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Isaiah 8:15 — Word Study

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WLCוְכָ֥שְׁלוּ בָ֖ם רַבִּ֑ים וְנָפְל֣וּ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ ס

BSAManyrab [a large multitude, numerous] will stumblekâshal [trip and fall, lose their footing] they will fallnâphal [be defeated, fail] and be brokenshâbar [shattered, completely destroyed] they will be ensnaredyâqôsh [trapped, caught in a snare] and capturedlâkad [taken prisoner, seized]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 15 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 (ve.nil.Ka.du) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 8:15quick helps
In a sentenceIsaiah warns that many will stumble over the message, leading to their downfall.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, conveying God's message about the consequences of rejecting His word.
Where we areIn a prophetic warning, Isaiah describes the fate of those who oppose God's plans.
The hard wordכָּשַׁל
Take awayThe rejection of God's message leads to spiritual and physical ruin.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectרַב verbכָּשַׁל 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 8:15

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 Warning of Isaiahgenerated

14And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
15Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”
16Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.
17I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.

Isaiah 8:15 presents a stark warning about the consequences of stumbling over God's message. Isaiah depicts a scenario where many will fall and be broken, ensnared, and captured, emphasizing the seriousness of rejecting divine truth. This passage serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding God's word and the dangers of spiritual blindness, as further illustrated in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Matthew 11:6Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me. ”
2Matthew 15:14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
3Matthew 21:44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. ”
4Luke 20:17–18But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ ?
5John 6:66From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word כָּשַׁל, ve.Kha.she.lugenerated

The verb כָּשַׁל (kashal) means to stumble or totter, often due to weakness. It can refer to physical stumbling, as well as metaphorical weakness or failure. The parsing indicates it is a sequential perfect verb, meaning the action is completed and affects the present. This suggests a definitive outcome for those who stumble over God's message.

In this context, the word highlights the spiritual failure of many who encounter God's truth but do not accept it. The consequences of this stumbling are severe, leading to falling, breaking, and ultimately being ensnared.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses stumble for כָּשַׁל, and this is consistent across the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb כָּשַׁל governs the entire verse, indicating the action of many stumbling. The structure unfolds with a series of verbs that describe the consequences of this stumbling: falling, being broken, being ensnared, and being captured.

The sequential nature of the verbs suggests a progression of events that follow the initial act of stumbling, emphasizing the severe repercussions that await those who reject God's message.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates כָּשַׁל as σκανδαλίζονται, which carries the meaning of causing to stumble or being a stumbling block. This choice indicates a focus on the action of causing others to falter, highlighting the relational aspect of the warning.

This translation aligns with the overall theme of the passage, where the message itself becomes a source of offense and stumbling for many.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 8:15 warns that many people will stumble over God's message, leading to their downfall. They will fall and be broken, trapped in their rejection of the truth. This verse emphasizes the serious consequences of not heeding God's word.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to stumble over God's message?

To stumble over God's message means to reject or misinterpret it, leading to spiritual failure and consequences.

Why does Isaiah emphasize the fate of many?

Isaiah emphasizes the fate of many to highlight the widespread impact of rejecting God's truth and the seriousness of spiritual blindness.

How can one avoid stumbling over God's word?

One can avoid stumbling by seeking understanding, being open to God's truth, and applying it in their life.

What are the consequences of being ensnared by rejection of God?

The consequences include spiritual downfall, being trapped in sin, and ultimately facing judgment.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I stumbled over God's truth in my own life?
  2. How can I ensure that I am not ensnared by misunderstandings of God's message?
  3. What steps can I take to help others avoid stumbling over spiritual truths?
  4. How does this passage challenge me to reflect on my own faith and understanding?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 8:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And many among them,.... Not all, though the greater part; for Christ was set for the falling and rising of many in Israel, Lu 2:34: shall stumble, and fall, and be broken: stumble at Christ, the

Read John Gill on Isaiah 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. The words of Yahweh. Verse 12. Say ye not, A confederacy - rather.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 8 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Many among them; not all, for there shall be a remnant, as was foretold, 5:13. Shall stumble at that stone or rock, mentioned . This was accomplished at the coming of the Messias, whom the Jews rejected to their own destruction.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.Ver. 15. And many among them shall stumble and fall.] So may God’ s elect, but not so as to be broken, because they cannot fall below a supporting hand of God. Utter prolapsion cannot possibly befall them. And be broken, and snared, and taken.] The Septuagint here add of their own, And men shall be taken that are in a supposed safety, living as if they were out of the reach of God’ s rod.

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 8 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) And many among them shall stumble, and fall . . .—The accumulation of words more or less synonymous has obviously, as before, the emphasis of iteration. Possibly for the prophet and his disciples, each word had a distinct ethical significance, which we can only partially recover. Looking to the figure implied in Isaiah 8:14, they seem to describe the several stages of the capture of the animal for whom the trap has been laid. It first stumbles, then falls into the pit, and breaks its limbs, then is fastened in the trap, and is powerless to escape.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. many among them] Not all; a “Remnant shall turn” and be saved: how, is more fully shewn in the next verses. The expressions of this verse are reproduced with little variation in ch. Isaiah 28:13. They are frequently alluded to in the N.T. (Luke 2:34; Matthew 21:44 : Romans 9:33).

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 8 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And many among them - Many by the invasion under the Assyrian. Many were taken captive; many killed. and many were carried to Babylon.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 8 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

14, 15. He shall be for a sanctuary — The context and its scope require this word to mean here, refuge, place of safety — a figure for the MESSIAH himself.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 8 →

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

Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured.”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And many shall stumble thereon, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And many shall stumble thereon, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be insnared, and be taken.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And many among them shall stumble, and shall fall and shalbe broken and shalbe snared and shalbe taken.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And many among them have stumbled and fallen, And been broken, and snared, and captured.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And many among them have stumbled and fallen, || And been broken, and snared, and captured.”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And many shall stumble over them, and fall, and be broken, and snared, and be caught.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Many will stumble over it and fall and be broken, and be ensnared and captured.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And very many of them shall stumble and fall, and shall be broken in pieces, and shall be snared, and taken.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Many people will stumble over them. They will fall and be broken. They will be trapped and caught.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And numbers of them, falling on the stone, will be broken, and will be taken in the net.

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.

וְandclauseverbכָ֥שְׁלוּthey.will.stumbleprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָ֖overםthemsubjectרַבִּ֑יםmany.[people]וְandclauseclauseverbנָפְל֣וּthey.will.fallוְandclauseverbנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּthey.will.be.brokenוְandclauseclauseverbנוֹקְשׁ֖וּthey.will.be.ensnaredוְandclauseverbנִלְכָּֽדוּthey.will.be.captured

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 largely agree on the wording of this verse, with six of the seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the MT, confirming the consistency of the text across these ancient witnesses.

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

וְכָ֥שְׁלוּ בָ֖ם רַבִּ֑ים וְנָפְל֣וּ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בָ֖םαὐτοῖςרַבִּ֑יםπολλοὶוְנָפְל֣וּπεσοῦνταιוְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּσυντριβήσονταιוְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּἐγγιοῦσινוְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ סἁλώσονται

6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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

וכשלו ב׳מ רבים ונפלו ונשברו ונוקשו ונלכדו

7 words on the leather.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Isaiah 8:15כָּשַׁלand they wiand they will sכָּשַׁלהֶםover themover themהֶםרַבmany [peoplmany [people]רַבנָפַלand they wiand they will fנָפַלשָׁבַרand they wiand they will bשָׁבַריָקֹשׁand they wiand they will bיָקֹשׁלָכַדand they wiand they will bלָכַדרָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַבפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלשָׂבַרto inspectto inspectשָׂבַרעָזַרto helpto helpעָזַרנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןNebuzaradaNebuzaradanנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןטַבָּחguardguardטַבָּחגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלחָלָלslain: kilslain: killedחָלָלמַצֵּבָהpillarpillarמַצֵּבָהגָּדַעto cut dowto cut down/offגָּדַעפַּחsnaresnareפַּחצִפּוֹרbirdbirdצִפּוֹרלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַם
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 8:15

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.

and they will stumble over them many [people] and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured
וְכָ֥שְׁלוּve.Kha.she.lu and they will stumble H3782 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
62× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To stumble means to lose your balance and almost fall, often because of weakness. In the Bible, it can also mean to falter or fail spiritually. This word is used in many books, including Psalms and Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
trip and fall, lose their footing
Tyndale gloss
to stumble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּשַׁל (kashal) means to stumble or totter, often due to weakness. It can refer to physical stumbling, as well as metaphorical weakness or failure. The verb has various forms, including causing others to stumble or making them weak. The entries suggest a range of meanings from literal stumbling to broader implications of ruin and weakness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּשַׁל vb. stumble, stagger, totter

Qal

stumble at, over, something (lit. by means of)

totter

Niph.

stumble

be tottering, feeble

Pi. only apparent

Hiph.

cause to stumble

make feeble, weak

Hoph. either and let them be ones who have stumbled before thee, i.e. regard them as such, or and let them be ones overthrown before thee

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3782 כָּשַׁל stumble, stagger, totter .. stumble at, over, something (lit. by means of)

. totter

. . stumble

. be tottering, feeble

. only apparent

. . cause to stumble

. make feeble, weak

. either and let them be ones who have stumbled before thee, i.e. regard them as such, or and let them be ones overthrown before thee

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3782 kashal kaw-shal'

a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the

legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter,

stumble, faint or fall:--bereave (from the margin), cast down,

be decayed, (cause to) fail, (cause, make to) fall

(down, -ing), feeble, be (the) ruin(-ed, of), (be) overthrown,

(cause to) stumble, X utterly, be weak.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּשַׁל (ka.shal) — to stumble.

1) to stumble, stagger, totter

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to stumble

1a2) to totter

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to stumble

1b2) to be tottering, be feeble

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow

1c2) to make feeble, make weak

1d) (Hophal) to be made to stumble

1e) (Piel) bereave

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
and they will stumble over them many [people] and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured
בָ֖םvam over them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3mp
and they will stumble over them many [people] and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured
רַבִּ֑יםra.Bim many [people] H7227 Adj
454× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Amplified meaning
a large multitude, numerous
Tyndale gloss
many
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַב 429 adj. much, many, great

(oft. opp. מְעַט)

much: of substances

esp. of collectives, numerous

pl. many

רַב as subst. coll. pers.

cstr. = abounding in

מִן comp. = more numerous than

רַב = abundant, enough

as adv. much, exceedingly

less oft. great

base

רַב 49 n.m. chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances

. esp. of collectives, numerous

. pl. many

. רַב as subst. coll. pers.

. cstr. = abounding in

. + מִן comp. = more numerous than

. רַב = abundant, enough

. as adv. much, exceedingly

. less oft. great

H7227b רַב chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7227 rab rab

by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,

number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),

captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,

one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,

things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)

much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,

populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

see HEBREW for 07231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַב (rav) — many.

adj

1) much, many, great

1a) much

1b) many

1c) abounding in

1d) more numerous than

1e) abundant, enough

1f) great

1g) strong

1h) greater than

adv

1i) much, exceedingly

רַב (rav) — chief.

captain, chief

Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)

רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.

Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)

§ captain, chief

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

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

and they will stumble over them many [people] and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured
וְנָפְל֣וּve.na.fe.Lu and they will fall H5307 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
435× 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 fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Amplified meaning
be defeated, fail
Tyndale gloss
to fall: fall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie

Qal 366

fall, by accident

Esp. of violent death

fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

fig. = experience calamity

fall, of a city

Fall prostrate

fall = prostrate oneself before

fall upon one's neck, in embrace

Fall upon = attack

desert or fall away to, go over to

Fig., of deep sleep

Other idiomatic uses

= lie; = lie prostrate

Hiph.

cause to fall

Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

Esp. of casting lot

Fig., let drop, cause to fail

cause deep sleep to fall

Other idioms

Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident

. . Esp. of violent death

. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

. fig. = experience calamity

. fall, of a city

. . Fall prostrate

. fall = prostrate oneself before

. fall upon one's neck, in embrace

. . Fall upon = attack

. desert or fall away to, go over to

. Fig., of deep sleep

. Other idiomatic uses

. = lie; = lie prostrate

. . cause to fall

. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

. Esp. of casting lot

. Fig., let drop, cause to fail

. cause deep sleep to fall

. Other idioms

. throw, or prostrate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5307 naphal naw-fal'

a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be

accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide

(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall

(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have

(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay

(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,

lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make

to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.

: fall/drop/fail

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.

: deserting

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/Vqq3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fol (vb.): The idea of falling is most frequently expressed in Hebrew by naphal, but also by many other words; in Greek by pipto, and its compounds. The uses of the word in Scripture are very varied. There is the literal falling by descent; the falling of the countenance in sorrow, shame, anger, etc. (Ge 4:5,6); the falling in battle (Ge 14:10; Nu 14:3, etc.); the falling into trouble, etc. (Pr 24:16,17); prostration in supplication and reverence (Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5, etc.); falling of the Spirit of Yahweh (Eze 11:5

and they will stumble over them many [people] and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured
וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּve.nish.Ba.ru and they will be broken H7665 Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person common plural
147× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to break or shatter something, either physically or emotionally. It can also mean to burst or rupture, and is often used to describe intense violence or destruction. In the Bible, it's translated as break or crush.
Amplified meaning
shattered, completely destroyed
Tyndale gloss
to break
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁבַר (shabar) means to break or shatter, with various nuances including breaking in pieces, causing to break out (like bringing to birth), and being broken or crushed. It appears in different forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating active and passive meanings. The lexicons do not present any significant disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁבַר 148 vb. break, break in pieces

Qal 53 break, lit.

Niph. 57 be broken

Pi. 26 shatter, break

Hiph. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth

Hoph. be broken, shattered (in heart)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7665 שָׁבַר break, break in pieces .break, lit.

. be broken

. shatter, break

. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth

. be broken, shattered (in heart)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7665 shabar shaw-bar'

a primitive root; to burst (literally or

figuratively):--break (down, off, in pieces, up),

broken((-hearted)), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt,

quench, X quite, tear, view (by mistake for 7663).

see HEBREW for 07663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁבַר (sha.var) — to break.

1) to break, break in pieces

1a) (Qal)

1a1) break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench

1a2) to break, rupture (fig)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked

1b2) to be broken, be crushed (fig)

1c) (Piel) to shatter, break

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to break out, bring to the birth

1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be shattered

Aramaic equivalent: te.var (תְּבַר "to break" H8406)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-3cp — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/VNq3cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bro'-k'-n: Occurs both as past participle of the verb translated "to break" and as an adjective, the former use will be dealt with here only so far as verbs occur which are thus translated but do not present the non-participial forms. Such are: meroach = "bruised," "emasculated" (Le 21:20); chathath = "to frustrate," hence, "to break down" either by violence or by confusion and fear (1Sa 2:10; Jer 48:20,39); dakhah = "to collapse" (Ps 44:19; 51:8); ratsats = "to crack in pieces" "crush" (Ec 12:6); kathath = "to bruise or violently strike," "break in pieces" (Isa…

and they will stumble over them many [people] and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured
וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּve.nok.Shu and they will be ensnared H3369 Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person common plural
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to trap or snare someone, either literally or figuratively, and is used to describe the actions of fowlers or the devices of the wicked.
Amplified meaning
trapped, caught in a snare
Tyndale gloss
to snare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָקֹשׁ (yaqosh) is a Hebrew verb meaning to ensnare or lay a trap. It encompasses actions like luring, enticing, and setting snares, with various forms indicating both the act of ensnaring and being ensnared. The word appears in contexts related to trapping, often metaphorically describing wicked devices.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָקֹשׁ] vb. lay a bait or lure, then gen. lay snares

Qal lay snares; Pt. as subst. bait-layers, fowlers

Niph. be caught by bait, ensnared

Pu. entrapped

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3369 [יָקֹשׁ] lay a bait or lure, then gen. lay snares

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3369 yaqosh yaw-koshe'

a primitive root; to ensnare (literally or

figuratively):--fowler (lay a) snare.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָקֹשׁ (ya.qosh) — to snare.

1) to lure, entice, snare, lay a snare or lure, set a trap

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lay snares (fig. of devices of wicked)

1a2) fowlers (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be ensnared, be caught by a bait

1c) (Pual) to be entrapped

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-3cp — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/VNq3cp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they will stumble over them many [people] and they will fall and they will be broken and they will be ensnared and they will be captured
וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ סve.nil.Ka.du and they will be captured H3920 Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person common plural
121× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to capture or seize, often using a net or trap. In the Bible, it is used to describe taking control of something or someone, and is also used figuratively to describe being caught or stuck in a situation.
Amplified meaning
taken prisoner, seized
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָכַד (lakad) means to capture, seize, or take, often by lot. It can refer to catching in a net or trap, as well as figuratively to describe things sticking together. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to capture), Niphal (to be captured), and Hithpael (to grasp each other).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָכַד 121 vb. capture, seize, take (by lot)

Qal

capture, seize

fig. of entrapping men

of taking by lot

Niph.

be captured in war

of men, be caught

be taken by lot

Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3920 lakad law-kad'

a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit);

generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot);

figuratively, to cohere:--X at all, catch (self), be frozen,

be holden, stick together, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.

1) to capture, take, seize

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to capture, seize

1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.)

1a3) to take (by lot)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-3cp — Verb · Niphal · sequential perfect third person common plural
Hc/VNq3cp
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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