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Judges 3:26 — Word Study

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WLCוְאֵה֥וּד נִמְלַ֖ט עַ֣ד הִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑ם וְהוּא֙ עָבַ֣ר אֶת־ הַפְּסִילִ֔ים וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט הַשְּׂעִירָֽתָה׃

BSAEhud, howeverʼÊhûwd [a deliverer of Israel] had escapedmâlaṭ [slipped away to safety, fled] whileʻad the servants waitedmâhahh [attendants, guards, tarried, lingered] Hehûwʼ passed byʻâbar [crossed over, went beyond] the idolspᵉçîyl [carved images, false gods] and escapedmâlaṭ [was delivered, slipped away] to SeirahSᵉʻîyrâh [a place in southeast Ephraim, a city of refuge]

Word
Listen & take awayJudges 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 26 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.se.'i.Ra.tah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Judges 3:26quick helps
In a sentenceEhud escapes from danger while the servants wait, passing by idols on his way to Seirah.
Who is speakingThe narrator recounts the actions of Ehud, a judge of Israel.
Where we areThe narrative of Ehud's escape, part of Israel's history of deliverance.
The hard wordנִמְלַ֖ט
Take awayEhud's cunning and bravery led to his successful escape.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectאֵהוּד verbמָלַט The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 10 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 3:26

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 Escape of Ehudgenerated

25So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.
26Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.
27On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.
28“Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.

Judges 3:26 describes how Ehud, a judge of Israel, cleverly escaped from the Moabite king's palace while the servants were preoccupied. This event highlights Ehud's role as a deliverer of Israel, as he later rallied the Israelites against their oppressors. The surrounding verses provide context for the tension between Israel and Moab, emphasizing the significance of Ehud's actions in the larger narrative of Israel's struggles for freedom.


Cross References


The Key Word נִמְלַ֖ט, nim.Latgenerated

The verb נִמְלַ֖ט (nim.lat) is a Niphal perfect form, indicating that Ehud successfully escaped or was delivered from danger. This form emphasizes the action of being saved, suggesting a sense of urgency and necessity in his flight.

The root of this verb, מָלַט (malat), conveys the idea of slipping away to safety, which is crucial in this context as Ehud must act quickly to avoid capture. It is often used in biblical narratives to describe deliverance from peril.


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 נִמְלַ֖ט, he escaped, governs the sentence, with several phrases providing context: a prepositional phrase indicating the time of the escape, a noun phrase describing the servants, and additional clauses detailing Ehud's actions.

The structure emphasizes the sequence of events: while the servants waited, Ehud escaped, highlighting the contrast between their delay and his decisive action.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, נִמְלַ֖ט is rendered as διεσώθη (dieseōthē), which carries the meaning of being saved or delivered. This choice reflects a broader interpretation, emphasizing divine intervention in Ehud's escape.

The use of this term in the Septuagint suggests a focus on the act of salvation rather than merely the act of escaping, indicating a theological nuance in the Greek translation.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Judges 3:26 tells us how Ehud escaped from the Moabite king while the servants were waiting. He passed by the idols and fled to a place called Seirah, demonstrating his cleverness and bravery in a time of danger.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who was Ehud?

Ehud was a judge of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin, known for delivering Israel from the oppression of the Moabites.

What does it mean that Ehud escaped?

Ehud's escape signifies his successful evasion from danger, allowing him to fulfill his role as a deliverer of Israel.

What is the significance of the idols mentioned?

The idols represent the false gods worshipped by the Moabites, highlighting the contrast between Israel's God and the idols of their oppressors.

What does Seirah represent?

Seirah is a location in southeast Ephraim, possibly serving as a city of refuge, symbolizing safety and deliverance for Ehud.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I recognize moments when I need to act decisively like Ehud?
  2. What are some idols in my life that I need to pass by to escape danger?
  3. In what ways can I be a deliverer for those around me, as Ehud was for Israel?
  4. How can I cultivate a sense of urgency in my faith, similar to Ehud's escape?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Judges 3:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And Ehud escaped while they tarried,.... While the servants of the king of Moab tarried waiting for the opening of the doors of the parlour, this gave him time enough to make his escape, so as to be

Read John Gill on Judges 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.

Read Robert Jamieson on Judges 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Judges 3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.Ver. 26. And Ehud escaped while they tarried.] So did Montgomery, Carnutensis, and other prime Protestants in the massacre of Paris, when lodging in the suburbs, and hearing the tumult within the city, though at first they could not tell what to make of it, yet afterwards they fled with all speed before the Duke of Guise, when his cut-throats came, who pursued a great way, but could not overtake them, God, by his providence, so ordering that, when the city gates were to be opened, the right keys could not presently be found. Epitome Hist. Gallic., 148.

Read John Trapp on Judges 3 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) Unto Seirath.—Perhaps, rather, into the bush, or woodland, as the word has the article, and does not occur again. When he had got beyond the frontier post of Gilgal, into the district of Ephraim, he was safe from pursuit.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Judges 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 26. Passed beyond the quarries] Beyond the pesilim, which appear to have been the Moabitish borders, where they had set up those hewn stones as landmarks, or sacred boundary stones.

Read AdamClarke on Judges 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

26. and passed beyond the quarries] lit. he having passed the sculptured stones. The construction in Hebr. (a circumstantial clause dependent on the preceding) is harsh and awkward: it is accounted for if we may suppose that clause b (‘and passed … unto Seirah’) is a doublet of clause a. The repetition of he escaped looks as if this were the case. Instead of passed the sculptured stones we should probably translate crossed (i.e. the river Jordan, not mentioned but implied in the general situation) near the sculptured stones, cf. Judges 3:19; for crossed without an expressed object cf. Genesis 32:21 [22 Heb.], 2 Samuel 17:16; for the prep, near cf. Judges 3:19 and Judges 4:11. unto Seirah]…

Read Cambridge on Judges 3 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Seirath - “The forest” or “weald,” which evidently bordered on the cultivated plain near Gilgal, and extended into “the mountain or hill country of Ephraim.” Once there, he was safe from pursuit

Read Albert Barnes on Judges 3 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

26. Seirath is unknown. Its name indicates that it was a wooded district of Mount Ephraim.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Judges 3 →

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

Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Ehud escaped while they waited, passed beyond the stone idols, and escaped to Seirah.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Now Ehud had escaped while they were delaying. When he passed the carved images, he escaped to Seirah.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And Ehud escaped while they tarried; and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirath.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So Ehud escaped (while they taried) and was passed the quarris, and escaped vnto Seirah.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Ehud had escaped while they lingered, and passed beyond the graven images, and escaped to Seirah.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Ehud escaped during their tarrying, and hath passed by the images, and is escaped to Seirath.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Ehud escaped during their lingering, and has passed by the images, and escapes to Seirath.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And Ehud had escaped while they were tarrying, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Se'irah.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

While the servants were waiting, wondering what they should do, Ehud escaped and passed beyond the place where there were carved images of idols, and so he escaped to Seirah.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But Aod, while they were in confusion, escaped, and passed by the place of the idols, from whence he had returned. And he came to Seirath:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

While the servants delayed acting, Ehud escaped, passing the stone idols and on to Seirah.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But Ehud had got away while they were waiting and had gone past the stone images and got away to Seirah.

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.

וְandclausesubjectאֵה֥וּדEhudverbנִמְלַ֖טhe.escapedprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַ֣דuntilclauseverbהִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑delayedsubjectםtheyוְandclausesubjectהוּא֙heverbעָבַ֣רhe.passed.bynoun phrase · adverbialאֶת(et)noun phraseהַtheפְּסִילִ֔יםidolsוַandclauseverbיִּמָּלֵ֖טhe.escapednoun phrase · prepositionalהַtonoun phraseשְּׂעִירָֽתָ(the)הSeirah

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 3:26, with eight of the ten words matching. The Septuagint, however, presents a different word order and structure, reflecting its own interpretive choices.

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

וְאֵה֥וּד נִמְלַ֖ט עַ֣ד הִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑ם וְהוּא֙ עָבַ֣ר אֶת־ הַפְּסִילִ֔ים וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט הַשְּׂעִירָֽתָה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֵה֥וּדαωδנִמְלַ֖טδιεσώθηעַ֣דἕωςהִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑םἐθορυβοῦντοוְהוּא֙αὐτὸςעָבַ֣רπαρῆλθενהַפְּסִילִ֔יםγλυπτὰוַיִּמָּלֵ֖טδιεσώθη

8 of the 10 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 3:26אֵהוּדand Ehudand Ehudאֵהוּדמָלַטhe escapedhe escapedמָלַטעַדuntiluntilעַדמָהַהּdelayed thedelayed theyמָהַהּהוּאand heand heהוּאעָבַרhe passed bhe passed byעָבַראֵתthe object the object markאֵתפָּסִילthe idolsthe idolsפָּסִילמָלַטand he escaand he escapedמָלַטשְׂעִירָהSeirah towaSeirah towardsשְׂעִירָהמָהwhat?what?מָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתפָּסַלto hewto hewפָּסַלאֹ֫הַדOhadOhadאֹ֫הַדעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדשְׂעִירָהfemale goafemale goatשְׂעִירָהנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסמָתַיhowhowמָתַיעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבשָׁעַעto smearto smearשָׁעַעעַדtilltillעַדטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁדָּקַקto crushto crushדָּקַקאֲשֵׁרָהAsherahAsherahאֲשֵׁרָה
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 3:26

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 Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
וְאֵה֥וּדve.'e.Hud and Ehud H164 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ehud was a judge of Israel from the tribe of Benjamin, known for delivering Israel from Moab, as seen in the book of Judges. His name means 'I will give thanks' or 'undivided, union'.
Amplified meaning
a deliverer of Israel
Tyndale gloss
Ehud
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵהוּד (Ehuwd) refers to a name associated with two or three Israelites, primarily a judge from the tribe of Benjamin who delivered Israel from Moab. The name is linked to meanings such as 'united' or 'undivided.' It appears in contexts relating to the Old Testament figures, notably in Judges 3:15 and 1 Chronicles 8:6.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵהוּד n.pr.m.

a Benjamite, son of Gera, deliverer of Isr. fr. Moab

a Benjamite, son of Bilhan

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H164 אֵהוּד

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

164 'Ehuwd ay-hood'

from the same as 161; united; Ehud, the name of two or three

Israelites:--Ehud.

see HEBREW for 0161

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵהוּד (e.hud) — Ehud.

A Judge of the tribe of Benjamin living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.3.15;

son of: Gera (H1617);

father of: Naaman (H5283J), Ahijah (H0281K), Gera (H1617J), Uzza (H5798H) and Ahihud (H0284)

Also named: e.chud (אֵחוּד "Ehud" H0261)

§ Ehud = "I will give thanks: I will be praised" or "undivided, union" in (1Ch. 8:6) only

1) Benjamite judge of Israel, deliverer of Israel from Moab

2) another Benjamite, son of Bilhan (1Ch 8:6)

אֵהוּד (e.hud) — Ehud.

A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.10;

son of: Bilhan (H1092H);

brother of: Jeush (H3266H), Benjamin (H1144H), Chenaanah (H3668H), Zethan (H2133), Tarshish (H8659I) and Ahishahar (H0300)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

e'-hud (ehudh, "united," "strong"):

A Benjamite, son of Gera, deliverer of Israel from oppression by Moab (Jud 3:15-30). Gaining access alone to the presence of King Eglon under pretense of a secret errand connected with the payment of Israel's tribute, Ehud, a left-handed man, drew the sword he had concealed upon his right side, and thrust the king through. He locked the doors of the upper chamber after him, made his escape, and with the Israelites overcame Moab at the fords of the Jordan, slaying some 10,000. Ehud's name occurs again in the Benjamite genealogy (1Ch 7:10).

F. K. Farr

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ehud

Union. (1.) A descendant of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:10), his great-grandson.

(2.) The son of Gera, of the tribe of Benjamin (Judg. 3:15). After the death of Othniel the people again fell into idolatry, and Eglon, the king of Moab, uniting his bands with those of the Ammonites and the Amalekites, crossed the Jordan and took the city of Jericho, and for eighteen years held that whole district in subjection, exacting from it an annual tribute. At length Ehud, by a stratagem, put Eglon to death with a two-edged dagger a cubit long, and routed the Moabites at the fords of the Jordan, putting 10,000 of them to death. Thenceforward the land, at least Benjamin, enjoyed rest “for fourscore years” (Judg. 3:12-30). (See QUARRIES [2].) But…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(union). Ehud son of Bilhah, and great-grandson of Benjamin the patriarch. (1 Chronicles 7:10; 8:6) Ehud son of Gera, of the tribe of Benjamin, (Judges 3:15) the second judge of the Israelites. (B.C. about 1370.) In the Bible he is not called a judge, but a deliverer (l.c.): so Othniel, (Judges 3:9) and all the Judges. (Nehemiah 9:27) As a Benjamite he was specially chosen to destroy Eglon, who had established himself in Jericho, which was included in the boundaries of that tribe. He was very strong, and left-handed. [EGLON]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A Benjamite, who delivered Israel from the Moabites, by first slaying Eglon their king, and then raising an army and defeating his people. He judged Israel with honor for many years, Jud 3:12-31; 4:1.

and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
נִמְלַ֖טnim.Lat he escaped H4422 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
95× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to escape or be delivered, like slipping away to safety. It is used in the Bible to describe people being saved from danger, like in the book of Psalms. The KJV translates it as deliver or escape.
Amplified meaning
slipped away to safety, fled
Tyndale gloss
to escape
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלַט (malat) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to escape or slip away. It encompasses various nuances such as delivering, saving, and even giving birth in specific contexts. The entries indicate that it can refer to both physical escape and the act of laying eggs. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָלַט] vb. slip away (not in Qal)

Niph.

slip away

escape

pass. be delivered

Pi.

lay (eggs)

let escape

deliver

Hiph.

give birth to a male child

deliver

Hithp.

slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

escape

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4422 מָלַט slip away . . slip away

. escape

. pass. be delivered

. . lay (eggs)

. let escape

. deliver

. . give birth to a male child

. deliver

. . slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

. escape

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4422 malat maw-lat'

a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by

implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively,

to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit

sparks:--deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone,

let go, preserve, save, X speedily, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלַט (ma.lat) — to escape.

1) to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered

1a)(Niphal)

1a1) to slip away

1a2) to escape

1a3) to be delivered

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to lay, let slip out (of eggs)

1b2) to let escape

1b3) to deliver, save (life)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give birth to

1c2) to deliver

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to slip forth, slip out, escape

1d2) to escape

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVNp3ms
and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
עַ֣ד'ad until H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
הִֽתְמַהְמְהָ֑םhit.mah.me.Ham delayed they H4102 Verb hithpael infinitive construct common · suffix
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to delay or linger, often implying a sense of reluctance or hesitation, like in Judges 5:28 when Sisera's mother waits for her son to return. It can also mean to tarry or wait, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in KJV translations as delay or linger.
Amplified meaning
attendants, guards, tarried, lingered
Tyndale gloss
to delay
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָהַהּ (mahahh) primarily means to linger or tarry. It is derived from a root meaning to question or hesitate, implying a sense of reluctance or delay. The verb appears in the Hithpalpel form, which emphasizes the action of waiting or staying.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָהַהּ] vb. only Hithpalp. linger, tarry

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4102 [מָהַהּ] linger, tarry

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4102 mahahh maw-hah'

apparently a denominative from 4100; properly, to question or

hesitate, i.e. (by implication) to be reluctant:--delay,

linger, stay selves, tarry.

see HEBREW for 04100

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָהַהּ (ma.hah) — to delay.

(Hithpalpel) to linger, tarry, wait, delay

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-f-Inf-a | Suff — Verb hithpael infinitive construct common · suffix
HVtcc/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
וְהוּא֙ve.Hu' and he H1931 Conjunction · pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pp3ms
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.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
עָבַ֣ר'a.Var he passed by H5674 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
556× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Amplified meaning
crossed over, went beyond
Tyndale gloss
to pass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָבַר (abar) is a versatile verb meaning to pass over, through, or by, and it encompasses a range of actions including crossing, traversing, and alienating. It can also imply causing something to pass or be transferred, as well as emotional states like anger in its Hithpael form. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, though they do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on

Qal

pass over

Pass beyond

Pass through, traverse

pass along by

pass by

sweep by, of scourge

be past, over, of time

pass along (from hand to hand)

Pass on, go on

Pass away

Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

Pi.

his bull impregnateth

cause one to cross river

cause something to pass over

make over to

devote children to (לְ) heathen god

pass along (from hand to hand)

cause to pass through

let pass through

cause to pass by

let pass by

cause arrow to pass beyond

cause to pass under rod, for counting

cause to pass away, take away

Hiph.

cause to pass over, bring over

he made to pass across with chains of gold

base

[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5674a עָבַר pass over, through, by, pass on .. pass over

. Pass beyond

. Pass through, traverse

. . pass along by

. pass by

. sweep by, of scourge

. be past, over, of time

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. Pass on, go on

. Pass away

. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

. . his bull impregnateth . cause one to cross river

. cause something to pass over

. make over to

. devote children to (לְ) heathen god

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. . cause to pass through

. let pass through

. . cause to pass by

. let pass by

. cause arrow to pass beyond

. cause to pass under rod, for counting

. cause to pass away, take away

. . cause to pass over, bring over

. he made to pass across with chains of gold

H5674b עָבַר vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5674 `abar aw-bar'

a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any

transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive,

intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over,

through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over),

convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail,

gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way,

in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle,

overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over)

pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over,

through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish,

provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove,

send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X

speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to)

transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be

wrath.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַר (a.var) — to pass.

1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over

1a2) to pass beyond

1a3) to pass through, traverse

1a3a) passers-through (participle)

1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)

1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by

1a4a) passer-by (participle)

1a4b) to be past, be over

1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance

1a6) to pass away

1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory)

1a6b) to vanish

1a6c) to perish, cease to exist

1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)

1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands

1b) (Niphal) to be crossed

1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

In the sense of "against" which survives only in dialectal English (compare Wright, Dialect Dict., I, 470, for examples) is the King James Version rendering of the dative emauto of 1Co 4:4 (the American Standard Revised Version renders this "against"). In classical Greek the same idiom sunoida with dative = "be conscious" or "be cognizant of" a thing.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

By

In the expression “by myself” (A.V., 1 Cor. 4:4), means, as rendered in the Revised Version, “against myself.”

and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
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 Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
הַפְּסִילִ֔יםha.pe.si.Lim the idols H6456 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to an idol or carved image, often used to describe false gods or objects of worship. It is sometimes translated as graven image or quarry, emphasizing the act of carving or shaping the idol. This concept is seen in the Bible as a form of rebellion against God.
Amplified meaning
carved images, false gods
Tyndale gloss
idol
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּסִיל (pasil) refers to an idol or a carved image, derived from the root word for idol, פֶּ֫סֶל (pesel). It encompasses the concept of a graven image and is noted in various contexts related to idolatry. The entries indicate that it is closely related to another term for idol, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּסִיל] 23 n.m. id. [פֶּ֫סֶל]

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6456 [פָּסִיל] id. [פֶּ֫סֶל]

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6456 pciyl pes-eel'

from 6458; an idol:--carved (graven) image, quarry.

see HEBREW for 06458

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּסִיל (pe.sil) — idol.

image, idol, graven image

Another spelling of pe.sel (פֶּ֫סֶל "idol" H6459)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
וַיִּמָּלֵ֖טvai.yi.ma.Let and he escaped H4422 Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
95× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to escape or be delivered, like slipping away to safety. It is used in the Bible to describe people being saved from danger, like in the book of Psalms. The KJV translates it as deliver or escape.
Amplified meaning
was delivered, slipped away
Tyndale gloss
to escape
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלַט (malat) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to escape or slip away. It encompasses various nuances such as delivering, saving, and even giving birth in specific contexts. The entries indicate that it can refer to both physical escape and the act of laying eggs. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָלַט] vb. slip away (not in Qal)

Niph.

slip away

escape

pass. be delivered

Pi.

lay (eggs)

let escape

deliver

Hiph.

give birth to a male child

deliver

Hithp.

slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

escape

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4422 מָלַט slip away . . slip away

. escape

. pass. be delivered

. . lay (eggs)

. let escape

. deliver

. . give birth to a male child

. deliver

. . slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

. escape

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4422 malat maw-lat'

a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by

implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively,

to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit

sparks:--deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone,

let go, preserve, save, X speedily, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלַט (ma.lat) — to escape.

1) to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered

1a)(Niphal)

1a1) to slip away

1a2) to escape

1a3) to be delivered

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to lay, let slip out (of eggs)

1b2) to let escape

1b3) to deliver, save (life)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give birth to

1c2) to deliver

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to slip forth, slip out, escape

1d2) to escape

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/VNw3ms
and Ehud he escaped until delayed they and he he passed by the object marker the idols and he escaped Seirah towards
הַשְּׂעִירָֽתָה׃ha.se.'i.Ra.tah Seirah towards H8167 Particle · noun proper · suffix
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Seirah is a place in Palestine, possibly located in southeast Ephraim, as mentioned in Joshua 15:10.
Amplified meaning
a place in southeast Ephraim, a city of refuge
Tyndale gloss
Seirah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׂעִירָה (se'irah) likely refers to a location in southeast Ephraim, possibly associated with the meaning 'shaggy.' It is derived from the root for 'roughness' and is linked to the place name Seirath. The only specific verse reference is Judges 3:26.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שְׂעִירָה] n.pr.loc., prob. in SE Ephraim (= goat);—Ju 3:26

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8167 שְׂעִירָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8167 S`iyrah seh-ee-raw'

formed as 8166; roughness; Seirah, a place in

Palestine:--Seirath.

see HEBREW for 08166

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׂעִירָה (se.i.rah) — Seirah.

§ Seirath = "the shaggy"

a place probably in southeast Ephraim

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-proper | Suff — Particle · noun proper · suffix
HTd/Npl/Sd
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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