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Isaiah 5:23 — Word Study

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WLCמַצְדִּיקֵ֥י רָשָׁ֖ע עֵ֣קֶב שֹׁ֑חַד וְצִדְקַ֥ת צַדִּיקִ֖ים יָסִ֥ירוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ ס

BSAwho acquittsâdaq [justify, declare righteous] the guiltyrâshâʻ [wicked, morally wrong] forʻêqeb a bribeshachad [a gift to influence, a reward] and depriveçûwr [take away, remove] the innocenttsaddîyq [righteous, just] of justicetsᵉdâqâh [righteousness, virtue]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 5
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (mi.Me.nu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 5:23quick helps
In a sentenceIsaiah condemns those who justify the wicked and deny justice to the righteous.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, delivering a message from God.
Where we areA warning against corrupt justice in society.
The hard wordמַצְדִּיקֵ֥י
Take awayCorruption in justice leads to societal decay.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbצָדֵק 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 5:23

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 — Woes Against Corrupt Leadersgenerated

22Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing beer,
23who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
24Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lay like refuse in the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Isaiah 5:23 warns about those who twist justice for personal gain, highlighting the moral failures of leaders who prioritize bribes over righteousness. This verse is part of a larger passage that critiques societal corruption and the consequences of forsaking God's laws, as seen in the surrounding verses. The message serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and justice in governance.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 23:6–9You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.
2Proverbs 17:15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
3Proverbs 24:24Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”— peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
4Proverbs 31:4–5It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5Isaiah 1:23Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

The Key Word מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י, matz.di.Keigenerated

The word מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י (matzdiqei) is a participle in the Hiphil form, indicating those who actively engage in the act of justifying. It is built from the root צָדֵק (tsadaq), which means to be just or righteous. This term encapsulates the act of declaring someone righteous, often in a legal or moral context, and is crucial for understanding the dynamics of justice in the biblical narrative.

In this verse, the participle form emphasizes ongoing action, suggesting that these individuals habitually justify the wicked, thereby corrupting the moral fabric of society. The implications of this word highlight the serious consequences of such actions, both for the individuals involved and for the broader community.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses justify for מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י and deprive for יָסִ֥ירוּ, aligning with the KJV and ASV in their choice of language.

Where translations diverge is in the rendering of צַדִּיקִ֖ים. The BSB and KJV use righteous, while the DRA and NETB opt for just. This distinction reflects subtle differences in interpretation regarding the nature of the individuals being described.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse consists of two main clauses connected by conjunctions. The first clause features the verb יָסִ֥ירוּ, they take away, which governs the actions described in the second clause. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the act of justifying the wicked and the resulting deprivation of justice for the righteous.

The word order places emphasis on the actions of the subjects, highlighting the moral failure of those who justify wrongdoing while neglecting justice. This arrangement reflects the gravity of the message being conveyed.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י as δικαιοῦντες (dikaiountes), which carries a similar meaning of justifying. This choice reflects a direct connection to the moral implications of the Hebrew term, emphasizing the act of declaring someone righteous.

The Greek word δικαιοῦντες suggests a broader interpretation that may encompass both legal and moral justifications, indicating a potential widening of the concept as understood in the Greek-speaking context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 5:23 warns against those who justify the wicked for bribes and deny justice to the righteous. This verse highlights the moral corruption in leadership and the consequences of forsaking justice, emphasizing the need for integrity in society.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to justify the wicked?

To justify the wicked means to declare someone who is morally wrong as righteous, often for personal gain, which undermines justice.

Why is depriving the innocent of justice significant?

Depriving the innocent of justice signifies a serious moral failure in leadership, leading to societal decay and loss of trust in the justice system.

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

This verse reflects Isaiah's broader themes of social justice, accountability, and the consequences of moral corruption among leaders.

What can we learn from this warning?

The warning serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and justice in leadership, urging us to uphold righteousness in our own lives and communities.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see justice being compromised in my community?
  2. How can I advocate for the innocent and uphold justice in my daily life?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure I am not justifying wrongdoing in my actions?
  4. How does understanding this verse challenge my views on justice and morality?

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

Jerome comments on this verse, highlighting the moral failures of those who justify the wicked and take away justice from the righteous.

JeromeVerse 23. c. 347–420
You justify the wicked for bribes, and take away the justice of the righteous from them. And this is a part of the vices of the vineyard, which has produced sour grapes instead of grapes, and while the Lord waits to bring judgment,
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 5 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 5:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Which justify the wicked for reward,.... This is either spoken of judges, and civil magistrates, who gave the cause in favour of the wicked, that bribed them, contrary to law, Deuteronomy 16:19 or

Read John Gill on Isaiah 5 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Woe unto (them that are) mighty to drink wine ... Which justify the wicked for reward.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 5 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Justify the wicked for reward; not by mistake or incogitancy, but wilfully for bribes. Take away the righteousness of the righteous from him, to wit, juridically; they pronounce sentence against him, as if he and his cause were unjust.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 5 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 5:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!Ver. 23. Which justify the wicked for reward,] q.d., Woe to such also, for even they both are abomination to the Lord

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 5 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 23. The righteous] צדיק tsaddik, singular, Sept. Vulg., and two editions.

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 5 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

23. These valiant drinkers are weak enough in their official capacity; they acquit the guilty and condemn the innocent. justify the wicked] “wicked” and “righteous” are here used in their forensic sense: “he who is in the wrong” and “he who is in the right” (cf. Exodus 9:27). So “take away the righteousness” means “declare guilty”—the opposite of “justify.”

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 5 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which justify - This refers, doubtless, to magistrates. They gave unjust decisions. For reward - For bribes.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 5 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

Sixth woe — on public dissoluteness, Isaiah 5:22-23.Drunkards, too, again receive their woe; (see Isaiah 5:11;) where the people indulge in thoughtless, rollicking dissoluteness.22, 23.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 5 →

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

who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent!

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

NETBNew English Translation2006

They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

that justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

RVARevised Version, American1894

which justify the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Who justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Which iustifie the wicked for a rewarde, and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

who justify the wicked for a bribe, and turn away the righteousness of the righteous from them!

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Declaring righteous the wicked for a bribe, And the righteousness of the righteous They turn aside from him.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Declaring righteous the wicked for a bribe, || And the righteousness of the righteous || They turn aside from him.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Who justify the wicked in lieu of a bribe, and who deprive the righteous of their right!

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

who acquit the wicked for payment, and deprive the innocent of his rights!

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

That justify the wicked for gifts, and take away the justice of the just from him.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

you who set the guilty free for a bribe, and yet deny justice to the innocent.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Who for a reward give support to the cause of the sinner, and who take away the righteousness of the upright from him.

Word by word, the decisions they made

צַדִּיקִ֖יםtza.di.Kim righteous [people] H6662 2 different renderings
righteousASV DBY GNV ILT KJV LSV NWB RVA YLT
justDRA NETB

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.

clauseclausenoun phrase · predicateמַצְדִּיקֵ֥י[those.who].justifyרָשָׁ֖ע(of).a.wicked.[person]noun phrase · adverbialעֵ֣קֶב[the].consequenceשֹׁ֑חַדof.a.bribeוְand.[the]clausenoun phrase · objectצִדְקַ֥תrighteousnessצַדִּיקִ֖יםof.righteous.[people]verbיָסִ֥ירוּthey.take.awayprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִמֶּֽfromנּוּhim

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 agree on the wording of this verse, with minor variations in the scrolls that do not alter the meaning. The Septuagint aligns closely with the Hebrew text, maintaining the core message of the verse.

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

מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י רָשָׁ֖ע עֵ֣קֶב שֹׁ֑חַד וְצִדְקַ֥ת צַדִּיקִ֖ים יָסִ֥ירוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מַצְדִּיקֵ֥יδικαιοῦντεςעֵ֣קֶבἕνεκενשֹׁ֑חַדδώρωνוְצִדְקַ֥תδίκαιονצַדִּיקִ֖יםδικαίου

5 of the 8 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

מצדיקי רשע עקב שחוד וצדקת צדיקים יסירו ממ׳נו

8 words on the leather.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q56a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

מצדיקי רשע עקב שחד [וצדקת] [צדיקים] [יסירו] ממ׳נו

4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 3 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 5:23צָדֵק[those who][those who] jusצָדֵקרָשָׁעa wicked [pa wicked [persoרָשָׁעעֵ֫קֶב[the] conse[the] consequenעֵ֫קֶבשֹׁ֫חַדa bribea bribeשֹׁ֫חַדצְדָקָהand [the] rand [the] rightצְדָקָהצַדִּיקrighteous [righteous [peopצַדִּיקסוּרthey take athey take awayסוּרמִן־from himfrom himמִן־צָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקעָקַבto assailto assailעָקַבשָׁחַדto bribeto bribeשָׁחַדמֵןstringstringמֵןרָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁעצַדִּיקrighteousrighteousצַדִּיקאָבַדto perishto perishאָבַדהֶאָחAha!Aha!הֶאָחבֹּ֫שֶׁתshameshameבֹּ֫שֶׁתעָוַרto blindto blindעָוַרמְחִירpricepriceמְחִירמִשְׁפָּטjustice: jjustice: judgemמִשְׁפָּטרָשָׁעwickedwickedרָשָׁעעָ֫וֶלinjusticeinjusticeעָ֫וֶלשְׂמֹאלleftleftשְׂמֹאלבָּמָהhigh placehigh placeבָּמָהרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַר
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 5:23

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.

[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
מַצְדִּיקֵ֥יmatz.di.Kei [those who] justify H6663 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine plural common
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to the act of making something right, either by justifying oneself or being declared righteous by God. It is used to describe God's justice and people's attempts to do what is right. This concept is key to understanding the Bible's teachings on sin and redemption.
Amplified meaning
justify, declare righteous
Tyndale gloss
to justify
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָדֵק (tsadaq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be just or righteous, encompassing a range of actions from justifying oneself to declaring others righteous. It appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of justification and righteousness. The entries highlight its moral and forensic implications, but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צָדֵק, צָדֹק] vb. denom. be just, righteous

Qal

have a just cause, be in the right

be justified

be just

be just, righteous

Niph. the holy place shall be put right

Pi. justify

Hiph.

do justice

declare righteous, justify

justify, vindicate the cause of, save

make righteous, turn to righteousness

Hithp. how shall we justify ourselves

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6663 צָדֵק, צָדֹק vb. denom. be just, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6663 tsadaq tsaw-dak'

a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral

or forensic sense):--cleanse, clear self, (be, do)

just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָדֵק (tsa.daq) — to justify.

1) to be just, be righteous

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to have a just cause, be in the right

1a2) to be justified

1a3) to be just (of God)

1a4) to be just, be righteous (in conduct and character)

1b) (Niphal) to be put or made right, be justified

1c) (Piel) justify, make to appear righteous, make someone righteous

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to do or bring justice (in administering law)

1d2) to declare righteous, justify

1d3) to justify, vindicate the cause of, save

1d4) to make righteous, turn to righteousness

1e) (Hithpael) to justify oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVhrmpc
[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
רָשָׁ֖עra.Sha' a wicked [person] H7563 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
263× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
wicked, morally wrong
Tyndale gloss
wicked
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7563 rasha` raw-shaw'

from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad

person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did

wrong.

see HEBREW for 07561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.

1) wicked, criminal

1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)

1b) wicked (hostile to God)

1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
עֵ֣קֶב'E.kev [the] consequence of H6118 Noun common · masculine singular construct
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a consequence or result of something, often used to describe a reward or payment. It is used in Genesis 49:19, where Gad's reward is described. The word can also mean 'because' or 'on account of'.
Tyndale gloss
consequence
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵ֫קֶב (‘eqeb) primarily means 'consequence' and can refer to a reward or end. It is often used adverbially to indicate causation, such as 'because' or 'on account of.' The word is built from the root related to 'heel,' suggesting a figurative sense of the last or result of something.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵ֫קֶב n.[m.] consequence, usu. as adv. acc. as a consequence of, because (that), also reward, end

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6118 עֵ֫קֶב consequence, usu. as adv. acc. as a consequence of, because (that), also reward, end

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6118 `eqeb ay'-keb

from 6117 in the sense of 6119; a heel, i.e. (figuratively)

the last of anything (used adverbially, for ever); also

result, i.e. compensation; and so (adverb with preposition or

relatively) on account of:--X because, by, end, for, if,

reward.

see HEBREW for 06117

see HEBREW for 06119

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵ֫קֶב (e.qev) — consequence.

1) consequence

1a) consequence

1b) consequence, gain, reward

1c) end

adv

2) as a consequence, because, consequently

conj

3) as a consequence of, that, because

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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…

[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
שֹׁ֑חַדSho.chad a bribe H7810 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a gift given to influence someone, often in a wrong way. It can also mean a present or reward, like in 1 Samuel 1:18 where Hannah gives a gift to Eli. The word is about giving something to get something in return.
Amplified meaning
a gift to influence, a reward
Tyndale gloss
bribe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֹׁ֫חַד (shachad) refers specifically to a bribe or present, often implying a venal or redemptive nature. The entries indicate it can mean a gift or reward, stemming from a root related to giving. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֹׁ֫חַד n.m. present, specif. bribe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7810 שֹׁ֫חַד present, specif. bribe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7810 shachad shakh'-ad

from 7809; a donation (venal or redemptive):--bribe(-ry),

gift, present, reward.

see HEBREW for 07809

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֹׁ֫חַד (sha.chad) — bribe.

present, bribe

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bribe

None to be taken; “for the gift maketh open eyes blind, and perverteth the cause of the righteous” (Ex. 23:8, literally rendered).

[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
וְצִדְקַ֥תve.tzid.Kat and [the] righteousness of H6666 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
157× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Encompasses the idea of righteousness, including justice, virtue, and morality, often describing God's attribute or the standard for human behavior. It is used to describe the ideal for personal conduct and societal norms, emphasizing the importance of living a righteous life.
Amplified meaning
righteousness, virtue
Tyndale gloss
righteousness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צְדָקָה (tsdaqah) means 'righteousness' and encompasses various aspects such as justice, truthfulness, and ethical rightness. It can refer to God's attribute of sovereignty, righteousness in governance, and even justification or salvation. The term also implies righteous acts and has an Aramaic equivalent, צִדְקָה (tsid.qah).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צְדָקָה 157 n.f. righteousness

righteousness, in government

God's attribute as sovereign

righteousness, in a case or cause

righteousness = truthfulness

righteousness, as ethically right

righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.

pl. righteous acts

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6666 צְדָקָה righteousness . righteousness, in government

. God's attribute as sovereign

. righteousness, in a case or cause

. righteousness = truthfulness

. righteousness, as ethically right

. righteousness as vindicated, justification, salvation, etc.

. pl. righteous acts

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6666 tsdaqah tsed-aw-kaw'

from 6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude),

objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively

(prosperity):--justice, moderately, right(-eous)

(act, -ly, -ness).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צְדָקָה (tse.da.qah) — righteousness.

1) justice, righteousness

1a) righteousness (in government)

1a1) of judge, ruler, king

1a2) of law

1a3) of Davidic king Messiah

1b) righteousness (of God's attribute)

1c) righteousness (in a case or cause)

1d) righteousness, truthfulness

1e) righteousness (as ethically right)

1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation

1f1) of God

1f2) prosperity (of people)

1g) righteous acts

Aramaic equivalent: tsid.qah (צִדְקָה "righteousness" H6665)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
HC/Ncfsc
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…

[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
צַדִּיקִ֖יםtza.di.Kim righteous [people] H6662 Adj
206× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Amplified meaning
righteous, just
Tyndale gloss
righteous
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'

from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.

1) just, lawful, righteous

1a) just, righteous (in government)

1b) just, right (in one's cause)

1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)

1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)

1e) right, correct, lawful

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
יָסִ֥ירוּya.Si.ru they take away H5493 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine plural
300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
take away, remove
Tyndale gloss
to turn aside: remove
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּר (sur) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It encompasses a range of actions including removal, avoidance, and coming to an end. The word can be used in various forms, such as causing something to turn aside or be taken away. It appears in contexts involving both literal and figurative departures.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּר and [שׂוּר] 300 vb. turn aside

Qal

turn aside, out of one's course

depart

of lifeless things = be removed

= come to an end

Pô‛lēl he turned aside my ways (my steps)

Hiph.

cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

rarer uses

Pô‛lēl be taken away, removed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5493 סוּר, שׂוּר turn aside .. turn aside, out of one's course

. depart

. of lifeless things = be removed

. = come to an end

.he turned aside my ways (my steps)

. . cause to (turn aside,) depart, common word for remove, take away

. rarer uses

.be taken away, removed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5493 cuwr soor

or suwr (Hosea 9:12) {soor}; a primitive root; to turn off

(literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back,

decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous,

lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away,

down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take

(away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: remove.

: remove

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: depart.

: depart

1) to turn aside, depart

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto

1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid

1a3) to be removed

1a4) to come to an end

1b) (Polel) to turn aside

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose

1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish

1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed

סוּר (sur) — to turn aside: turn aside.

: turn_aside/deflect

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVhi3mp
[those who] justify a wicked [person] [the] consequence of a bribe and [the] righteousness of righteous [people] they take away from him
מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ סmi.Me.nu from him H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

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

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

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

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

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

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

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

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

. with a temporal force, since, after

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

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

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

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

1b) out of

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

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

1b3) (of source or origin)

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

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

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

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

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

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

conj

2) that

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

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
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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