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Jeremiah 51:31 — Word Study

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WLCרָ֤ץ לִקְרַאת־ רָץ֙ יָר֔וּץ וּמַגִּ֖יד לִקְרַ֣את מַגִּ֑יד לְהַגִּיד֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּֽי־ נִלְכְּדָ֥ה עִיר֖וֹ מִקָּצֶֽה׃

BSAOne courierrûwts [runner, messenger] racesrûwts anotherrûwts and messengernâgad [one who tells, announcer] messengernâgad to announcenâgad [declare, tell] to the kingmelek [ruler, monarch] of BabylonBâbel [city of confusion] thatkîy his cityʻîyr [town, metropolis] has been capturedlâkad [seized, taken] from end to endqâtseh [border, edge, extremity, boundary]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 51
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 31 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 (mi.ka.Tzeh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 51:31quick helps
In a sentenceCouriers rush to announce the fall of Babylon.
Who is speakingThe prophet Jeremiah, describing the fate of Babylon.
Where we areThe context is the impending judgment on Babylon.
The hard wordנִלְכְּדָ֥ה
Take awayBabylon's defeat is complete and known.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbרוּץ 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 51:31

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 Fall of Babylongenerated

30The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, the bars of her gates are broken.
31One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end.
32The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified.”
33For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come.”

Jeremiah 51:31 describes the urgency of messengers racing to inform the king of Babylon about the total capture of his city. This moment captures the chaos and swift unfolding of events as Babylon faces judgment, paralleling the prophetic warnings throughout the book of Jeremiah.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 4:20Disaster after disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant, my curtains in a moment.
2Jeremiah 50:24I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD.
31 Samuel 4:12–18That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
42 Samuel 18:19–31Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
52 Chronicles 30:6So the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.

The Key Word נִלְכְּדָ֥ה, nil.ke.Dahgenerated

The verb לָכַד (lakad) means to capture or seize, often implying a forceful taking. In this context, it indicates that Babylon has been completely overtaken, emphasizing the finality of the city's downfall.

The Niphal form suggests that the city has been captured by an external force, highlighting the divine judgment against Babylon. This captures the essence of the prophecy and serves as a stark warning to the reader.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In this study, we reference the Berean Standard Bible, which uses captured for the Hebrew word נִלְכְּדָ֥ה.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb נִלְכְּדָ֥ה governs the entire verse, indicating the state of Babylon. The structure includes several clauses that detail the actions of the couriers and messengers, illustrating the urgency of the announcement.

The sentence flows through a series of actions, showing the sequence of messengers racing to deliver the news, which underscores the chaos surrounding Babylon's defeat.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the Greek word ἑάλωκεν to translate נִלְכְּדָ֥ה, which conveys a similar meaning of capture but may imply a more definitive sense of being overtaken.

This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the event as not just a physical capture but a significant moment of divine judgment.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 51:31 tells us that couriers are rushing to inform the king of Babylon that his city has been completely captured. This reflects the urgency and severity of the situation as Babylon faces its downfall.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that Babylon has been captured?

It signifies the complete defeat of Babylon, a city that was once powerful, indicating the fulfillment of God's judgment against it.

Why are couriers mentioned in this verse?

The couriers symbolize the urgency of the news being delivered, reflecting the chaos and rapid changes occurring in Babylon.

What is the significance of the king of Babylon in this context?

The king represents the authority and power of Babylon, and his reaction to the news of the city's capture underscores the gravity of the situation.

How does this verse connect to the overall message of Jeremiah?

This verse encapsulates the prophetic theme of judgment against nations, illustrating that no power can withstand God's will.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the capture of Babylon teach us about the consequences of turning away from God?
  2. How can we apply the urgency of the couriers' message in our own lives?
  3. In what ways do we see God's judgment reflected in current events today?
  4. What can we learn from the response of the king of Babylon to his city's downfall?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 51:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another,.... That is, one post should be after another, and one messenger after another, post upon post, and messenger upon messenger, as

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 51 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end, One post shall run to meet another ... to show the king of

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 51 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

We have had occasion one and again to recite what we have in civil historians about the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, viz., that it was taken by surprise, by the Median emperor’ s unexpected diverting the river Euphrates by divers channels which he cut; as also that Babylon was a very vast city, the greatness of which might admit of posts and messengers from one end of the city to another, to acquaint the king what was done at the other end of the city in which himself was resident; and it is said that the king of Babylon, when his city, was taken, did not know of his danger until the enemy had entered the city.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 51 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah 51:31 One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at [one] end,Ver. 31. One post shall run to meet another.] Observe how punctually all things were foretold in the several circumstances more than fifty years before. At one end,] sc., Where Euphrates had run, till diverted and dried up by Cyrus. See on Jeremiah 50:38.

Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 51 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(31) One post shall run to meet another.—The words exactly answer to the account of the capture of Babylon given in Herod. i. (see Note on Jeremiah 51:24). The history of Belshazzar’s feast (Daniel 5:1-30) must obviously have ended in a like result. No words could paint more vividly the panic of the surprised city.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 51 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 31. One post shall run to meet another] As the city was taken by surprise, in the manner already related, so now messengers, one after another, were despatched to give the king information of what was done; viz., that the city was taken at one end. Herodotus tells us that the extreme parts of the city were taken, before those of the centre knew any thing of the invasion. Herodot. lib. i. c. 191.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 51 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

31. post] lit. runner. The word survives in this sense in modern English only in the expression post-haste. For the sense here cp. “Your native town you entered like a post.” Coriolanus, Act v sc. 5. First denoting that which is placed (positum), it came to denote a fixed spot, e.g. a military post, or a place where horses are kept for travellers, then the person so travelling, and then any one travelling quickly. See Bible Word Book. shall run to meet another] Bearing the tidings from opposite quarters, they shall meet at the king’s castle in the heart of the city. on every quarter] See on Jeremiah 50:26.

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 51 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The royal palace was a strong fortification in the heart of the city. The messengers thus met one another. At one end - Rather, from all sides, entirely, completely.

Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 51 →

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

One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

One runner will run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end.

NETBNew English Translation2006

One runner after another will come to the king of Babylon. One messenger after another will come bringing news. They will bring news to the king of Babylon that his whole city has been captured.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter:

RVARevised Version, American1894

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A post shall runne to meete the post, and a messenger to meete the messenger, to shew the King of Babel, that his citie is taken on a side thereof,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Courier runneth to meet courier, and messenger to meet messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city is taken from end to end;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Runner to meet runner doth run, And announcer to meet announcer, To announce to the king of Babylon, For, captured hath been his city — at the extremity.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Runner runs to meet runner, || And announcer to meet announcer, || To announce to the king of Babylon, || For his city has been captured—at the extremity.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

One runner shall run to meet another runner, and one messenger to meet another messenger, to tell unto the king of Babylon that his city is captured at all ends,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

A messenger runs to proclaim to another messenger, and a runner tells another runner to report to the king of Babylon that his city has been taken from end to end.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

One running post shall meet another, and messenger shall meet messenger: to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken from one end to the other:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

A runner hands his message over to another to carry; one messenger follows another messenger, all of them alerting the king of Babylon to the news that his city has been completely conquered,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

One man, running, will give word to another, and one who goes with news will be handing it on to another, to give word to the king of Babylon that his town has been taken from every quarter:

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.

clauseclausesubjectרָ֤ץa.runnerprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtoclauseverbקְרַאתmeetobjectרָץ֙a.runnerverbיָר֔וּץhe.will.runוּandclausesubjectמַגִּ֖ידa.messengerprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtoclauseverbקְרַ֣אתmeetobjectמַגִּ֑ידa.messengerprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהַגִּיד֙tellprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseמֶ֣לֶךְthe.kingבָּבֶ֔לof.Babylonclause · objectכִּֽי(dm).thatclauseverbנִלְכְּדָ֥הit.has.been.capturednoun phrase · subjectעִיר֖cityוֹhisprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfrom.[the]קָּצֶֽהend

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


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

Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with 14 of the 14 words matched. This consistency highlights the shared understanding of Babylon's fall across these ancient texts.

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

רָ֤ץ לִקְרַאת־ רָץ֙ יָר֔וּץ וּמַגִּ֖יד לִקְרַ֣את מַגִּ֑יד לְהַגִּיד֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּֽי־ נִלְכְּדָ֥ה עִיר֖וֹ מִקָּצֶֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
רָ֤ץδιώκωνלִקְרַאת־ἀπάντησινרָץ֙διώκοντοςיָר֔וּץδιώχεταιוּמַגִּ֖ידἀναγγέλλωνלִקְרַ֣אתἀπάντησινמַגִּ֑ידἀναγγέλλοντοςלְהַגִּיד֙ἀναγγεῖλαιלְמֶ֣לֶךְβασιλεῖבָּבֶ֔לβαβυλῶνοςכִּֽי־ὅτιנִלְכְּדָ֥הἑάλωκενעִיר֖וֹαὐτοῦמִקָּצֶֽה׃ἐσξάτου

14 of the 14 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 51:31רוּץa runnera runnerרוּץקָרָאto meetto meetקָרָארוּץa runnera runnerרוּץרוּץhe will runhe will runרוּץנָגַדand a messeand a messengerנָגַדקָרָאto meetto meetקָרָאנָגַדa messengera messengerנָגַדנָגַדto tellto tellנָגַדמֶ֫לֶךְto [the] kito [the] king oמֶ֫לֶךְבָּבֶ֫לBabylonBabylonבָּבֶ֫לכִּיthatthatכִּילָכַדit has beenit has been capלָכַדעִירcity hiscity hisעִירקָצֶהfrom [the] from [the] endקָצֶהמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלעוּרto rouseto rouseעוּרקָצָהto cut offto cut offקָצָהקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָארוּץto run: ruto run: runרוּץעָרַךְto arrangeto arrangeעָרַךְנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּרNebuchadneNebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּראַשּׁוּרAsshurAsshurאַשּׁוּרכַּשְׂדִּיםChaldeaChaldeaכַּשְׂדִּיםיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעלָחַםto fightto fightלָחַםמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁלָכַדto captureto captureלָכַדגְּבוּלborder: boborder: boundarגְּבוּל
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 51:31

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.

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
רָ֤ץratz a runner H7323 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
103× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To run or rush, often used to describe someone moving quickly, as seen in the story of the runners in Jeremiah 51:31. This verb appears in various forms, including running swiftly or darting. It is used to convey a sense of urgency or haste.
Amplified meaning
runner, messenger
Tyndale gloss
to run: run
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּץ (ruts) means to run, encompassing various nuances such as running swiftly or causing someone to run away. It is a primitive root that can imply actions like breaking down or dividing quickly. The word appears in different forms, including participles for runners or messengers. There is some overlap in definitions across lexicons, but they consistently focus on the core idea of running.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּץ vb. run

Qal

run

pl. the runners (prop. out-runners)

runner = (royal messenger, post, late)

Pō‛lēl they run swiftly, dart

Hiph. cause to run

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7323 רוּץ run

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7323 ruwts roots

a primitive root; to run (for whatever reason, especially to

rush):--break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring

hastily, (make) run (away, through), post.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: run.

: run/runner/messenger

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: guard.

: guard

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: pieces.

: pieces

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

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

run'-er.

See GAMES.

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
לִקְרַאת־lik.rat- to meet H7122 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
139× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to encounter or meet someone, either by chance or on purpose. It can describe a friendly meeting or a hostile one. In Exodus, the Israelites encountered God on Mount Sinai.
Tyndale gloss
to encounter: meet
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרָא (*qara'*) is a primitive root meaning to encounter or meet, often unexpectedly. It encompasses various nuances, including to befall or happen by chance. The verb appears in different forms: Qal (to meet), Niphal (to meet unexpectedly), and Hiphil (to cause to meet). Brown-Driver-Briggs notes its use in a figurative sense as well.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָרָא] 137 vb. encounter, befall

Qal 131

meet, encounter

fig. befall

Niph. meet unexpectedly

Hiph. thou didst cause all this evil to befall them

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7122 קָרָא encounter, befall

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7122 qara' kaw-raw'

a primitive root: to encounter, whether accidentally or in a

hostile manner:--befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon),

fall out, happen, meet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: meet.

: meet

1) to encounter, befall, meet

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to meet, encounter

1a2) to befall (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: toward.

: toward/(come)against

1) to encounter, befall, meet

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to meet, encounter

1a2) to befall (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: chanced.

: happen[unexpectedly]

1) to encounter, befall, meet

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to meet, encounter

1a2) to befall (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

met, adjective (yashar; axios): Various words are employed to express meetness, the sense of what is proper, worthy, or fit. We have yashar, "straight," "upright," "right" (2Ki 10:3, "meetest"; Jer 26:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yashar (Jer 27:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yosher (Pr 11:24, the Revised Version margin "what is justly due"); 'arikh, Aramaic "meet" (Ezr 4:14); bene, "sons of" (De 3:18, the King James Version "meet for the war," margin "Hebrew sons of power," the Revised Version (British and…

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
רָץ֙ratz a runner H7323 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
103× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To run or rush, often used to describe someone moving quickly, as seen in the story of the runners in Jeremiah 51:31. This verb appears in various forms, including running swiftly or darting. It is used to convey a sense of urgency or haste.
Tyndale gloss
to run: run
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּץ (ruts) means to run, encompassing various nuances such as running swiftly or causing someone to run away. It is a primitive root that can imply actions like breaking down or dividing quickly. The word appears in different forms, including participles for runners or messengers. There is some overlap in definitions across lexicons, but they consistently focus on the core idea of running.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּץ vb. run

Qal

run

pl. the runners (prop. out-runners)

runner = (royal messenger, post, late)

Pō‛lēl they run swiftly, dart

Hiph. cause to run

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7323 רוּץ run

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7323 ruwts roots

a primitive root; to run (for whatever reason, especially to

rush):--break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring

hastily, (make) run (away, through), post.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: run.

: run/runner/messenger

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: guard.

: guard

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: pieces.

: pieces

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

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

run'-er.

See GAMES.

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
יָר֔וּץya.Rutz he will run H7323 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
103× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To run or rush, often used to describe someone moving quickly, as seen in the story of the runners in Jeremiah 51:31. This verb appears in various forms, including running swiftly or darting. It is used to convey a sense of urgency or haste.
Tyndale gloss
to run: run
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּץ (ruts) means to run, encompassing various nuances such as running swiftly or causing someone to run away. It is a primitive root that can imply actions like breaking down or dividing quickly. The word appears in different forms, including participles for runners or messengers. There is some overlap in definitions across lexicons, but they consistently focus on the core idea of running.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּץ vb. run

Qal

run

pl. the runners (prop. out-runners)

runner = (royal messenger, post, late)

Pō‛lēl they run swiftly, dart

Hiph. cause to run

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7323 רוּץ run

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7323 ruwts roots

a primitive root; to run (for whatever reason, especially to

rush):--break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring

hastily, (make) run (away, through), post.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: run.

: run/runner/messenger

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: guard.

: guard

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

רוּץ (ruts) — to run: pieces.

: pieces

1) to run

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to run

1a2) runners (participle as subst)

1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry

1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
וּמַגִּ֖ידu.ma.Gid and a messenger H5046 Conjunction · verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular
371× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Amplified meaning
one who tells, announcer
Tyndale gloss
to tell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous

Hiph. declare, tell

Hoph. be told, announced, reported

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell

. be told, announced, reported

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5046 nagad naw-gad'

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out

opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;

figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one

present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,

praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),

denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,

rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.

1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known

1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare

1a1) to tell, announce, report

1a2) to declare, make known, expound

1a3) to inform of

1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim

1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess

1a5a) messenger (participle)

1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil — Conjunction · verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular
HC/Vhrmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mes'-en-jer: The regular Hebrew word for "messenger" is mal'akh, the Greek aggelos. This may be a human messenger or a messenger of God, an angel. The context must decide the right translation. In Hag 1:13 the prophet is called God's messenger; Job 33:23 changes the King James Version to "angel" (margin "messenger"); and Mal 3:1 margin, suggests "angel" instead of "messenger." Mal 2:7 and Mal 3:1 (twice) have caused a great deal of comment. See MALACHI. The Greek apostolos, "apostle," is rendered "messenger" in 2Co 8:23;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE Hag 1:13; Mal 2:7; 3:1; 4:5,6; Mt 11:10; Mr 1:2; Lu 7:27

Of Satan 2Co 12:7

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
לִקְרַ֣אתlik.Rat to meet H7122 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
139× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to encounter or meet someone, either by chance or on purpose. It can describe a friendly meeting or a hostile one. In Exodus, the Israelites encountered God on Mount Sinai.
Tyndale gloss
to encounter: meet
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָרָא (*qara'*) is a primitive root meaning to encounter or meet, often unexpectedly. It encompasses various nuances, including to befall or happen by chance. The verb appears in different forms: Qal (to meet), Niphal (to meet unexpectedly), and Hiphil (to cause to meet). Brown-Driver-Briggs notes its use in a figurative sense as well.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָרָא] 137 vb. encounter, befall

Qal 131

meet, encounter

fig. befall

Niph. meet unexpectedly

Hiph. thou didst cause all this evil to befall them

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7122 קָרָא encounter, befall

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7122 qara' kaw-raw'

a primitive root: to encounter, whether accidentally or in a

hostile manner:--befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon),

fall out, happen, meet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: meet.

: meet

1) to encounter, befall, meet

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to meet, encounter

1a2) to befall (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: toward.

: toward/(come)against

1) to encounter, befall, meet

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to meet, encounter

1a2) to befall (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet

קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: chanced.

: happen[unexpectedly]

1) to encounter, befall, meet

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to meet, encounter

1a2) to befall (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly

1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

met, adjective (yashar; axios): Various words are employed to express meetness, the sense of what is proper, worthy, or fit. We have yashar, "straight," "upright," "right" (2Ki 10:3, "meetest"; Jer 26:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yashar (Jer 27:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yosher (Pr 11:24, the Revised Version margin "what is justly due"); 'arikh, Aramaic "meet" (Ezr 4:14); bene, "sons of" (De 3:18, the King James Version "meet for the war," margin "Hebrew sons of power," the Revised Version (British and…

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
מַגִּ֑ידma.Gid a messenger H5046 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
371× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Tyndale gloss
to tell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous

Hiph. declare, tell

Hoph. be told, announced, reported

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell

. be told, announced, reported

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5046 nagad naw-gad'

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out

opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;

figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one

present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,

praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),

denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,

rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.

1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known

1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare

1a1) to tell, announce, report

1a2) to declare, make known, expound

1a3) to inform of

1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim

1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess

1a5a) messenger (participle)

1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

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

mes'-en-jer: The regular Hebrew word for "messenger" is mal'akh, the Greek aggelos. This may be a human messenger or a messenger of God, an angel. The context must decide the right translation. In Hag 1:13 the prophet is called God's messenger; Job 33:23 changes the King James Version to "angel" (margin "messenger"); and Mal 3:1 margin, suggests "angel" instead of "messenger." Mal 2:7 and Mal 3:1 (twice) have caused a great deal of comment. See MALACHI. The Greek apostolos, "apostle," is rendered "messenger" in 2Co 8:23;

Nave's Topical Bible

→ FIGURATIVE Hag 1:13; Mal 2:7; 3:1; 4:5,6; Mt 11:10; Mr 1:2; Lu 7:27

Of Satan 2Co 12:7

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
לְהַגִּיד֙le.ha.Gid to tell H5046 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
371× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Amplified meaning
declare, tell
Tyndale gloss
to tell
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous

Hiph. declare, tell

Hoph. be told, announced, reported

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell

. be told, announced, reported

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5046 nagad naw-gad'

a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out

opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;

figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one

present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,

praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),

denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,

rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.

1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known

1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare

1a1) to tell, announce, report

1a2) to declare, make known, expound

1a3) to inform of

1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim

1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess

1a5a) messenger (participle)

1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TALE.

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
לְמֶ֣לֶךְle.Me.lekh to [the] king of H4428 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
2,526× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Amplified meaning
ruler, monarch
Tyndale gloss
King's
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מֶ֫לֶךְ (*melek*) means 'king.' It is derived from a root that suggests royalty. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific kings and locations, such as the 'King's Highway' in Numbers 20:17 and the 'King's Valley' in Genesis 14:17. The lexicons note its Aramaic equivalent and mention its use in the context of individuals like Hammelech in Jeremiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫לֶךְ 2513 n.m. king

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4428 מֶ֫לֶךְ king

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4428 melek meh'-lek

from 4427; a king:--king, royal.

see HEBREW for 04427

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.

1) king

Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) — `the king`.

'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

§ A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26;

father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Highway) (Num.20.17)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

Another name of she.lach (שֶׁ֫לַח "Shelah" H7975A)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — Milcom.

Another name of mo.lekh (מֹ֫לֶךְ "Molech" H4432)

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — King's.

King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)

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…

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
בָּבֶ֔לba.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
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

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
כִּֽי־ki- that H3588 Particle
4,483× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Tyndale gloss
for
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּי (ki) is a conjunction primarily meaning 'that,' 'for,' or 'when.' It indicates causal relationships and can express conditions like 'if' or 'though.' The word is versatile, appearing in various contexts to convey certainty, exception, or concession. Notably, it can combine with other particles to modify its meaning, such as in the phrase כִּי אם־ (ki im), meaning 'that if.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי conj. that, for, when

that

Of time, when, of the past

elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

Because, since

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3588a כִּי that, for, when . that

. . Of time, when, of the past

. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם

. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though

. Because, since

H3588b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

H3588c כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3588 kiy kee

a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional

prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent

or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative

conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by

other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch,

where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else,

even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, +

nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then,

therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when,

whether, while, whom, yea, yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּי (ki) — for.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if

1f) but rather, but

1g) except that

1h) only, nevertheless

1i) surely

1j) that is

1k) but if

1l) for though

1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

כִּי [אם] (ki im) — that if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

1b) even though

כִּי [עַל כֵּן] (ki [al ken]) — for as that: since.

1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

1a) that

1a1) yea, indeed

1b) when (of time)

1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)

1c) because, since (causal connection)

1d) but (after negative)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
נִלְכְּדָ֥הnil.ke.Dah it has been captured H3920 Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
121× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to capture or seize, often using a net or trap. In the Bible, it is used to describe taking control of something or someone, and is also used figuratively to describe being caught or stuck in a situation.
Amplified meaning
seized, taken
Tyndale gloss
to capture
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לָכַד (lakad) means to capture, seize, or take, often by lot. It can refer to catching in a net or trap, as well as figuratively to describe things sticking together. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to capture), Niphal (to be captured), and Hithpael (to grasp each other).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָכַד 121 vb. capture, seize, take (by lot)

Qal

capture, seize

fig. of entrapping men

of taking by lot

Niph.

be captured in war

of men, be caught

be taken by lot

Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3920 lakad law-kad'

a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit);

generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot);

figuratively, to cohere:--X at all, catch (self), be frozen,

be holden, stick together, take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.

1) to capture, take, seize

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to capture, seize

1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.)

1a3) to take (by lot)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singular
HVNp3fs
a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
עִיר֖וֹi.Ro city his H5892 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
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
town, metropolis
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-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

a runner to meet a runner he will run and a messenger to meet a messenger to tell to [the] king of Babylon that it has been captured city his from [the] end
מִקָּצֶֽה׃mi.ka.Tzeh from [the] end H7097 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
97× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the book of Joshua, this word refers to an end or border of a territory. It can also mean the edge or brink of something. This concept is used to describe the boundaries of the Promised Land.
Amplified meaning
border, edge, extremity, boundary
Tyndale gloss
end
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָצֶה (qatseh) means 'end' or 'extremity' and can refer to various contexts such as borders, edges, and limits. It is derived from a root meaning to cut off and encompasses a range of applications, including the idea of the whole as defined by its extremities. Another form, קֵ֫צֶה (qetseh), also means 'end'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָצֶה 92 n.[m.] end, extremity

base

קֵ֫צֶה n.[m.] end

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7097a קָצֶה end, extremity H7097b קֵ֫צֶה end

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7097 qatseh kaw-tseh'

or (negative only) qetseh {kay'-tseh}; from 7096; an

extremity (used in a great variety of applications and idioms;

compare 7093):--X after, border, brim, brink, edge, end,

(in-)finite, frontier, outmost coast, quarter, shore,

(out-)side, X some, ut(-ter-)most (part).

see HEBREW for 07096

see HEBREW for 07093

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָצֶה (qa.tseh) — end.

1) end, extremity

1a) end, mouth, extremity

1b) border, outskirts

1c) the whole (condensed term for what is included within extremities)

1d) at the end of (a certain time)

Also means: qe.tseh (קֵ֫צֶה "end" H7097B)

קֵ֫צֶה (qe.tseh) — end.

end

Another spelling of qa.tseh (קָצֶה "end" H7097A)

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

qets, 'ephec, kalah; telos, sunteleo:

The end of anything is its termination, hence, also, final object or purpose.

It is the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly in the Old Testament of qets (properly, "a cutting off") and other words from the same root (Ge 6:13, "The end of all flesh is come before me"); 'acharith, "hinder part," is also frequently translated "end" (De 11:12; Ps 37:37,38, American Revised Version: "There is a happy end to the man of peace .... The end of the wicked shall be cut off"; the English Revised Version "latter end" (Ps 37:37), margin "reward" or "future posterity"; Ps 73:17

Easton's Bible Dictionary

End

In Heb. 13:7, is the rendering of the unusual Greek word ekbasin, meaning “outcome”, i.e., death. It occurs only elsewhere in 1 Cor. 10:13, where it is rendered “escape.”

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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