Menu

Jeremiah 15:8 — Word Study

Depth

WLCעָֽצְמוּ־ לִ֤י אַלְמְנֹתָיו֙ מֵח֣וֹל יַמִּ֔ים הֵבֵ֨אתִי לָהֶ֥ם עַל־ אֵ֛ם בָּח֖וּר שֹׁדֵ֣ד בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם הִפַּ֤לְתִּי עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ פִּתְאֹ֔ם עִ֖יר וּבֶהָלֽוֹת׃

BSAI will make their widowsʼalmânâh [more numerous than the sand of the seas, increased beyond measure] more numerousʻâtsam than the sandchôwl [round or whirling particles] of the seayâm I will bringbôwʼ a destroyershâdad [one who ruins or devastates, a spoiler] at noontsôhar [midday, when the sun is highest] againstʻal the mothersʼêm [female parents, maternal figures] of young menbâchûwr [chosen or select individuals, in their prime] I will suddenlypithʼôwm [happening quickly, without warning] bringnâphal upon themʻal anguishʻîyr [deep sorrow, pain] and dismaybehâlâh [panic or destruction, caused by terror]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 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 (u.ve.ha.Lot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 15:8quick helps
In a sentenceGod declares that the number of widows will surpass the sands of the sea, and He will bring destruction suddenly.
Who is speakingThe LORD, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah.
Where we areThis verse is part of a prophetic warning about impending judgment and devastation.
The hard wordשֹׁדֵ֣ד
Take awayThe imagery emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the coming calamity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbעָצֹם 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 15:8

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 Prophecy of Judgmentgenerated

7I will scatter them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land. I will bereave and destroy My people who have not turned from their ways.
8I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring upon them anguish and dismay.
9The mother of seven will grow faint; she will breathe her last breath. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. And the rest I will put to the sword in the presence of their enemies,” declares the LORD.
10Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.

Jeremiah 15:8 is a stark declaration of God's impending judgment, where He states that the number of widows will exceed the sand of the sea, indicating a profound loss of life and family. This verse reflects the gravity of the situation as God prepares to unleash destruction upon His people due to their unfaithfulness. The surrounding verses (Jeremiah 15:7-9) set the stage for this warning, highlighting the consequences of their actions and the sorrow that will follow.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 3:25–26Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle.
2Isaiah 4:1In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”
3Jeremiah 4:16Warn the nations now! Proclaim to Jerusalem: “A besieging army comes from a distant land; they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
4Jeremiah 5:6Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
5Jeremiah 6:4–5‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long.

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


The Key Word עָצְמוּ־, 'a.tze.mu-generated

The verb עָצֹם (atsam) is a perfect third person common plural form meaning 'they are numerous.' It conveys the idea of being vast or mighty, emphasizing the overwhelming quantity of widows that will arise as a result of God's judgment.

This word is associated with strength and abundance, indicating not just a numerical increase but also the weight of sorrow that will accompany such loss. The context of the verse underscores the severity of the situation, as the destruction leads to an increase in the vulnerable.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, we examine the verse as rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which aligns closely with the KJV and ASV in its wording.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in the verse is הֵבֵ֨אתִי, I have brought, which governs the actions described. The structure of the sentence includes a series of prepositional phrases that elaborate on the subjects and objects involved, creating a complex picture of the judgment being foretold.

The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the severity of the situation, with the subject of destruction and the resulting anguish placed prominently in the sentence.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates עָצְמוּ־ as ἐπληθύνθησαν, which means 'they were multiplied.' This choice reflects a similar emphasis on the vast increase of widows, aligning with the Hebrew meaning while also suggesting a divine action in the multiplication.

The translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text, reinforcing the idea of overwhelming loss as a consequence of judgment.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 15:8 reveals God's warning that the number of widows will greatly increase due to the impending destruction. This verse highlights the sorrow and devastation that will come upon the people, emphasizing the consequences of their actions and the loss of life.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the widows will be more numerous than the sand of the sea?

This phrase indicates an overwhelming increase in the number of widows due to death and destruction, symbolizing great loss within the community.

Who is the destroyer mentioned in this verse?

The destroyer refers to an agent of judgment sent by God to bring about devastation and ruin, highlighting the seriousness of the impending consequences.

What is the significance of the term 'at noon'?

The mention of 'at noon' suggests a time of visibility and clarity, indicating that the judgment will be evident and unavoidable, much like the midday sun.

How does this verse connect with the surrounding context?

This verse is part of a larger prophetic message about judgment and the consequences of unfaithfulness, illustrating the depth of sorrow and loss that will result from the people's actions.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How does understanding the context of this verse deepen my perception of God's judgment?
  2. In what ways can I reflect on the impact of my actions on those around me, especially the vulnerable?
  3. What does this verse teach me about the seriousness of sin and its consequences?
  4. How can I find hope and restoration in the midst of judgment and loss?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Jerome quotes this verse to illustrate the severity of God's judgment, emphasizing the multiplication of widows and the sudden troubles that will come upon the cities.

JeromeVerse 8. c. 347–420
Her widows are multiplied to me above the sand of the sea: I have brought upon them the destroyer at noonday: I have sent troubles suddenly upon the cities.
Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 15 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 15:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas,.... Their husbands being slain; not in the times of Ahaz, when a hundred and twenty thousand men were slain in one day in Judah, by Pekah

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The prophet speaking in the name of that God who calleth things that are not as if they were, still continueth his style, speaking of things to come as if present. In Jehoiakim’ s time we read of no such plenty of widows; they were multiplied when the city was besieged and taken in Zedekiah’ s time to a great number, hyperbolically compared to the sands of the sea. I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noon-day: there is a great variety amongst interpreters as to their sense of this phrase, about which those that are curious may consult the English Annotations upon this verse. By the spoiler at noon-day is meant Nebuchadnezzar, in the sense of the best…

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 15:8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused [him] to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.Ver. 8. The widows are increased to me.] Or, Before me; or, In my sight. Above the sands of the seas.] Hyperbole. A spoiler at noon day.] Nebuchadnezzar, that choice young man; for so some render the text. And so he was, when he came against Jerusalem and burned it, viz., in the eighteenth year of his reign. And terrors upon the city.] Or, Terrors, even the city; that is, say the Septuagint and Chaldee, the army of the Chaldees, which for their numbers and order of…

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 15 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) I have brought . . .—Better, I have brought upon them, even upon the mother of the young warrior (i.e., upon the woman who rejoices most in her son’s heroism), a spoiler at noon-day, i.e., coming, when least expected, at the hour when most armies rested. (See Note on Jeremiah 6:4.) I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly . . .—Better, I have brought suddenly upon her (the “mother” of the previous sentence) travail-pangs (as in Isaiah 13:8) and dismay. The Aramaic word for the anguish of childbirth is also the Hebrew word for “city,” and this has misled translators. The LXX. gives the true meaning.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 15 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. The mother of the young men] The metropolis or mother city, Jerusalem.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 15 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Translate, “I have brought upon them, even upon the mother of the young man, a spoiler etc.” The word rendered “young man” means a picked warrior.

Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 15 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

8, 9. This destruction is so sweeping that widows are increased… above the sand of the seas… mother of the young men — Literally, the young man, the word which is so rendered meaning young warrior.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Jeremiah 15 →

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

I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring upon them anguish and dismay.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Their widows are increased more than the sand of the seas. I have brought on them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday. I have caused anguish and terrors to fall on her suddenly.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring upon them anguish and dismay.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Their widows will become in my sight more numerous than the grains of sand on the seashores. At noontime I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of their young men. I will cause anguish and terror to fall suddenly upon them.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas; I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall upon her suddenly.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall upon her suddenly.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Their widows are multiplied to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noon-day: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Their widdowes are increased by mee aboue the sande of the sea: I haue brought vpon them, and against the assembly of the yong men a destroyer at noone day: I haue caused him to fal vpon them, and the citie suddenly, and speedily.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Their widows are increased to me more than the sand of the seas; I have brought upon them, against the mother of the young men, a spoiler at noonday; I have caused anguish and terror to fall upon her suddenly.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Its widows have been more to Me than the sand of the seas, I brought in to them — against the mother — A young man — a spoiler — at noon. I caused to fall upon her suddenly, wrath and trouble.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Its widows have been more to Me than the sand of the seas, || I brought on them—against the mother—A young man—a spoiler—at noon. I caused wrath and trouble to fall on her suddenly.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Their widows are more numerous before me than the sand of the seas: I bring unto them, over the mothers of the young men, a waster at noonday; I cause to fall upon her suddenly the enemy with [his] terrors.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will make their widows number more than the sands of the seashore. Against the mothers of young men I will send the destroyer at noonday. I will make shock and horror suddenly fall on them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Their widows are multiplied unto me above the sand of the sea: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young man a spoiler at noonday: I have cast a terror on a sudden upon the cities.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

There will be more widows than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon and mothers will lose their young sons. They will suddenly experience agony and shock.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

I have let their widows be increased in number more than the sand of the seas: I have sent against them, against the mother and the young men, one who makes waste in the heat of the day, causing pain and fears to come on her suddenly.

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.

clauseverbעָֽצְמוּthey.are.numerousprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִ֤toיmenoun phrase · subjectאַלְמְנֹתָwidowsו֙itsprepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵmorenoun phraseח֣וֹלthan.[the].sandיַמִּ֔יםof.[the].seasclauseverbהֵבֵ֨אתִיI.have.broughtprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoהֶ֥םthemprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseאֵ֛םa.motherבָּח֖וּרof.a.young.manobjectשֹׁדֵ֣דa.destroyerprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּֽatnoun phrase(the)צָּהֳרָ֑יִםnoon(s)clauseverbהִפַּ֤לְתִּיI.have.made.fallprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלֶ֨יonהָ֙heradverbialפִּתְאֹ֔םsuddenlynoun phrase · objectעִ֖ירanguishוּandבֶהָלֽוֹתsudden.terror

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with 15 of the 17 words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the prophecy across these ancient texts, although the Septuagint's word order differs from the Hebrew.

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

עָֽצְמוּ־ לִ֤י אַלְמְנֹתָיו֙ מֵח֣וֹל יַמִּ֔ים הֵבֵ֨אתִי לָהֶ֥ם עַל־ אֵ֛ם בָּח֖וּר שֹׁדֵ֣ד בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם הִפַּ֤לְתִּי עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ פִּתְאֹ֔ם עִ֖יר וּבֶהָלֽוֹת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עָֽצְמוּ־ἐπληθύνθησανאַלְמְנֹתָיו֙αὐτῶνמֵח֣וֹלἄμμονיַמִּ֔יםθαλάσσηςהֵבֵ֨אתִיἐπήγαγονעַל־ἐπὶאֵ֛םμητέραבָּח֖וּרνεανίσκουשֹׁדֵ֣דταλαιπωρίανבַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִםμεσημβρίᾳהִפַּ֤לְתִּיἐπέρριψαעָלֶ֙יהָ֙αὐτὴνפִּתְאֹ֔םἐχαίφνηςעִ֖ירτρόμονוּבֶהָלֽוֹת׃σπουδήν

15 of the 17 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.

Jeremiah 15:8עָצֹםthey are nuthey are numeroעָצֹםנִיto meto meנִיאַלְמָנָהwidows itswidows itsאַלְמָנָהחוֹלmore than [more than [the]חוֹליָם[the] seas[the] seasיָםבּוֹאI have brouI have broughtבּוֹאהֶםto themto themהֶםעַלononעַלאֵםa mother ofa mother ofאֵםבָּחוּרa young mana young manבָּחוּרשָׁדַדa destroyera destroyerשָׁדַדצֹ֫הַרat noonat noonצֹ֫הַרנָפַלI have madeI have made falנָפַלעַלon heron herעַלפִּתְאֹםsuddenlysuddenlyפִּתְאֹםעִירanguishanguishעִירבֶּֽהָלָהand sudden and sudden terrבֶּֽהָלָהפֶּתַעsuddennesssuddennessפֶּתַעעֶ֫צֶםboneboneעֶ֫צֶםחוּלto twist: to twist: trembחוּלעַלheightheightעַלצָהַרto pressto pressצָהַרעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרבָּהַלto dismayto dismayבָּהַלאַלְמָןforsakenforsakenאַלְמָןאָבfatherfatherאָבבָּחַרto chooseto chooseבָּחַרפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַלכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּארָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַבמְאֹדmuchmuchמְאֹדיָתוֹםorphanorphanיָתוֹםגֵּרsojournersojournerגֵּריָם(Mt. Ephro(Mt. Ephron in יָם
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 15:8

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.

they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
עָֽצְמוּ־'a.tze.mu- they are numerous H6105 Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to shut one's eyes tightly or to become powerful, and can also mean to break or crunch bones. It is used in various contexts, including in the books of Psalms and Isaiah. The idea of being strong is central to this word.
Tyndale gloss
be vast
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָצֹם (atsam) has two main meanings: to be vast, mighty, or numerous, and to shut the eyes. The word can describe strength or abundance in the Qal form, while the Hiphil form indicates making something strong. Additionally, it can refer to the act of closing the eyes, with variations in intensity noted in the entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[עָצֹם], עָצַם vb. be vast, mighty, numerous

Qal

be mighty

be numerous

Hiph. make strong

base

[עָצַם] vb. shut the eyes

Qal shutteth his eyes from seeing

Pi. he hath tightly shut your eyes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6105a עָצֹם, עָצַם be vast, mighty, numerous .. be mighty

. be numerous

. make strong

H6105b עָצַם shut the eyes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6105 `atsam aw-tsam'

a primitive root; to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes);

intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or

numerous; denominatively (from 6106) to crunch the

bones:--break the bones, close, be great, be increased, be

(wax) mighty(-ier), be more, shut, be(-come, make)

strong(-er).

see HEBREW for 06106

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָצֹם (a.tsom) — be vast.

1) to be vast, be numerous, be mighty

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to be mighty

1a2) to be numerous

1b) (Hiphil) to make strong, make mighty

עָצַם (a.tsam) — to shut eyes.

1) to shut (the eyes), close (the eyes)

1a) (Qal) to shut (the eyes)

1b) (Piel) to shut tightly (the eyes)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common plural
HVqp3cp
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
לִ֤יli to me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp1bs
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
אַלְמְנֹתָיו֙'al.me.no.Tav widows its H490 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
56× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A widow is a woman whose husband has died, often left alone and vulnerable. The Bible teaches care and compassion for widows, as seen in the stories of Ruth and Naomi. God commands his people to look out for them.
Amplified meaning
more numerous than the sand of the seas, increased beyond measure
Tyndale gloss
widow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַלְמָנָה (*almanah*) means 'widow' and is derived from the root of another word. It can also refer to a desolate place, such as a desolate house or palace. The entries consistently emphasize its primary meaning as 'widow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַלְמָנָה 61 n.f. widow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H490 אַלְמָנָה widow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

490 'almanah al-maw-naw'

fem of 488; a widow; also a desolate place:--desolate house

(palace), widow.

see HEBREW for 0488

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַלְמָנָה (al.ma.nah) — widow.

widow

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp3ms
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
מֵח֣וֹלme.Chol more than [the] sand of H2344 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to sand, describing it as round or whirling particles. It is used in the Bible to talk about the desert or beach, and is often translated simply as 'sand'.
Amplified meaning
round or whirling particles
Tyndale gloss
sand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חוֹל (chol) means 'sand,' possibly derived from the idea of turning or whirling particles. The entries consistently define it as sand, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חוֹל n.m. sand (perh. as turning or whirling)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2344 חוֹל sand (perh. as turning or whirling)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2344 chowl khole

from 2342; sand (as round or whirling particles):--sand.

see HEBREW for 02342

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חוֹל (chol) — sand.

sand

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…

they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
יַמִּ֔יםya.Mim [the] seas H3220 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
396× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to a large body of water like the Mediterranean Sea or a sea in general, sometimes specifically the west or seaward direction.
Tyndale gloss
(Mt. Ephron in the) West
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָם (yam) means 'sea' and refers to various large bodies of water, including the Mediterranean, Red, and Dead Seas, as well as the Sea of Galilee. It can also denote a mighty river like the Nile and has geographical implications, indicating directions such as west or south. The term is derived from a root meaning to roar, suggesting the noise of breaking surf.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָם 390 n.m. sea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3220 יָם sea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3220 yam yawm

from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in

noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the

article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or

an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the

south:--sea (X -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern,

side, -ward).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָם (yam) — sea.

: sea

1) sea

1a) Mediterranean Sea

1b) Red Sea

1c) Dead Sea

1d) Sea of Galilee

1e) sea (general)

1f) mighty river (Nile)

1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)

1h) seaward, west, westward

יָם (yam) — sea: west.

: west

1) sea

1a) Mediterranean Sea

1b) Red Sea

1c) Dead Sea

1d) Sea of Galilee

1e) sea (general)

1f) mighty river (Nile)

1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)

1h) seaward, west, westward

יָם (yam) — (Mt. Ephron in the) West.

This name means sea, seaward, westward

Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
הֵבֵ֨אתִיhe.Ve.ti I have brought H935 Verb · Hiphil · perfect first person common singular
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · perfect first person common singular
HVhp1cs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
לָהֶ֥םla.Hem to them H9038 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶם (hem) — them.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3mp
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
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
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
אֵ֛ם'em a mother of H517 Noun common · feminine singular construct
220× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'mother' is used in the Bible to describe a female parent or a maternal figure. It can also refer to the source or origin of something, such as a river or a family. In some cases, it is used figuratively to describe a person's relationship to others.
Amplified meaning
female parents, maternal figures
Tyndale gloss
mother
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵם (em) means 'mother' and can refer to a human mother, an animal's dam, or even a figurative sense, such as Deborah's nurturing role for her people. It also conveys the idea of a point of departure or division. This word is built from a primitive root and encompasses both literal and figurative meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵם 221 n.f. mother

lit. (human) mother

fig. of Deborah as caring for her people

of animals, dam

= point of departure or division

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H517 אֵם mother . lit. (human) mother

. fig. of Deborah as caring for her people

. of animals, dam

. = point of departure or division

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

517 'em ame

a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a

wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like 1):--dam,

mother, X parting.

see HEBREW for 01

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵם (em) — mother.

1) mother

1a) of humans

1b) of Deborah's relationship to the people (fig.)

1c) of animals

2) point of departure or division

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular construct
HNcfsc
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…

they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
בָּח֖וּרba.Chur a young man H970 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
44× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a young person, often a chosen or select individual, like a young man in his prime. It appears in various contexts, including descriptions of young soldiers. The term emphasizes the idea of being selected or set apart.
Amplified meaning
chosen or select individuals, in their prime
Tyndale gloss
youth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּחוּר (bachuwr) refers to a young man or youth, often implying someone who has been selected or chosen. The term appears in contexts that highlight youthfulness, and it is derived from a root meaning 'to select.' It is notably referenced in Isaiah 62:5.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּחוּר n.m. young man Is 62:5 7 t.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H970 בָּחוּר young man

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

970 bachuwr baw-khoor'

or bachur {baw-khoor'}; participle passive of 977; properly,

selected, i.e. a youth (often collective):--(choice) young

(man), chosen, X hole.

see HEBREW for 0977

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּחוּר (ba.chur) — youth.

youth, young man

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See ANTHROPOLOGY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Man

(1.) Heb. ‘Adam, used as the proper name of the first man. The name is derived from a word meaning “to be red,” and thus the first man was called Adam because he was formed from the red earth. It is also the generic name of the human race (Gen. 1:26, 27; 5:2; 8:21; Deut. 8:3). Its equivalents are the Latin homo and the Greek anthropos (Matt. 5:13, 16). It denotes also man in opposition to woman (Gen. 3:12; Matt. 19:10).

(2.) Heb. ‘ish, like the Latin vir and Greek aner, denotes properly a man in opposition to a woman (1 Sam. 17:33;

→ CREATED Ge 1:26,27; 2:7; 5:1,2; De 4:32; Job 4:17; 10:2,3,8,9; 31:15; 33:4; 35:10; Ps 8:5; 100:3; 119:73; 138:8; 139:14; Ec 7:29; Isa 17:7; 42:5; 43:7; 45:12; 64:8; Jer 27:5; Zec 12:1; Mal 2:10; Mr 10:6; Heb 2:7

See CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, below

they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
שֹׁדֵ֣דsho.Ded a destroyer H7703 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
57× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ruin or devastate is the meaning of this word, often used to describe the powerful and destructive actions of God or human enemies, as seen in the conquest of Canaan. It can also mean to be powerful or impregnable, as in the case of the strongholds of David. This concept is explored in the book of Psalms.
Amplified meaning
one who ruins or devastates, a spoiler
Tyndale gloss
to ruin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁדַד (shadad) is a Hebrew verb that conveys the idea of dealing violently with something, including meanings like despoil, devastate, and ruin. It has various forms, indicating actions such as violently destroying, being utterly ruined, or assaulting. The entries suggest a strong connotation of destruction and oppression, with the word appearing in contexts related to devastation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁדַד] 56 vb. deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

Qal violently destroy, pers. = slay

Niph. we are utterly ruined.

Pi. assault not his dwelling-place

Pu. be devastated

Pō‛el violently destroy

Hoph. be devastated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7703 [שָׁדַד] deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7703 shadad shaw-dad'

a primitive root; properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively)

powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to

ravage:--dead, destroy(-er), oppress, robber, spoil(-er), X

utterly, (lay) waste.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁדַד (sha.dad) — to ruin.

1) to deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin, destroy, spoil

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to violently destroy, devastate, despoil, assail

1a2) devastator, despoiler (participle) (subst)

1b) (Niphal) to be utterly ruined

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to assault

1c2) to devastate

1d) (Pual) to be devastated

1e) (Poel) to violently destroy

1f) (Hophal) to be devastated

Also means: shud (שׁוּד "to waste" H7736)

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

de-stroi'-er: In several passages the word designates a supernatural agent of destruction, or destroying angel, executing Divine judgment.

(1) In Ex 12:23, of the "destroyer" who smote the first-born in Egypt, again referred to under the same title in Heb 11:28 the Revised Version (British and American) (the King James Version "he that destroyed").

(2) In Job 33:22, "the destroyers" (literally, "they that cause to die") = the angels of death that are ready to take away a man's life during severe illness. No exact parallel to this is found in the Old Testament. The nearest approach is "the angel that destroyed the people" by pestilence (2Sa 24:16,17 parallel

Destroyer

(Ex. 12:23), the agent employed in the killing of the first-born; the destroying angel or messenger of God. (Comp. 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Sam. 24:15, 16; Ps. 78:49; Acts 12:23.)

they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִםba.tzo.ho.Ra.yim at noon H6672 Preposition · noun common masculine dual absolute
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a roof or a window, and can also mean noon or midday, likely due to the sun shining through a window at that time. It is used in descriptions of buildings and daily routines in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
midday, when the sun is highest
Tyndale gloss
midday
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word צֹ֫הַר (tsohar) primarily means 'midday' or 'noon,' referring to a specific time of day. It also has a secondary meaning related to 'roof,' though this interpretation is uncertain. The entries indicate that it is derived from a root meaning 'light,' suggesting a connection to brightness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צֹ֫הַר] n.[m.] only pl., midday, noon

base

צֹ֫הַר n.f. prob. roof;—Gn 6:16.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6672a צֹ֫הַר only pl., midday, noon H6672b צֹ֫הַר prob. roof

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6672 tsohar tso'-har

from 6671; a light (i.e. window): dual double light, i.e.

noon:--midday, noon(-day, -tide), window.

see HEBREW for 06671

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֹ֫הַר (tso.har) — midday.

1) noon, midday

1a) noon (as specific time of day)

1b) noon (in simile as bright of happiness, blessing)

צֹ֫הַר (tso.har) — roof.

2) roof

2a) meaning uncertain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine dual absolute
HRd/Ncmda
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
הִפַּ֤לְתִּיhi.Pal.ti I have made fall H5307 Verb · Hiphil · perfect first person common singular
435× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Tyndale gloss
to fall: fall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie

Qal 366

fall, by accident

Esp. of violent death

fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

fig. = experience calamity

fall, of a city

Fall prostrate

fall = prostrate oneself before

fall upon one's neck, in embrace

Fall upon = attack

desert or fall away to, go over to

Fig., of deep sleep

Other idiomatic uses

= lie; = lie prostrate

Hiph.

cause to fall

Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

Esp. of casting lot

Fig., let drop, cause to fail

cause deep sleep to fall

Other idioms

Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident

. . Esp. of violent death

. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.

. fig. = experience calamity

. fall, of a city

. . Fall prostrate

. fall = prostrate oneself before

. fall upon one's neck, in embrace

. . Fall upon = attack

. desert or fall away to, go over to

. Fig., of deep sleep

. Other idiomatic uses

. = lie; = lie prostrate

. . cause to fall

. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction

. Esp. of casting lot

. Fig., let drop, cause to fail

. cause deep sleep to fall

. Other idioms

. throw, or prostrate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5307 naphal naw-fal'

a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications

(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be

accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide

(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall

(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have

(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay

(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,

lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make

to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

see HEBREW for 06419

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.

: fall/drop/fail

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.

: deserting

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · perfect first person common singular
HVhp1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fol (vb.): The idea of falling is most frequently expressed in Hebrew by naphal, but also by many other words; in Greek by pipto, and its compounds. The uses of the word in Scripture are very varied. There is the literal falling by descent; the falling of the countenance in sorrow, shame, anger, etc. (Ge 4:5,6); the falling in battle (Ge 14:10; Nu 14:3, etc.); the falling into trouble, etc. (Pr 24:16,17); prostration in supplication and reverence (Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5, etc.); falling of the Spirit of Yahweh (Eze 11:5

they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
עָלֶ֙יהָ֙'a.Lei.ha on her H5921 Preposition · suffix
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 | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
פִּתְאֹ֔םpit.'Om suddenly H6597 Adverb
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means happening suddenly or quickly, like an unexpected event. It is used in the Bible to describe surprising things that happen to people like Jacob and Joseph.
Amplified meaning
happening quickly, without warning
Tyndale gloss
suddenly
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פִּתְאֹם (pit'om) means 'suddenly' and can also refer to 'suddenness.' It is primarily used as an adverb to describe an unexpected occurrence. The word is derived from another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide specific verses where it is used.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פִּתְאֹם, once פֵּתְאוֹם subst. suddenness, usu. as adv. acc. suddenly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6597 פִּתְאֹם, once פֵּתְאוֹם suddenness, usu. as adv. acc. suddenly

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6597 pith'owm pith-ome'

or pith.om {pith-ome'}; from 6621; instantly:--straightway,

sudden(-ly).

see HEBREW for 06621

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פִּתְאֹם (pit.om) — suddenly.

adv

1) suddenly, surprisingly

subst

2) suddenness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
עִ֖יר'ir anguish H5892 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,090× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
deep sorrow, pain
Tyndale gloss
excitement
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עִיר (*'iyr*) has meanings related to both excitement and city. It can denote excitement, particularly of terror or rage, as well as refer to a city or town, indicating a place that is guarded or inhabited. The entries suggest a broad application, from fortified cities to simple encampments. There is a specific mention of a man named Ir in 1 Chronicles 4:12.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִיר n.[m.] excitement;—of terror; of rage

base

עִיר 1092 n.f. city, town

city, town, abode of men

of fortress in a city

appar. fortified place, of any size

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5892a עִיר excitement;—of terror; of rage H5892b עִיר city, town . city, town, abode of men

. of fortress in a city

. appar. fortified place, of any size

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5892 `iyr eer

or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4)

{aw-yar'}; from 5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a

watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or

post):--Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.

see HEBREW for 05782

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִיר (ir) — excitement.

1) excitement, anguish

1a) of terror

עִיר (ir) — city.

1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded)

1a) city, town

עִיר (ir) — City (of On).

Combined with on (אֹן "On" H0204)

This name means city, town

Another name of on (אֹן "On" H0204)

עִיר (ir) — Ir-.

#A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.12;

son of: Tehinnah (H8468)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

an'-gwish: Extreme distress of body, mind or spirit; excruciating pain or suffering of soul, e.g. excessive grief, remorse, despair. Chiefly expressed in Old Testament, by four derivatives of tsuq, "straitened," "pressed," and tsar, and two derivatives signifying "straitness," "narrowness," hence distress; also shabhats, "giddiness," "confusion of mind"; hul "to twist" with pain, "writhe." So in the New Testament, thlipsis, "a pressing together," hence affliction, tribulation, stenochoria, "narrowness of place," hence extreme affliction; sunoche, "a holding together," hence distress. The fundamental idea in these various terms is pressure--being straitened, compressed into a narrow place, or pain through physical or mental torture. Used of the physical agony of child-birth (Jer 4:31; 6:24; 49:24; 50:43;

they are numerous to me widows its more than [the] sand of [the] seas I have brought to them on a mother of a young man a destroyer at noon I have made fall on her suddenly anguish and sudden terror
וּבֶהָלֽוֹת׃u.ve.ha.Lot and sudden terror H928 Conjunction · noun common feminine plural absolute
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This noun means panic or destruction, often caused by sudden terror or alarm. It's used in the Bible to describe chaotic and frightening situations, like invasions or natural disasters. It can also mean trouble or ruin.
Amplified meaning
panic or destruction, caused by terror
Tyndale gloss
dismay
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֶּֽהָלָה (behalah) refers to a state of dismay or sudden terror, often associated with panic or destruction. The term is derived from a root meaning to cause trouble or alarm, and it captures a sense of fear or ruin. It is mentioned in contexts that evoke strong emotional responses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֶּֽהָלָה n.f. dismay, sudden terror or ruin

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H928 בֶּֽהָלָה dismay, sudden terror or ruin

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

928 behalah beh-haw-law'

from 926; panic, destruction:--terror, trouble.

see HEBREW for 0926

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּֽהָלָה (be.ha.lah) — dismay.

dismay, sudden terror or ruin, alarm

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fp — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural absolute
HC/Ncfpa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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