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Jeremiah 52:24 — Word Study

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WLCוַיִּקַּ֣ח רַב־ טַבָּחִ֗ים אֶת־ שְׂרָיָה֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הָרֹ֔אשׁ וְאֶת־ צְפַנְיָ֖ה כֹּהֵ֣ן הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וְאֶת־ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת שֹׁמְרֵ֥י הַסַּֽף׃

BSAThe captainrab [chief, commander] of the guardṭabbâch [executioners, lifeguardsmen] also took awaylâqach SeraiahSᵉrâyâh [Jehovah is ruler] the chiefrôʼsh [head, principal] priestkôhên [one who serves God and leads others in worship] ZephaniahTsᵉphanyâh [God has treasured] the priestkôhên [one who serves God] of second rankmishneh [duplicate, secondary, position, authority] and the threeshâlôwsh [thrice, a small group] doorkeepersshâmar [those who protect, attend to, or guard the entrance]

Word
Listen & take awayJeremiah 52
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 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 (ha.Saf) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Jeremiah 52:24quick helps
In a sentenceThe captain of the guard took away key leaders and doorkeepers from Jerusalem.
Who is speakingThe captain of the guard, acting under Babylonian authority.
Where we areThe final days of Jerusalem before its fall, detailing the captives taken.
The hard wordטַבָּחִ֗ים
Take awayThe act of taking signifies the loss of leadership and authority.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, AdamClarke & more — read them › clause verbלָקַח 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 52:24

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 Jerusalemgenerated

23Each capital had ninety-six pomegranates on the sides, and a total of a hundred pomegranates were above the surrounding network.
24The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.
25Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as seven trusted royal advisers. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city.
26Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

Jeremiah 52:24 describes the aftermath of Jerusalem's capture, where the captain of the guard, under Babylonian authority, takes away significant figures from the city. This action highlights the transition of power and the consequences of Jerusalem's downfall, as seen in the broader narrative of the Babylonian exile.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Jeremiah 52:12–15On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.
22 Kings 25:18The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.
31 Chronicles 6:14Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.
4Ezra 7:1Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
5Jeremiah 21:1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word לָקַח, vai.yi.Kachgenerated

The verb לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses various actions such as receiving, seizing, or capturing. In this context, it indicates the removal of important individuals from Jerusalem, emphasizing the loss of leadership.

The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular shows that this action is part of a narrative sequence, indicating that the captain of the guard is actively taking these individuals away.


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 וַיִּקַּ֣ח, and he took, governs the entire verse, with multiple noun phrases following it: the chief priest, the priest of second rank, and the doorkeepers. This structure emphasizes the action of taking as the central focus of the sentence.

The Hebrew word order places the verb first, highlighting the action of taking before introducing the individuals involved, which underscores the severity of the situation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates לָקַח as ἔλαβεν, which means 'he took.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but does not carry the same narrative weight as the Hebrew verb does in this context.

The LXX's use of ἀρξιμάγειρος for טַבָּחִ֗ים indicates a focus on the role of the guards, suggesting a more formalized military context compared to the Hebrew.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Jeremiah 52:24 tells us that the captain of the guard took away important leaders from Jerusalem, including Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the priest of second rank, along with three doorkeepers. This event marks a critical moment in the city's fall and the beginning of exile.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who were the individuals taken by the captain of the guard?

The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and three doorkeepers, indicating a significant loss of leadership.

What does the term 'doorkeepers' refer to in this context?

The doorkeepers were individuals responsible for guarding the entrances, highlighting the importance of security in the temple and city.

Why is the act of taking these leaders significant?

This act signifies the complete takeover of Jerusalem by Babylon, marking the end of its religious and political autonomy.

How does this verse connect to the broader narrative of the Babylonian exile?

This verse illustrates the immediate consequences of Jerusalem's fall, setting the stage for the exile of its leaders and the destruction of the temple.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the removal of these leaders signify for the people of Jerusalem?
  2. How can we understand the role of leadership in times of crisis based on this passage?
  3. What parallels can we draw between this event and leadership challenges in our own lives?
  4. In what ways can we support those in leadership roles during difficult times?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 52:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest,.... That is, out of the temple, where he was ministering, or fled for safety; this is supposed to be the father of Ezra, 1 Chronicles 6:14;

Read John Gill on Jeremiah 52 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door: Seraiah the chief priest - different from the Seraiah (Jeremiah 51:59)

Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 52 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

See Poole "", where we have the same words. This Seraiah was not he mentioned , but the son of Azariah, . By the second priest, interpreters understand him that supplied the place of the high priest in case he were sick, &c., he that was sent by Zedekiah to the prophet, , and whom Jeremiah chose by his letters, , for not setting Jeremiah in the stocks. It is probable there were more keepers of the door, but the captain of the guard took only three of the principal.

Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 52 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 24. The second priest] 2Kg 25:18. The three keepers] The priests who stood at the door to receive the offerings of the people, see 2Kg 20:9; 2Kg 23:4.

Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 52 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24–27. Omitted in ch. 39, but cp. with it 2 Kings 25:18-21.

Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 52 →

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

The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the chiefe steward tooke Sheraiah the chiefe Priest, and Zephaniah the seconde Priest, and the three keepers of the doore.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the captain of the body-guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the chief of the executioners taketh Seraiah the head priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the chief of the executioners takes Seraiah the head priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the captain of the guard took Serayah the chief priest, and Zephanyah the priest second in rank, and the three door-keepers;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The commander of the bodyguards took prisoner Seraiah, the high priest, together with Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three gatekeepers.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the general took Saraias the chief priest, and Sophonias the second priest, and the three keepers of the entry.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah, the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest, second in rank, and the three Temple doorkeepers.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the captain of the armed men took Seraiah, the chief priest, and Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three door-keepers;

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.

וַandclauseverbיִּקַּ֣חhe.tooknoun phrase · subjectרַב[the].chiefטַבָּחִ֗יםof.[the].bodyguardsnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseשְׂרָיָה֙Seraiahnoun phraseכֹּהֵ֣ןthe.priestnoun phraseהָofרֹ֔אשׁthe.headוְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseצְפַנְיָ֖הZephaniahnoun phraseכֹּהֵ֣ןthe.priestnoun phraseהַofמִּשְׁנֶ֑הthe.second.rankוְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseשְׁלֹ֖שֶׁתthe.threenoun phraseשֹׁמְרֵ֥יthe.keepersnoun phraseהַofסַּֽףthe.threshold

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 show significant agreement, with ten of the fifteen words matched between the two. This indicates a shared understanding of the key figures taken during the Babylonian conquest.

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

וַיִּקַּ֣ח רַב־ טַבָּחִ֗ים אֶת־ שְׂרָיָה֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הָרֹ֔אשׁ וְאֶת־ צְפַנְיָ֖ה כֹּהֵ֣ן הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וְאֶת־ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת שֹׁמְרֵ֥י הַסַּֽף׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיִּקַּ֣חἔλαβενרַב־טַבָּחִ֗יםἀρξιμάγειροςכֹּהֵ֣ןἱερέαהָרֹ֔אשׁπρῶτονכֹּהֵ֣ןἱερέαהַמִּשְׁנֶ֑הδευτερεύονταוְאֶת־καὶשְׁלֹ֖שֶׁתτρεῖςהַסַּֽף׃ὁδὸν

10 of the 15 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 52:24לָקַחand he tookand he tookלָקַחרַב[the] chief[the] chief ofרַבטַבָּח[the] bodyg[the] bodyguardטַבָּחאֵתthe object the object markאֵתשְׂרָיָהSeraiahSeraiahשְׂרָיָהכֹּהֵן[the] pries[the] priest ofכֹּהֵןרֹאשׁthe headthe headרֹאשׁאֵתand the objand the object אֵתצְפַנְיָהZephaniahZephaniahצְפַנְיָהכֹּהֵן[the] pries[the] priest ofכֹּהֵןמִשְׁנֶהthe second the second rankמִשְׁנֶהאֵתand the objand the object אֵתשָׁלֹשׁ[the] three[the] threeשָׁלֹשׁשָׁמַר[the] keepe[the] keepers oשָׁמַרסַףthe threshothe thresholdסַףאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתרָבַבto multiplto multiplyרָבַבטָבַחto slaughtto slaughterטָבַחשָׂרָהto striveto striveשָׂרָהכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןצָפַןto treasurto treasureצָפַןשָׁנָהto changeto changeשָׁנָהספףstand at ostand at or guaספףשָׁלִthirdthirdשָׁלִמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןNebuzaradaNebuzaradanנְבוּזַרְאֲדָןטַבָּחguardguardטַבָּחאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרצָדוֹקZadokZadokצָדוֹקמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָראִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהגְּדַלְיָהGedaliahGedaliahגְּדַלְיָהעֲזַרְיָ֫הוּAzariahAzariahעֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ
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 52:24

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
וַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.Kach and he took H3947 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
966× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Tyndale gloss
to take: take
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָקַח 965 vb. take

Qal

take, take in hand

take and carry along with oneself

take from, or out of

take, carry away

take away from, so as to deprive of

esp. take away life

take to or for a person

take up, upon = put upon

= fetch

take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

take = capture, seize

take = carry off

in phr. take vengeance

Niph.

be captured, of ark

be taken away, removed

be taken, brought unto

Pu.

be taken from, out of

= be stolen from

be taken captive

be taken away, removed

Hoph.

be taken, brought unto

be taken out of

be taken away from

Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand

. take and carry along with oneself

. . take from, or out of

. take, carry away

. take away from, so as to deprive of

. esp. take away life

. take to or for a person

. take up, upon = put upon

. = fetch

. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

. take = capture, seize

. take = carry off

. in phr. take vengeance

. . be captured, of ark

. be taken away, removed

. be taken, brought unto

. . be taken from, out of

. = be stolen from

. be taken captive

. be taken away, removed

. . be taken, brought unto

. be taken out of

. be taken away from

. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3947 laqach law-kakh'

a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of

applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,

get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,

seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.

: take

1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take, take in the hand

1a2) to take and carry along

1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away

1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept

1a5) to take up or upon, put upon

1a6) to fetch

1a7) to take, lead, conduct

1a8) to take, capture, seize

1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be taken away, be removed

1b3) to be taken, brought unto

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be taken from or out of

1c2) to be stolen from

1c3) to be taken captive

1c4) to be taken away, be removed

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto

1d2) to be taken out of

1d3) to be taken away

1e) (Hithpael)

1e1) to take hold of oneself

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
רַב־rav- [the] chief of H7227 Noun common · masculine singular construct
454× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Amplified meaning
chief, commander
Tyndale gloss
many
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רַב 429 adj. much, many, great

(oft. opp. מְעַט)

much: of substances

esp. of collectives, numerous

pl. many

רַב as subst. coll. pers.

cstr. = abounding in

מִן comp. = more numerous than

רַב = abundant, enough

as adv. much, exceedingly

less oft. great

base

רַב 49 n.m. chief

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances

. esp. of collectives, numerous

. pl. many

. רַב as subst. coll. pers.

. cstr. = abounding in

. + מִן comp. = more numerous than

. רַב = abundant, enough

. as adv. much, exceedingly

. less oft. great

H7227b רַב chief

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7227 rab rab

by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,

number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),

captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,

one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,

things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)

much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,

populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

see HEBREW for 07231

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַב (rav) — many.

adj

1) much, many, great

1a) much

1b) many

1c) abounding in

1d) more numerous than

1e) abundant, enough

1f) great

1g) strong

1h) greater than

adv

1i) much, exceedingly

רַב (rav) — chief.

captain, chief

Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)

רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.

Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)

§ captain, chief

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

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
טַבָּחִ֗יםta.ba.Chim [the] bodyguards H2876 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word originally meant a butcher, but came to describe a lifeguardsman or executioner, and even a cook who slaughtered animals for food. It is used to describe various roles in the Bible, including a bodyguard or cook. The word has an Aramaic equivalent.
Amplified meaning
executioners, lifeguardsmen
Tyndale gloss
guard
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טַבָּח (tabbach) refers to a cook or guardsman, with roots indicating a butcher or executioner. It encompasses roles such as a bodyguard and the act of slaughtering animals for food. The term is linked to the Aramaic equivalent טַבָּח (H2877), which also means 'guardsman'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טַבָּח n.m. 1. cook, 2. guardsman

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2876 טַבָּח 1. cook, 2. guardsman

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2876 tabbach tab-bawkh'

from 2873; properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman

(because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook

(usually slaughtering the animal for food):--cook, guard.

see HEBREW for 02873

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טַבָּח (tab.bach) — guard.

1) executioner, cook, bodyguard, guardsman

1a) cook (who also killed the animal for food)

1b) guardsmen, bodyguard

Aramaic equivalent: tab.bach (טַבָּח "guardsman" H2877)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
שְׂרָיָה֙se.ra.Yah Seraiah H8304 Noun proper masculine
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Seraiah means Jehovah is ruler, the name of several Israelites, including a scribe of King David and a chief priest during King Zedekiah's reign. He is mentioned in Jeremiah 51:59 and is the brother of Baruch. Seraiah played important roles in Israel's history.
Amplified meaning
Jehovah is ruler
Tyndale gloss
Seraiah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׂרָיָה (Srayah) refers to a name meaning 'Jah has prevailed.' It is associated with several individuals in the Old Testament, including a secretary of David and a chief priest during the Babylonian exile. The entries highlight various Seraiahs, including a Levite and a Simeonite, indicating a broad usage of the name across different contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׂרָיָה(וּ) n.pr.m. (י׳ persisteth)

secretary of David

chief priest

a captain

son of Kenaz

name in Simeon

Levite name

companion of Zerub.

father of Ezra

one sealed

priest

officer of king Jehoiakim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8304 שְׂרָיָה(וּ), שְׂרָיָה, שְׂרָיָהוּ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8304 Srayah ser-aw-yaw'

or Srayahuw {ser-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from 8280 and 3050; Jah has

prevailed; Serajah, the name of nine Israelites:--Seraiah.

see HEBREW for 08280

see HEBREW for 03050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׂרָיָהוּ (se.ra.yah) — Seraiah.

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.8.17;

father of: Elihoreph (H0456) and Ahijah (H0281); also called Shavsha at 1Ch.18.16; Sheva(Ketiv: Sheya) at 2Sa.20.25; Shisha at 1Ki.4.3;

§ Seraiah = "Jehovah is ruler"

1) the scribe or secretary of David

2) son of Azariah, father of Jehozadak, and the chief priest in the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah and at the time of the capture of Jerusalem

3) son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite and one of the men who went to Gedaliah, the governor over Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, and gave their oath to serve the king of Babylon

4) a Judaite, son of Kenaz, brother of Othniel, and father of Joab

5) a Simeonite, father of Josibiah and grandfather of Jehu

6) a people of the province who returned from exile with Zerubbabel

6a) maybe the same as 10

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

se-ra'-ya, se-ri'-a (serayahu, "Yah hath prevailed"; Septuagint Saraias, or Saraia):

(1) Secretary of David (2Sa 8:17); in 2Sa 20:25 he is called Sheva; in 1Ki 4:3 the name appears as Shisha. This last or Shasha would be restored elsewhere by some critics; others prefer the form Shavsha, which is found in 1Ch 18:16.

(2) A high priest in the reign of Zedekiah; executed with other prominent captives at Riblah by order of Nebuchadnezzar (2Ki 25:18,21; Jer 52:24,27). Mentioned in the list of high priests (1Ch 6:14).…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Seraiah

Soldier of Jehovah. (1.) The father of Joab (1 Chr. 4:13, 14).

(2.) The grandfather of Jehu (1 Chr. 4:35).

(3.) One of David’s scribes or secretaries (2 Sam. 8:17).

(4.) A Netophathite (Jer. 40:8), a chief priest of the time of Zedekiah. He was carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon, and there put to death (2 Kings 25:18, 23).

(5.) Ezra 2:2.

(6.) Father of Ezra the scribe (7:1).

(7.) A ruler of the temple (Neh. 11:11).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The king’s scribe or secretary in the reign of David. (2 Samuel 8:17) (B.C. 1043.) The high priest in the reign of Zedekiah. (2 Kings 25:18; 1 Chronicles 6:14; Jeremiah 52:24) (B.C. 594.) The son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite. (2 Kings 25:23; Jeremiah 40:8) The son of Kenaz and brother of Othniel. (1 Chronicles 4:13,14) Ancestor of Jehu a Simeonite chieftain. (1 Chronicles 4:35) One of the children of the province who returned with Zerubbabel. (

The name of six persons, alluded to in the following passages: 2Sa 8:17; 2Ki 25:18; Ezr 7:1; Jer 36:26; 40:8; 51:59. The last is termed "a quiet prince" or "chief chamberlain." He bore to the Jews in Babylon a message from the prophet Jeremiah.

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
כֹּהֵ֣ןko.Hen [the] priest of H3548 Noun common · masculine singular construct
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
one who serves God and leads others in worship
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

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

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
הָרֹ֔אשׁha.Rosh the head H7218 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
600× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means chief or prince, and is used to describe leaders in the Bible, such as in the book of 1 Samuel. It signifies a position of authority and importance.
Amplified meaning
head, principal
Tyndale gloss
head
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֹאשׁ (ro'sh) means 'head' and encompasses various meanings related to position and rank. It can refer to the head of a person or animal, the top of a mountain, or a chief in various contexts, such as a city or nation. The word also signifies beginnings and sums, appearing in phrases related to enumeration. Additionally, it serves as a proper noun for 'Rosh,' a title for a chief or prince.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֹאשׁ 599 n.m.

(c. 230 t.) head, of human being

head, of animals

top (88 t.)

height, of stars

head = chief (man)

= chief (city)

chief nation

= chief (place, position)

= chief priest

= head of a family

head = front, leader's place

of time, beginning, of night watch

of things, river-heads

chief, choicest, best, of spices

head = division of army, company, band

= sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

other phr.

base

רֹאשׁ n.pr.gent. Rôsh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7218a רֹאשׁ . . (c. 230 t.) head, of human being

. head, of animals

. . top (88 t.)

. height, of stars

. . head = chief (man)

. = chief (city)

. chief nation

. = chief (place, position)

. = chief priest

. = head of a family

. . head = front, leader's place

. of time, beginning, of night watch

. of things, river-heads

. chief, choicest, best, of spices

. head = division of army, company, band

. = sum, esp. in phr. take sum of, enumerate

. other phr.

H7218b רֹאשׁ n. pr. gent. Rôsh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7218 ro'sh roshe

from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as

most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many

applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):--band, beginning,

captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company,

end, X every (man), excellent, first, forefront, ((be-))head,

height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), X lead, X poor,

principal, ruler, sum, top.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head.

: head

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — prince.

Rosh, a tite for a chief or prince

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: leader.

: leader

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

1b) top, tip (of mountain)

1c) height (of stars)

1d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)

1e) head, front, beginning

1f) chief, choicest, best

1g) head, division, company, band

1h) sum

רֹאשׁ (rosh) — head: top.

: top/best

1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning

1a) head (of man, animals)

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

hed (ro'-sh, Aramaic re'sh, and in special sense gulgoleth, literally, "skull," "cut-off head" (1Ch 10:10), whence Golgotha (Mt 27:33; Mr 15:22; Joh 19:17); mera'ashah, literally, "head-rest," "pillow," "bolster" (1Ki 19:6); qodhqodh, literally, crown of the head (De 28:35; 33:16,20; 2Sa 14:25; Isa 3:17; Jer 48:45); barzel, "the head of an axe" (De…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- The uppermost and chief member of the body

Isa 1:6; 2Ki 6:31

- All the other members necessary to

1Co 12:21

- The body supported and supplied by

Eph 4:16

- Put for the whole person

Ge 49:26; Pr 10:6

- Put for the life

Da 1:10; 1Sa 28:2

- PARTS OF MENTIONED

. The skull

2Ki 9:35; Mt 27:33

. The crown

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
צְפַנְיָ֖הtze.fan.Yah Zephaniah H6846 Noun proper masculine
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Zephaniah was a prophet in the Bible, his name meaning God has treasured, who wrote about God's judgments in the book of Zephaniah.
Amplified meaning
God has treasured
Tyndale gloss
Zephaniah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צְפַנְיָה (Tsphanyah) means 'Jehovah has treasured' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a prophet and a priest. The entries indicate that Zephaniah is the ninth of the twelve minor prophets, a descendant of King Hezekiah, and active during the reign of King Josiah. He is also noted as a Levite and the father of Josiah and Hen.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צְפַנְיָה(וּ) n.pr.m. (י׳ hath treasured)

priest

the prophet

a Judæan

ancestor of Heman

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6846 צְפַנְיָה(וּ) (י׳ hath treasured) . priest

. the prophet

. a Judæan

. ancestor of Heman

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6846 Tsphanyah tsef-an-yaw'

or Tsphanyahuw {tsef-an-yaw'-hoo}; from 6845 and 3050; Jah

has secreted; Tsephanjah, the name of four

Israelites:--Zephaniah.

see HEBREW for 06845

see HEBREW for 03050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צְפַנְיָהוּ (tse.phan.yah) — Zephaniah.

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.18;

son of: Maaseiah (H4641X)

§ Zephaniah = "Jehovah has treasured"

1) the 9th in order of the 12 minor prophets; descendant of king Hezekiah of Judah and prophet in the time of king Josiah of Judah

2) son of Maaseiah and second priest in the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah; succeeded Jehoiada and an officer of the temple; slain at Riblah on the capture of Jerusalem

3) father of Josiah and Hen in the time of the prophet Zechariah

4) a Levite

צְפַנְיָהוּ (tse.phan.yah) — Zephaniah.

A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Zep.1.1;

son of: Cushi (H3569H)

§ Zephaniah = "Jehovah has treasured"

1) the 9th in order of the 12 minor prophets; descendant of king Hezekiah of Judah and prophet in the time of king Josiah of Judah

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

zef-a-ni'-a (tsephanyah, tsephanyahu, "Yah hath treasured"):

(1) The prophet.

See ZEPHANIAH, BOOK OF.

(2) A Levite or priest (1Ch 6:36 (Hebrew 6:21)), called in some genealogies "Uriel" (1Ch 6:24; 15:5,11).

(3) Judean father or fathers of various contemporaries of Zechariah, the prophet (Zec 6:10,14).

(4) A priest, the second in rank in the days of Jeremiah. He was a leader of the "patriotic" party which opposed Jeremiah. Nevertheless, he was sent to the prophet as a messenger of King Zedekiah when Nebuchadnezzar was about to attack the city (Jer 21:1) and at other crises (Jer 37:3; compare 29:25,29;

(hidden by Jehovah). The ninth in order of the twelve minor prophets. His pedigree is traced to his fourth ancestor, Hezekiah, (Zephaniah 1:1) supposed to be the celebrated king of that name. The chief characteristics of this book are the unity and harmony of the composition, the grace, energy and dignity of its style, and the rapid and effective alternations of threats and promises. The general tone of the last portion is Messianic, but without any specific reference to the person of our Lord. The date of the book is given in the inscription--viz, the reign of Josiah, from 642 to 611 B.C. It is most probable moreover, that the prophecy was delivered before the eighteenth year of Josiah. The son of Maaseiah, (Jeremiah 21:1) and sagan or second priest in the reign of Zedekiah. (B.C.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A Kohathite, in the seventh generation from Levi, 1Ch 6:36.

2. A priest, high in the sacred order, during the troublous times of king Zedekiah, who often communicated with Jeremiah by his agency. He was among the captives slain by the king of Babylon at Riblah, 2Ki 25:18-21 Jer 21:1 29:25,29 37:3 52:24-27.

3. The ninth in order of the minor prophets, of the tribe of Simeon. He prophesied in the early part of king Josiah’s reign, before the reforms of that good king were instituted, 2Ch 34:3 Zep 1:4-5.

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
כֹּהֵ֣ןko.Hen [the] priest of H3548 Noun common · masculine singular construct
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
one who serves God
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

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

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑הha.mish.Neh the second rank H4932 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mishneh means a second or duplicate, like a copy of a document, or something that is double in amount, also referring to a second in order or rank, like a secondary position or a copy of a law.
Amplified meaning
duplicate, secondary, position, authority
Tyndale gloss
second
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִשְׁנֶה (mishneh) means double, copy, or second, and can refer to a duplicate document or something that is second in order or rank. It can also denote a second quarter or district in a town. The word is derived from a root meaning repetition and encompasses various contexts, including quantity and location.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁנֶה n.[m.] double, copy, second

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4932 מִשְׁנֶה double, copy, second

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4932 mishneh mish-neh'

from 8138; properly, a repetition, i.e. a duplicate (copy of

a document), or a double (in amount); by implication, a second

(in order, rank, age, quality or location):--college, copy,

double, fatlings, next, second (order), twice as much.

see HEBREW for 08138

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁנֶה (mish.neh) — Second [Quarter].

This name means second, referring to the second quarter or district in a town

מִשְׁנֶה (mish.neh) — second.

1) double, copy, second, repetition

1a) double

1b) copy (of law)

1c) second (in order)

1c1) second rank

1c2) second in age

1d) second quarter or district

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

rank:

(1) 'orach, used in Joe 2:7 of the advance of the locust army which marched in perfect order and in straight lines, none crossing the other's track.

(2) ma`arakhah, "battle array" (1Ch 12:38 the King James Version; compare 1Sa 4:16; 17:22,48).

See ARMY.

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁתshe.Lo.shet [the] three H7969 Adj
432× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means three or thrice, and is used to describe quantities or repetitions in the Bible. It appears in various forms, including three, third, and thirteen.
Amplified meaning
thrice, a small group
Tyndale gloss
three
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'

or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};

or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;

occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,

+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.

Compare 7991.

see HEBREW for 07991

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.

1) three, triad

1a) 3, 300, third

Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(shalosh; treis).

See NUMBER.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
שֹׁמְרֵ֥יsho.me.Rei [the] keepers of H8104 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
469× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To keep or obey means to protect, attend to, or guard something, like keeping a promise or watching over someone, as seen in the commands to observe the Sabbath.
Amplified meaning
those who protect, attend to, or guard the entrance
Tyndale gloss
to keep: obey
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve

Qal 425

keep, have charge of

keep, guard, captives

hence, watch for, wait for

watch, observe

keep, retain, of storing up (food)

keep within bounds, restrain

observe, celebrate

keep sabbath

of other obligations

observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

sts. י׳ subj.

keep, reserve, weeks of harvest

Niph.

36be on one's guard

keep oneself, refrain, abstain

be kept, guarded

Pi. those paying regard to false vanities

Hithp. I kept myself from

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of

. keep, guard, captives

. hence, watch for, wait for

. watch, observe

. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)

. keep within bounds, restrain

. . observe, celebrate

. keep sabbath

. of other obligations

. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)

. sts. י׳ subj.

. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest

. . be on one's guard

. keep oneself, refrain, abstain

. be kept, guarded

. those paying regard to false vanities

. I kept myself from

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8104 shamar shaw-mar'

a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),

i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,

be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,

look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save

(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.

: obey/observe

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to keep, have charge of

1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)

1a3) to watch for, wait for

1a4) to watch, observe

1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)

1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain

1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)

1a8) to keep, preserve, protect

1a9) to keep, reserve

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware

1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain

1b3) to be kept, be guarded

1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed

1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from

שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.

: guard

1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to keep, have charge of

1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life

1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards the object marker Seraiah [the] priest of the head and the object marker Zephaniah [the] priest of the second rank and the object marker [the] three [the] keepers of the threshold
הַסַּֽף׃ha.Saf the threshold H5592 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a threshold, like a door sill, or a container for holding liquids. It can also mean a gate or post. The KJV translates it as threshold or bason.
Tyndale gloss
basin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סַף (saph) refers to both a basin or goblet and a threshold or sill. It is derived from a root meaning to contain, indicating its use for holding liquids or marking a boundary. The entries highlight its dual meanings, with Brown-Driver-Briggs and Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon both emphasizing its applications in physical structures and vessels.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סַף n.m. basin, goblet

base

סַף 24 n.m. threshhold, sill

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5592a סַף basin, goblet H5592b סַף threshhold, sill

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5592 caph saf

from 5605, in its original sense of containing; a vestibule

(as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or

wine):--bason, bowl, cup, door (post), gate, post, threshold.

see HEBREW for 05605

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סַף (saph) — basin.

1) a spreading out, basin, goblet, bowl

1a) basin, goblet

סַף (saph) — threshold.

1) threshold, sill

1a) threshold, sill, door-keeper

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncmsa — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

thresh'-old.

See HOUSE, II, 1, (7).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Threshold

(1.) Heb. miphtan, probably a projecting beam at a higher point than the threshold proper (1 Sam. 5:4,5; Ezek. 9:3; 10:4,18; 46:2; 47:1); also rendered “door” and “door-post.”

(2.) ‘Asuppim, pl. (Neh. 12:25), rendered correctly “storehouses” in the Revised Version. In 1 Chr. 26:15, 17 the Authorized Version retains the word as a proper name, while in the Revised Version it is translated “storehouses.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Of the two words so rendered is the Authorized Version, one,miphthan, ,seems to mean sometimes a projecting beam or corbel. (Ezekiel 9:3; 10:4,18)

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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