective, as personal acquirement

. teaching, obj., as thing taught; also = teaching-power, persuasiveness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3948 leqach leh'-kakh

from 3947; properly, something received, i.e. (mentally)

instruction (whether on the part of the teacher or hearer);

also (in an active and sinister sense)

inveiglement:--doctrine, learning, fair speech.

see HEBREW for 03947

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֶ֫קַח (le.qach) — teaching.

1) learning, teaching, insight

1a) instruction (obj)

1b) teaching (thing taught)

1b1) teaching-power

1b2) persuasiveness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

in-struk'-shun.

See CATECHIST; EDUCATION; SCHOOL.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ From nature Pr 24:30-34; Ec 1:13-18; 3; 4:1; Mt 6:25-30

→ See PARABLES

→ From the study of human nature Ec 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12

→ By Object Lessons

The pot of manna Ex 16:32

→ The pillar of twelve stones at the fords of the Jordan River Jos 4:19-24

→ Fringes on the borders of garments Nu 15:38,39

→ Symbolically wearing sackcloth and going barefoot Isa 20:2,3

→ The linen sash Jer 13:1-11

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) The Value of

Pr 1:8; 6:23; 12:1; Ec 12:11

--SEE Knowledge (3), KNOWLEDGE

Wisdom (5), WISDOM

(2) Examples of Spiritual

1Sa 9:27; 2Ki 17:28; 2Ch 17:7; Ezr 7:10; Ne 8:7

Mt 5:2; Lu 24:27; Ac 8:35; 18:26; 28:23

--SEE Christ Teacher, TEACHER, DIVINE

Christian Teachers, TEACHERS, CHRISTIAN

"Word" Read, BIBLE, THE; THE WORD OF GOD

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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