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Jeremiah 50:46 — Word Study

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WLCמִקּוֹל֙ נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה בָבֶ֔ל נִרְעֲשָׁ֖ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וּזְעָקָ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִ֥ם נִשְׁמָֽע׃ ס

BSAAt the soundqôwl [noise, voice] of Babylon’sBâbel [Babel, city of confusion] capturetâphas [being taken, seized] the earthʼerets [land, ground] will quakerâʻash [shake, tremble] a cryzaʻaq [outcry, shriek] will be heardshâmaʻ [listened to, obeyed] among the nationsgôwy [Gentiles, foreign peoples]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 50
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 46 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 (nish.Ma') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 50:46quick helps
In a sentenceThe capture of Babylon causes the earth to quake and a cry to be heard among the nations.
What happensBabylon is seized, leading to a global reaction.
The hard wordנִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה
Take awayThe earth reacts to the news of Babylon's downfall.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectבָּבֶל verbתָּפַשׂ 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 50:46

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 Judgment Against Babylongenerated

43The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
44Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
45Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
46At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.

Jeremiah 50:46 describes the moment of Babylon's capture, emphasizing the dramatic impact this event has on the earth and the nations. The preceding verses illustrate the terror gripping the king of Babylon and the certainty of judgment against the city known for its confusion and pride. This passage serves as a warning to all nations regarding the consequences of turning against God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 49:21At the sound of their fall the earth will quake; their cry will resound to the Red Sea.
2Isaiah 14:9–10Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you— all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones.
3Ezekiel 26:18Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your downfall; the islands in the sea are dismayed by your demise.”’
4Ezekiel 31:16I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.
5Ezekiel 32:10I will cause many peoples to be appalled over you, and their kings will shudder in horror because of you when I brandish My sword before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.’

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

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.Jeremiah 49:21 Isaiah 14:9–10 Ezekiel 26:18 Ezekiel 31:16 Ezekiel 32:10 Revelation 18:9–19

The Key Word נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה, nit.pe.Sahgenerated

The verb תָּפַשׂ (taphas) means 'to capture' or 'to seize', indicating a forceful taking. In this context, it describes Babylon being taken, highlighting the suddenness and severity of the event.

The Niphal form indicates that Babylon is the subject being acted upon, emphasizing that this capture is not a voluntary act but one that is imposed upon it.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה governs the main clause, indicating the action of Babylon being captured. The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between Babylon's capture and the ensuing reactions.

The sentence includes several phrases: a prepositional phrase describing the source of the sound, a noun phrase identifying the subject, and a series of verbs describing the earth's reaction and the cry heard among the nations.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה as ἁλώσεως (halōseōs), which means 'capture' or 'seizure'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the forceful nature of Babylon's downfall.

The use of φωνῆς for מִקּוֹל֙ suggests a focus on the sound or voice associated with this event, indicating that the capture is not only a physical act but also one that resonates throughout the nations.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 50:46 tells us that when Babylon is captured, the earth will shake and a cry will be heard among the nations. This verse highlights the significance of Babylon's downfall and its impact on the world.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the cry among the nations signify?

The cry represents the widespread alarm and distress caused by Babylon's capture, indicating its importance as a major power.

Why is Babylon's capture significant?

Babylon symbolizes pride and opposition to God, so its downfall serves as a warning to other nations about the consequences of such actions.

How does this verse relate to other prophecies about Babylon?

This verse connects to other prophetic warnings in the Bible that foretell the destruction of Babylon due to its wickedness.

What can we learn from the earth quaking at Babylon's capture?

The earth's reaction symbolizes the gravity of the event, suggesting that significant moral and spiritual truths are at stake.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does Babylon's capture teach us about the consequences of pride and rebellion against God?
  2. How can we apply the lessons from this verse to our own lives and nations today?
  3. In what ways do we see the impact of significant events on the world around us?
  4. How can we respond to the warnings given in this passage in our own spiritual journeys?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 50:46 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved,.... It being so sudden and unexpected, and so very astonishing: and the cry is heard among the nations; that Babylon is fallen; which, as

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 50 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me?

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 50 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

We have much the same spoken with reference to Edom, . The words are only expressive of the greatness of the destruction of Babylon, which should be such as should make all that part of the world shake, and the noise of it would ring throughout all the nations in that part of the earth.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 50 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 50:46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations. Ver. 46. See on Jeremiah 49:21.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 50 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 46. At the noise of the taking of Babylon] See Clarke on Jeremiah 49:21. In the forty-ninth chapter, these words are spoken of Nebuchadnezzar; here, of Cyrus. The taking of Babylon was a wonder to all the surrounding nations. It was thought to be impregnable.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 50 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

46. At the noise of the taking of Babylon] rather, At the tidings (viz. that) Babylon is taken. among the nations] no longer merely to the Red Sea (as in Jeremiah 49:21).

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 50 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE AGENTS OF THIS , Jeremiah 50:41-46.41-46. A people shall come from the north, etc.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Jeremiah 50 →

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

At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard among the nations.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The people of the earth will quake when they hear Babylon has been captured. Her cries of anguish will be heard by the other nations.”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembleth, and the cry is heard among the nations.

RVARevised Version, American1894

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembleth, and the cry is heard among the nations.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

At the noyse of the winning of Babel the earth is moued, and the crye is heard among the nations.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

At the sound of the taking of Babylon the earth hath quaked, and the cry is heard among the nations.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

From the voice: Captured was Babylon, Hath the earth been shaken, And a cry among nations hath been heard!

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

From the sound of Babylon having been captured, || The earth has been shaken, || And a cry has been heard among nations!”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

At the noise of the conquest of Babylon the earth quaketh, and the outcry is heard among the nations.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

At the sound of conquered Babylon the earth shakes, and their shout of distress is heard among the nations.”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard amongst the nations.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The sound of Babylon's capture will make the earth shake; their cries will be heard throughout the nations.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

At the cry, Babylon is taken! the earth is shaking, and the cry comes to the ears of the nations.

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfrom.[the]noun phraseקּוֹל֙soundclauseverbנִתְפְּשָׂ֣הit.has.been.capturedsubjectבָבֶ֔לBabylonverbנִרְעֲשָׁ֖הit.will.quakenoun phrase · subjectהָtheאָ֑רֶץearthוּandclausesubjectזְעָקָ֖הa.cry.of.distressprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּamongnoun phrasetheגּוֹיִ֥םnationsverbנִשְׁמָֽעit.will.be.heard

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in their wording for this verse, with all eight words matched in the translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these traditions.

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

מִקּוֹל֙ נִתְפְּשָׂ֣ה בָבֶ֔ל נִרְעֲשָׁ֖ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וּזְעָקָ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִ֥ם נִשְׁמָֽע׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מִקּוֹל֙φωνῆςנִתְפְּשָׂ֣הἁλώσεωςבָבֶ֔לβαβυλῶνοςנִרְעֲשָׁ֖הσεισθήσεταιהָאָ֑רֶץγῆוּזְעָקָ֖הκραυγὴבַּגּוֹיִ֥םἔθνεσινנִשְׁמָֽע׃ סἀκουσθήσεται

8 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 50:46קוֹלfrom [the] from [the] sounקוֹלתָּפַשׂit has beenit has been capתָּפַשׂבָּבֶ֫לBabylonBabylonבָּבֶ֫לרָעַשׁit will quait will quakeרָעַשׁאֶ֫רֶץthe earththe earthאֶ֫רֶץזְעָקָהand a cry oand a cry of diזְעָקָהגּוֹיamong the namong the natioגּוֹישָׁמַעit will be it will be hearשָׁמַעבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלזָעַקto cry outto cry outזָעַקגֵּוָהbackbackגֵּוָהתְּרוּעָהshoutshoutתְּרוּעָהשֹׁפָרtrumpettrumpetשֹׁפָרמָגֵןshieldshieldמָגֵןנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרכַּשְׂדִּיםChaldeaChaldeaכַּשְׂדִּיםזְעָקָהoutcryoutcryזְעָקָהרָגַזto trembleto trembleרָגַזכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםרָעַשׁto shaketo shakeרָעַשׁשֶׁ֫בֶרbreakingbreakingשֶׁ֫בֶרעָצוּםmightymightyעָצוּםמַמְלָכָהkingdomkingdomמַמְלָכָהקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁב
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 50:46

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.

from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
מִקּוֹל֙mi.kOl from [the] sound H6963 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
506× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.
Amplified meaning
noise, voice
Tyndale gloss
voice: sound
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹל 506 n.m. sound, voice

base

קֹל n.[m.] lightness, frivolity;—Je 3:9

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6963 qowl kole

or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a

voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),

fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,

proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +

yell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹל (qol) — voice.

: voice/shout/loud

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קֹל (qol) — frivolity.

lightness, frivolity

קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.

: sound/noise

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.

: thunder

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.

: message/proclaim

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].

: [sound_of](THING)

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.

: listen

1) voice, sound, noise

1a) voice

1b) sound (of instrument)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sound: In Isa 63:15 the King James Version has "the sounding of thy bowels," a painfully literal translation of hamon me'eykha, with the similar phrase, "my bowels shall sound like an harp," in Isa 16:11 (compare Jer 48:36). The intestines were considered a seat of emotion, and at times of great excitement were thought (in poetry, at least) to become tense and to give forth a musical sound. The Revised Version (British and American) (following the King James Version in Jer 48:36) substitutes "heart" for "bowels" in Isa 16:11, thus obscuring the figure but preserving the sense. In

from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
נִתְפְּשָׂ֣הnit.pe.Sah it has been captured H8610 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To capture or seize something, like in 1 Kings 13:4, where a prophet grabs the king's altar. It means to take hold of or grasp something firmly.
Amplified meaning
being taken, seized
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּפַשׂ (taphas) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lay hold of or seize. It encompasses actions like capturing, wielding, and handling, with nuances in different forms such as being seized or caught. The entries suggest a range of physical and figurative uses, including the idea of manipulation or unwarranted use.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תָּפַשׂ vb. lay hold of, wield

Qal

lay hold of, seize

grasp in order to wield, wield, use skilfully

Niph. be seized, arrested, caught

Pi. a lizard thou mayest grasp with the hands

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8610 תָּפַשׂ lay hold of, wield

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8610 taphas taw-fas'

a primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to

capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use

unwarrantably:--catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over),

stop, X surely, surprise, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּפַשׂ (ta.pha.s) — to capture.

1) to catch, handle, lay hold, take hold of, seize, wield

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lay hold of, seize, arrest, catch

1a2) to grasp (in order to) wield, wield, use skilfully

1b) (Niphal) to be seized, be arrested, be caught, be taken, captured

1c) (Piel) to catch, grasp (with the hands)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVNp3fs
from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
בָבֶ֔לva.Vel Babylon H894 Noun proper
262× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Babel refers to Babylon, a city and empire in the Bible, meaning confusion or mixing. It appears in Genesis 11:9 and is associated with the tower of Babel. The city was situated on the Euphrates River.
Amplified meaning
Babel, city of confusion
Tyndale gloss
Babylon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּבֶ֫ל (Babel) refers to Babylon, an ancient city and capital of Babylonia, associated with the idea of confusion. It is derived from a root meaning 'confusion' and is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. The lexicons agree on its meaning and significance, with no noted disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בָּבֶ֫ל 262 n.pr.loc. Babel, Babylon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H894 בָּבֶ֫ל Babel, Babylon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

894 Babel baw-bel'

from 1101; confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including

Babylonia and the Babylonian empire:--Babel, Babylon.

see HEBREW for 01101

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל (ba.vel) — Babylon.

§ Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)"

Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Babylon

The Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning “The Gate of God.” In the Assyrian tablets it means “The city of the dispersion of the tribes.” The monumental list of its kings reaches back to B.C. 2300, and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (B.C. 606) it threw off…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

in the Apocalypse, is the symbolical name by which Rome is denoted. (Revelation 14:8; 17:18) The power of Rome was regarded by the later Jews as was that of Babylon by their forefathers. Comp. (Jeremiah 51:7) with Reve 14:8 The occurrence of this name in (1 Peter 5:13) has given rise to a variety of conjectures, many giving it the same meaning as in the Apocalypse; others refer it to Babylon in Asia, and others still to Babylon in Egypt. The most natural supposition of all is that by Babylon is intended the old Babylon of Assyria, which was largely inhabited by Jews at the time in question.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A celebrated city situated on the Euphrates, the original foundation of which is described under the word Babel. Wit this coincide many ancient traditions, while some speak of Semiramis as the founder, and others of Nebuchadnezzar. These accounts may all be reconciled, by supposing that Semiramis rebuilt the ancient city, and the Nebuchadnezzar. These accounts may all be reconciled, by supposing that Semiramis rebuilt the ancient city, and that Nebuchadnezzar afterwards greatly enlarged and adorned it.

Babylon lay in a vast and fertile plain watered by the Euphrates, with flowed through the city. Its walls are described as 60 miles in circumference, 300 feet high, and 75 feet wide, Jer 51:44- 58. A deep trench ran parallel with the walls. In each of the four sides were 25 brazen gates, from which roads crossed to the opposite…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

same as Babel

from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
נִרְעֲשָׁ֖הnir.'a.Shah it will quake H7493 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means to shake or quake, often describing the earth or sky trembling with fear. It's used in the books of Psalms and Isaiah, describing God's power and majesty.
Amplified meaning
shake, tremble
Tyndale gloss
to shake
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָעַשׁ (ra`ash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to quake or shake. It describes actions such as trembling or moving, often due to fear, and can also refer to the springing of a horse. The verb appears in different forms, including Qal (to shake), Niphal (to be made to quake), and Hiphil (to cause to quake or leap).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָעַשׁ] vb. quake, shake

Qal quake, shake

Niph. is made to quake

Hiph.

cause to quake

cause (horse) to spring, leap (like locust)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7493 [רָעַשׁ] quake, shake

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7493 ra`ash raw-ash

a primitive root; to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.;

also a field of grain), partic. through fear; specifically, to

spring (as a locust):--make afraid, (re-)move, quake, (make

to) shake, (make to) tremble.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָעַשׁ (ra.ash) — to shake.

1) to quake, shake

1a) (Qal) to quake, shake

1b) (Niphal) to be made to quake

1c)(Hiphil)

1c1) to cause to quake

1c2) to cause to spring or leap (of horse)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVNp3fs
from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
הָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retz the earth H776 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
land, ground
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):

In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.

'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Earth

(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.

(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.

Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2

from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
וּזְעָקָ֖הu.ze.'a.Kah and a cry of distress H2201 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a loud cry or shriek, often expressing distress, like the outcry in Exodus 2:23. It can also describe a clamor or cry for help. In the Bible, it appears in various forms, such as crying out to God.
Amplified meaning
outcry, shriek
Tyndale gloss
outcry
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זְעָקָה (ze'aqah) refers to a cry or outcry, often associated with distress or clamour. It is derived from the root word meaning to cry out, and its usage encompasses various forms of vocal expression, particularly in moments of urgency or need.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זְעָקָה n.f. cry, outcry

outcry, against

cry of distress

outcry, clamour

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2201 זְעָקָה cry, outcry

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2201 za`aq zah'-ak

and (feminine) zoaqah {zeh-aw-kaw'}; from 2199; a shriek or

outcry:--cry(-ing).

see HEBREW for 02199

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זְעָקָה (ze.a.qah) — outcry.

1) cry, outcry

1a) outcry

1b) cry of distress

1c) outcry, clamour

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
בַּגּוֹיִ֥םba.go.Yim among the nations H1471 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
561× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Amplified meaning
Gentiles, foreign peoples
Tyndale gloss
Gentile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גּוֹי (goy) refers to a nation or people, often indicating non-Hebrew groups, but can also encompass descendants of Abraham and Israel. It may figuratively describe a swarm of locusts or animals. The plural form, גּוֹיִם (goyim), is noted as a proper noun referring to the people of Goim, specifically mentioned in Genesis 14:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גּוֹי 661 n.m. nation, people

base

גּוֹיִם n.pr.gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1471a גּוֹי nation, people H1471b גּוֹיִם n. pr. gent. Tid‛al king of Goim

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1471 gowy go'-ee

rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same

root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation;

hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a

flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

see HEBREW for 01465

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גּוֹי (goy) — nation.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

גּוֹיִם (go.yim) — Goiim.

People descended from Goy(?), first mentioned at Gen.14.1

§ Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

גּוֹי (goy) — Gentile.

1) nation, people

1a) nation, people

1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people

1a2) of descendants of Abraham

1a3) of Israel

1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)

1c) Goyim? = "nations"

Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)

גּוֹי (goy) — (Harosheth)-hagoyim.

Goyim (Tidgal, king of)

Combined with cha.ro.shet (חֲרֹ֫שֶׁת "Harosheth" H2800)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
HRd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

na'-shunz.

See GENTILES; GOIIM; HEATHEN; TABLE OF NATIONS.

from [the] sound it has been captured Babylon it will quake the earth and a cry of distress among the nations it will be heard
נִשְׁמָֽע׃ סnish.Ma' it will be heard H8085 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Amplified meaning
listened to, obeyed
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVNp3ms
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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