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Judges 16:21 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַֽיְנַקְּר֖וּ אֶת־ עֵינָ֑יו וַיּוֹרִ֨ידוּ אוֹת֜וֹ עַזָּ֗תָה וַיַּאַסְר֙וּהוּ֙ בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם וַיְהִ֥י טוֹחֵ֖ן בְּבֵ֥ית הָאֲסוּרִֽים׃

BSAThen the PhilistinesPᵉlishtîy [a non-Israelite people, immigrants from other places] seized himʼâchaz gouged outnâqar his eyesʻayin [to dig or bore into, picking out] and brought him downyârad [to go down, descend to a lower place] to GazaʻAzzâh [Azzah, the strong city] where he was boundʼâçar [to tie or restrain, like a covenant] with bronze shacklesnᵉchôsheth [copper, base metal, fetters, chains of restraint] and forcedhâyâh to grindṭâchan grain in the prisonbayith [to crush, like grain into flour, a place of captivity, house of restraint]

Word
Listen & take awayJudges 16
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 21 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 (ha.'a.si.rim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Judges 16:21quick helps
In a sentenceThe Philistines captured Samson, inflicted brutal punishment, and took him to Gaza as a prisoner.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes the actions of the Philistines against Samson.
Where we areThe climax of Samson's downfall — his capture and humiliation.
The hard wordוַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ
Take awaySamson's strength is gone; he is now completely at the mercy of his captors.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectפְּלִשְׁתִּי verbנָקַר 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 16:21

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 Capture of Samsongenerated

20Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.
22However, the hair of his head began to grow back after it had been shaved.
23Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”

Judges 16:21 describes the moment when the Philistines seized Samson, marking a significant turning point in his story. After being betrayed by Delilah, Samson is overpowered and subjected to cruel treatment, illustrating the consequences of his actions and the loss of his divine strength. This event serves as a dramatic contrast to his earlier victories over the Philistines, emphasizing his vulnerability and the depths of his downfall.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 5:22The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
2Proverbs 14:14The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
3Proverbs 2:19None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.
42 Kings 25:7And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
52 Chronicles 33:11So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ, vai.yo.cha.Zu.hugenerated

The verb אָחַז (achaz) means to grasp or seize, indicating a forceful action taken by the Philistines against Samson. It is a qal verb in the sequential imperfect tense, indicating that this action is ongoing or completed in the narrative context.

The use of this verb highlights the aggressive nature of the Philistines as they overpower Samson, taking control of him and rendering him helpless. It conveys a sense of finality in their victory over him.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase seized him, consistent with the KJV and ASV, both of which also reflect the forceful nature of the action.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ governs the entire verse, with several clauses detailing the actions taken against Samson. This structure emphasizes the sequential nature of the events.

The actions are presented in a series of clauses that build upon each other: first, the Philistines seize him, then they gouge out his eyes, followed by bringing him down to Gaza, where he is bound and forced to grind grain.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ as ἀλλόφυλοι (allophylos), meaning 'foreigners' or 'non-Israelites', which emphasizes the identity of the captors as outsiders to Israel.

This choice of word highlights the Philistines' role as oppressors and reinforces the theme of conflict between Israel and foreign nations.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Judges 16:21 tells how the Philistines captured Samson, gouged out his eyes, and took him to Gaza. There, he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in prison, illustrating his complete defeat and humiliation.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the Philistines seized Samson?

It indicates that they overpowered him, taking him captive and rendering him helpless.

Why did they gouge out his eyes?

This act symbolizes not only physical punishment but also the complete humiliation and loss of strength for Samson.

What is the significance of Gaza in this context?

Gaza was a major Philistine city, and taking Samson there emphasizes his defeat and the Philistines' control over him.

What does grinding grain signify in this passage?

Grinding grain represents a dehumanizing task, illustrating Samson's fall from a mighty warrior to a prisoner forced into servitude.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can we learn from Samson's downfall about the consequences of our choices?
  2. How does the treatment of Samson reflect the attitudes of his captors?
  3. In what ways can we identify with Samson's experience of humiliation and loss?
  4. What does this passage teach us about the nature of strength and vulnerability?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Judges 16:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But the Philistines took him,.... Being assured by Delilah that his strength was gone from him, of which perhaps she had made trial by binding him, and found he could not free himself from the bonds

Read John Gill on Judges 16 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Read Robert Jamieson on Judges 16 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The Philistines now durst apprehend him, because they rested in the assurance which Delilah had given them, that now all was discovered and done. Put out his eyes; which was done by them out of revenge and policy, to disenable him from doing them much harm, in case he should recover his strength; but not without God’ s providence, punishing him in that part which had been greatly instrumental to his sinful lusts. Brought him down to Gaza, because this was a great and strong city, where he would be kept safely; and upon the sea-coast, at sufficient distance from Samson’ s people; and to repair the honour of that place, upon which he had fastened so great a scorn, . God also ordering things…

Read Matthew Poole on Judges 16 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Judges 16:21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.Ver. 21. Took him, and put out his eyes.] These eyes of his were the first offenders that betrayed him to lust; and now they are first pulled out, and he led a blind captive to Gaza, where he was first captivated to his lust. The loss of his eyes showeth him his sin, saith one. Neither could he see how ill he had done, till he saw not. Muleasses king of Tunis, expelled his kingdom for whoredom, had his eyes put out with a burning hot iron, but was not brought thereby to a sight of his sin. And bound him with fetters of…

Read John Trapp on Judges 16 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) Put out his eyes.—the margin, “bored out,” is more correct. The Arabic version has the curious gloss that they burnt out his eyes with the red-hot style with which stibium (see Job 42:14) is applied to the eyes. To blind a man was the most effectual humiliation (2 Kings 25:7). The story of Evenius, a priest of the sun-god, who is blinded by the people of Apollonia, who thereby incur the anger of the gods, seems to move in a similar circle of ideas to this. Fetters of brass.—Literally, two brasses—i.e., pairs of brazen fetters (nechushtarim).He did grind in the prison house.—This was the degrading work of slaves and females (Exodus 11:5; Isaiah 47:2). Grotius in a curious note says that…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Judges 16 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 21. Put out his eyes] Thus was the lust of the eye, in looking after and gazing on strange women, punished. As the Philistines did not know that his strength might not return, they put out his eyes, that he might never be able to plan any enterprise against them. He did grind in the prison-house.] Before the invention of wind and water-mills, the grain was at first bruised between two stones, afterwards ground in hand-mills. This is practiced in China and in different parts of the East still; and women and slaves are the persons who are obliged to turn these mills. Such instruments were anciently used in this country, and called querns, from the Anglo-Saxon [A.S.] and [A.S.] cweorn…

Read AdamClarke on Judges 16 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21. to Gaza] ‘His degeneration began at Gaza, therefore he was punished at Gaza,’ runs the Rabbinic comment, which also sees a just retribution for the sin of his eyes (Judges 14:3 lit. ‘she is right in mine eyes’) in the loss of his eyes. Talm. Sota 9 b. and he did grind] It was his continual task, as the tense indicates. Grinding corn for the household was the work of women (Ecclesiastes 12:3 RVm., St Matthew 24:41), of the housewife or of female slaves (Exodus 11:5, cf. Isaiah 47:2). Male prisoners and captives were sometimes condemned to this labour, as for example King Zedekiah in Babylon, according to the Gk. version of Jer 52:11. Similarly among the Romans, minor offenders were set…

Read Cambridge on Judges 16 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Put out his eyes - Thus effectually, as they thought, preventing any future mischief on his part, while they prolonged their own triumph and revenge.

Read Albert Barnes on Judges 16 →

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

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The Philistines laid hold on him and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of bronze; and he ground at the mill in the prison.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze shackles and forced to grind grain in the prison.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him in bronze chains. He became a grinder in the prison.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Therefore the Philistims tooke him, and put out his eyes, and brought him downe to Azzah, and bounde him with fetters: and hee did grinde in the prison house.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the Philistines seized him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gazah, and bound him with fetters of bronze; and he had to grind in the prison-house.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the Philistines seize him, and pick out his eyes, and bring him down to Gaza, and bind him with two brazen fetters; and he is grinding in the prison-house.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the Philistines seize him, and pick out his eyes, and bring him down to Gaza, and bind him with two bronze chains; and he is grinding in the prison-house.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the Philistines seized him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gazzah, and bound him with fetters of copper; and he had to grind in the prison-house.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The Philistines captured him and put out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. He turned the millstone at the prison house.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Then the Philistines seized upon him, and forthwith pulled out his eyes, and led him bound in chains to Gaza, and shutting him up in prison made him grind.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Philistines grabbed him and gouged out his eyes. Then they took him to Gaza where they imprisoned him in bronze chains. He was made to work grinding grain at the mill in the prison.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So the Philistines took him and put out his eyes; then they took him down to Gaza, and, chaining him with bands of brass, put him to work crushing grain in the prison-house.

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.

וַandclauseverbיֹּאחֲז֣וּtheyobjectהוּseized.himsubjectפְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים[the].Philistinesוַֽandclauseverbיְנַקְּר֖וּthey.gouged.outnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseעֵינָ֑יeyesוhisוַandclauseverbיּוֹרִ֨ידוּthey.brought.downnoun phrase · objectאוֹת֜וֹhimnoun phrase · prepositionalעַזָּ֗תָtoהGazaוַandclauseverbיַּאַסְר֨וּtheyobjectהוּ֙bound.himprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּֽwith.(the)noun phrasebronzeנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִםfettersוַandclauseverbיְהִ֥יhe.wasadjective phrase · objectclauseverbטוֹחֵ֖ןgrindingprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseבֵ֥יתthe.housenoun phraseהָof.[those]אֲסוּרִֽיםimprisoned

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 for Judges 16:21, with 13 of the 14 words matched. The Septuagint's wording reflects the same events but presents them in a different order.

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

וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַֽיְנַקְּר֖וּ אֶת־ עֵינָ֑יו וַיּוֹרִ֨ידוּ אוֹת֜וֹ עַזָּ֗תָה וַיַּאַסְר֙וּהוּ֙ בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם וַיְהִ֥י טוֹחֵ֖ן בְּבֵ֥ית הָאֲסוּרִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּαὐτὸνפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםἀλλόφυλοιוַֽיְנַקְּר֖וּἐχέκοψανעֵינָ֑יוαὐτοῦוַיּוֹרִ֨ידוּκατήνεγκανאוֹת֜וֹαὐτὸνעַזָּ֗תָהγάζανוַיַּאַסְר֙וּהוּ֙αὐτὸνבַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִםἐνוַיְהִ֥יἦνטוֹחֵ֖ןἀλήθωνבְּבֵ֥יתοἴκῳהָאֲסוּרִֽים׃δεσμωτηρίου

13 of the 14 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 16:21אָחַזand they seand they seizedאָחַזפְּלִשְׁתִּי[the] Phili[the] Philistinפְּלִשְׁתִּינָקַרand they goand they gougedנָקַראֵתthe object the object markאֵתעַ֫יִןeyes hiseyes hisעַ֫יִןיָרַדand they brand they broughיָרַדאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעַזָּהGaza towardGaza towardsעַזָּהאָסַרand they boand they bound אָסַרנְחֹ֫שֶׁתwith bronzewith bronze fetנְחֹ֫שֶׁתהָיָהand he wasand he wasהָיָהטָחַןgrindinggrindingטָחַןבֵּיתin [the] hoin [the] house בֵּיתאָסַרthose imprithose imprisoneאָסַראוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהפְּלֶ֫שֶׁתPhilistiaPhilistiaפְּלֶ֫שֶׁתעַזstrongstrongעַזנְחוּשָׁהbronzebronzeנְחוּשָׁההָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁאִסָּרinjunctioninjunctionאִסָּרעֲבֹתcordcordעֲבֹתרַ֫עַדtremblingtremblingרַ֫עַדצִירenvoyenvoyצִירסֶ֫רֶןlordlordסֶ֫רֶןנָכָהto smiteto smiteנָכָהעַ֫יִןeyeeyeעַ֫יִןחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרשְׁאוֹלhell: Sheohell: Sheolשְׁאוֹלבּוֹרpitpitבּוֹר
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 16:21

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 seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּvai.yo.cha.Zu.hu and they seized him H270 Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
68× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word means to grasp or take hold of something, often holding it in possession. It can also mean to be caught or settled. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, including in the books of Exodus and Psalms.
Tyndale gloss
to grasp
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָחַז (achaz) means to grasp, take hold of, or seize. It has various forms, including Qal (to grasp), Niphal (to be caught), Piel (to enclose), and Hophal (to be fastened). The entries highlight its use in contexts of possession and holding, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָחַז 68 vb. grasp, take hold of, take possession

Qal grasp, take hold of

Niph. be caught

Pi. enclose, overlay

Hoph. fastened

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H270 אָחַז grasp, take hold of, take possession .grasp, take hold of

. be caught

. enclose, overlay

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

270 'achaz aw-khaz'

a primitive root; to seize (often with the accessory idea of

holding in possession):--+ be affrighted, bar, (catch, lay,

take) hold (back), come upon, fasten, handle, portion, (get,

have or take) possess(-ion).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָחַז (a.chaz) — to grasp.

1) grasp, take hold, seize, take possession

1a) (Qal) to grasp, take hold of

1b) (Niphal) to be caught, grasped, be settled

1c) (Piel) to enclose, overlay

1d) (Hophal) fastened

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
Hc/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםfe.lish.Tim [the] Philistines H6430 Noun gentilic · masculine plural absolute
288× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A Philistine is a person from the region of Philistia, which was inhabited by immigrants from other places. The Philistines were known for their conflicts with the Israelites, as recorded in the Bible. They were a distinct ethnic group.
Amplified meaning
a non-Israelite people, immigrants from other places
Tyndale gloss
(Sea of the) Philistines
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פְּלִשְׁתִּי (*pelishtiy*) means 'Philistine' and refers to an inhabitant of Philistia, with roots indicating they are descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor. It is derived from the lemma for Philistia, פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת (*peleshet*), and is first mentioned in Genesis 10:14.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פְּלִשְׁתִּי 288 adj.gent. Philistine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6430 פְּלִשְׁתִּי Philistine

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6430 Plishtiy pel-ish-tee'

patrial from 6429; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of

Pelesheth:--Philistine.

see HEBREW for 06429

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — Philistine.

Philistine = "immigrants"

an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan

Another spelling of pe.le.shet (פְּלֶ֫שֶׁת "Philistia" H6429)

פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — Philistine.

A Philistine living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.14;

son of: Casluhim (H3695)

§ Philistine = "immigrants"

an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan

פְּלִשְׁתִּי (pe.lish.ti) — (Sea of the) Philistines.

Philistine = "immigrants"

an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan

Another name of ga.dol (גָּדוֹל "Great( Sea)" H1419J)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Ngmpa — Noun gentilic · masculine plural absolute
HNgmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi):

I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES

1. Race and Origin

2. Religion

3. Individual Philistines Mentioned

4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision

5. History in the Old Testament to Death of Saul

6. History Continued to Time of Ahaz

7. Later Notices

II. MONUMENTAL NOTICES

1. Palestinian Excavations

2. Egyptian Monuments

3. Assyrian Texts

III. THE CRETAN THEORY

1. Cherethim and Kretes

2. Caphtor and Keft

IV. DAVID'S GUARDS

1. The "Cherethi" and the "Pelethi" Not Mercenaries

2. Meaning of These Terms

3. Native Hebrews

4. Review

LITERATURE

I. Old Testament Notices.

1. Race and Origin:

The Philistines were an uncircumcised people inhabiting the shore plain between Gezer and Gaza in Southwestern Palestine (see PHILISTIA). The name Palestine itself (Hebrew pelesheth) refers to their country. The word means "migrants," and they came from another country. They…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Philistines

(Gen. 10:14, R.V.; but in A.V., “Philistim”), a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other Mediterranean islands. Some suppose them to have been a branch of the Rephaim (2 Sam. 21:16-22). In the time of Abraham they inhabited the south-west of Judea, Abimelech of Gerar being their king (Gen. 21:32, 34; 26:1). They are, however, not noticed among the Canaanitish tribes mentioned in the Pentateuch. They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, i.e., probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. In the whole record from Exodus to Samuel they are…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(immigrants), The origin of the Philistines is nowhere expressly stated in the Bible; but as the prophets describe them as "the Philistines-from Caphtor," (Amos 9:7) and "the remnant of the maritime district of Caphtor" (Jeremiah 47:4) it is prima facie probable that they were the Caphtorim which came out of Caphtor" who expelled the Avim from their territory and occupied it; in their place, (2:23) and that these again were the Caphtorim mentioned in the Mosaic genealogical table among the descendants of Mizraim. (Genesis 10:14) It has been generally assumed that Caphtor represents Crete, and that the Philistines migrated from that island, either directly or through Egypt, into Palestine. But the name Caphtor is more probably…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A celebrated people, who inhabited the southern seacoast of Canaan, which from them took the name of Philistia, Ps 60:8 108:9, or Palestine. They seem originally to have migrated form Egypt to Caphtor, by which some understand Crete, and others with the ancients Cappadocia, Ge 10:14, and thence to have passed over to Palestine under the name of Caphtorim, where they drove out the Avim, who dwelt from Hazerim to Azzah, that is, Gaza, and swelt in their stead, De 2:23. The country they inhabited lay between the higher land of Judea and the Mediterranean, and was in the main a level and fertile territory. It resembles our own western prairies; and bears splendid crops year after year, though miserably cultivated and never manured.

and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
וַֽיְנַקְּר֖וּvay.na.ke.Ru and they gouged out H5365 Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to dig or bore into something, like picking or quarrying stone. It describes a sense of penetration or excavation, often used to create a hole or opening. In the Bible, it is used to describe the act of digging a well or uncovering a hidden truth.
Tyndale gloss
to dig
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָקַר (naqar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bore, pick, or dig. It encompasses actions like penetrating or quarrying, with variations in form indicating different nuances, such as boring out or being dug out. The word appears in contexts related to physical digging or piercing, but specific Old Testament verses are not cited in the entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָקַר] vb. bore, pick, dig

Qal both of boring, or picking out eye

Pi. both of boring out eyes

Pu. the quarry (fr. wh.) ye were digged.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5365 נָקַר bore, pick, dig

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5365 naqar naw-kar'

a primitive root; to bore (penetrate, quarry):--dig, pick

out, pierce, put (thrust) out.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָקַר (na.qar) — to dig.

1) to bore, pick, dig, pick out

1a) (Qal) to bore, pick, dig

1b) (Piel) to bore out

1c) (Pual) to be dug out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vpw3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
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
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
עֵינָ֑יו'ei.Nav eyes his H5869 Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
to dig or bore into, picking out
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HNcfdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
וַיּוֹרִ֨ידוּvai.yo.Ri.du and they brought down H3381 Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
381× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To go down or descend, like going to a lower place or falling. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing people and things moving downwards.
Amplified meaning
to go down, descend to a lower place
Tyndale gloss
to go down
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend

Qal 306

come or go down

go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle

go down to (acc.) threshing-floor

go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt

from Jerusalem

from altar

go down

= sink, in water

go down to She’ôl

fig. going down (dissolving) in tears

= be prostrated

of divine manifestations: descend

of inanimate things

Hiph.

cause to come or go down

bring down

send down rain = cause to flow down

= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor

bring down to She’ôl

take down (from cart)

let down

Hoph.

be brought down

be taken down

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down

. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle

. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor

. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt

. from Jerusalem

. from altar

. go down

. = sink, in water

. go down to She’ôl

. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears

. = be prostrated

. of divine manifestations: descend

. of inanimate things

. . cause to come or go down . bring down

. send down rain = cause to flow down

. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor

. bring down to She’ôl

. take down (from cart)

. let down

. . be brought down

. be taken down

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3381 yarad yaw-rad'

a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or

conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,

the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to

bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,

bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,

fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X

indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,

let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.

1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go or come down

1a2) to sink

1a3) to be prostrated

1a4) to come down (of revelation)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to bring down

1b2) to send down

1b3) to take down

1b4) to lay prostrate

1b5) to let down

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought down

1c2) to be taken down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vhw3mp
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
אוֹת֜וֹ'o.To the object marker him 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
HTo/Sp3ms — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
עַזָּ֗תָה'a.Za.tah Gaza towards H5804 Noun proper · suffix
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Azzah is another name for Gaza, a Philistine city in southwest Palestine, meaning 'the strong' in Hebrew.
Amplified meaning
Azzah, the strong city
Tyndale gloss
Gaza
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַזָּה (Azzah) refers to Gaza, a significant Philistine city located in the southwest of Palestine. The word is derived from a root meaning 'strong.' It is noted in various lexicons as a proper noun, specifically identifying this ancient location.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַזָּה n.pr.loc. Gaza;—Philistine city, southernmost of the famous five cities

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5804 עַזָּה Gaza

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5804 `Azzah az-zaw'

feminine of 5794; strong; Azzah, a place in

Palestine:--Azzah, Gaza.

see HEBREW for 05794

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַזָּה (az.zah) — Gaza.

§ Azzah = "the strong"

another name for 'Gaza', a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper | Suff — Noun proper · suffix
HNpl/Sd
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
וַיַּאַסְר֙וּהוּ֙vai.ya.'as.Ru.hu and they bound him H631 Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
72× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to bind or tie something, like when God made a covenant with the Israelites. It can also mean to prepare for battle or to be imprisoned. In different contexts, it involves joining or fastening things together, whether physically or metaphorically.
Amplified meaning
to tie or restrain, like a covenant
Tyndale gloss
to bind
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָסַר (asar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tie or bind, with a range of applications including imprisonment and the figurative sense of obligation, such as oaths. It can also refer to preparing for battle or being taken prisoner. The entries indicate that it can be used in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, each with slightly different nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָסַר] vb. tie, bind, imprison

Qal

tie, bind, for security

tie, harness

bind, with cords

gird (rare & late)

begin the battle, make the attack

fig. of obligation of oath or vow

Niph. be bound, imprisoned

Pu. be taken prisoner

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H631 [אָסַר] tie, bind, imprison .. tie, bind, for security

. tie, harness

. bind, with cords

. gird (rare & late)

. begin the battle, make the attack

. fig. of obligation of oath or vow

. be bound, imprisoned

. be taken prisoner

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

631 'acar aw-sar'

a primitive root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in

any sense, to join battle:--bind, fast, gird, harness, hold,

keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds,

set in array, tie.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָסַר (a.sar) — to bind.

1) to tie, bind, imprison

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tie, bind

1a2) to tie, harness

1a3) to bind (with cords)

1a4) to gird (rare and late)

1a5) to begin the battle, make the attack

1a6) of obligation of oath (figurative)

1b) (Niphal) to be imprisoned, bound

1c) (Pual) to be taken prisoner

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
Hc/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִםban.chush.Ta.yim with bronze fetters H5178 Preposition · noun common feminine dual absolute
140× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to copper or something made of it, like a coin or chain. It can also symbolize something base or impure, as in lust or filthiness. It appears in various KJV translations, including brasen and brass.
Amplified meaning
copper, base metal, fetters, chains of restraint
Tyndale gloss
bronze
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (nechosheth) refers to copper or bronze, often indicating items made from these metals, such as fetters. It is noted for being less valuable than gold but more than wood. Additionally, it can figuratively represent a harsh sky or, in specific contexts, suggest meanings related to lust or harlotry, as seen in Ezekiel 16:36.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת 137 n.m. copper, bronze

copper

fetters of copper or bronze

as less in value than gold but more than wood

fig. of pitiless sky

base

[נְחֹ֫שֶׁת] n.[f.] Ez 16:36 where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5178a נְחֹ֫שֶׁת copper, bronze . copper

. fetters of copper or bronze

. as less in value than gold but more than wood

. fig. of pitiless sky

H5178b נְחֹ֫שֶׁת where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5178 nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth

for 5154; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e.

coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or

silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass),

filthiness, steel.

see HEBREW for 05154

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — bronze.

1) copper, bronze

1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)

1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)

1c) copper (as value)

נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — lust.

lust, harlotry

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fd — Preposition · noun common feminine dual absolute
HRd/Ncfda
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

Fetters were for the feet only, while chains were for any part of the body. They were usually made of brass, and also in pairs, the word being in the dual number. Iron was occasionally employed for the purpose. (Psalms 105:18; 149:8)

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used for securing prisoners 2Ch 33:11; 36:6; Mr 5:4

→ Made of brass (bronze) Jud 16:21; 2Ki 25:7

→ Made of iron

→ See CHAINS

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) General References to

Jud 16:21; 2Ki 25:7; 2Ch 33:11; Mr 5:4

(2) Good Men Bound with

Jer 40:1; Mt 27:2; Mr 6:17; Ac 12:6; 16:24; 21:33; 22:25; 28:20

--SEE Imprisonment, SUFFERING

Paul's Bonds, SUFFERING

and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
וַיְהִ֥יvay.Hi and he was H1961 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
טוֹחֵ֖ןto.Chen grinding H2912 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To grind or crush something, like grain into flour. This word is used to describe the action of grinding, often done by a concubine or servant.
Tyndale gloss
to grind
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָחַן (tachan) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to grind' or 'to crush.' It is noted as a primitive root, and one entry suggests a secondary meaning related to being a concubine, linked to the act of grinding meal. The word appears in the Qal stem, indicating its basic action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[טָחַן] vb. grind

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2912 [טָחַן] grind

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2912 tachan taw-khan'

a primitive root; to grind meal; hence, to be a concubine

(that being their employment):--grind(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָחַן (ta.chan) — to grind.

(Qal) to grind, crush

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

grind'-ing.

See CRAFTS.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[MILL]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See MILL

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
בְּבֵ֥יתbe.Veit in [the] house of H1004 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
2,049× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Amplified meaning
to crush, like grain into flour, a place of captivity, house of restraint
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

base

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

house

place

receptacle

of house as containing a family

household, family (592 t.)

house, including household affairs

lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

מִבַּיִת

adv. on the inside

prep. within

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1004 bayith bah'-yith

probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest

variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,

daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as

would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),

inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,

temple, web, + within(-out).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית (bet) — place.

nm

place, origin, between

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.

: home/temple/building

nm

1) house

1a) house, dwelling habitation

1b) shelter or abode of animals

1c) human bodies (fig.)

1d) of Sheol

1e) of abode of light and darkness

1f) of land of Ephraim

2) place

3) receptacle

4) home, house as containing a family

5) household, family

5a) those belonging to the same household

5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body

6) household affairs

7) inwards (metaph.)

8) (TWOT) temple

adv

9) on the inside

prep

10) within

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they seized him [the] Philistines and they gouged out the object marker eyes his and they brought down the object marker him Gaza towards and they bound him with bronze fetters and he was grinding in [the] house of those imprisoned
הָאֲסוּרִֽים׃ha.'a.si.rim those imprisoned H631 Particle · verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural
72× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to bind or tie something, like when God made a covenant with the Israelites. It can also mean to prepare for battle or to be imprisoned. In different contexts, it involves joining or fastening things together, whether physically or metaphorically.
Tyndale gloss
to bind
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָסַר (asar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to tie or bind, with a range of applications including imprisonment and the figurative sense of obligation, such as oaths. It can also refer to preparing for battle or being taken prisoner. The entries indicate that it can be used in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Pual, each with slightly different nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אָסַר] vb. tie, bind, imprison

Qal

tie, bind, for security

tie, harness

bind, with cords

gird (rare & late)

begin the battle, make the attack

fig. of obligation of oath or vow

Niph. be bound, imprisoned

Pu. be taken prisoner

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H631 [אָסַר] tie, bind, imprison .. tie, bind, for security

. tie, harness

. bind, with cords

. gird (rare & late)

. begin the battle, make the attack

. fig. of obligation of oath or vow

. be bound, imprisoned

. be taken prisoner

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

631 'acar aw-sar'

a primitive root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in

any sense, to join battle:--bind, fast, gird, harness, hold,

keep, make ready, order, prepare, prison(-er), put in bonds,

set in array, tie.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָסַר (a.sar) — to bind.

1) to tie, bind, imprison

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to tie, bind

1a2) to tie, harness

1a3) to bind (with cords)

1a4) to gird (rare and late)

1a5) to begin the battle, make the attack

1a6) of obligation of oath (figurative)

1b) (Niphal) to be imprisoned, bound

1c) (Pual) to be taken prisoner

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Vqsmpa — Particle · verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural
HTd/Vqsmpa
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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