Menu

Job 12:7 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְֽאוּלָ֗ם שְׁאַל־ נָ֣א בְהֵמ֣וֹת וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ וְע֥וֹף הַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִם וְיַגֶּד־ לָֽךְ׃

BSAButʼûwlâm [however, in contrast] askshâʼal [please, I pray] the animalsbᵉhêmâh [beasts, living creatures] and they will instruct youyârâh [teach, show] ask the birdsʻôwph [inquire of, fowls] of the airshâmayim [heaven, the sky] and they will tellnâgad [declare, inform]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 12
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 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 (Lakh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 12:7quick helps
In a sentenceJob invites us to learn from the creatures of the earth and sky.
Who is speakingJob, responding to his friends' accusations.
Where we areIn a discourse on wisdom and understanding.
The hard wordשְׁאַל, she'al
Take awayNature itself can teach us important truths.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁאַל 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 — Job 12:7

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 — Job's Reflection on Wisdomgenerated

6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.
7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

Job 12:7 presents a challenge to the listener: instead of relying solely on human wisdom, one should seek knowledge from the natural world. Job emphasizes that animals and birds possess insights that can instruct and inform us about the divine order and the workings of creation, contrasting human understanding with the wisdom found in nature.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 21:29–30Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?
2Proverbs 6:6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
3Isaiah 1:3The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
4Jeremiah 8:7Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word שְׁאַל, she'algenerated

The verb שָׁאַל (she'al) means to ask or inquire, often in contexts of seeking information or requesting something. It is a common term in the Hebrew Bible, appearing frequently in various contexts, from simple inquiries to deeper requests for understanding.

In this verse, Job uses the imperative form, urging his listeners to ask the animals and birds, implying that they hold knowledge that humans often overlook. This call to inquiry reflects a broader theme in Job's discourse, where he challenges the prevailing human assumptions about wisdom and understanding.


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 שְׁאַל, ask, governs the main clause, with two subordinate clauses detailing what to ask about: the animals and the birds. The structure emphasizes the imperative nature of the request, urging action.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the imperative verb at the beginning, drawing attention to the call to seek knowledge from the creatures of the earth and sky, highlighting the contrast between human wisdom and the wisdom found in nature.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שְׁאַל as ἐρωτήσατε (erōtēsate), meaning 'ask' or 'inquire.' This choice maintains the imperative tone of the original Hebrew, encouraging inquiry.

The translation shows a direct engagement with the Hebrew text, reflecting the same call to seek wisdom from creation, while the Greek word carries a similar sense of urgency and request.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 12:7 invites us to ask the animals and birds for their wisdom. Job suggests that these creatures can teach us important lessons about life and the world around us, encouraging us to look beyond human understanding.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by asking the animals?

Job is highlighting that nature has its own wisdom and can provide insights that humans often overlook.

Why does Job refer to both animals and birds?

By mentioning both, Job emphasizes the breadth of creation and the various forms of wisdom that can be found in different creatures.

How does this verse relate to the theme of wisdom in Job?

This verse underscores the idea that true wisdom can come from unexpected sources, challenging conventional human understanding.

What can we learn from this verse today?

We can learn to be more observant of the world around us and recognize that there are lessons to be learned from nature.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some lessons I can learn from nature that apply to my life?
  2. How can I cultivate a sense of curiosity about the world around me?
  3. In what ways do I rely too heavily on human wisdom rather than seeking broader perspectives?
  4. How can I apply the insights from nature to my understanding of God and His creation?

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

Early commentators like John Chrysostom and Gregory the Dialogist reflect on the wisdom found in nature as presented in this verse, highlighting its significance in understanding God's creation.

John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON Job 12:7A-10B c. 347–407
Why do you behave as if you had made a great and wonderful discovery? It was necessary, in fact, that such a man died, and nobody ignores it.
Early Church Fathers on Job 12 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XI c. 540–604
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee. Or speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Early Church Fathers on Job 12 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 12:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee,.... And so the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea, in this and Job 12:8; from those instructions may be learned, of instances taken, and

Read John Gill on Job 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Ask now the beasts ... and the fowls ... and the fish.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 12 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They shall teach thee, to wit, objectively, i.e. if thou observest the beasts, and their properties, and actions, and events, from them thou mayst learn this lesson. What lesson? I answer, either, 1. That which was last mentioned, . God’ s providence doth order things in the like manner among the very beasts, and fowls, and fishes; of which the most ravenous and mischievous fare the best, whilst those which are more harmless, and serviceable, and beneficial to men meet with the hardest usage. Or, 2. That which Zophar had uttered with so much pomp and gravity, , concerning God’ s infinite wisdom; which, saith Job, thou needest not go into heaven or hell to know, but thou mayst learn it even…

Read Matthew Poole on Job 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:Ver. 7. But ask now the beasts of the earth, and they shall teach thee] Even the wildest of them that abide in the wilderness. There is not one of these, or else of the fowls of the air, but can both teach thee, and tell thee that the world is ordered by a providence, that God is powerful, wise, just, &c., and must therefore be loved and served. That he suffereth the bad to oppress the good, as the beasts do devour the little ones; as the hurtful fowls destroy the harmless; as the great fishes eat up the smaller: man, who was once the captain of God’ s school, is now, for his…

Read John Trapp on Job 12 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 7. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee] Mr. Good's paraphrase here is very just: "Why tell ye me that the Almighty hath brought this calamity upon me? Every thing in nature, the beasts of the field, the fowls of the heaven, every inhabitant of earth and sea, and every thing that befalls them, are the work of his hands; and every thing feels and acknowledges him to be the universal Creator and Controller. It is the common doctrine of all nature; but to apply it as ye would apply it to me, and to assert that I am suffering from being guilty of hypocrisy, is equally impertinent. He ordains every thing in wisdom as well as in power; but why events happen as they happen, why…

Read AdamClarke on Job 12 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7–10. Such knowledge as the friends possessed of God’s wisdom and power and their action in the world could be learned by any one who had eyes to observe the life and fate of the lower creatures. In all may be seen God’s absolute might and sway prevailing (Job 12:10).

Read Cambridge on Job 12 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But ask now the beasts - Rosenmuller supposes that this appeal to the inferior creation should be regarded as connected with Job 12:3, and that the intermediate verses are parenthetical.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 12 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

b. The divine wisdom on which Zophar has descanted, the entire brute creation might have taught him. And yet Zophar does not know that He who is Lord over life and death, lets the wicked live, Job 12:7-12.7.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 12 →

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

But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:

RVARevised Version, American1894

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl of the heavens, and they shall tell thee;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, || And it shows you, || And a bird of the heavens, || And it declares to you.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;

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.

conjunction phraseוְֽandאוּלָ֗םbutclauseclauseclauseverbשְׁאַלaskadverbialנָ֣אpleaseobjectבְהֵמ֣וֹת[the].animalsוְsoclauseverbתֹרֶ֑thatobjectךָּit.may.teach.youוְandclauseclausenoun phrase · objectע֥וֹףthe.bird[s]noun phraseהַ֝ofשָּׁמַ֗יִםthe.heavensוְsoclauseverbיַגֶּדthat.it.may.tellprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָֽtoךְyou

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Job 12:7 reads, "וְֽאוּלָ֗ם שְׁאַל־ נָ֣א בְהֵמ֣וֹת וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ וְע֥וֹף הַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִם וְיַגֶּד־ לָֽךְ׃" which translates to, "But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you." The Septuagint, while it has a similar meaning, presents a different word order and structure, and does not provide a direct word-for-word match with the Masoretic Text. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not offer a variant reading for this verse, thus aligning with the Masoretic Text in essence. Overall, the key difference lies in the Septuagint's unique phrasing, while the core message remains consistent across the witnesses that inquire of animals and birds for wisdom.

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

וְֽאוּלָ֗ם שְׁאַל־ נָ֣א בְהֵמ֣וֹת וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ וְע֥וֹף הַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִם וְיַגֶּד־ לָֽךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְֽאוּלָ֗םἀλλὰנָ֣אδὴבְהֵמ֣וֹתτετράποδαוְתֹרֶ֑ךָּεἴπωσινוְע֥וֹףπετεινὰהַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִםοὐρανοῦוְיַגֶּד־ἀπαγγείλωσιν

7 of the 9 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.

Job 12:7אוּלָםand butand butאוּלָםשָׁאַלaskaskשָׁאַלנָאpleasepleaseנָאבְּהֵמָה[the] anima[the] animalsבְּהֵמָהיָרָאso it may tso it may teachיָרָאעוֹףand [the] band [the] bird[עוֹףשָׁמַיthe heavensthe heavensשָׁמַינָגַדso it may tso it may tellנָגַדךְto youto youךְעוּףto flyto flyעוּףאוּלַיperhapsperhapsאוּלַיעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףגָּדַלto magnifyto magnifyגָּדַלבֵּֽיתְאֵלBethelBethelבֵּֽיתְאֵלשְׁאֵלָהpetitionpetitionשְׁאֵלָהחֵןfavorfavorחֵןעַתָּ֫הnownowעַתָּ֫האָדָםthe man (Athe man (Adam)אָדָםחֵץarrowarrowחֵץבְּהֵמָהanimalanimalבְּהֵמָהשָׁמַיheavenheavenשָׁמַיכּוֹכָבstarstarכּוֹכָבקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָא
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 Job 12:7

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 but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
וְֽאוּלָ֗םve.'u.Lam and but H199 Conjunction · adverb
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is used to show contrast, like 'but' or 'however', and is often used to emphasize a point, as seen in its various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
however, in contrast
Tyndale gloss
but
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוּלָם (uwlam) is an adverb meaning 'but' or 'however,' functioning as a strong adversative in sentences. It is noted for its emphasis on contrast, appearing in contexts where a statement is countered or qualified. The entries consistently highlight its role in introducing opposing ideas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוּלָם adv. but, but indeed, a strong adversative

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H199 אוּלָם but, but indeed, a strong adversative

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

199 'uwlam oo-lawm'

apparently a variation of 194; however or on the

contrary:--as for, but, howbeit, in very deed, surely, truly,

wherefore.

see HEBREW for 0194

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוּלָם (u.lam) — but.

1) but, but indeed (a strong adversative)

2) however, nevertheless

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adv — Conjunction · adverb
HC/D
and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
שְׁאַל־she.'al- ask H7592 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
171× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To ask or inquire, this Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe seeking information or requesting something. It can also mean to beg or borrow, and is used in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament. The KJV translates it as ask, beg, or borrow.
Amplified meaning
please, I pray
Tyndale gloss
to ask
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁאַל (sha'al) means to ask or inquire, often in the context of requesting a favor or borrowing. It covers a range of uses, including seeking counsel, consulting deities, and even begging. The verb can appear in different forms, such as asking for oneself or granting requests. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, שְׁאֵל (she.el), meaning 'to ask'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁאַל 170 vb. ask, inquire

Qal

ask, ask for

specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

inquire of

inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

Niph. ask for oneself

Pi.

inquire carefully

beg, practise beggary

Hiph. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7592 שָׁאַל ask, inquire .. . ask, ask for

. specif. ask as a fovour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. . inquire of

. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc.

. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late)

. ask for oneself

. . inquire carefully

. beg, practise beggary

. (prop. let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7592 sha'al shaw-al'

or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by

implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask

(counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand,

desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend,

pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאַל (sha.al) — to ask.

1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to ask, ask for

1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow

1a3) to enquire, enquire of

1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle)

1a5) to seek

1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully

1c2) to beg, practise beggary

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to be given on request

1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to

Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ask (sha'al "to inquire," "to seek for counsel," "to demand"): It is the word commonly used in the Old Testament and is equivalent to eperotao, "to request," used in the New Testament. It does not imply any inferiority on the part of the person asking (Ps 2:8). It is the Son who is bidden to ask, and therefore the word expresses the request of an equal. It has also the meaning "to inquire": "Wherefore .... ask after my name?" (Ge 32:29) signifying, "Surely you must know who I am." "Ye shall ask me no question" (Joh 16:23), i.e. "about the true meaning of My words, for all will then be clear to you" (Dummelow). aiteo, is the word commonly used with reference to prayer. It means "to ask," "to implore," and presents the…

and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
נָ֣אna' please H4994 Particle
404× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Tyndale gloss
please
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָא (na') is a Hebrew particle used primarily for entreaty or exhortation, meaning 'I pray,' 'now,' or 'please.' It often appears attached to verbs in the imperative or future forms, and can also modify interjections, adverbs, or conjunctions. The entries consistently emphasize its role in expressing a plea or request.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָא part. of entreaty or exhortation, I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4994 נָא I (we) pray, now (enclitic)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4994 na' naw

a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may

usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly

to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections,

occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray)

thee (you), go to, now, oh.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָא (na) — please.

1) I (we) pray, now, please

1a) used in entreaty or exhortation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTj — Particle
HTj
and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
בְהֵמ֣וֹתve.he.Mot [the] animals H929 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Amplified meaning
beasts, living creatures
Tyndale gloss
animal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to a beast or animal, typically denoting domesticated livestock or cattle, and occasionally wild beasts. It is derived from a root that suggests being mute, implying a 'dumb beast.' The term encompasses all living creatures other than humans, with a specific mention of large quadrupeds.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּהֵמָה 187 n.f. beast, animal, cattle

of living creatures other than man

opp. also to wild beasts

rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H929 בְּהֵמָה beast, animal, cattle . of living creatures other than man

. opp. also to wild beasts

. rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

929 bhemah be-hay-maw'

from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly,

a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often

collective):--beast, cattle.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) — animal.

1) beast, cattle, animal

1a) beasts (coll of all animals)

1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals)

1c) wild beasts

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

→ Creations of Ge 1:24; 2:19; Jer 27:5

→ Food of Ge 1:30

→ Named Ge 2:20

→ Ordained as food for man Ge 9:2,3; Le 11:3,9,21,22; De 14:4-6,9,11,20

→ God's care of Ge 9:9,10; De 25:4; Job 38:41; Ps 36:6; 104:11,21; 147:9; Jon 4:11;

and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּve.to.Re.ka so it may teach you H3384 Conjunction · verb hiphil third person feminine singular · suffix
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To show or teach something, like pointing it out or shooting an arrow. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe instructing or directing others.
Amplified meaning
teach, show
Tyndale gloss
to shoot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרָא (*yarah*) encompasses meanings related to shooting, pouring, and throwing. It can refer to actions like shooting arrows or casting water, as well as figurative uses such as teaching or directing. The entries indicate that it has both a literal and a figurative range, with roots in the idea of flowing or pointing out.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָרָא] vb. shoot, pour

Qal shoot with arrows

Hiph. and they shot at; Pt. pl. the shooters, archers

Hoph. he that watereth shall himself also be watered

base

יָרָה vb. throw, shoot

Qal

throw, cast

cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

shoot arrows

throw water, rain

Niph. shot through (with arrows)

Hiph.

throw, cast

shoot (arrows)

throw water, rain

point out, shew

direct, teach, instruct

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3384a יָרָא shoot, pour H3384b יָרָה throw, shoot .. throw, cast

. cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

. shoot arrows

. throw water, rain

. shot through (with arrows)

. . throw, cast

. shoot (arrows)

. throw water, rain

. point out, shew

. direct, teach, instruct

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3384 yarah yaw-raw'

or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root;

properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to

lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot);

figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to

teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew,

shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרָא (ya.ra) — to shoot.

1) to shoot, pour

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to shoot arrows

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to shoot at

1b2) part. shooter, archer

1c) to throw water, rain

יָרָה (ya.rah) — to show.

1) to point out, show

1b) to direct, teach, instruct

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Conjunction · verb hiphil third person feminine singular · suffix
HC/Vhu3fs/Sp2ms
and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
וְע֥וֹףve.'of and [the] bird[s] of H5775 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
71× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word simply means a bird, like the ones that fly in the sky. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms, often symbolizing freedom.
Amplified meaning
inquire of, fowls
Tyndale gloss
bird
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹף (owph) refers to flying creatures, including birds and insects. It is derived from the root meaning to cover with wings, emphasizing the aspect of flight. The term encompasses various types of fowl and winged insects, and it is noted in the Aramaic as well. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹף 70 n.m. coll. flying creatures, fowls, insects

fowl, birds

winged insects

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5775 עוֹף flying creatures, fowls, insects . fowl, birds

. winged insects

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5775 `owph ofe

from 5774; a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as

covering with wings), often collectively:--bird, that flieth,

flying, fowl.

see HEBREW for 05774

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹף (oph) — bird.

1) flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds

1a) fowl, birds

1b) winged insects

Aramaic equivalent: oph (עוֹף "bird" H5776)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/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…

and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
הַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִםha.sha.Ma.yim the heavens H8064 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
421× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Amplified meaning
heaven, the sky
Tyndale gloss
heaven
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַיִם (*shamayim*) is a dual noun meaning 'heavens' or 'sky.' It refers to the visible heavens where celestial bodies are found, as well as the abode of God. The dual form may suggest both the arch of the sky and the higher ether. It is noted in contexts such as Elijah's ascent in a whirlwind.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁמַי] n.m. only pl. שָׁמַיִם 421 heavens, sky

visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are

phrases

as abode of God

Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8064 שָׁמַי only pl. שָׁמַיִם heavens, sky . . visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are

. phrases

. . as abode of God

. Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind

. הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim

dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused

root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps

alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well

as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies

revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) — heaven.

1) heaven, heavens, sky

1a) visible heavens, sky

1a1) as abode of the stars

1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc

1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)

Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)

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

hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens see ASTRONOMY; WORLD. Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Ps 11:4; 103:19-21; Isa 66:1; Re 4:2; 5:11; compare Da 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki 8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co 12:2).

See HEAVENLY.

and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
וְיַגֶּד־ve.ya.ged- so it may tell H5046 Conjunction · verb hiphil jussive third person 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
declare, inform
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-Imperf-3ms — Conjunction · verb hiphil jussive third person masculine singular
HC/Vhj3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TALE.

and but ask please [the] animals so it may teach you and [the] bird[s] of the heavens so it may tell to you
לָֽךְ׃Lakh to you H9032 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךְ (kh) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate