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Judges 14:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אָחֽוּדָה־ נָּ֥א לָכֶ֖ם חִידָ֑ה אִם־ הַגֵּ֣ד תַּגִּידוּ֩ אוֹתָ֨הּ לִ֜י שִׁבְעַ֨ת יְמֵ֤י הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ וּמְצָאתֶ֔ם וְנָתַתִּ֤י לָכֶם֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים סְדִינִ֔ים וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים חֲלִפֹ֥ת בְּגָדִֽים׃

BSALet me tellchûwd a riddlechîydâh [propose a puzzle, put forth a challenge] SamsonShimshôwn [the Danite judge, a Nazarite for life] saidʼâmar Ifʼim you can solvenâgad [declare, find out] itʼêth [within the] sevenshebaʻ daysyôwm of the feastmishteh [banquet, celebration] I will givenâthan thirtyshᵉlôwshîym [a multitude, numerous] linen garmentsçâdîyn [fine linen, shirts] and thirtyshᵉlôwshîym setschălîyphâh of clothesbeged [changes of raiment, garments]

Word
Listen & take awayJudges 14
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (be.ga.Dim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Judges 14:12quick helps
In a sentenceSamson proposes a riddle to his companions during a feast, offering a reward for its solution.
Who is speakingSamson, a Danite judge and Nazarite.
Where we areIn the context of a wedding feast, where riddles and challenges are common.
The hard wordחִידָה
Take awaySamson's challenge sets the stage for a test of wit among the guests.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectשִׁמְשׁוֹן verbאָמַר 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 — Judges 14:12

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 — Samson's Riddle at the Feastgenerated

11And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.
12“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
13But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”
14So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.

Judges 14:12 captures a moment during a feast where Samson engages his companions with a riddle. This riddle serves as both a challenge and a means to showcase his wit. The context highlights the cultural practice of riddles during celebrations, reflecting the competitive spirit of the event.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 10:1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
2Psalm 49:4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
3Proverbs 1:6by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
4Ezekiel 17:2“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel
5Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

The Key Word חִידָה, chi.Dahgenerated

The Hebrew word חִידָה (chiydah) means 'riddle' or 'perplexing question.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to puzzle' and is often used to test someone's wisdom or understanding. In this verse, it signifies a challenge posed by Samson, inviting his companions to solve a mystery.

Riddles in the Bible often serve to provoke thought and engage listeners, as seen in the stories of Solomon and others. Here, Samson's riddle is not just a game; it reflects the deeper themes of strength and intellect in his narrative.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יֹּ֤אמֶר (vai.Yo.mer), and he said, governs the entire verse, indicating Samson's speech. Three clauses follow: the first presents the riddle, the second sets the condition for solving it, and the third outlines the reward.

The structure emphasizes the sequential nature of the challenge, starting with the proposal of the riddle and leading to the conditions and rewards, reflecting the conversational flow typical in Hebrew narrative.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates חִידָה as προβάλλομαι, suggesting a focus on the act of presenting a riddle. This choice indicates a slight shift from merely stating a riddle to actively proposing it, aligning with the interactive nature of the feast.

This translation captures the essence of challenge and engagement, reflecting the cultural context of riddles as a form of entertainment and intellectual exercise during celebrations.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Judges 14:12 shows Samson challenging his companions with a riddle during a feast. He offers a reward of thirty linen garments if they can solve it within seven days. This moment highlights the cultural practice of riddles in celebrations.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Samson's riddle signify?

Samson's riddle serves as a challenge that engages his companions and reflects the competitive spirit of the feast.

Why did Samson offer a reward?

The reward of thirty linen garments incentivizes his companions to solve the riddle, adding an element of stakes to the challenge.

How do riddles function in biblical narratives?

Riddles often test wisdom and understanding, serving as a means of engaging listeners and provoking thought.

What is the significance of the number thirty?

The number thirty can symbolize a multitude or completeness in biblical contexts, enhancing the weight of Samson's challenge.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some riddles or challenges I have faced that tested my understanding?
  2. How can I engage others in meaningful conversations like Samson did with his companions?
  3. What does it mean to propose a challenge in my own life?
  4. In what ways can I use creativity to express ideas, similar to how riddles convey deeper meanings?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Judges 14:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Samson said unto them,.... His thirty companions, very likely on the first day of the feast: I will now put forth a riddle to you: a secret, hidden, abstruse thing, not easy to be understood; a

Read John Gill on Judges 14 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty

Read Robert Jamieson on Judges 14 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

A riddle, i.e. an obscure sentence for you to resolve and explain. The seven days of the feast; for so long marriage-feasts lasted. See . Thirty sheets; fine linen clothes, which were used for many purposes in those parts. See . Thirty change of garments, i.e. changeable suits of apparel, as below, .

Read Matthew Poole on Judges 14 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Judges 14:12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:Ver. 12. I will now put forth a riddle unto you.] He prudently took no notice of the guard set upon him; but set them an exercise of wit, as at feasts was usual. Plato and Xenophon thought it fit and profitable that men’ s speeches at meals should be written. But if Christians should do so, what manner of books would they be? Luther’ s "Convivula" or table talk is printed to very good purpose: but there are not many Luthers. Then I will give you thirty sheets.]…

Read John Trapp on Judges 14 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) I will now put forth a riddle unto you.—Chidah, “a riddle,” comes from chud, “to knot.” The use of riddles at feasts is of great antiquity both among the Jews (1 Kings 10:1, &c.) and Greeks (Athen. x. 457; Pollux, vi. 107, &c.). Jewish legends have much to tell us of the riddles which passed between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and between Solomon and Hiram (Dius ap. Jos., Antt. viii. 5, § 3); and as large sums often depended on the discovery of the answer, they were very much of the nature of wagers. A sharp boy named Abdemon helped Hiram, just as the Greek sage Bias is said to have helped Amasis to solve the riddles of the Ethiopian king, which would otherwise have caused heavy…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Judges 14 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. I will now put forth a riddle] Probably this was one part of the amusements at a marriage-feast; each in his turn proposing a riddle, to be solved by any of the rest on a particular forfeit; the proposer forfeiting, if solved, the same which the company must forfeit if they could not solve it. Thirty sheets] I have no doubt that the Arab hayk, or hake, is here meant; a dress in which the natives of the East wrap themselves, as a Scottish Highlander does in his plaid. In Asiatic countries the dress scarcely ever changes; being nearly the same now that it was 2000 years ago. Mr. Jackson, in his account of the Empire of Morocco, thus mentions the Moorish dress: "It resembles," says…

Read AdamClarke on Judges 14 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. a riddle] This is the only specimen in the O.T. of a riddle in our sense (1 Kings 10:1); elsewhere the word means a sententious maxim Proverbs 1:6, or a parable Ezekiel 17:2. the seven days] Cf. Genesis 29:22; Genesis 29:27, Tob 8:19 f., Judges 11:19. Similarly among the early Arabs (Benzinger, Hebr. Arch.2, p. 109 n.). linen garments] The garment referred to (Hebr. sβdξn, Isaiah 3:23, Proverbs 31:24, perhaps of foreign origin, cf. Assyr. sudinnu) was of fine material, and seems to have been worn sometimes outside the other clothes, sometimes next the skin. The Talmud implies that it was a linen sheet or wrapper of considerable size, and put to various uses. The LXX render by sindτn…

Read Cambridge on Judges 14 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the marginal references. Riddles formed one of the amusements of these protracted feasts. Sheets - Rather “linen shirts;” the “garments” which follow are the outward garments worn by the Orientals.

Read Albert Barnes on Judges 14 →

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

“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing;

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Samson said to them, “I will give you a riddle. If you really can solve it during the seven days the party lasts, I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Samson said unto them, Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it unto me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment;

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Samson said unto them, Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Samson said to them, I will now propose a riddle to you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then Samson sayd vnto them, I will nowe put forth a riddle vnto you: and if you can declare it me within seuen dayes of the feast, and finde it out, I will giue you thirty sheetes, and thirtie change of garments.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Samson said to them, Let me now propound a riddle to you; if ye clearly explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty shirts, and thirty changes of garments.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Samson saith to them, 'Let me, I pray you, put forth to you a riddle; if ye certainly declare it to me [in] the seven days of the banquet, and have found [it] out, then I have given to you thirty linen shirts, and thirty changes of garments;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Samson says to them, “Now let me put forth a riddle to you; if you certainly declare it to me [in] the seven days of the banquet, and have found [it] out, then I have given thirty linen shirts and thirty changes of garments to you;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Samson said unto them, I will now propound unto you a riddle; if ye can in anywise tell it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then will I give you thirty shirts and thirty changes of garments;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Samson said to them, “Let me now tell you a riddle. If one of you can find it out and tell me the answer during the seven days of the feast, I will give out thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Samson said to them: I will propose to you a riddle, which if you declare unto me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty shirts, and as many coats:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

“Let me pose a riddle to you,” Samson said to them. “If you can find its meaning and explain it to me during the seven days of the party, I'll give you thirty linen cloaks and thirty sets of clothes.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And Samson said, Now I have a hard question for you: if you are able to give me the answer before the seven days of the feast are over, I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty changes of clothing;

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.

וַandclauseverbיֹּ֤אמֶרhe.saidprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoהֶם֙themsubjectשִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןSamsonclauseverbאָחֽוּדָהlet.me.ask.a.riddleadverbialנָּ֥אpleaseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoכֶ֖םyouobjectחִידָ֑הa.riddleclauseclauseאִםifclauseclauseadverbialהַגֵּ֣דactually.(tell)verbתַּגִּידוּ֩you.will.tellnoun phrase · objectאוֹתָ֨הּitprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֜toיmenoun phrase · adverbialשִׁבְעַ֨תthe.sevennoun phraseיְמֵ֤יthe.daysnoun phraseהַofמִּשְׁתֶּה֙the.feastוּandclauseverbמְצָאתֶ֔םyou.will.find.[it].outוְandclauseverbנָתַתִּ֤יI.will.giveprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoכֶם֙younoun phrase · objectnoun phraseשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםthirtyסְדִינִ֔יםlinen.garmentsוּandnoun phraseשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםthirtynoun phraseחֲלִפֹ֥תchangesבְּגָדִֽיםof.garments

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 in their wording, with only minor differences in structure. The Septuagint retains the core elements of the riddle and the context of the feast, showcasing the consistency in the narrative across traditions.

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

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אָחֽוּדָה־ נָּ֥א לָכֶ֖ם חִידָ֑ה אִם־ הַגֵּ֣ד תַּגִּידוּ֩ אוֹתָ֨הּ לִ֜י שִׁבְעַ֨ת יְמֵ֤י הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ וּמְצָאתֶ֔ם וְנָתַתִּ֤י לָכֶם֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים סְדִינִ֔ים וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים חֲלִפֹ֥ת בְּגָדִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרεἶπενלָהֶם֙αὐτοῖςשִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןσαμψωνאָחֽוּדָה־πρόβλημαלָכֶ֖םὑμῖνחִידָ֑הπροβάλλομαιאִם־ἐὰνהַגֵּ֣דἀπαγγέλλοντεςתַּגִּידוּ֩ἀπαγγείλητεאוֹתָ֨הּαὐτὸשִׁבְעַ֨תἑπτὰיְמֵ֤יἡμέραιςהַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙πότουוּמְצָאתֶ֔םεὕρητεוְנָתַתִּ֤יδώσωלָכֶם֙ὑμῖνשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםτριάκονταסְדִינִ֔יםσινδόναςוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםτριάκονταחֲלִפֹ֥תστολὰςבְּגָדִֽים׃ἱματίων

21 of the 23 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.

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.

Judges 14:12אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַרהֶםto themto themהֶםשִׁמְשׁוֹןSamsonSamsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןחוּדlet me ask let me ask a riחוּדנָאpleasepleaseנָאכֶםto youto youכֶםחִידָהa riddlea riddleחִידָהאִםאִםנָגַדcertainly [certainly [if]נָגַדנָגַדyou will teyou will tellנָגַדאֵתthe object the object markאֵתנִיto meto meנִישֶׁ֫בַע[the] seven[the] sevenשֶׁ֫בַעיוֹם[the] days [the] days ofיוֹםמִשְׁתֶּהthe feastthe feastמִשְׁתֶּהמָצָאand you wiland you will fiמָצָאנָתַןand I will and I will giveנָתַןכֶםto youto youכֶםשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtythirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםסָדִיןlinen garmelinen garmentsסָדִיןשְׁלֹשִׁיםand thirtyand thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםחֲלִיפָהchanges ofchanges ofחֲלִיפָהבֶּ֫גֶדgarmentsgarmentsבֶּ֫גֶדחוּדto riddleto riddleחוּדשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתשָׁבַעto swearto swearשָׁבַעשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהשָׁלֹשׁthreethreeשָׁלֹשׁשָׁלִthirdthirdשָׁלִחָלַףto passto passחָלַףבָּגַדto act treto act treacherבָּגַדחֵןfavorfavorחֵןקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאמֵאָהhundredhundredמֵאָהשָׁנָהyearyearשָׁנָהשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtythirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/GodיהוהדְּלִילָהDelilahDelilahדְּלִילָהיָקַץto awaketo awakeיָקַץ
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 Judges 14:12

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 he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
לָהֶם֙la.Hem to 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
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹןshim.Shon Samson H8123 Noun proper masculine
38× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Samson, meaning like the sun, was a Danite and a judge of Israel for 20 years. He was a Nazarite for life, and his story is first mentioned in Judges 13:24, where he is described as the son of Manoah.
Amplified meaning
the Danite judge, a Nazarite for life
Tyndale gloss
Samson
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshown) refers to Samson, a significant figure in the Old Testament known as a judge of Israel. The name is derived from the Hebrew word for sunlight, suggesting a meaning of 'like the sun.' Samson, a Danite and Nazarite, is first mentioned in Judges 13:24 and is noted for his strength and tumultuous life.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁמְשׁוֹן 38 n.pr.m. Samson

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8123 שִׁמְשׁוֹן

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8123 Shimshown shim-shone'

from 8121; sunlight; Shimshon, an Israelite:--Samson.

see HEBREW for 08121

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁמְשׁוֹן (shim.shon) — Samson.

A Judge living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.13.24;

son of: Manoah (H4495); married to Delilah (H1807)

Also named: Sampsōn (Σαμψών "Samson" G4546)

§ Samson = "like the sun"

a Danite, son of Manoah, a Nazarite for life, and a judge of Israel for 20 years

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sam'-sun (shimshon.

1. Name:

Derived probably from shemesh, "sun" with the diminutive ending -on, meaning "little sun" or "sunny," or perhaps "sun-man"; Sampson; Latin and English, Samson): His home was near Bethshemesh, which means "house of the sun." Compare the similar formation shimshay (Ezr 4:8,9,17,23).

2. Character:

Samson was a judge, perhaps the last before Samuel. He was a Nazirite of the tribe of Da (Jud 13:5); a man of prodigious strength, a giant and a gymnast--the Hebrew Hercules, a strange champion for Yahweh! He intensely hated the Philistines who had oppressed Israel some 40 years (Jud 13:1), and was willing to fight them alone. He seems to have been actuated by little less than personal vengeance, yet in the New…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Samson

Of the sun, the son of Manoah, born at Zorah. The narrative of his life is given in Judg. 13-16. He was a “Nazarite unto God” from his birth, the first Nazarite mentioned in Scripture (Judg. 13:3-5; comp. Num. 6:1-21). The first recorded event of his life was his marriage with a Philistine woman of Timnath (Judg. 14:1-5). Such a marriage was not forbidden by the law of Moses, as the Philistines did not form one of the seven doomed Canaanite nations (Ex. 34:11-16; Deut. 7:1-4). It was, however, an ill-assorted and unblessed marriage. His wife was soon taken from him and given “to his companion” (

(like the sun), son of Manoah, a man of the town of Zorah in the tribe of Dan, on the border of Judah. (Joshua 15:33; 19:41) (B.C. 1161). The miraculous circumstances of his birth are recorded in Judges 13; and the three following chapters are devoted to the history of his life and exploits. Samson takes his place in Scripture, (1) as a judge --an office which he filled for twenty years, (Judges 15:20; 16:31) (2) as a Nazarite, (Judges 13:5; 16:17) and (3) as one endowed with supernatural power by the Spirit of the Lord. (Judges 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14) As a judge his authority seems to have been limited to the district bordering upon the country of the Philistines. The…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son of Manoah, of the tribe of Dan, a deliverer and judge of the southern tribes of the Hebrews for twenty years, Jud 13:1; 16:31. His birth was miraculously foretold; he was a Nazarite from infancy and the strongest of men; and was equally celebrated for his fearless and wonderful exploits, for his moral infirmities, and for his tragical end. His exploits were not wrought without special divine aid; "the Spirit of God came mightily upon him," Jud 13:25 14:6,19 15:14 16:20,28. The providence of God was signally displayed in overruling for good the hasty passions of Samson, the cowardice of his friends, and the malice of his enemies. The sins of Samson brought him in great disgrace and misery; but grace and faith triumphed in the end,

and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
אָחֽוּדָה־'a.chu.dah- let me ask a riddle H2330 Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common singular
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to propose a riddle or puzzle. It involves tying a knot or creating a problem to solve. The KJV translates it as 'put forth'.
Tyndale gloss
to riddle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חוּד (chuwd) is a verb meaning to propose or propound a riddle. It is derived from the idea of tying a knot, used figuratively in the context of riddles. The lexicons consistently emphasize its connection to the act of presenting a riddle.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חוּד] vb. denom. propound a riddle

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2330 חוּד vb. denom. propound a riddle

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2330 chuwd khood

a primitive root; properly, to tie a knot, i.e.

(figuratively) to propound a riddle:--put forth.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חוּד (chud) — to riddle.

(Qal) to propose a riddle, propound a riddle

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common singular
HVqc1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rid'-'-l (chidhah; ainigma).

See GAMES.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Riddle

(Heb. hodah). The oldest and, strictly speaking, the only example of a riddle was that propounded by Samson (Judg. 14:12-18). The parabolic prophecy in Ezek. 17:2-18 is there called a “riddle.” It was rather, however, an allegory. The word “darkly” in 1 Cor. 13:12 is the rendering of the Greek enigma; marg., “in a riddle.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

It is known that all ancient nations, and especially Orientals, were fond of riddles. The riddles which the queen of Sheba came to ask of Solomon, (1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1) were rather "hard questions" referring to profound inquiries. Solomon is said, however, to have been very fond of riddles. Riddles were generally proposed in verse, like the celebrated riddle of Samson. (Judges 14:14-19)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used as a test of wit: at Samson' s feast Jud 14:12-18

→ By Agur Pr 30:15,16,18-31

→ See PARABLE

→ See PROVERBS

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
נָּ֥אna' please H4994 Particle
404× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Tyndale gloss
please
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָא (na') is a Hebrew particle used primarily for entreaty or exhortation, meaning 'I pray,' 'now,' or 'please.' It often appears attached to verbs in the imperative or future forms, and can also modify interjections, adverbs, or conjunctions. The entries consistently emphasize its role in expressing a plea or request.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָא part. of entreaty or exhortation, I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4994 נָא I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4994 na' naw

a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may

usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly

to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections,

occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray)

thee (you), go to, now, oh.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָא (na) — please.

1) I (we) pray, now, please

1a) used in entreaty or exhortation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
לָכֶ֖םla.Khem to you H9036 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶם (khem) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2mp
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
חִידָ֑הchi.Dah a riddle H2420 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A riddle or puzzle is what this Hebrew word represents, often used to describe difficult questions or perplexing sayings. It appears in the Bible as a way to convey complex ideas or challenge people's thinking, such as in the story of Samson and Delilah.
Amplified meaning
propose a puzzle, put forth a challenge
Tyndale gloss
riddle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חִידָה (chiydah) means 'riddle' or 'perplexing question.' It can refer to enigmatic sayings, dark utterances, or difficult questions, often used in a context of testing someone's wisdom, as seen in the story of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to puzzle' and can also imply trickery or double-dealing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חִידָה n.f. riddle, enigmatic, perplexing saying or question

riddle = dark, obscure utterance

riddle, enigma, to be guessed

perplexing questions by which queen of Sheba put Sol. to the test

skilled in double-dealing

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2420 חִידָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2420 chiydah khee-daw'

from 2330; a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious

maxim:--dark saying (sentence, speech), hard question,

proverb, riddle.

see HEBREW for 02330

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חִידָה (chi.dah) — riddle.

1) riddle, difficult question, parable, enigmatic saying or question, perplexing saying or question

1a) riddle (dark obscure utterance)

1b) riddle, enigma (to be guessed)

1c) perplexing questions (difficult)

1d) double dealing (with 'havin')

Aramaic equivalent: a.chi.dah (אֲחִידָה "riddle" H0280)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rid'-'-l (chidhah; ainigma).

See GAMES.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Riddle

(Heb. hodah). The oldest and, strictly speaking, the only example of a riddle was that propounded by Samson (Judg. 14:12-18). The parabolic prophecy in Ezek. 17:2-18 is there called a “riddle.” It was rather, however, an allegory. The word “darkly” in 1 Cor. 13:12 is the rendering of the Greek enigma; marg., “in a riddle.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

It is known that all ancient nations, and especially Orientals, were fond of riddles. The riddles which the queen of Sheba came to ask of Solomon, (1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1) were rather "hard questions" referring to profound inquiries. Solomon is said, however, to have been very fond of riddles. Riddles were generally proposed in verse, like the celebrated riddle of Samson. (Judges 14:14-19)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used as a test of wit: at Samson' s feast Jud 14:12-18

→ By Agur Pr 30:15,16,18-31

→ See PARABLE

→ See PROVERBS

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
אִם־'im- H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
הַגֵּ֣דha.Ged certainly [if] H5046 Verb · Hiphil · infinitive absolute
371× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Amplified meaning
declare, find out
Tyndale gloss
to tell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous

Hiph. declare, tell

Hoph. be told, announced, reported

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell

. be told, announced, reported

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5046 nagad naw-gad'

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out

opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;

figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one

present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,

praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),

denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,

rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.

1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known

1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare

1a1) to tell, announce, report

1a2) to declare, make known, expound

1a3) to inform of

1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim

1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess

1a5a) messenger (participle)

1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Ptc — Verb · Hiphil · infinitive absolute
HVhaa
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
תַּגִּידוּ֩ta.gi.Du you will tell H5046 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine plural
371× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Tyndale gloss
to tell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous

Hiph. declare, tell

Hoph. be told, announced, reported

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell

. be told, announced, reported

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5046 nagad naw-gad'

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out

opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;

figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one

present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,

praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),

denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,

rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.

1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known

1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare

1a1) to tell, announce, report

1a2) to declare, make known, expound

1a3) to inform of

1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim

1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess

1a5a) messenger (participle)

1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVhi2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine plural
HVhi2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TALE.

and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
אוֹתָ֨הּ'o.Tah the object marker it H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM | Suff — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
לִ֜יli to me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
שִׁבְעַ֨תshiv.'At [the] seven H7651 Noun common · both singular construct
395× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means the number seven, which was considered a special or sacred number. It can also mean seven times or a week, and is used in the Bible to describe completeness or perfection. The KJV translates it as seven or sevenfold.
Tyndale gloss
seven
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫בַע (sheba`) means 'seven' and is a cardinal number. It can also imply 'seven times' or refer to a week. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations like 17 or 700. Its Aramaic equivalent is שִׁבְעָה (shiv.ah), also meaning 'seven'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה 394 n.m. et f. seven

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7651 שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה seven

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7651 sheba` sheh'-bah

or (masculine) shibrah {shib-aw'}; from 7650; a primitive

cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also

(adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by

extension, an indefinite number:--(+ by) seven(-fold),-s,

(-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare 7658.

see HEBREW for 07650

see HEBREW for 07658

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫בַע (she.va) — seven.

1) seven (cardinal number)

1a) as ordinal number

1b) in combination-17, 700 etc

Aramaic equivalent: shiv.ah (שִׁבְעָה "seven" H7655)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · both singular construct
HNcbsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sev'-'-n (shebha`; hepta).

See NUMBER.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Seven

This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see Lev. 25:4;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not simply in that of seen. The Sabbath being the seventh day suggested the adoption of seven as the coefficient, so to say, for their appointment of all sacred periods; and we thus find the 7th month ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets, and signalized by the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Great Day of Atonement; 7…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

As from the beginning this was the number of days in the week, so it often has in Scripture a sort of emphasis attached to it, and is very generally used as a round or perfect number. Clean beasts were taken into the ark by sevens, Ge 7:1-24. The years of plenty and famine in Egypt were marked by sevens, Ge 41:1-57. With the Jews, not only was there a seventh day Sabbath, but every seventh year was a Sabbath, and after every seven times seven years came a jubilee. Their great feasts of unleavened bread and of tabernacles were observed for seven days; the number of animals in many of their sacrifices was limited to seven. The golden candlestick had seven branches. Seven priests with seven trumpets went around the walls of Jericho seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. In…

and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
יְמֵ֤יye.Mei [the] days of H3117 Noun common · masculine plural construct
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
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ha.mish.Teh the feast H4960 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
46× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A mishteh is a feast or banquet, often involving drinking and celebration, like the ones described in Esther and other biblical stories.
Amplified meaning
banquet, celebration
Tyndale gloss
feast
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh) refers to a feast or banquet, as well as the act of drinking. It is derived from a root meaning to drink and encompasses both the act of drinking and the social gatherings associated with it. The term is noted in various contexts, including celebrations and meals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁתֶּה 45 n.m. 1. feast. 2. drink

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4960 מִשְׁתֶּה 1. feast. 2. drink

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4960 mishteh mish-teh'

from 8354; drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also

(by implication) a banquet or (generally) feast:--banquet,

drank, drink, feast((-ed), -ing).

see HEBREW for 08354

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁתֶּה (mish.teh) — feast.

1) feast, drink, banquet

1a) feast, banquet

1b) drink

Aramaic equivalent: mish.teh (מִשְׁתֶּה "feast" H4961)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Feast

As a mark of hospitality (Gen. 19:3; 2 Sam. 3:20; 2 Kings 6:23); on occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Gen. 21:8); on birthdays (Gen. 40:20; Job 1:4; Matt. 14:6); and on the occasion of a marriage (Judg. 14:10; Gen. 29:22).

and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
וּמְצָאתֶ֔םu.me.tza.Tem and you will find [it] out H4672 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine plural
455× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Tyndale gloss
to find
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָצָא (matsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to find or attain. It encompasses a range of actions, including discovering something lost, encountering someone, or coming upon a situation. The word can also imply being present or sufficient. Lexicons note various forms and uses, including Qal, Niphal, and Hiphil, which indicate different nuances of finding and encountering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָצָא 452 vb. attain to, find

Qal

find

find out

= come upon, light upon

noteworthy phrases

Niph. pass. of Qal, be found

Hiph.

cause to find, attain

cause to light upon, come upon, come

cause to encounter

present unto

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4672 מָצָא attain to, find

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4672 matsa' maw-tsaw'

a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or

exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire;

figuratively, to occur, meet or be present:--+ be able,

befall, being, catch, X certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to

hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion,

out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left,

light (up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present,

ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָצָא (ma.tsa) — to find.

1) to find, attain to

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to find

1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought)

1a1b) to find (what is lost)

1a1c) to meet, encounter

1a1d) to find (a condition)

1a1e) to learn, devise

1a2) to find out

1a2a) to find out

1a2b) to detect

1a2c) to guess

1a3) to come upon, light upon

1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with

1a3b) to hit

1a3c) to befall

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be found

1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered

1b1b) to appear, be recognised

1b1c) to be discovered, be detected

1b1d) to be gained, be secured

1b2) to be, be found

1b2a) to be found in

1b2b) to be in the possession of

1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be

1b2d) to be left (after war)

1b2e) to be present

1b2f) to prove to be

1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to find, attain

1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come

1c3) to cause to encounter

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Hc/Vqq2mp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect second person masculine plural
Hc/Vqq2mp
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
וְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.Ti and I will give H5414 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
2,011× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Tyndale gloss
to give: give
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set

Qal 1917

give

Put, set

Make, constitute

Niph.

82be given

Be put, set

Hoph.

be given, bestowed

= be given to one for wife

be put upon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give

. Put, set

. Make, constitute

. . be given

. Be put, set

. . . be given, bestowed

. = be given to one for wife

. be put upon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5414 nathan naw-than'

a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of

application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,

assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,

hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +

cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X

without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),

grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),

(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,

occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X

pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send

(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,

strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,

turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)

God, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.

: give/deliver/send/produce

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend

1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate

1a3) to make, constitute

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned

1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up

1c2) to be put upon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.

: put/set/apppoint

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqq1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
לָכֶם֙la.Khem to you H9036 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֶם (khem) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2mp
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
שְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.Shim thirty H7970 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
173× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Thirty is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also be used as an ordinal to describe something as thirtieth. It is used to count quantities in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a multitude, numerous
Tyndale gloss
thirty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty

bef. n. sg.

as ordin.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.

. as ordin.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'

or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or

(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.

see HEBREW for 07969

see HEBREW for 07991

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.

thirty, thirtieth

Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
סְדִינִ֔יםse.di.Nim linen garments H5466 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a type of linen garment, often worn as a shirt or outer layer. In the Bible, fine linen is mentioned in the book of Exodus as a material used in priestly garments. It symbolizes purity and elegance.
Amplified meaning
fine linen, shirts
Tyndale gloss
linen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סָדִין (sadiyn) refers to a linen wrapper, possibly a foreign term. It is described as a rectangular piece of fine linen, used as an outer garment or for sleeping. The word is derived from a root meaning to envelop, indicating its function as a covering.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָדִין n.[m.] linen wrapper (perh. foreign word)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5466 סָדִין linen wrapper (perh. foreign word)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5466 cadiyn saw-deen'

from an unused root meaning to envelop; a wrapper, i.e.

shirt:--fine linen, sheet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָדִין (sa.din) — linen.

1) linen wrapper

1a) rectangular piece of fine linen worn as outer, or at night, as a sole garment

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The chief garments of the Hebrews were the tunic or inner garment, and the mantle or outer garment. These seem to have constituted a "change of Rainment," Jud 14:13 19:1-30 Ac 9:39. The tunic was of linen, and was worn next to the skin, fitting close to the body; it had armholes, and sometimes wide and open sleeves, and reached below the knees; that worn by females reached to the ankles. The tunic was sometimes woven without seam, like that of Jesus, Joh 19:23. The upper garment or mantle was a piece of cloth nearly square, and two or three yards in length and breadth, which was wrapped round the body, or tied over the shoulders. A man without this robe on was sometimes said to be "naked,"

- Origin of

Ge 3:7,21

- CALLED

. Raiment

Ge 28:20; De 8:4

. Clothes

Pr 6:27; Eze 16:39

. Clothing

Job 22:6; 31:19

. Vesture

Ge 41:42; Re 19:16

- MATERIALS USED FOR

. Wool

Pr 27:26; Eze 34:3

. Silk

Pr 31:22

. Linen

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםu.she.lo.Shim and thirty H7970 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
173× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Thirty is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also be used as an ordinal to describe something as thirtieth. It is used to count quantities in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
thirty
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty

bef. n. sg.

as ordin.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.

. as ordin.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'

or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or

(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.

see HEBREW for 07969

see HEBREW for 07991

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.

thirty, thirtieth

Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural absolute
HC/Ncmpa
and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
חֲלִפֹ֥תcha.li.Fot changes of H2487 Noun common · feminine plural construct
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a change or replacement, like switching clothes or taking turns, and is used in the Bible to describe things like changing courses in life.
Tyndale gloss
change
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֲלִיפָה (chaliyphah) refers to a change or replacement, often associated with garments or life circumstances. It encompasses various meanings, including a change of raiment, relays, and even a figurative sense of relief from death. The term suggests the idea of alternation or substitution, reflecting a broader concept of change in life.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חֲלִיפָה] n.f. a change (from the idea of replacing, changing, substituting)

change of raiment

relays

revival after death, under fig. of relief from milit. service

changing, varying, of course of life

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2487 [חֲלִיפָה] a change (from the idea of replacing, changing, substituting)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2487 chaliyphah khal-ee-faw'

from 2498; alternation:--change, course.

see HEBREW for 02498

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲלִיפָה (cha.li.phah) — change.

1) a change, change (of garments), replacement

1a) change (of raiment)

1b) relays

1c) relief (from death)

1d) changing, varying (course of life)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural construct
HNcfpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

and he said to them Samson let me ask a riddle please to you a riddle certainly [if] you will tell the object marker it to me [the] seven [the] days of the feast and you will find [it] out and I will give to you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of garments
בְּגָדִֽים׃be.ga.Dim garments H899 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
217× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to clothing or a covering, like a garment or robe. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus, describing what people wore. The word is often translated as 'apparel' or 'raiment'.
Amplified meaning
changes of raiment, garments
Tyndale gloss
treachery
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֶּ֫גֶד (beged) has meanings related to both clothing and treachery. It can refer to a garment or covering, as well as deceit or betrayal. The word is built from a root that suggests a duality in its usage, appearing in contexts that range from apparel to treacherous actions, notably in Isaiah 24:16 and Jeremiah 12:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֶּ֫גֶד n.[m.] treachery Is 24:16 Je 12:1.

done

בֶּ֫גֶד n.m. garment, covering

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H899a בֶּ֫גֶד treachery H899b בֶּ֫גֶד garment, covering

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

899 beged behg'-ed

from 898; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or

pillage:--apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag,

raiment, robe, X very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.

see HEBREW for 0898

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּ֫גֶד (be.ged) — treachery.

treachery, deceit

בֶּ֫גֶד (be.ged) — garment.

(CLBL) garment, clothing (used indiscriminately)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The chief garments of the Hebrews were the tunic or inner garment, and the mantle or outer garment. These seem to have constituted a "change of Rainment," Jud 14:13 19:1-30 Ac 9:39. The tunic was of linen, and was worn next to the skin, fitting close to the body; it had armholes, and sometimes wide and open sleeves, and reached below the knees; that worn by females reached to the ankles. The tunic was sometimes woven without seam, like that of Jesus, Joh 19:23. The upper garment or mantle was a piece of cloth nearly square, and two or three yards in length and breadth, which was wrapped round the body, or tied over the shoulders. A man without this robe on was sometimes said to be "naked,"

- Origin of

Ge 3:7,21

- CALLED

. Raiment

Ge 28:20; De 8:4

. Clothes

Pr 6:27; Eze 16:39

. Clothing

Job 22:6; 31:19

. Vesture

Ge 41:42; Re 19:16

- MATERIALS USED FOR

. Wool

Pr 27:26; Eze 34:3

. Silk

Pr 31:22

. Linen

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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