Menu

Jeremiah 13:2 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוָאֶקְנֶ֥ה אֶת־ הָאֵז֖וֹר כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֖ם עַל־ מָתְנָֽי׃ ס

BSASo I boughtqânâh [acquired, procured] a loinclothʼêzôwr [girdle, belt] in accordance with the worddâbâr of the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God] and I putsûwm [set, placed] it aroundʻal my waistmôthen [loins, hips]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 13
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 2 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 (ma.te.Nai) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 13:2quick helps
In a sentenceJeremiah describes an act of obedience to God's command by purchasing a loincloth.
Who is speakingThe prophet Jeremiah, following God's instructions.
Where we areIn a narrative where God uses symbolic actions to convey messages.
The hard wordאֵזוֹר
Take awayThe act of buying signifies obedience and the physical representation of God's message.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbקָנָה 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 — Jeremiah 13:2

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 — Symbolic Actions of Jeremiahgenerated

1This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”
2So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.
3Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time:
4“Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Perath and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”

Jeremiah 13:2 recounts how God instructed Jeremiah to buy a loincloth as a symbolic act. This loincloth represents the people of Israel and their relationship with God. The act of putting it around his waist signifies the closeness and binding nature of God's covenant with His people. This narrative is part of a larger message where God uses physical symbols to communicate spiritual truths, similar to other prophetic actions found throughout the book of Jeremiah.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 3:5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
2Isaiah 20:2the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
3Ezekiel 2:8And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
4Hosea 1:2–3When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”
5John 13:6–7He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

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


The Key Word אֵזוֹר, ha.'e.Zorgenerated

The Hebrew word אֵזוֹר (*ezor*) refers to a girdle or belt, which is tied around the waist. This term can symbolize strength and faithfulness, as seen in various biblical contexts. The parsing indicates that it is a common masculine singular noun, emphasizing its specific reference to the loincloth Jeremiah purchased.

In this verse, the loincloth serves as a tangible representation of God's message to Israel. The act of wearing it illustrates the intimate connection between God and His people, highlighting their covenant relationship.


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 verse is structured around two finite verbs: אֶקְנֶ֥ה (*I bought*) and וָאָשִׂ֖ם (*I put*). The first verb introduces the action of acquiring the loincloth, while the second verb describes the act of placing it around his waist.

The sequence of actions is significant; the first verb establishes the purchase as an act of obedience to God's command, and the second verb emphasizes the physical act of wearing the loincloth, reinforcing the symbolism of the message.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew אֵזוֹר is rendered as περίζωμα (*perizōma*), which also means 'girdle' or 'belt'. This choice maintains the original's focus on a garment that signifies readiness and strength.

The Greek term carries similar connotations of binding and preparation, suggesting that the loincloth serves as a metaphor for the relationship between God and His people.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 13:2 tells us that God instructed Jeremiah to buy a loincloth and wear it around his waist. This act symbolizes the relationship between God and His people, illustrating their closeness and the importance of obedience to God's commands.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the loincloth symbolize in this verse?

The loincloth represents the people of Israel and their relationship with God, illustrating the binding nature of His covenant.

Why did God instruct Jeremiah to perform this action?

God used this symbolic action to convey a message about the people's disobedience and the consequences of turning away from Him.

How does this act relate to other prophetic actions in the Bible?

Similar to other prophetic actions, this act serves as a tangible illustration of spiritual truths, emphasizing God's communication through physical symbols.

What can we learn from Jeremiah's obedience?

Jeremiah's obedience to God's command highlights the importance of following divine instructions, even when they seem strange or difficult to understand.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways God might be asking me to demonstrate my obedience to Him today?
  2. How can physical actions or symbols in my life represent my relationship with God?
  3. In what ways can I be more aware of God's messages in my daily life?
  4. How do I respond to God's instructions, especially when they challenge my understanding?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 13:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

So I got a girdle,.... Or, bought (n) a linen one, as directed: according to the word of the Lord; his express order and command; the prophet was not disobedient to the heavenly vision: and I put it

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

According to the word of the Lord; that is, according to God’ s command. And put it on my loins; and used it as God commanded me, never disputing the reason why God bid me do such a thing.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 13:2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put [it] on my loins.Ver. 2. So I got a girdle.] God is to be obeyed readily, and without questioning.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 13 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ch. Jeremiah 13:1-11. The acted symbol of the linen girdle This ch. consists of five sections, quite independent of one another. The first two are in poetic prose, and the remaining in Ḳ ?inah metre. Three questions arise in respect to this first section: (i) Does it relate a real transaction or a vision? (ii) What is the application of the symbol? (iii) To what date may we refer it? As regards (i) we may state that Du. rejects with scorn the passage, as non-Jeremianic, considering it as childish, and as a later insertion. Most commentators, however, refuse to accept this view. If we accept the view that the transaction was real, where was it carried out? Some think that the Heb. Pìrath…

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 13 →

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

So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

So I bought a belt according to Yahweh’s word, and put it on my waist.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

So I bought a loincloth in accordance with the word of the LORD, and I put it around my waist.

NETBNew English Translation2006

So I bought the shorts as the Lord had told me to do and put them on.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

So I bought a girdle according to the word of Jehovah, and put it upon my loins.

RVARevised Version, American1894

So I bought a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it upon my loins.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

So I procured a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So I bought the girdle according to the commandement of the Lord, and put it vpon my loynes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And I bought a girdle according to the word of Jehovah, and put it upon my loins.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and I get the girdle, according to the word of Jehovah, and I place [it] on my loins.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I get the girdle, according to the word of YHWH, and I place [it] on my loins.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

So I bought the girdle, according to the word of the Lord, and put it around my loins.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So I bought an undergarment as Yahweh directed, and I put in on around my waist.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I got a girdle accoding to the word of the Lord, and put it about my loins.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

So I went and bought a loincloth as the Lord had instructed me, and I put it on.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So, as the Lord said, I got a band for a price and put it round my body.

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.

וָandclauseverbאֶקְנֶ֥הI.boughtnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהָtheאֵז֖וֹרloinclothprepositional phrase · prepositionalכִּaccordingnoun phraseדְבַ֣רto.the.wordיְהוָ֑הof.Yahwehוָandclauseverbאָשִׂ֖םI.put.[it]prepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseמָתְנָֽloinsיmy

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 agree closely, with 7 of the 8 words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q70 also align with the Masoretic Text, confirming the essential elements of the verse without significant variation.

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

וָאֶקְנֶ֥ה אֶת־ הָאֵז֖וֹר כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֖ם עַל־ מָתְנָֽי׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וָאֶקְנֶ֥הἐκτησάμηνהָאֵז֖וֹרπερίζωμαכִּדְבַ֣רκατὰיְהוָ֑הκυρίουוָאָשִׂ֖םπεριέθηκαעַל־περὶמָתְנָֽי׃ סμου

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q70a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ואקנה את האזור כדבר יהוה ואשם על מתנ׳י

8 words on the leather.

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


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

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

Jeremiah 13:2קָנָהand I boughand I boughtקָנָהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתאֵזוֹרthe loinclothe loinclothאֵזוֹרדָּבָרaccording taccording to [tדָּבָריהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהשׂוּםand I put [and I put [it]שׂוּםעַלononעַלמַתְנַ֫יִםloins myloins myמַתְנַ֫יִםאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתאֲזֵקchainschainsאֲזֵקדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרהָיָהto beto beהָיָהעַלheightheightעַלמַחְצֵבhewinghewingמַחְצֵבבִּינָהunderstandunderstandingבִּינָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁמַתְנַ֫יִםloinloinמַתְנַ֫יִםיֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶרסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאשַׁמָּהhorror: dehorror: destroyשַׁמָּהשְׁמָמָהDesolateDesolateשְׁמָמָהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאאֵזוֹרgirdlegirdleאֵזוֹר
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 Jeremiah 13:2

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 I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
וָאֶקְנֶ֥הva.'ek.Neh and I bought H7069 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
84× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to buy or acquire something, and is used to describe God's redemption of His people. It emphasizes ownership and possession, as seen in the stories of God's creation and redemption.
Amplified meaning
acquired, procured
Tyndale gloss
to buy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָנָה (*qanah*) primarily means to get, acquire, or buy. It can also imply creating or procuring something, often in a poetic context. The entries indicate various usages, including God acquiring His people and Eve acquiring knowledge. There is an Aramaic equivalent, קְנָא (*qe.na*), which also means 'to buy.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָנָה 84 vb. get, acquire

Qal 81

get, acquire (all poet.)

elsewhere buy

Niph. be bought

Hiph. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7069 קָנָה get, acquire .. get, acquire (all poet.)

. elsewhere buy

. be bought

. caused (one) to purchase me, i.e. made me a bondman

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7069 qanah kaw-naw'

a primitive root; to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to

procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by

implication to own:--attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle,

get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover,

redeem, X surely, X verily.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָנָה (qa.nah) — to buy.

1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to get, acquire, obtain

1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people

1a1a1) possessor

1a1b) of Eve acquiring

1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom

1a2) to buy

1b) (Niphal) to be bought

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess

Aramaic equivalent: qe.na (קְנָא "to buy" H7066)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
and I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
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 I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
הָאֵז֖וֹרha.'e.Zor the loincloth H232 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A girdle or belt, often used figuratively to represent God's power or faithfulness, such as in the prophet Isaiah's description of God's strength. It can also refer to a physical waistband or sash.
Amplified meaning
girdle, belt
Tyndale gloss
girdle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵזוֹר (ezowr) refers to a waistcloth or girdle, an article of clothing that is tied around the waist. It can symbolize God's power over kings and faithfulness in a metaphorical sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to gird' and covers both literal and figurative uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵזוֹר n.m. waistcloth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H232 אֵזוֹר waistcloth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

232 'ezowr ay-zore'

from 246; something girt; a belt, also a band:--girdle.

see HEBREW for 0246

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵזוֹר (e.zor) — girdle.

1) waist-cloth, the innermost piece of clothing

1a) of God's power over kings (fig.)

1b) of faithfulness (metaph)

2) waistband

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
and I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
כִּדְבַ֣רkid.Var according to [the] word of H1697 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

Read the full entry →
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…

and I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
יְהוָ֑הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, the Lord God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
וָאָשִׂ֖םva.'a.Sim and I put [it] H7760 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
585× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to put or place something, and is used in many different ways in the Bible, such as to appoint or determine something. It is first used in Genesis to describe God's creation. In the KJV, it is translated as 'appoint' or 'set' in various contexts.
Amplified meaning
set, placed
Tyndale gloss
to set: make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׂוּם (sum) is a verb meaning to put, place, or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, establishing, and making. It can also refer to laying something upon or directing it. There is a related noun שׂוּמָה (sumah), which may denote a token of unluckiness. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set

Qal

put, set, in a place

put something upon

put, lay, set

put, c. בֵּין

set, direct

set, ordain, in a place

set, establish a law, statute

set, found a nation

set, appoint (as ruler, official)

set, constitute, make

set, determine, fix, bounds

set, station, at a post

put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars

set up altars

= plant, wheat

set, fix (countenance)

make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into

make, constitute

work, bring to pass

appoint, give

set, fix (countenance)

Hiph. I will make him for a sign

Hoph. there was set before him

base

שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl;—2 S 13:32

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7760a שׂוּם, שִׂים put, place, set .. . put, set, in a place

. put something upon

. put, lay, set

. put, c. בֵּין

. set, direct

. . set, ordain, in a place

. set, establish a law, statute

. set, found a nation

. set, appoint (as ruler, official)

. set, constitute, make

. set, determine, fix, bounds

. . set, station, at a post

. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars

. set up altars

. = plant, wheat

. set, fix (countenance)

. . make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into

. make, constitute

. work, bring to pass

. appoint, give

. set, fix (countenance)

. I will make him for a sign

. there was set before him

H7760b שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7760 suwm soom

or siym {seem}; a primitive root; to put (used in a great

variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially,

and elliptically):--X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a

name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider,

convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap

up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out),

mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve,

purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set

(on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down,

((over-))turn, X wholly, work.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׂוּם (sum) — to set: make.

: make/establish

1) to put, place, set, appoint, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

1a2) to set, direct, direct toward

1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)

1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix

1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix

1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give

1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign

1c) (Hophal) to be set

שׂוּמָה (su.mah) — fate.

token of unluckiness, scowl

שׂוּם (sum) — to set: put.

: put/give

1) to put, place, set, appoint, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on

1a2) to set, direct, direct toward

1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)

1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common singular
Hc/Vqw1cs
and I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and I bought the object marker the loincloth according to [the] word of Yahweh and I put [it] on loins my
מָתְנָֽי׃ סma.te.Nai loins my H4975 Noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to the waist or small of the back, often translated as loins or hips, as seen in Proverbs 30:31. It can also describe the sides of an animal. The word is only used in plural form.
Amplified meaning
loins, hips
Tyndale gloss
loin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַתְנַ֫יִם (matanim) refers to the loins or hips, derived from a root meaning to be slender. It appears in the plural form and is associated with the term for a greyhound in Proverbs 30:31. The word captures the anatomical region of the waist or small of the back.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַתְנַ֫יִם n.m.du. loins

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4975 מַתְנַ֫יִם loins

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4975 mothen mo'-then

from an unused root meaning to be slender; properly, the

waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins:--+

greyhound, loins, side.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מׇתְנַ֫יִם (mo.ten) — loin.

1) loins, hips

1a) used with zar.zir (זַרְזִיר "greyhound" H2223) in Pr 30:31; perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-md | Suff — Noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
HNcmdc/Sp1bs
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate