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Jeremiah 29:5 — Word Study

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WLCבְּנ֥וּ בָתִּ֖ים וְשֵׁ֑בוּ וְנִטְע֣וּ גַנּ֔וֹת וְאִכְל֖וּ אֶת־ פִּרְיָֽן׃

BSABuildbânâh [establish, construct] housesbayith [dwelling places, homes] and settle downyâshab [dwell, reside] Plantnâṭaʻ [establish, cultivate] gardensgannâh [places of growth, orchards] and eatʼâkal [consume, devour] their producepᵉrîy [fruit, crops]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 29
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 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 (pir.Yan) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 29:5quick helps
In a sentenceGod instructs the exiles to build homes and cultivate gardens in Babylon.
Who is speakingThe LORD of Hosts, addressing the exiles from Jerusalem.
Where we areA message of hope and practical guidance for living in exile.
The hard wordבָּנָה
Take awayThe call to establish a life in a foreign land.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbבָּנָה 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 29:5

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 — Instructions for Exiles in Babylongenerated

4This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles who were carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.
6Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.
7Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 29:5 is part of a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon, conveying God's message for them to settle down and thrive in their new environment. This passage emphasizes the importance of establishing homes and engaging with the land they inhabit, reflecting a shift from despair to hope.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 29:10–28For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.
2Ezekiel 28:26And there they will dwell securely, build houses, and plant vineyards. They will dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;Jeremiah 29:10–28 Ezekiel 28:26

The Key Word בָּנָה, be.Nugenerated

The verb בָּנָה (banah) means 'to build' and encompasses a range of actions from constructing physical structures to metaphorical uses like establishing a community or family. The imperative form here indicates a command directed at the exiles to actively create their new lives in Babylon.

This word is often associated with permanence and establishment, highlighting the importance of not just building houses, but also creating a stable and lasting presence in a foreign land. It reflects God's desire for His people to flourish even in exile.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'Build houses and settle down.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse consists of a series of commands, with the finite verbs בְּנ֥וּ (build), שֵׁ֑בוּ (dwell), נִטְע֣וּ (plant), and אִכְל֖וּ (eat) forming the backbone of the sentence. Each command is directed toward the second person masculine plural, indicating the collective responsibility of the exiles.

The commands are presented in a straightforward manner, emphasizing the practical steps the exiles are to take in their new environment.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates בָּנָה as οἰκοδομήσατε (oikodomēsate), which means 'to build' or 'to construct.' This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the act of establishing a physical presence.

The Greek term carries a similar sense of permanence and establishment, aligning with the overall message of the passage.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 29:5 instructs the exiles in Babylon to build houses, settle down, plant gardens, and eat the produce of their labor. This guidance emphasizes the importance of establishing a life in their new home, encouraging them to thrive in a foreign land.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to build houses in Babylon?

Building houses signifies establishing a permanent presence and creating a community in Babylon, rather than merely waiting to return to Jerusalem.

Why is planting gardens important for the exiles?

Planting gardens represents self-sufficiency and the ability to provide for oneself and one's family, fostering a sense of stability.

What can we learn from God's instructions to the exiles?

God's instructions encourage us to find ways to thrive in difficult circumstances and to actively engage with our surroundings.

How does this passage relate to the concept of exile?

This passage illustrates the reality of living in exile and the importance of making the best of a challenging situation by building a new life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I establish a sense of home in my current circumstances?
  2. How can I cultivate growth and stability in my life, similar to planting gardens?
  3. What steps can I take to actively engage with my community, even in challenging situations?
  4. How does this passage inspire me to find hope and purpose in difficult times?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 29:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Build ye houses, and dwell [in them],.... Intimating hereby that they must not expect a return into their own land in any short time, but that they should continue many years where they were;

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 29 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Build ye houses - in opposition to the false prophet's suggestions, who told the captives that their captivity would

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 29 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 29:5 Build ye houses, and dwell [in them]; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;Ver. 5. Build ye houses, and dwell in them.] Mitigate the extremity of your captivity, which is likely to be long, by all honest means. Levius fit patientia quicquid corrigere est nefas; patience, as a paring knife, cutteth the cross less and less till it comes to nothing. It teacheth a man, in case he cannot bring his estate to his mind, to bring his mind to his estate, and that is as well; but impatiens quisque bis affligitur; the bullock under the yoke gets nothing by wriggling but galling.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 29 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Build ye houses, and dwell in them.—The command had a two-fold bearing. It counselled a patient acceptance of the present state of things. It announced, as the next verse does yet more emphatically, that their exile would last for at least two generations. It indicates, also, the comparative leniency with which the exiles were treated. They were allowed to become possessors both of lands and houses. The favour shown to Daniel and his friends would, of course, tend to make their condition more tolerable.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 29 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. Build ye houses] Prepare for a long continuance in your present captivity. Provide yourselves with the necessaries of life, and multiply in the land, that ye may become a powerful people.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 29 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4–9. See introd. note to section. Instead of looking for an immediate return to Palestine, which would cause the exiles to sit loose to the country where they found themselves, they were to be interested in its welfare and to make homes for themselves. Otherwise they would not only fail to obtain any influence, but would soon dwindle away.

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 29 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

5. Build ye houses — A command which stands in bold antagonism to the prophecy of Hananiah the prophet. A majority of them would live and die in that land; hence, the more stable their life there the better for them.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Jeremiah 29 →

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

“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

“Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.

NETBNew English Translation2006

‘Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Build ye houses, and dwell in them ; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Buylde you houses to dwell in, and plant you gardens, and eate the fruites of them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Build houses, and dwell in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Build ye houses, and abide; and plant ye gardens, and eat their fruit;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Build houses and abide; and plant gardens and eat their fruit;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Build ye houses, and dwell therein; and plant gardens, and eat their fruit;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

'Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Build ye houses, and dwell in them: and plant orchards, and eat the fruit of them.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Build yourselves houses there to live in. Plant gardens and grow food to eat.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Go on building houses and living in them, and planting gardens and using the fruit of them;

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.

clauseclauseclauseverbבְּנ֥וּbuildobjectבָתִּ֖יםhousesוְandclauseverbשֵׁ֑בוּdwellוְandclauseclauseverbנִטְע֣וּplantobjectגַנּ֔וֹתgardensוְandclauseverbאִכְל֖וּeatnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseפִּרְיָֽproduceןtheir

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 on the wording of this verse, with 7 of the 8 words matched. The Septuagint's word order may differ, but the essential message remains consistent across these ancient texts.

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

בְּנ֥וּ בָתִּ֖ים וְשֵׁ֑בוּ וְנִטְע֣וּ גַנּ֔וֹת וְאִכְל֖וּ אֶת־ פִּרְיָֽן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בְּנ֥וּοἰκοδομήσατεבָתִּ֖יםοἴκουςוְשֵׁ֑בוּκατοικήσατεוְנִטְע֣וּφυτεύσατεגַנּ֔וֹתπαραδείσουςוְאִכְל֖וּφάγετεפִּרְיָֽן׃καρποὺς

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.

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 29:5בָּנָהbuildbuildבָּנָהבֵּיתhouseshousesבֵּיתיָשַׁבand dwelland dwellיָשַׁבנָטַעand plantand plantנָטַעגַּנָּהgardensgardensגַּנָּהאָכַלand eatand eatאָכַלאֵתthe object the object markאֵתפְּרִיproduce theproduce theirפְּרִיבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתפָּרָהbe fruitfube fruitfulפָּרָהגַּןgardengardenגַּןחוֹמָהwallwallחוֹמָהמִזְבֵּחַaltaraltarמִזְבֵּחַאוֹצָרtreasuretreasureאוֹצָרבֶּ֫טַחsecuritysecurityבֶּ֫טַחכְּנַעֲנִיCanaanitesCanaanitessכְּנַעֲנִיכֶּרֶםvineyardvineyardכֶּרֶםהָרַסto overthrto overthrowהָרַסנָטַעto plantto plantנָטַעפְּרִיfruitfruitפְּרִישָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁבֶּ֫טֶןbelly: abdbelly: abdomenבֶּ֫טֶן
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 29:5

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.

build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
בְּנ֥וּbe.Nu build H1129 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
376× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word bânâh means to build something, like a house or a family. It can also mean to establish or repair something, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
establish, construct
Tyndale gloss
to build
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּנָה 373 vb. build

Qal build

Niph.

be built

be rebuilt

(fig.) of restored exiles, = established

established, made permanent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1129 בָּנָה build .build

.. . be built

. be rebuilt

. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established

. established, made permanent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1129 banah baw-naw'

a primitive root; to build (literally and

figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,

repair, set (up), X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.

1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to build, rebuild

1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be built

1b2) to be rebuilt

1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)

1b4) established (made permanent)

1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)

Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine plural
HVqv2mp
build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
בָתִּ֖יםva.Tim houses H1004 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
2,049× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Amplified meaning
dwelling places, homes
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

base

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

house

place

receptacle

of house as containing a family

household, family (592 t.)

house, including household affairs

lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

מִבַּיִת

adv. on the inside

prep. within

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1004 bayith bah'-yith

probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest

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

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

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

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

temple, web, + within(-out).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית (bet) — place.

nm

place, origin, between

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.

: home/temple/building

nm

1) house

1a) house, dwelling habitation

1b) shelter or abode of animals

1c) human bodies (fig.)

1d) of Sheol

1e) of abode of light and darkness

1f) of land of Ephraim

2) place

3) receptacle

4) home, house as containing a family

5) household, family

5a) those belonging to the same household

5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body

6) household affairs

7) inwards (metaph.)

8) (TWOT) temple

adv

9) on the inside

prep

10) within

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

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

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Antiquity of

Ge 12:1; 19:3

- Deep and solid foundations required for

Mt 7:24; Lu 6:48

- Sometimes built without foundation

Mt 7:26; Lu 6:49

- BUILT OF

. Clay

Job 4:19

. Bricks

Ex 1:11-14; Isa 9:10

. Stone and wood

Le 14:40,42; Hab 2:11

. Hewn or cut stone

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
וְשֵׁ֑בוּve.She.vu and dwell H3427 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
1,079× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Amplified meaning
dwell, reside
Tyndale gloss
to dwell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell

Qal

sit

sit, sit down

sit down

sit = be set (as a jewel)

remain, stay, tarry

with special emphasis of qualifying phr.

dwell, have one’s abode

of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited

Niph. be inhabited, of land

Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee

Hiph.

cause to sit

cause to abide

cause to dwell

cause cities to be inhabited

marry (prop. give a dwelling to)

Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3427 yashab yaw-shab'

a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as

judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to

remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)

abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease

self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)

inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),

(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),

(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),

take, tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.

1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to sit, sit down

1a2) to be set

1a3) to remain, stay

1a4) to dwell, have one's abode

1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited

1c) (Piel) to set, place

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to sit

1d2) to cause to abide, set

1d3) to cause to dwell

1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited

1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be inhabited

1e2) to make to dwell

Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
HC/Vqv2mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dwel:

(1) In the Old Testament "dwell" is a translation of 9 words, of which by far the most frequent is yashabh, "to sit down," translated "dwell" over 400 times (Ge 4:20; Jos 20:4; 1Ch 17:1,4,5, etc.); also very frequently "sit," and sometimes "abide," "inhabit," "remain." Another word often rendered "dwell" is shakhan or shakhen ("to settle down"), from which is derived the rabbinic word shekhinah (literally, "that which dwells"), the light on the mercy-seat which symbolized the Divine presence (Ex 25:8, etc.). In order to avoid appearing to localize the Divine Being, wherever God is said to "dwell" in a place, the Targum renders that He "causes His Shekinah to dwell"…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dwell

Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men. Houses were afterwards built, the walls of which were frequently of mud (Job 24:16; Matt. 6:19, 20) or of sun-dried bricks.

God “dwells in light” (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Ps. 123:1), in his church (Ps. 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Eph.…

build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
וְנִטְע֣וּve.nit.'U and plant H5193 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To plant or establish something, like in Genesis 2:8 where God planted a garden in Eden. It can also mean to fix or fasten something in place.
Amplified meaning
establish, cultivate
Tyndale gloss
to plant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָטַע (nata`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to plant or establish. It can refer to planting in a literal sense or establishing something figuratively. The verb appears in both the Qal and Niphal forms, indicating actions of planting and being established, respectively.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָטַע vb. plant

Qal

plant

plant, fig. = establish

Niph. be planted, fig., = be established.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5193 נָטַע plant

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5193 nata` naw-tah'

a primitive root; properly, to strike in, i.e. fix;

specifically, to plant (literally or

figuratively):--fastened, plant(- er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָטַע (na.ta) — to plant.

1) to plant, fasten, fix, establish

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to plant

1a2) to plant, establish (fig.)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be planted

1b2) to be established (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
HC/Vqv2mp
build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
גַנּ֔וֹתga.Not gardens H1593 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A garden is a place where plants and trees are grown, like the Garden of Eden in the book of Genesis. This word is used to describe a beautiful and peaceful place. It appears in the Bible as a symbol of paradise.
Amplified meaning
places of growth, orchards
Tyndale gloss
garden
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּנָּה (gannah) is a feminine noun meaning 'garden' or 'orchard.' It is derived from the root word for 'garden' (גַּן, gan). The entries consistently describe it as a place for growing plants, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּנָּה n.f. garden (cf. foregoing [גַּן])—garden, orchard

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1593 גַּנָּה, גִּנָּה garden (cf. foregoing [גַּן])—garden, orchard

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1593 gannah gan-naw'

feminine of 1588; a garden:--garden.

see HEBREW for 01588

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּנָּה (gan.nah) — garden.

garden, orchard

Also means: gin.nah (גִּנָּה "garden" H1594)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Gardens

Mentioned in Scripture, of Eden (Gen. 2:8, 9); Ahab’s garden of herbs (1 Kings 21:2); the royal garden (2 Kings 21:18); the royal garden at Susa (Esther 1:5); the garden of Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:41); of Gethsemane (John 18:1).

The “king’s garden” mentioned 2 Kings 25:4, Neh. 3:15, was near the Pool of Siloam.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Are often mentioned in Scripture, though in a sense somewhat peculiar; for in the language of the Hebrews, every place where plants and trees were cultivated with greater care than in the open field, was called a garden. Fruit and shade trees, with aromatic shrubs, sometimes constituted the garden; though roses, lilies, and various gardens were used only for table vegetables, Ge 2:8-10 15:1-21 1Ki 21:2 Ec 2:5,6. They were located if possible beside a river or fountain, Ge 13:10 Nu 24:6. In other places reservoirs were provided, from which the water was distributed in various ways, as occasion required,

- Often made by the banks of rivers

Nu 24:6

- KINDS OF, MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE

. Herbs

De 11:10; 1Ki 21:2

. Cucumbers

Isa 1:8

. Fruit trees

Ec 2:5,6

. Spices, &c

So 4:16; 6:2

- Often enclosed

So 4:12

- Often refreshed by fountains

So 4:15

- Taken care of by gardeners

Joh 20:15

- Lodges erected in

Isa 1:8

- OFTEN USED FOR

. Entertainments

build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
וְאִכְל֖וּve.'ikh.Lu and eat H398 Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
810× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Amplified meaning
consume, devour
Tyndale gloss
to eat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָכַל 806 vb. eat

Qal

eat, human subject

of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

fig. of fire, devour, consume

of sword, devour, slay

in genl., devour, consume, destroy

fig. of oppression, devour the poor

Niph.

be eaten by man

be devoured by fire, consumed

be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

Pu. be consumed

Hiph.

cause to eat, feed with

cause to devoure, obj. sword

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject

. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour

. fig. of fire, devour, consume

. of sword, devour, slay

. in genl., devour, consume, destroy

. fig. of oppression, devour the poor

. . be eaten by man

. be devoured by fire, consumed

. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh

. be consumed

. . cause to eat, feed with

. cause to devoure, obj. sword

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

398 'akal aw-kal'

a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at

all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),

feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)

meat, X quite.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine plural
HC/Vqv2mp
build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
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
build houses and dwell and plant gardens and eat the object marker produce their
פִּרְיָֽן׃pir.Yan produce their H6529 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
119× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means the fruit that comes from the ground or from our actions. It is used in many books, including Genesis and Isaiah, to describe the results of our labor or the consequences of our choices.
Amplified meaning
fruit, crops
Tyndale gloss
fruit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פְּרִי (priy) means 'fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including the literal fruit of the ground, offspring or children, and figurative fruit representing the consequences of actions. It is derived from a root that emphasizes the concept of produce or reward.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פְּרִי 119 n.m. fruit

fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.

= offspring, fruit of womb

fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6529 פְּרִי fruit . fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.

. = offspring, fruit of womb

. fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6529 priy per-ee'

from 6509; fruit (literally or figuratively):--bough,

((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward.

see HEBREW for 06509

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פְּרִי (pe.ri) — fruit.

1) fruit

1a) fruit, produce (of the ground)

1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)

1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3fp
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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