Isaiah 7:15 — Word Study
WLCחֶמְאָ֥ה וּדְבַ֖שׁ יֹאכֵ֑ל לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ מָא֥וֹס בָּרָ֖ע וּבָח֥וֹר בַּטּֽוֹב׃
BSABy the time He knows [enough]yâdaʻ [is aware, has understanding] to rejectmâʼaç [spurn, refuse] evilraʻ [bad, wickedness] and choosebâchar [select, prefer] goodṭôwb [what is pleasant, beneficial] He will be eatingʼâkal▸ [consuming, devouring] curdschemʼâh [butter, yogurt] and honeydᵉbash [a sweet, valuable food]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| חֶמְאָ֥ה | curd | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וּדְבַ֖שׁ | and honey | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יֹאכֵ֑ל | he will eat | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ | to knowing his | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| מָא֥וֹס | to reject | Verb, Qal, infinitive absolute |
| בָּרָ֖ע | the evil | Preposition |
| וּבָח֥וֹר | and to choose | Conjunction, verb qal infinitive absolute |
| בַּטּֽוֹב׃ | the good | Preposition |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey. |
| KJV | Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. |
| ASV | Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good. |
| YLT | Butter and honey he doth eat, When he knoweth to refuse evil, and to fix on good. |
| WEB | He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good. |
| BBE | Butter and honey will be his food, when he is old enough to make a decision between evil and good. |
All translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse.
The sentence consists of a main clause with two subordinate phrases that clarify the conditions surrounding the child's actions.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָכַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 7:15
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 Sign of Immanuelgenerated
Isaiah 7:15 is part of a prophecy where God provides a sign to King Ahaz through Isaiah. This sign involves a child who will embody the knowledge of good and evil, indicating a time of peace and prosperity, symbolized by the consumption of curds and honey. This context is crucial as it reflects God's assurance of deliverance amidst fear and uncertainty, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 7:22 | and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. |
| 2 | Matthew 3:4 | John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. |
| 3 | Psalm 51:5 | Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. |
| 4 | Amos 5:15 | Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” |
| 5 | Luke 1:35 | The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֶמְאָה, chem.'Ahgenerated
The term חֶמְאָה (chem'ah) refers to curd or butter, derived from a root that can also mean heat or burning. It is used here to signify nourishment, specifically in the form of curds, which are a staple food. The parsing as a feminine singular noun indicates it is a common food item, emphasizing its role in the diet of the child.
This word appears in contexts that evoke strong emotions or physical sensations, but here it serves to illustrate the simplicity and sustenance of the child's diet. The connection to heat suggests warmth and comfort, which contrasts with the moral choices he will face.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יֹאכֵ֑ל (yo.Khel) governs the entire sentence, indicating the action of eating. This sentence structure places emphasis on the child's future actions and moral development.
The sentence includes multiple clauses: the main clause describes what the child will eat, while the subordinate clauses detail the conditions of his moral understanding and the choices he will make. The arrangement highlights the relationship between physical nourishment and moral awareness.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חֶמְאָה as βούτυρον (boutyron), which means butter. This choice reflects a different cultural context for the same food item, emphasizing a similar concept of nourishment.
The translation of וּדְבַ֖שׁ as μέλι (meli) aligns with the Hebrew meaning of honey, maintaining the idea of sweetness and abundance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 7:15 tells us that by the time the child knows to reject evil and choose good, he will be eating curds and honey. This indicates a time of peace and simplicity, where the child will grow in understanding while enjoying nourishing food.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies a developmental stage where the child gains moral understanding and the ability to make choices between right and wrong.
Curds and honey symbolize nourishment and abundance, indicating a time of prosperity and peace during the child's upbringing.
This verse emphasizes God's promise of deliverance and hope amid turmoil, highlighting the significance of the child as a sign of God's presence.
This verse illustrates the importance of discernment in moral choices, suggesting that understanding and wisdom grow alongside physical nourishment.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can nurture moral understanding in my own life?
- How does the imagery of curds and honey resonate with the idea of spiritual nourishment?
- In what situations have I had to choose between good and evil, and how did I navigate those choices?
- What does this verse teach us about the relationship between physical and spiritual growth?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the significance of the child's moral development and divine nature, as seen in their writings.
This is said [“The child grew in wisdom and in age before God and men”] in order to establish the truth of his human body.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 7 →
He shall eat butter and honey, so that he may know how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 7 →
Now, since the Lord was not a mere man but was also God and knew all things, he stood in no need of reflection, inquiry, counsel or judgment. He also had a natural affinity for good and antipathy for evil.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 7:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleButter and honey shall he eat..... As the Messiah Jesus no doubt did; since he was born in a land flowing with milk and honey, and in a time of plenty, being a time of general peace; so that this
Read John Gill on Isaiah 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryButter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. Butter (Hebrew: chem'aah (H2529)) - rather, Curdled milk, the acid of which is grateful in the heat of the East (Job 20:17).
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleButter and honey; the common food of children in that Country, where they were in great abundance, and of the best sort. He; the virgin’ s Son last mentioned, who, though he be God blessed for ever, yet shall become man, and, to show the truth of his humanity, shall not only be conceived and brought forth, but also shall be nourished and brought up, by the same means and steps as other children; which is justly mentioned here as a stupendous and miraculous work of God. That he may know; that by this food he may grow up, and so may know, &c. Or, until he know, as it is rendered by divers learned men, and, among others, by the Chaldee interpreter, who best knew the use of this particle among…
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.Ver. 15. Butter and honey shall he eat,] i.e., He shall be fed with children’ s meat, after the manner of other infants; for, as he shall take upon him our nature, so shall he also partake with us in our natural infirmities, feeding, as other children there did, on "butter and honey," not able to discern good from evil, through want of judgment, till he came to be of discretion, that he might be in all things like unto us, and that we might once come "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ"; that we might become "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might"; able to…
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(15) Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know . . .—Better, till he know, or, when he shall know. . . .—By a strange inversion of the familiar associations of the phrase (Exodus 3:17; Deuteronomy 31:20), probably, as the prophet spoke them, not without a certain touch of the irony of paradox, the words describe a time, not of plenty, but of scarcity. (Comp. Isaiah 7:22.) Fields and vineyards should be left uncultivated (Isaiah 5:9), and instead of bread and meat, and wine and oil, the people, flying from their cities and taking refuge in caves and mountains, should be left to the food of a nomadic tribe, such, e.g., as the Kenites (Judges 5:25; 1 Samuel 14:26; Matthew 3:4). The…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 7 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 15. That he may know - "When he shall know"] "Though so much has been written on this important passage, there is an obscurity and inconsequence which still attends it, in the general run of all the interpretations given to it by the most learned. And this obscure incoherence is given to it by the false rendering of a Hebrew particle, viz., ל le, in לדעתו ledato. This has been generally rendered, either 'that he may know,' or 'till he know.' It is capable of either version, without doubt; but either of these versions makes Isaiah 7:15 incoherent and inconsistent with Isaiah 7:16. For Isaiah 7:16 plainly means to give a reason for the assertion in Isaiah 7:15, because it is subjoined…
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges15. Butter and honey shall he eat] This has to be explained by Isaiah 7:22, where the eating of butter (lit. “thick milk”) and (wild) honey is a symptom of the primitive simplicity to which human life is reduced by the cessation of agriculture. The meaning is that the youth of Immanuel will be spent amidst the privations of a land laid waste by foreign invaders. that he may know] This is the rendering of the Vulgate and other ancient versions, and is maintained still by a few scholars. But the idea that eating butter and honey promotes the formation of ethical character is somewhat bizarre. Translate with R.V. when he knoweth (more precisely “towards the time when, &c.”). It must be…
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 7 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleButter and honey - The word rendered “butter” (חמאה chem'âh), denotes not butter, but thick and curdled milk. This was the common mode of using milk as an article of food in the East, and is still.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 7 →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
By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.
He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.
By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.
He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right.
Tyndale line
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Butter and hony shall he eate, till he haue knowledge to refuse the euill, and to chuse the good.
Strictly literal
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
Butter and honey he doth eat, When he knoweth to refuse evil, and to fix on good.
He eats butter and honey, || When He knows to refuse evil, and to fix on good.
Cream and honey shall he eat, so soon as he knoweth to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
He will eat curds and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.
From the Latin
He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
Simplified
He will eat curds and honey until the time he knows to refuse evil and choose the good.
Butter and honey will be his food, when he is old enough to make a decision between evil and good.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the majority of the wording in this verse, with the Septuagint providing a different order and articles. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, particularly with one word supplied by an editor, but the essential meaning remains consistent across these texts.
חֶמְאָ֥ה וּדְבַ֖שׁ יֹאכֵ֑ל לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ מָא֥וֹס בָּרָ֖ע וּבָח֥וֹר בַּטּֽוֹב׃
7 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.
חמאה [ודבש] יאכל לדעת׳ו מאוס ברע ובחר בטוב
7 words on the leather — 1 supplied entire by an editor.
חמאה
1 word of the verse is on this fragment. The rest of the verse is not on it.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 7:15
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.
חֶמְאָה (chem'ah) refers to curd or butter, while חֵמָה (chemah) encompasses a range of meanings including heat, fever, venom, and burning anger, applicable to both humans and divine contexts. The entries highlight its use in describing emotional states and physical conditions, with specific mention of its appearance in Daniel's vision.
חֶמְאָה n.f. curd
base
חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) 121 n.f. heat, rage
heat:
fever
venom, poison
burning anger, rage:
of man
of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
of God
base
H2529a חֶמְאָה curd H2529b חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) heat, rage . heat: . fever
. venom, poison
. burning anger, rage: . of man
. of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
. of God
2529 chem'ah khem-aw'
or (shortened) chemah {khay-maw'}; from the same root as
2346; curdled milk or cheese:--butter.
see HEBREW for 02346
חֶמְאָה (chem.ah) — curd.
curd, butter
חֵמָה (che.mah) — heat.
1) heat
1a) fever
1b) venom, poison
2) burning anger, rage
2a) of man
2b) of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
2a) of God
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
דְּבַשׁ (dbash) means honey, derived from a root that suggests stickiness. It encompasses the substance itself and can also refer to syrup. The entries consistently identify it as honey without significant variation.
דְּבַשׁ 64 n.m. honey
base
H1706 דְּבַשׁ honey
1706 dbash deb-ash'
from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its
stickiness); by analogy, syrup:--honey((-comb)).
דְּבַשׁ (de.vash) — honey.
honey
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
hun'-i (debhash; meli): One familiar with life in Palestine will recognize in debhash the Arabic dibs, which is the usual term for a sweet syrup made by boiling down the juice of grapes, raisins, carob beans, or dates. Dibs is seldom, if ever, used as a name for honey (compare Arabic 'asal), whereas in the Old Testament debhash probably had only that meaning. The honey referred to was in most cases wild honey (De 32:13; Jud 14:8,9; 1Sa 14:25,26,29,43), although the offering of honey with the first-fruits would seem to indicate that the bees were also domesticated (2Ch 31:5). The bees constructed their honeycomb and deposited their honey in holes in the ground (
Honey
(1.) Heb. ya’ar, occurs only 1 Sam. 14:25, 27, 29; Cant. 5:1, where it denotes the honey of bees. Properly the word signifies a forest or copse, and refers to honey found in woods.
(2.) Nopheth, honey that drops (Ps. 19:10; Prov. 5:3; Cant. 4:11).
(3.) Debash denotes bee-honey (Judg. 14:8); but also frequently a vegetable honey distilled from trees (Gen. 43:11; Ezek. 27:17). In these passages it may probably mean “dibs,” or syrup of grapes, i.e., the juice…
The Hebrew debash in the first place applied to the product of the bee, to which exclusively we give the name of honey. All travellers agree in describing Palestine as a land "flowing with milk and honey," (Exodus 3:8) bees being abundant even in the remote parts of the wilderness, where they deposit their honey in the crevices of rocks or in hollow trees. In some parts of northern Arabia the hills are so well stocked with bees that no sooner are hives placed than they are occupied. In the second place the term debash applies to a decoction of the juice of the grape, which is still called dibs , and which forms an article of commerce in the East, it was this, and not ordinary bee-honey, which Jacob sent to Joseph, (Genesis 43:11) and which the Tyrians purchased from Palestine. (
Was formerly very plentiful in Palestine, and hence the frequent expressions of Scripture which import that that country was a land flowing with milk and honey, Le 20:24. Wild bee honey was often found in hollow trees and clefts in the rocks, De 32:13 Ps 81:16; and on this John the Baptist fed, Mt 3:4. Honey was highly prized, Ps 19:10 Pr 5:3 27:7. Modern travellers observe that it is still very common there, and that the inhabitants mix it in all their sauces. Forskal says the caravans of Mecca bring honey from Arabia to Cairo, and that he has often seen honey…
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
know, learn to know
perceive
perceive and see; find out and discern
discriminate, distinguish
know by experience
recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
consider
not know = not expect
know a person, be acquainted with
know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
be skilful in
abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
be made known, be or become known, of things
make oneself known of pers.
be perceived
be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
base
H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know
. perceive
. perceive and see; find out and discern
. discriminate, distinguish
. know by experience
. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
. consider
. not know = not expect
. know a person, be acquainted with
. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
. be skilful in
. abs. have knowledge, be wise
. . be made known, be or become known, of things
. make oneself known of pers.
. be perceived
. be instructed
. cause to know
. known
. make known, declare
. made known
. make oneself known
3045 yada` yaw-dah'
a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted
with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,
(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X
could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)
discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,
can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause
to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have
(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be
learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man
of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,
יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.
1) to know
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to know
1a1a) to know, learn to know
1a1b) to perceive
1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern
1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish
1a1e) to know by experience
1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
1a1g) to consider
1a2) to know, be acquainted with
1a3) to know (a person carnally)
1a4) to know how, be skilful in
1a5) to have knowledge, be wise
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
1b2) to make oneself known
1b3) to be perceived
1b4) to be instructed
1c) (Piel) to cause to know
1d) (Poal) to cause to know
1e) (Pual)
1e1) to be known
1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare
1g) (Hophal) to be made known
1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vqcc/Sp3ms
מָאַס (ma'ac) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to reject or despise. It can also denote the action of flowing or running in its Niph'al form. The entries highlight its usage in contexts of refusal and disdain, with no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
[מָאַס] vb. reject
Qal
reject, refuse
despise
Niph. be rejected
base
[מָאַס] vb. Niph. flow, run
base
H3988a מָאַס reject H3988b מָאַס Niph. flow, run
3988 ma'ac maw-as'
a primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to
disappear:--abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain,
(become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, X
utterly, vile person.
מָאַס (ma.as) — to reject.
1) to reject, despise, refuse
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to reject, refuse
1a2) to despise
1b) (Niphal) to be rejected
מָאַס (ma.as) — to flow.
(Niphal) to flow, run
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absoluteHVqaa
רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.
רַע 228 adj. bad, evil
bad, disagreeable, malignant
bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery
evil, displeasing
bad of its kind
bad, , i.e. of low value
מִן comp., worse than
sad, unhappy
devise evil (hurtful) device
bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper
ethically bad, evil, wicked
base
רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
evil, distress, adversity
evil, injury, wrong
ethical evil
base
רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury
evil, misery, distress
evil, injury, wrong
ethical evil
base
H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant
. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery
. evil, displeasing
. bad of its kind
. bad, , i.e. of low value
. + מִן comp., worse than
. sad, unhappy
. devise evil (hurtful) device
. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper
. ethically bad, evil, wicked
H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity
. evil, injury, wrong
. ethical evil
H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress
. evil, injury, wrong
. ethical evil
7451 ra` rah
from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--
adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),
distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X
great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),
+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not
please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,
wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.
(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).
see HEBREW for 07489
רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.
: harmful
adj
1) bad, evil
1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)
1e) bad (of value)
1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
1g) sad, unhappy
1h) evil (hurtful)
1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
1j2) deeds, actions
רַע (ra) — bad: evil.
1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
1a) evil, distress, adversity
1b) evil, injury, wrong
1c) evil (ethical)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.
: harm
1) evil, misery, distress, injury
1a) evil, misery, distress
1b) evil, injury, wrong
1c) evil (ethical)
רַע (ra) — bad: evil.
: evil
adj
1) bad, evil
1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHRd/Aamsa
ev'-'-l, e'-vil ra`; poneros, @kakos, @kakon:
In the Bible it is represented as moral and physical. We choose to discuss the subject under these heads. Many of the evils that come upon men have not been intended by those who suffer for them. Disease, individual and national calamity, drought, scarcity of food, may not always be charged to the account of intentional wrong. Many times the innocent suffer with, and even for, the guilty. In such cases, only physical evil is apparent. Even when the suffering has been occasioned by sin or dereliction of duty, whether the wrong is active or passive, many, perhaps the majority of those who are injured, are not accountable in any way for the ills which come upon them. Neither is God the author of moral evil. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man" (Jas 1:13).
→ APPEARANCE OF, TO BE AVOIDED Ro 14:1-23; 1Co 8:7-13; 10:28-33; 1Th 4:11,12; 5:22
→ INSTANCES OF
Paul, in refusing to eat what had been offered to idols 1Co 8:13
In supporting himself 1Co 9:7-23
בָּחַר (bachar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to choose or select. It encompasses actions like examining and trying, indicating both divine and human choices. The word can appear in various forms, such as being chosen or selected. It is used in contexts of making decisions, often with specific prepositions indicating the nature of the choice.
בָּחַר vb. choose
Qal
with בְּ,
divine choice
man’s choice
with אֲשֶׁר:
divine choice
man’s choice
with acc. & לְ, choose some one or something for
with acc. and מִן, choose, select from
acc.
divine choice
man’s choice
with עַל, for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction
with לְ of acc. chosen
test, try
Niph. to be chosen
Pu. chosen, selected
base
H977 בָּחַר examine, try .. examine, scrutinize, try
. prove, test, try
. to be tried, proved
. the trial has been made
977 bachar baw-khar'
a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication)
select:--acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent,
join, be rather, require.
בָּחַר (ba.char) — to choose.
1) to choose, elect, decide for
1a) (Qal) to choose
1b) (Niphal) to be chosen
1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected
Conj | V-Qal-Ptc — Conjunction · verb qal infinitive absoluteHC/Vqaa
טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.
טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good
pleasant, agreeable to the senses
pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
good, excellent, of its kind
good, rich, valuable in estimation
good, appropriate, becoming
c. מִן compar. = better
of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
good, kind, benign
good (ethical), right
base
טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare
welfare, prosperity, happiness
good things
good = benefit
moral good
base
טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good
welfare, prosperity, happiness
good things
bounty, good
base
H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses
. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well
. good, excellent, of its kind
. good, rich, valuable in estimation
. good, appropriate, becoming
. c. מִן compar. =better
. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous
. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding
. good, kind, benign
. good (ethical), right
H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good
2896 towb tobe
from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used
likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,
the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a
good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or
women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,
bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,
fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),
graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,
merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,
prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well
((-favoured)).
see HEBREW for 02895
טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.
adj
1) good, pleasant, agreeable
1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)
1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)
1c) good, excellent (of its kind)
1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation
1e) good, appropriate, becoming
1f) better (comparative)
1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)
1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)
1i) good, kind, benign
1j) good, right (ethical)
Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)
טוֹב (tov) — good.
1) a good thing, benefit, welfare
1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
1b) good things (collective)
1c) good, benefit
1d) moral good
טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.
1) welfare, benefit, good things
1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness
1b) good things (collective)
1c) bounty
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHRd/Aamsa
good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.
(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:
(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).