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Isaiah 58:4 — Word Study

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WLCהֵ֣ן לְרִ֤יב וּמַצָּה֙ תָּצ֔וּמוּ וּלְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־ תָצ֣וּמוּ כַיּ֔וֹם לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּמָּר֖וֹם קוֹלְכֶֽם׃

BSAYou fasttsûwm [with contention and strife, for debates] with contentionrîyb [quarrel and debate, strife] and strifematstsâh [to smite viciously, to strike] to strikenâkâh viciouslyreshaʻ with your fistʼegrôph [clenched hand, fist] You cannotlôʼ fasttsûwm [in this manner, as you do today] as you do todayyôwm and have your voiceqôwl [sound, voice] be heardshâmaʻ on highmârôwm [in heaven, the elevated place]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 58
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 4 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (kol.Khem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 58:4quick helps
In a sentenceIsaiah critiques the people's fasting, showing that their actions contradict the humility they claim.
Who is speakingThe Lord, through the prophet Isaiah.
Where we areIn a passage addressing the true nature of fasting.
The hard wordרֶשַׁע
Take awayFasting must align with true humility and righteousness.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbצוּם 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 58:4

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

Context — The True Nature of Fastinggenerated

3“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.
4You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.
5Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

Isaiah 58:4 addresses the people's misguided approach to fasting. They engage in rituals while their hearts remain filled with strife and wickedness. The Lord, through Isaiah, emphasizes that true fasting should reflect genuine humility and a desire for justice, rather than mere outward observance. This theme resonates with the broader message of the chapter, which critiques superficial religious practices and calls for authentic devotion to God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 21:9–13In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
2Proverbs 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
3Matthew 6:16When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
4Matthew 23:14
5Luke 20:47They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word תָּצ֔וּמוּ, ta.Tzu.mugenerated

The verb צוּם (tsuwm) means to fast or abstain from food, indicating a spiritual practice often associated with seeking God's favor. The parsing shows it as a second person masculine plural verb in the imperfect tense, meaning it refers to the collective action of the people in the present.

In this context, the act of fasting is coupled with negative behaviors such as contention and strife, suggesting that their fasting is ineffective and hypocritical. The emphasis is on the need for a sincere heart rather than mere ritual.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of תָּצ֔וּמוּ as you fast.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb תָּצ֔וּמוּ (you fast) governs the main clause, with several phrases describing the manner and consequences of their fasting. The structure indicates that the people's actions are directly linked to their spiritual state.

The sentence is constructed with a series of clauses that detail the negative behaviors accompanying their fasting, emphasizing the disconnect between their actions and the true intent of fasting.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תָּצ֔וּמוּ as νηστεύετε, which means 'you fast.' This choice maintains the focus on the act of fasting but does not capture the full weight of the Hebrew context that critiques the motivations behind it.

The Greek word κρίσεις for לְרִ֤יב suggests a legal or judgmental aspect, indicating the seriousness of the strife that accompanies their fasting.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 58:4 highlights the people's fasting as hypocritical. They engage in rituals while their hearts are filled with strife and wickedness. The Lord, through Isaiah, calls for a true fast that reflects humility and justice, rather than mere outward observance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Isaiah mean by fasting with contention and strife?

Isaiah points out that the people's fasting is accompanied by negative behaviors, indicating that their rituals are not sincere.

How does God want us to fast?

God desires fasting that reflects true humility and a commitment to justice, rather than just ritualistic observance.

What is the significance of the fist mentioned in this verse?

The fist symbolizes aggression and conflict, contrasting with the humility that should accompany true fasting.

Why does God reject the fast described in Isaiah 58:4?

God rejects this fast because it is performed alongside strife and wickedness, showing a lack of genuine devotion.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways might my own fasting or spiritual practices lack sincerity?
  2. How can I ensure that my actions align with my intentions in my relationship with God?
  3. What does true humility look like in my daily life?
  4. How can I address conflicts in my life while seeking to grow spiritually?

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

Jerome comments on this verse, arguing from it to emphasize the nature of true fasting and humility.

JeromeVers. 4, 5. c. 347–420
Do not fast as you do to this day, to make your voice heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is…
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 58 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 58:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate,.... Brawling with their servants for not doing work enough; or quarrelling with their debtors for not paying their debts; or the main of their religion lay in

Read John Gill on Isaiah 58 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 58 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ye fast for strife and debate; your fasting days, wherein you ought in a special manner to implore the mercy of God, and to show compassion to men, you employ in a great measure in injuring or quarrelling with your brethren, your servants, or debtors, or in contriving mischief against them, as if the design of your fasting and praying to God were only to obtain a licence to oppress men. Compare . With the fist of wickedness; or, with a wicked fist; a genitive of the adjunct. To deal rigorously and injuriously with your servants or debtors; which servants, it may be, had sold themselves to the year of redemption, ,40,50. You handle them with a hard hand; the word is used for fist, ; the LXX.…

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 58 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high.Ver. 4. Behold.] Take notice whence it is, that ye so miscarry in your services, and leave muttering against me. Ye fast for strife and debate.] Or, Unto strife and debate - i.e., On your fast days ye contend and quarrel; being hungry, you are angry, as emptiness whetteth choler. Sed quid prodest pallor in ore, si sit livor in corde? to what purpose is a pale face and a spiteful spirit? and what is a humbling day without a humbled heart! not only an irreligious incongruity, but a high provocation; like Zimri’ s act, when…

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 58 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Behold, ye fast for strife and debate.—The words possibly point to the psychological fact that an unspiritual fasting irritates the nerves and embitters the temper. Extremes meet, and the disputes of fasting controversialists are often as fierce as those of drunken disputants. (Comp. the conspiracy of Act 23:21.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 58 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 4. Ye fast for strife and debate] How often is this the case! A whole nation are called to fast to implore God's blessing on wars carried on for the purposes of wrath and ambition. To smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day - "To smite with the fist the poor. Wherefore fast ye unto me in this manner"] I follow the version of the Septuagint, which gives a much better sense than the present reading of the Hebrew. Instead of רשע לא resha lo, they seem to have read in their copy רש על מה לי rash al mah lli. The four first letters are the same, but otherwise divided in regard to the words; the four last are lost, and א aleph added in their place, in order to…

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 58 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. ye fast for strife and contention (R.V.)] The fasting made them as irritable as Arabs in the month of Ramadan; it produced a quarrelsome temper which even led to open violence,—“smiting with godless fist.” ye shall not fast &c.] Render: ye do not fast at present so as to make &c., i.e. “with your present mode of fasting, your prayers can never reach the ear of Jehovah.” “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” Hamlet, Act iii. Scene iii. 97 f.

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 58 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate - This is a third characteristic of their manner of fasting, and a third reason why God did not regard and accept it.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 58 →

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

You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You don’t fast today so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Beholde, ye fast to strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickednesse: ye shall not fast as ye doe to day, to make your voyce to be heard aboue.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Behold, ye have fasted for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye do not at present fast, to cause your voice to be heard on high.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Lo, for strife and debate ye fast, And to smite with the fist of wickedness, Ye fast not as [to] -day, To sound in the high place your voice.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Behold, you fast for strife and debate, || And to strike with the fist of wickedness, || You do not fast as [this] day, || To sound your voice in the high place.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Behold, for contention and strife do ye fast, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not so at this day, to cause your voice to be heard on high.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Look, you fast to quarrel and fight, and to hit with your fist of wickedness; you do not fast today to make your voice heard above.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Behold you fast for debates and strife. and strike with the fist wickedly. Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry to be heard on high.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Can't you see that when you're fasting you quarrel and argue, and end up having a vicious fistfight? When you fast like this you can't expect your prayers to be heard on high!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

If keeping from food makes you quickly angry, ready for fighting and giving blows with evil hands; your holy days are not such as to make your voice come to my ears on high.

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.

clauseclauseהֵ֣ןthere!clauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְfornoun phraseרִ֤יבstrifeוּandמַצָּה֙contentionverbתָּצ֔וּמוּyou.fastוּandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהַכּ֖וֹתstrikeprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwithnoun phraseאֶגְרֹ֣ףa.fistרֶ֑שַׁעof.wickednessclauseadverbialלֹאnotverbתָצ֣וּמוּyou.fastprepositional phrase · prepositionalכַlikenoun phrasethisיּ֔וֹםdayprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהַשְׁמִ֥יעַmake.heardprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּinnoun phrasetheמָּר֖וֹםheight[s]noun phrase · objectקוֹלְvoiceכֶֽםyour

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 closely, with only minor variations in wording. Both witnesses reflect the same essential message, emphasizing the hypocrisy of the people's fasting practices.

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

הֵ֣ן לְרִ֤יב וּמַצָּה֙ תָּצ֔וּמוּ וּלְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־ תָצ֣וּמוּ כַיּ֔וֹם לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּמָּר֖וֹם קוֹלְכֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הֵ֣ןεἰלְרִ֤יבκρίσειςוּמַצָּה֙μάξαςתָּצ֔וּמוּνηστεύετεוּלְהַכּ֖וֹתτύπτετεבְּאֶגְרֹ֣ףπυγμαῖςרֶ֑שַׁעταπεινόνתָצ֣וּמוּνηστεύετεכַיּ֔וֹםσήμερονלְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַἀκουσθῆναιבַּמָּר֖וֹםκραυγῇקוֹלְכֶֽם׃ὑμῶν

12 of the 13 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

הנה לריב ולמצא תצומו ולהכות בגורף רשע לוא תצומו כיום לשמיע במרום קול׳כמה

13 words on the leather.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Q8a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

הן לריב ולמצה תצומו להכות באגרף רשע ולא תצומו כיום להשמיע במרום קול׳כם

13 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 58:4הֵןthere!there!הֵןרִיבfor strifefor strifeרִיבמַצָּהand contentand contentionמַצָּהצוּםyou fastyou fastצוּםנָכָהand to striand to strikeנָכָהאֶגְרֹףwith a fistwith a fist ofאֶגְרֹףרֶ֫שַׁעwickednesswickednessרֶ֫שַׁעלֹאnotnotלֹאצוּםyou fastyou fastצוּםיוֹםlike this dlike this dayיוֹםשָׁמַעto make heato make heardשָׁמַעמָרוֹםin the heigin the height[sמָרוֹםקוֹלvoice yourvoice yourקוֹלרִיבto contendto contendרִיבנָצָהto strugglto struggleנָצָהגָּרַףto sweep ato sweep awayגָּרַףרָשַׁעbe wickedbe wickedרָשַׁערוּםto exaltto exaltרוּםסָפַדto mournto mournסָפַדיָפֶהbeautifulbeautifulיָפֶהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהמָדוֹןstrifestrifeמָדוֹןאָהֵבto love: lto love: loverאָהֵבמַכָּהwoundwoundמַכָּהפְּלִשְׁתִּי(Sea of th(Sea of the) Phפְּלִשְׁתִּיצֶ֫דֶקRighteousnRighteousnessצֶ֫דֶקצְדָקָהrighteousnrighteousnessצְדָקָהיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשְׁבִיעִיseventhseventhשְׁבִיעִישַׁבָּתSabbathSabbathשַׁבָּת
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 58:4

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

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

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
הֵ֣ןhen there! H2005 Particle
316× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An expression meaning look or behold, used to get someone's attention, like in the prophet Isaiah's writings. It can also express surprise or introduce a hypothetical situation.
Tyndale gloss
look!
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֵן (hen) is a demonstrative adverb or interjection meaning 'lo!' or 'behold!'. It is primarily used to draw attention to a fact that prompts action or leads to a conclusion. The word can also express surprise and is less common than its counterpart הִנֵּה (hinneh). Additionally, it can function hypothetically as 'if'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֵן 100 demonstr.adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2005 הֵן demonstr. adv. or interj. lo!, behold (on etym. v. הִנֵּה), less widely used than הִנֵּה, and in prose mostly confined to calling attention to some fact upon which action is to be taken, or a conclusion based

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2005 hen hane

a primitive particle; lo!; also (as expressing surprise)

if:--behold, if, lo, though.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֵן (hen) — look!.

interj

1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part

2) if

Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
לְרִ֤יבle.Riv for strife H7379 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
61× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a dispute or quarrel between people, which can be a physical fight or a verbal argument. It is often used to describe a lawsuit or controversy, and appears in books like Deuteronomy and Job.
Amplified meaning
quarrel and debate, strife
Tyndale gloss
strife
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רִיב (riyb) refers to strife or dispute, encompassing personal or legal contests. It can denote adversarial situations, chiding, or legal cases. The entries consistently highlight its meanings related to conflict, such as quarrels and controversies, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רִיב 62 n.m. strife, dispute

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7379 רִיב strife, dispute

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7379 riyb reeb

or rib {reeb}; from 7378; a contest (personal or legal):--+

adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy,

multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing),

suit.

see HEBREW for 07378

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רִיב (riv) — strife.

1) strife, controversy, dispute

1a) strife, quarrel

1b) dispute, controversy, case at law

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ge 13:8; 45:24; De 1:12; Ps 31:20; 55:9; 80:6; Pr 3:20; 6:12-14,16-19; 10:12; 13:10; 15:18; 16:28; 17:1,14,19; 18:6,19; 19:13; 20:3; 21:19; 22:10; 23:29,30; 25:8,24; 26:17,20,21; 27:15; 28:25; 29:22; 30:33; Isa 41:11,12; 58:4; Hab 1:3; Mt 5:25,39-41; 10:34-36; 12:25; 18:15-17; Mr 3:24,25; Lu 11:17; 12:51-53,58,59; Ro 2:8

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Christ, an example of avoiding

Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23

- Forbidden

Pr 3:30; 25:8

- A work of the flesh

Ga 5:20

- An evidence of a carnal spirit

1Co 3:3

- Existed in the church

1Co 1:11

- EXCITED BY

. Hatred

Pr 10:12

. Pride

Pr 13:10; 28:25

. Wrath

Pr 15:18; 30:33

. Frowardness

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
וּמַצָּה֙u.ma.Tzah and contention H4683 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Matstsah also means strife or contention, describing a quarrel or debate between people, like the disagreements between Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15. It involves strong disagreements.
Amplified meaning
to smite viciously, to strike
Tyndale gloss
strife
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַצָּה (matstsah) refers to strife or contention. It is derived from the root word meaning to quarrel, and is consistently defined across entries as relating to conflict or debate.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַצָּה n.f. strife, contention

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4683 מַצָּה strife, contention

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4683 matstsah mats-tsaw'

from 5327; a quarrel:--contention, debate, strife.

see HEBREW for 05327

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַצָּה (mats.tsah) — strife.

strife, contention

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See STRIFE

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
תָּצ֔וּמוּta.Tzu.mu you fast H6684 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To fast or abstain from food, often for spiritual reasons. In the Bible, fasting is a way to show devotion to God, as seen in the examples of Moses and Elijah.
Amplified meaning
with contention and strife, for debates
Tyndale gloss
to fast
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צוּם (tsuwm) is a Hebrew verb meaning to abstain from food or to fast. It is a primitive root that conveys the idea of covering over the mouth, indicating the act of fasting. The entries consistently define this word in the context of abstaining from food.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צוּם] vb. abstain from food, fast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6684 צוּם abstain from food, fast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6684 tsuwm tsoom

a primitive root; to cover over (the mouth), i.e. to

fast:--X at all, fast.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צוּם (tsum) — to fast.

(Qal) to abstain from food, fast

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVqi2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fast

The sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement (q.v.), Lev. 23:26-32. It is called “the fast” (Acts 27:9).

The only other mention of a periodical fast in the Old Testament is in Zech. 7:1-7; 8:19, from which it appears that during their captivity the Jews observed four annual fasts.

(1.) The fast of the fourth month, kept on the seventeenth day of Tammuz, the anniversary of the capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; to commemorate also the incident recorded Ex. 32:19. (Comp. Jer. 52:6, 7.)

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
וּלְהַכּ֖וֹתu.le.ha.Kot and to strike H5221 Conjunction · preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
500× 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 to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.
Tyndale gloss
to smite
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָכָה (nakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to strike or smite, encompassing a range of actions from lightly hitting to fatal blows. It appears in various forms, indicating actions like attacking, punishing, or causing disease. The entries suggest its use in both literal and figurative contexts, including divine judgment and applause. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)

Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

Pu. both be smitten down by the hail

Hiph.

lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

smite repeatedly, beat a man

and they clapped hands (in applause)

give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

smite, of sun

Smite fatally

Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

Of God

smite with a plague, disease, etc.

smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

of God’s destroying palaces

Hoph. be smitten

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5221 נָכָה smite (not in Qal) . and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die

. both be smitten down by the hail

. . . lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike

. smite repeatedly, beat a man

. and they clapped hands (in applause)

. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots

. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound

. smite, of sun

. Smite fatally

. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company

. Of God . smite with a plague, disease, etc.

. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon

. of God’s destroying palaces

. be smitten

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5221 nakah naw-kaw'

a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally

or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X

go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer,

punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike,

be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָכָה (na.khah) — to smite.

1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill

1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten

1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust

1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast)

1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage

1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy

1d) (Hophal) to be smitten

1d1) to receive a blow

1d2) to be wounded

1d3) to be beaten

1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain

1d5) to be attacked and captured

1d6) to be smitten (with disease)

1d7) to be blighted (of plants)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Conjunction · preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HC/R/Vhcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

strik: The verbs "to strike" and "to stroke" (latter not in English Versions) have the same derivation, and originally "strike" was the intrans, "stroke" the transitive form. "Strike" however, became used in both senses (always transitive in English Versions of the Bible), while "to stroke" took on the meaning "to, rub gently." But in the King James Version this last force still belonged sometimes to "strike" and is so found in 2Ki 5:11, "strike his hand over the place" (the Revised Version (British and American) "wave"), and perhaps Ex 12:7,22; Tobit 11:11 Otherwise AV's uses of the simple "strike" are modern, including "strike sail" (Ac 27:17; here and in /RAPC Tob 11:11 with an archaic preterite "strake," elsewhere…

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ףbe.'eg.Rof with a fist of H106 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a clenched hand or fist, often used to describe a physical gesture of anger or frustration. It's a simple yet powerful image used in various biblical contexts. The KJV translates it as 'fist'.
Amplified meaning
clenched hand, fist
Tyndale gloss
fist
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶגְרֹף (egroph) means 'fist' and is derived from a root meaning 'to grasp.' The term specifically refers to a clenched hand. All entries consistently define it as 'fist' without any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֶגְרֹף] n.[m.] fist

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H106 אֶגְרֹף fist

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

106 'egroph eg-rofe'

from 1640 (in the sense of grasping); the clenched

hand:--fist.

see HEBREW for 01640

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶגְרֹף (eg.roph) — fist.

fist

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
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…

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
רֶ֑שַׁעRe.sha' wickedness H7562 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for wickedness, describing wrong or immoral actions, as seen in the wickedness of enemies or those hostile to God. It appears in various forms, such as iniquity or wickedness. This concept is discussed in biblical books like Psalms and Proverbs.
Tyndale gloss
wickedness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫שַׁע (resha`) refers to wickedness or moral wrong. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including violence, crime against civil law, and ethical violations. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be wrong' and is used in contexts relating to both personal and societal morality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫שַׁע n.m. wickedness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7562 רֶ֫שַׁע wickedness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7562 resha` reh'-shah

from 7561; a wrong (especially moral):--iniquity,

wicked(-ness).

see HEBREW for 07561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫שַׁע (re.sah) — wickedness.

1) wrong, wickedness, guilt

1a) wickedness (as violence and crime against civil law)

1b) wickedness (of enemies)

1c) wickedness (in ethical relations)

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

wik'-ed-nes:

1. In the Old Testament:

The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality. See SIN. Many words are rendered "wickedness." There are many synonyms for wickedness in English and also in the Hebrew. Pride and vanity lead to it: "All the proud, and all that work wickedness (rish`ah) shall be stubble" (Mal 4:1). Akin to this is the word `awen, "iniquity," "vanity": "She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness" (Pr 30:20). Then we have the word hawwah, meaning "mischief," "calamity," coming from inward intent upon evil: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in…

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
לֹא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
תָצ֣וּמוּta.Tzu.mu you fast H6684 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To fast or abstain from food, often for spiritual reasons. In the Bible, fasting is a way to show devotion to God, as seen in the examples of Moses and Elijah.
Amplified meaning
in this manner, as you do today
Tyndale gloss
to fast
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צוּם (tsuwm) is a Hebrew verb meaning to abstain from food or to fast. It is a primitive root that conveys the idea of covering over the mouth, indicating the act of fasting. The entries consistently define this word in the context of abstaining from food.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צוּם] vb. abstain from food, fast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6684 צוּם abstain from food, fast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6684 tsuwm tsoom

a primitive root; to cover over (the mouth), i.e. to

fast:--X at all, fast.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צוּם (tsum) — to fast.

(Qal) to abstain from food, fast

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVqi2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fast

The sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement (q.v.), Lev. 23:26-32. It is called “the fast” (Acts 27:9).

The only other mention of a periodical fast in the Old Testament is in Zech. 7:1-7; 8:19, from which it appears that during their captivity the Jews observed four annual fasts.

(1.) The fast of the fourth month, kept on the seventeenth day of Tammuz, the anniversary of the capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans; to commemorate also the incident recorded Ex. 32:19. (Comp. Jer. 52:6, 7.)

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
כַיּ֔וֹםkhai.Yom like this day H3117 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹם 2285 n.m. day

day, opp. night

Day as division of time

יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

Pl. days of anyone

Days

יוֹם = time

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night

. Day as division of time

. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

. Pl. days of anyone

. Days

. יוֹם = time

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3117 yowm yome

from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm

hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one

sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by

an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +

chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)

day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +

(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as

(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,

presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,

then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,

weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole

(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹם (yom) — day.

: day/when/time/period

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: old.

: old/(full/many)[days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: year.

: year[of_days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

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

da (yom; hemera): This common word has caused some trouble to plain readers, because they have not noticed that the word is used in several different senses in the English Bible. When the different uses of the word are understood the difficulty of interpretation vanishes. We note several different uses of the word:

(1) It sometimes means the time from daylight till dark. This popular meaning is easily discovered by the context, e. g. Ge 1:5; 8:22, etc. The marked periods of this daytime were morning, noon and night, as with us. See Ps 55:17. The early hours were sometimes called "the cool of the day" (Ge 3:8). After the exile the day. or daytime was divided into twelve hours and the night into twelve (see

Day

The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). “The heat of the day” (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) was at our nine o’clock, and “the cool of the day” just before sunset (Gen. 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judg. 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex.…

The variable length of the natural day at different seasons led in the very earliest times to the adoption of the civil day (or one revolution of the sun) as a standard of time. The Hebrews reckoned the day from evening to evening, (Leviticus 23:32) deriving it from (Genesis 1:5) "the evening and the morning were the first day." The Jews are supposed, like the modern Arabs, to have adopted from an early period minute specifications of the parts of the natural day. Roughly, indeed, they were content to divide it into "morning, evening and noonday," (Psalms 55:17) but when they wished for greater accuracy they pointed to six unequal parts, each of which was again subdivided. These are held to have been -- "the dawn." "Sunrise."…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The day is distinguished into natural, civil, and artificial. The natural day is one revolution of the earth on its axis. The civil day is that, the beginning and the end of which are determined by the custom of any nation. The Hebrews began their day in the evening, Le 23:32; the Babylonians at sunrise; and we begin at midnight. The artificial day is the time of the sun’s continuance above the horizon, which is unequal according to different seasons, on account of the obliquity of the equator. The sacred writers generally divide the day into twelve hours. The sixth hour always ends at noon throughout the year; and the twelfth hour is the last hour before sunset. But in summer, all the hours of the day were longer than in winter, while those of night were shorter. See HOURS, and THREE.

there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַle.hash.Mi.a' to make heard H8085 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
בַּמָּר֖וֹםba.ma.Rom in the height[s] H4791 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
54× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a high or elevated place, either physically or figuratively. It can describe a location, such as a mountain, or a state of being, like pride or haughtiness. It is used in various books of the Bible.
Amplified meaning
in heaven, the elevated place
Tyndale gloss
height
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָרוֹם (marowm) means 'height' and encompasses both concrete and abstract uses, referring to elevated places, elevation, and even pride. It can describe physical heights or be used figuratively for dignity and nobility. The word is poetically used in the Old Testament, with its root linked to the concept of altitude.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָרוֹם n.m. height (poet.)

height, elevation (concr.), elevated place

alone = height of heaven

adv. fig., = proudly

fig. of nobles

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4791 מָרוֹם height (poet.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4791 marowm maw-rome'

from 7311; altitude, i.e. concretely (an elevated place),

abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially

(aloft):--(far) above, dignity, haughty, height, (most, on)

high (one, place), loftily, upward.

see HEBREW for 07311

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָרוֹם (ma.rom) — height.

1) height

1a) height, elevation, elevated place

1a1) in a high place (adv)

1b) height

1c) proudly (adv)

1d) of nobles (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
there! for strife and contention you fast and to strike with a fist of wickedness not you fast like this day to make heard in the height[s] voice your
קוֹלְכֶֽם׃kol.Khem voice your H6963 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Amplified meaning
sound, voice
Tyndale gloss
voice: sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹל 506 n.m. sound, voice

base

קֹל n.[m.] lightness, frivolity;—Je 3:9

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6963 qowl kole

or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a

voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),

fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,

proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +

yell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹל (qol) — voice.

: voice/shout/loud

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קֹל (qol) — frivolity.

lightness, frivolity

קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.

: sound/noise

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.

: thunder

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.

: message/proclaim

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].

: [sound_of](THING)

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.

: listen

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp2mp
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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