Judges 9:52 — Word Study
WLCוַיָּבֹ֤א אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ עַד־ הַמִּגְדָּ֔ל וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֛שׁ עַד־ פֶּ֥תַח הַמִּגְדָּ֖ל לְשָׂרְפ֥וֹ בָאֵֽשׁ׃
BSAWhen AbimelechʼĂbîymelek [a Philistine king, Ahimelech] camebôwʼ▸ toʻad attacklâcham▸ [fought against, drew near to] the towermigdâl [a tall structure] he approachednâgash▸ [drew near, came hard unto] itsmigdâl entrancepethach [doorway] to set it on firesâraph [burn with, kindle, with flames, using fire]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיָּבֹ֤א | and he came | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ | Abimelech | Noun proper masculine |
| עַד־ | to | Preposition |
| הַמִּגְדָּ֔ל | the tower | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם | and he fought | Verb, Niphal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בּ֑וֹ | against it | Preposition, suffix |
| וַיִּגַּ֛שׁ | and he drew near | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עַד־ | to | Preposition |
| פֶּ֥תַח | [the] entrance of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַמִּגְדָּ֖ל | the tower | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לְשָׂרְפ֥וֹ | to burn it | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| בָאֵֽשׁ׃ | with fire | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. |
| KJV | And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. |
| ASV | And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. |
| YLT | And Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening of the tower to burn it with fire, |
| WEB | Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. |
| BBE | And Abimelech came to the tower and made an attack on it, and got near to the door of the tower for the purpose of firing it. |
Where they part company is שָׂרַף — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main action with several phrases detailing Abimelech's intent and direction.




5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֲבִימֶלֶךְ
verbבּוֹא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Judges 9:52
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 Siege of the Towergenerated
Judges 9:52 describes Abimelech's assault on a fortified tower where the citizens have taken refuge. This moment is critical as it showcases the desperation of the people and the ruthlessness of Abimelech in his quest for power. The preceding verses highlight the stronghold's significance as a place of safety, contrasting with the imminent destruction Abimelech intends to bring.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judges 9:48–49 | he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.” |
| 2 | 2 Kings 14:10 | You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?” |
| 3 | 2 Kings 15:16 | At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׂרַף, sa.re.Fgenerated
The verb שָׂרַף (saraph) means 'to burn' and is used in various contexts to indicate setting something on fire. It is a primitive root that encompasses different forms, including Qal (to burn) and Niphal (to be burned), suggesting a focus on the act of burning itself.
In this verse, it indicates Abimelech's intent to destroy the tower by fire, emphasizing the violent nature of his attack. The use of this word underscores the severity of the situation and the lengths to which Abimelech is willing to go.
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 governing the verse is יָּבֹא, he came, which initiates the action. The structure includes a series of phrases that detail Abimelech's approach and his intent to set the tower on fire.
The sentence's organization highlights the sequence of actions — coming, fighting, and drawing near — emphasizing the urgency and determination of Abimelech's assault.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָּבֹא as ἦλθεν (ēlthen), which means 'he came.' This choice maintains the focus on Abimelech's arrival and intent.
The Greek word for 'to burn' is not directly matched, but the overall translation conveys the same destructive intent as the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Judges 9:52 describes how Abimelech came to attack a strong tower where the people had fled. He approached the entrance with the intention of setting it on fire, demonstrating his aggressive intent to destroy their refuge.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Abimelech aimed to eliminate the last stronghold of resistance against his rule, demonstrating his ruthless ambition for power.
The tower represents safety and refuge for the people, contrasting with the destruction Abimelech intends to bring.
Fire symbolizes destruction and judgment, highlighting the severity of Abimelech's attack and the threat to the lives of those inside the tower.
This verse illustrates the chaotic and violent nature of the period of the Judges, where leaders like Abimelech often resorted to brutal tactics to secure power.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about the nature of power from Abimelech's actions?
- How does the imagery of fire in this verse reflect broader themes in the Bible?
- In what ways do we see similar patterns of conflict and refuge in our own lives?
- How can understanding this verse enhance our reading of the Book of Judges?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Judges 9:52 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Abimelech came unto the tower,.... With his army to besiege it: and fought against it; using all the methods he could to oblige those in it to surrender: and went hard unto the door of the tower
Read John Gill on Judges 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Judges 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJudges 9:52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.Ver. 52. And went hard unto the door.] This was not soldier-like, whose rule must be, Neque timide neque temere, Be neither timorous nor temerarious. See 2 Samuel 11:21. But Abimelech, lifted up with his former successes, thought, belike, he might do anything, and said within himself, “ Maior sum quam cui possit fortuna, nocere. ”
Read John Trapp on Judges 9 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(52) Went hard unto the door.—Hard, i.e., close. Like other bad men, Abimelech was not lacking in physical courage. He had all his father’s impetuous energy. The peril of such rashness served the Israelites as a perpetual warning (2 Samuel 11:21). To burn it with fire.—He naturally anticipated another hideous success like that at Millo.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Judges 9 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWent hard unto the door ... - i. e. went close to the door. An act of manifest danger, seeing the roof was covered with persons who would be likely to throw down missiles of all sorts on the heads of their assailants.
Read Albert Barnes on Judges 9 →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
When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire,
Tyndale line
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
And Abimelech came vnto the towre and fought against it, and went hard vnto the doore of the towre to set it on fire.
Strictly literal
And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and he drew near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire;
And Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,
And Abimelech comes to the tower, and fights against it, and draws near to the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,
And Abimelech came up to the tower, and fought against it, and approached as far as the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
From the Latin
And Abimelech coming near the tower, fought stoutly: and approaching to the gate, endeavoured to set fire to it:
Simplified
Abimelech went up to the tower to attack it. But as he approached the tower's entrance to set it on fire,
And Abimelech came to the tower and made an attack on it, and got near to the door of the tower for the purpose of firing it.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in this verse, with all twelve words matched in the Septuagint, indicating a strong consistency in the account of Abimelech's actions.
וַיָּבֹ֤א אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ עַד־ הַמִּגְדָּ֔ל וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֛שׁ עַד־ פֶּ֥תַח הַמִּגְדָּ֖ל לְשָׂרְפ֥וֹ בָאֵֽשׁ׃
12 of the 12 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.
Lexicons — every word in Judges 9:52
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.
בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.
בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go
Qal
come in
come (approach, arrive)
go, i.e. walk, associate with
go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
Hiph.
cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
Hoph.
be brought in (of pers. and things)
be brought
be introduced, put
base
H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in
. come (approach, arrive)
. go, i.e. walk, associate with
. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given
. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)
. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)
. . be brought in (of pers. and things)
. be brought
. be introduced, put
935 bow' bo
a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of
applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +
besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X
certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,
upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,
(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be
fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),
grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,
pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken
(in age), X surely, take (in), way.
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.
: come/go_in
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
1a5) to go
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to lead in
1b2) to carry in
1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon
1b4) to bring to pass
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought, brought in
1c2) to be introduced, be put
לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).
This name means to go in, enter
Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)
בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.
: towards/entrance
1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to enter, come in
1a2) to come
1a2a) to come with
1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)
1a2c) to come to pass
1a3) to attain to
1a4) to be enumerated
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ (Abiymelek) means 'father of the king' and refers to several figures in the Old Testament, including kings of Gerar and Gath, a son of Gideon, and a priest. The name is derived from the components for 'father' and 'king.' It is first mentioned in Genesis 20:2 and appears in various contexts throughout the scriptures.
אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ n.pr.m. (Melek (= Malik, Molech) is father)
king of Gerar
king of Gath
son of Gideon
priest, son of Abiathar
base
H40 אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ (Melek (= Malik, Molech) is father)
40 'Abiymelek ab-ee-mel'-ek
from 1 and 4428; father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of
two Philistine kings and of two Israelites:--Abimelech.
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 04428
אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ (a.vi.me.lekh) — Abimelech.
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.20.2
§ Abimelech = "Melek is father" or "my father is king"
1) king of Gerar in Abraham's time
2) king of Gath in David's time; maybe title of Philistine kings
3) son of Gideon by a concubine
4) priest, son of Abiathar
אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ (a.vi.me.lekh) — Abimelech.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.8.31;
son of: Gideon (H1439);
brother of: Jether (H3500) and Jotham (H3147)
§ Abimelech = "Melek is father" or "my father is king"
1) king of Gerar in Abraham's time
2) king of Gath in David's time; maybe title of Philistine kings
3) son of Gideon by a concubine
4) priest, son of Abiathar
אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ (a.vi.me.lekh) — Abimelech.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.21.10;
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
a-bim'-e-lek ('abhimelekh, "father of a king"): A name borne by five Old Testament persons.
(1) The name of two kings of Philistia; the first was a contemporary of Abraham, the second, probably son of the former, was king in the days of Isaac. It is quite possible that Abimelech was the royal title rather than the personal name, since in the title of Ps 34 we find it applied to the king of Gath, elsewhere known by his personal name, Achish (1Sa 27:2,3). Shortly after the destruction of Sodom Abraham journeyed with his herds and flocks into the extreme Southeast country of Palestine (Ge 20). While sojourning at Gerar, the city of Abimelech, king of the Philistine country, he made believe that Sarah was his sister (Ge 20:2), and Abimelech took her, intending to make her one of his…
Abimelech
My father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the Philistine kings, as “Pharaoh” was of the Egyptian kings. (1.) The Philistine king of Gerar in the time of Abraham (Gen. 20:1-18). By an interposition of Providence, Sarah was delivered from his harem, and was restored to her husband Abraham. As a mark of respect he gave to Abraham valuable gifts, and offered him a settlement in any part of his country; while at the same time he delicately and yet severely rebuked him for having practised a deception upon him in pretending that Sarah was only his sister. Among the gifts presented by the king were a thousand pieces of silver as a “covering of the eyes” for Sarah; i.e., either as an atoning gift and a testimony of her innocence in the sight of all, or rather for the purpose of procuring a veil for Sarah to conceal her…
(father of the king), the name of several Philistine kings, was probably a common title of these kings, like that of Pharaoh among the Egyptians and that of Caesar and Augustus among the Romans. Hence in the title of (Psalms 34:1) ... the name of Abimelech is given to the king, who is called Achish in (1 Samuel 21:11) A Philistine, king of Gerar, Genesis 20,21, who, exercising the right claimed by Eastern princes of collecting all the beautiful women of their dominions into their harem, (Genesis 12:15; Esther 2:3) sent for and took Sarah. A similar account is given of Abraham’s conduct of this occasion to that of his behavior towards Pharaoh. [ABRAHAM] (B.C. 1920.) Another…
1. King of Gerar of the Philistines, who took Sarah into his harem; but being warned of God in a dream, he restored her to Abraham, and gave him 1,000 pieces of silver as a "covering of the eyes" for Sarah, that is, as an atoning present, and to be a testimony of her innocence in the eyes of all. He afterwards made a league with Abraham, Ge 20:1-18.
2. Another king of Gerar, probably son of the former, and contemporary with Isaac. He rebuked Isaac for dissimulation in regard to Rebekah, and afterwards made a new league with him at Beersheba, Ge 26:1-35.
3. A son of Gideon by a concubine, made himself king of Shechem after his father’s death, and slew his father’s seventy sons on one stone, only Jotham the youngest being left. Jotham reproached the Shechemites for their conduct, in…
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.
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
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
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
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)
Prep — PrepositionHR
מִגְדָּל (migdal) primarily means 'tower,' indicating a structure that is tall or elevated. It can also refer to an elevated stage or pulpit and, in a figurative sense, to a raised bed of flowers. The word is derived from a root meaning height, and its usage spans various contexts in the Old Testament.
מִגְדָּל n.m. tower
tower
elevated stage, pulpit of wood
raised bed
base
H4026 מִגְדָּל tower . tower
. elevated stage, pulpit of wood
. raised bed
4026 migdal mig-dawl'
also (in plural) feminine migdalah {mig-daw- law'}; from
1431; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a
rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers:--castle,
flower, tower. Compare the names following.
see HEBREW for 01431
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — (Hananel) Tower.
Combined with cha.nan.el (חֲנַנְאֵל " of Hananel" H2606)
This name means tower
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — Tower (of the Hundred).
Combined with me.ah (מֵאָה "hundred" H3968)
This name means tower
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — Tower (Of the Ovens).
This name means tower, elevated stage
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — tower.
1) tower
1a) tower
1b) elevated stage, pulpit
1c) raised bed
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
tou'-er.
See FORTIFICATION, I, 5; CITY, II, 1.
Watch-towers or fortified posts in frontier or exposed situations are mentioned in Scripture, as the tower of Edar, etc., (Genesis 35:21; Isaiah 21:5,8,11; Micah 4:8) etc.; the tower of Lebanon. (2 Samuel 8:6) Besides these military structures, we read in Scripture of towers built in vineyards as an almost necessary appendage to them. (1 Samuel 5:2; Matthew 22:33; Mark 12:1) Such towers are still in use in Palestine in vineyards, especially near Hebron, and are used as lodges for the keepers of the vineyards.
The Hebrew word לָחַם (lacham) has two primary meanings: to fight or do battle, and to eat or use as food. It is a primitive root that conveys both the act of engaging in combat and the act of consuming food. The entries indicate that the word can imply destruction in the context of battle.
[לָחַם] 171 vb. fight, do battle
Qal fight, do battle
Niph. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war
base
[לָחַם] vb. use as food, eat
base
H3898a לָחַם fight, do battle .fight, do battle
. engage in battle (recipr.), sometimes wage war
H3898b לָחַם use as food, eat
3898 lacham law-kham'
a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by
implication, to battle (as destruction):--devour, eat, X ever,
fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
לָחַם (la.cham) — to fight.
1) to fight, do battle, make war
1a) (Qal) to fight, do battle
1b) (Niphal) to engage in battle, wage war
לָחַם (la.cham) — to feed on.
(Qal) to eat, use as food
Conj | V-Niphal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/VNw3ms
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms
נָגַשׁ (nagash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to draw near or approach. It can refer to humans or inanimate subjects and includes various forms such as causing to approach or being brought near. The term also has euphemistic uses, including sexual intercourse. The entries indicate a range of applications, from physical proximity to religious worship.
[נָגַשׁ] 125 vb. draw near, approach
Qal draw near or come near
Niph. draw near
Hiph. cause to approach, bring near, bring
Hoph. thy feet have not been brought near (put into) fetters; it (impers.) is offered to my name
Hithp. draw near!
base
H5066 [נָגַשׁ] draw near, approach .draw near or come near
. draw near
. cause to approach, bring near, bring
. thy feet have not been brought near (put into) fetters; it (impers.) is offered to my name
. draw near!
5066 nagash naw-gash'
a primitive root; to be or come (causatively, bring) near
(for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an
enemy, to attack; relig. to worship; causatively, to present;
figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand
back:--(make to) approach (nigh), bring (forth, hither,
near), (cause to) come (hither, near, nigh), give place, go
hard (up), (be, draw, go) near (nigh), offer, overtake,
present, put, stand.
נָגַשׁ (na.gash) — to approach: approach.
: approach
1) to draw near, approach
1a) (Qal) to draw or come near
1a1) of humans
1a1a) of sexual intercourse
1a2) of inanimate subject
1a2a) to approach one another
1b) (Niphal) to draw near
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to approach, bring near, bring
1d) (Hophal) to be brought near
1e) (Hithpael) to draw near
Also means: na.gash (נָגַשׁ ": bring" H5066H)
נָגַשׁ (na.gash) — to approach: bring.
: bring/offer
1) to draw near, approach
1a) (Qal) to draw or come near
1a1) of humans
1a1a) of sexual intercourse
1a2) of inanimate subject
1a2a) to approach one another
1b) (Niphal) to draw near
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to approach, bring near, bring
1d) (Hophal) to be brought near
1e) (Hithpael) to draw near
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
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.
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
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
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
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)
HR — PrepositionHR
פֶּ֫תַח (pethach) refers to an opening, such as a doorway or entrance. It is derived from a root meaning to open and encompasses terms like gate and entrance way. The entries consistently highlight its literal and figurative uses, but do not provide specific verse references.
פֶּ֫תַח 164 n.m. opening, doorway, entrance
base
H6607 פֶּ֫תַח opening, doorway, entrance
6607 pethach peh'-thakh
from 6605; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or
entrance way:--door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate,
opening, place.
see HEBREW for 06605
פֶּ֫תַח (pe.tach) — entrance.
opening, doorway, entrance
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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.
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…
מִגְדָּל (migdal) primarily means 'tower,' indicating a structure that is tall or elevated. It can also refer to an elevated stage or pulpit and, in a figurative sense, to a raised bed of flowers. The word is derived from a root meaning height, and its usage spans various contexts in the Old Testament.
מִגְדָּל n.m. tower
tower
elevated stage, pulpit of wood
raised bed
base
H4026 מִגְדָּל tower . tower
. elevated stage, pulpit of wood
. raised bed
4026 migdal mig-dawl'
also (in plural) feminine migdalah {mig-daw- law'}; from
1431; a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a
rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers:--castle,
flower, tower. Compare the names following.
see HEBREW for 01431
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — (Hananel) Tower.
Combined with cha.nan.el (חֲנַנְאֵל " of Hananel" H2606)
This name means tower
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — Tower (of the Hundred).
Combined with me.ah (מֵאָה "hundred" H3968)
This name means tower
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — Tower (Of the Ovens).
This name means tower, elevated stage
מִגְדָּל (mig.dal) — tower.
1) tower
1a) tower
1b) elevated stage, pulpit
1c) raised bed
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
tou'-er.
See FORTIFICATION, I, 5; CITY, II, 1.
Watch-towers or fortified posts in frontier or exposed situations are mentioned in Scripture, as the tower of Edar, etc., (Genesis 35:21; Isaiah 21:5,8,11; Micah 4:8) etc.; the tower of Lebanon. (2 Samuel 8:6) Besides these military structures, we read in Scripture of towers built in vineyards as an almost necessary appendage to them. (1 Samuel 5:2; Matthew 22:33; Mark 12:1) Such towers are still in use in Palestine in vineyards, especially near Hebron, and are used as lodges for the keepers of the vineyards.
The Hebrew word שָׂרַף (*saraph*) is a primitive root meaning 'to burn.' It encompasses various forms, including Qal (to burn), Niphal (to be burned), Piel (burner), and Pual (to be burnt up). The entries suggest a focus on the act of burning and its implications, with no significant disagreements noted among the lexicons.
שָׂרַף 117 vb. burn
Qal burn
Niph. be burned
Pi. his burner, usu. one burning him, but prob. burning spices for him
Pu. it was burnt up (and gone).
base
H8313 שָׂרַף burn
8313 saraph saw-raf'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire:--(cause
to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, X utterly.
שָׂרַף (sa.raph) — to burn.
1) to burn
1a) (Qal) to burn
1b) (Niphal) to be burned
1c) (Piel) burner, burning (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be burnt up, be burned
Also means: sa.raph (סָרַף "to burn" H5635)
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vqcc/Sp3ms
אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire
fire, of conflagration
of supernatural fire
fire for cooking, roasting, parching
esp. of altar fire
fig. of Yahweh's anger
in various combinations
base
H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration
. of supernatural fire
. fire for cooking, roasting, parching
. esp. of altar fire
. fig. of Yahweh's anger
. in various combinations
784 'esh aysh
a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--
burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.
1) fire
1a) fire, flames
1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)
1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)
1d) altar-fire
1e) God's anger (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)
HRd/Ncbsa — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHRd/Ncbsa
fir ('esh; pur):
These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…
Fire
(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).
Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;
is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…
In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…
