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Job 14:20 — Word Study

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WLCתִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ לָ֭נֶצַח וַֽיַּהֲלֹ֑ךְ מְשַׁנֶּ֥ה פָ֝נָ֗יו וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃

BSAYou forevernetsach [for all eternity, perpetually] overpower himtâqaph [prevail against, overcome] and he passes onhâlak [goes away, departs] You changeshânâh [alter, transform] his countenancepânîym [face, appearance] and send him awayshâlach [dismiss, cast away, from your presence, into death]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 14
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 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 (Va.te.sha.le.Che.hu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 14:20quick helps
In a sentenceJob reflects on the inevitability of human mortality and God's unchanging power over life.
Who is speakingJob, lamenting his plight and the fate of humanity.
Where we areIn the midst of Job's profound reflections on life and death.
The hard wordתִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ
Take awayLife is transient; God's power remains eternal.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָלַךְ 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 14:20

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 Mortalitygenerated

19as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
20You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”

Job 14:20 expresses Job's understanding of the human condition, where he acknowledges that God has power over life and death. Job reflects on the fleeting nature of existence, emphasizing that despite a person's struggles or achievements, ultimately, they are subject to God's will. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the inevitability of death and the human experience of suffering, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ecclesiastes 8:8As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
2Job 14:14When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
3Job 2:12When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.
4Lamentations 4:8But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.

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

prevailestEcclesiastes 8:8

The Key Word תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ, tit.ke.Fe.hugenerated

The verb תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ (tit.ke.Fe.hu) is a second-person masculine singular form of the verb meaning 'to overpower' or 'to prevail against.' It is derived from the root תָּקֵף (taqaph), which consistently conveys the sense of overcoming or prevailing over something. In this verse, it highlights God's ultimate authority and power over human life.

This verb's parsing as an imperfect form indicates ongoing action, suggesting that God's overpowering presence is a continuous reality in the life of humanity. The use of the suffix indicates that Job is speaking directly about an individual, emphasizing the personal nature of this overpowering.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses you forever overpower to convey the sense of God's enduring power over humanity.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ governs the main clause, with several phrases following it. The structure emphasizes God's continuous action in overpowering humanity, leading to the subsequent clauses that describe the effects of that overpowering.

The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by a combination of actions: the overpowering, the departing, the changing of countenance, and the sending away. This arrangement highlights the sequential nature of Job's observations about life and death.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ as αὐτὸν (auton), which directly corresponds to 'him.' This choice maintains the personal focus of Job's lament, emphasizing the individual experience of being overpowered by God.

The translation of לָ֭נֶצַח as τέλος (telos) suggests a focus on the end or completion, which aligns with the themes of mortality and finality present in Job's reflections.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 14:20 reflects on how God has power over human life, stating that God overpowers individuals, leading them to pass away. Job notes that God changes their appearance and sends them away, emphasizing the transient nature of life.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'you forever overpower him'?

Job is expressing the idea that God's power over humanity is constant and unyielding, illustrating the reality of human mortality.

Why does Job mention changing countenance?

Changing countenance signifies the transformation that occurs in a person's life, often reflecting the struggles and suffering they endure.

What does it mean to be sent away?

To be sent away refers to the finality of death, where one is dismissed from life and God's presence.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Job?

This verse encapsulates the themes of suffering, mortality, and the sovereignty of God, which are central to the Book of Job.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see God's power at work in my life, especially during difficult times?
  2. How can I better understand the transient nature of life and the importance of my actions?
  3. What does it mean for me to acknowledge God's authority over life and death?
  4. How can I find comfort in the knowledge that God is aware of my struggles and the changes I face?

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

Early Church Fathers comment on Job's reflections, emphasizing the themes of suffering and the human condition as they relate to God's sovereignty.

John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON Job 14:20-22 c. 347–407
“A person is punished,” Job says, “and, even if he has many descendents, he does not know them. In fact, after his death, he is often deprived of the pleasures that he was accustomed to enjoy while alive.
Early Church Fathers on Job 14 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XII c. 540–604
Ver. 20. Thou hast strengthened him for a little space, that he might pass by for ever. LITERAL INTERPRETATION Man has been 'strengthened here for a little space,' in that he has received here powers of living for a while,
Early Church Fathers on Job 14 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 14:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Thou prevailest for ever against him,.... God is a more than a match for man, in anything, in everything; there is no contending with him, or standing against him, he is stronger than he, and always

Read John Gill on Job 14 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. Prevailest - doest overpower by superior strength. Passeth - dieth.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 14 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When once thou takest away this life, it is gone for ever; for he speaks not here of man’ s future and eternal life in another world. He passeth, i.e. he dieth, or is about to die. Man’ s death is oft called a passage, or a going, to intimate that it is not an annihilation, but only a translation of him into another place and state. His countenance; either, 1. His visage, which by death and its harbingers is quite transformed in colour and shape, as we see by daily experience. Or, 2. The face and state of his affairs, as to worldly riches, and pleasures, and honours, all which he leaves behind him. Sendest him away to his long home by death.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 14 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 14:20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.Ver. 20. Thou prevailest for ever against him] This, and the rest of the words to the end of the chapter, some make to be the application of the similitudes; others an amplification only of what he had said, Thou destroyest the hope of man. Thou must needs, when thou over match and over master him, and art never worsted. Exodus 15:3, the Lord is called, "A man of war"; the Chaldee there hath it, The Lord and Victor of wars. And the word here rendered "ever" cometh from a root that signifieth to finish, conquer, and triumph. And he passeth] sc. Out of the world by a violent or…

Read John Trapp on Job 14 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 20. Thou prevailest for ever against him] It is impossible for him to withstand thee: every stroke of thine brings him down. Thou changest his countenance] Probably an allusion to the custom of covering the face, when the person was condemned, and sending him away to execution. See the case of Haman, in the note on Esther, See Clarke on Es 7:8.

Read AdamClarke on Job 14 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. thou changest his countenance] A graphic and pathetic description of death. The word “prevailest against,” i. e. overpowerest him, refers to the last conflict and the final stroke, cf. ch. Job 15:24.

Read Cambridge on Job 14 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou prevailest forever against him - Thou dost always show that thou art stronger than he is. He never shows that he is able to contend with God.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 14 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

20. Thou prevailest — Existence is made up of assaults upon the health and life of man.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 14 →

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

You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

NETBNew English Translation2006

You overpower him once for all, and he departs; you change his appearance and send him away.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thou preuailest alway against him, so that he passeth away: he changeth his face when thou castest him away.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

You prevail [over] him forever, and he goes, || He is changing his countenance, || And You send him away.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Thou assailest him with might without ceasing, till he passeth away: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him off.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

You always defeat him, and he passes away; you change his face and send him away to die.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Thou hast strengthened him for a little while, that he may pass away for ever: thou shalt change his face, and shalt send him away.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

You continually overpower them and they pass away; you distort their faces in death and send them away.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

You overcome him for ever, and he is gone; his face is changed in death, and you send him away.

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.

clauseclauseverbתִּתְקְפֵ֣youobjectהוּoverpower.himprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֭toנֶצַחperpetuityוַֽandclauseverbיַּהֲלֹ֑ךְhe.wentclauseclauseverbמְשַׁנֶּ֥ה[you.are].changingnoun phrase · objectפָ֝נָ֗יfaceוhisוַֽandclauseverbתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽyouobjectהוּsent.him.away

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 14:20 reads, "תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ לָ֭נֶצַח וַֽיַּהֲלֹ֑ךְ מְשַׁנֶּ֥ה פָ֝נָ֗יו וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃" The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text, as all six words correspond directly, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide an alternative reading for this verse, confirming the agreement with the Masoretic Text.

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

תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּ לָ֭נֶצַח וַֽיַּהֲלֹ֑ךְ מְשַׁנֶּ֥ה פָ֝נָ֗יו וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּαὐτὸνלָ֭נֶצַחτέλοςוַֽיַּהֲלֹ֑ךְᾤξετοמְשַׁנֶּ֥הἐπέστησαςפָ֝נָ֗יוπρόσωπονוַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃ἐχαπέστειλας

6 of the 6 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 14:20תָּקֵףyou overpowyou overpower hתָּקֵףנֵ֫צַחto perpetuito perpetuityנֵ֫צַחהָלַךְand he wentand he wentהָלַךְשָׁנָה[you are] c[you are] changשָׁנָהפָּנֶהface hisface hisפָּנֶהשָׁלַחand you senand you sent awשָׁלַחנָצַחto conductto conductנָצַחפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָההָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְשָׁכַחto forgetto forgetשָׁכַחבַּלnotnotבַּלדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהשִׁלֵּשׁto do threto do threeשִׁלֵּשׁטַ֫עַםtastetasteטַ֫עַםסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסחָפְשִׁיfreefreeחָפְשִׁימַלְאָךְmessengermessengerמַלְאָךְ
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 14:20

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.

you overpower him to perpetuity and he went [you are] changing face his and you sent away him
תִּתְקְפֵ֣הוּtit.ke.Fe.hu you overpower him H8630 Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to overpower or overcome someone or something. It's used to describe a situation where one person or group gains control over another. In the Bible, it often describes military victories or struggles.
Amplified meaning
prevail against, overcome
Tyndale gloss
to prevail
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּקֵף (taqaph) is a primitive root meaning to overpower or prevail against. The entries consistently describe its use in the context of overcoming or prevailing over something. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תָּקֵף] vb. prevail over, overpower

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8630 תָּקֵף, תָּקַף

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8630 taqaph taw-kaf'

a primitive root; to overpower:--prevail (against).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּקֵף (ta.qaph) — to prevail.

(Qal) to prevail over or against, overcome, overpower

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqi2ms/Sp3ms
you overpower him to perpetuity and he went [you are] changing face his and you sent away him
לָ֭נֶצַחLa.ne.tzach to perpetuity H5331 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for perpetuity or everlastingness, often used to describe God's nature. It appears in Psalm 9:7, where the psalmist praises God's enduring presence. This word conveys the idea of something lasting forever.
Amplified meaning
for all eternity, perpetually
Tyndale gloss
perpetuity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֵ֫צַח (netsach) encompasses concepts of eminence, enduring strength, and perpetuity. It is derived from a root meaning 'goal' or 'bright object' and conveys ideas of splendor, truthfulness, and confidence. The term is used to express notions of victory and continual existence, often implying an everlasting quality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֵ֫צַח n.m. eminence, enduring, everlasting, perpetuity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5331 נֵ֫צַח eminence, enduring, everlasting, perpetuity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5331 netsach neh'-tsakh

or netsach {nay'-tsakh}; from 5329; properly, a goal, i.e.

the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence

(figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or

(objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially),

continually (i.e. to the most distant point of

view); --alway(-s), constantly, end, (+ n-)ever(more),

perpetual, strength, victory.

see HEBREW for 05329

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵ֫צַח (ne.tsach) — perpetuity.

1) eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness

1a) eminence

1b) enduring of life

1c) endurance in time, perpetual, continual, unto the end

1d) everlastingness, ever

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
you overpower him to perpetuity and he went [you are] changing face his and you sent away him
וַֽיַּהֲלֹ֑ךְvai.ya.ha.Lokh and he went H1980 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Amplified meaning
goes away, departs
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
you overpower him to perpetuity and he went [you are] changing face his and you sent away him
מְשַׁנֶּ֥הme.sha.Neh [you are] changing H8138 Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to repeat or do something again, as seen in Exodus when God repeats his command to Moses. It can also imply changing or altering something. In the Bible, it is used to describe actions like repeating a task or changing one's behavior.
Amplified meaning
alter, transform
Tyndale gloss
to change
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁנָה (shanah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to change or to repeat. It encompasses a range of meanings including altering, duplicating, and disguising oneself. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, such as Qal (to change), Piel (to alter), and Hithpael (to disguise). Notably, it can refer to both literal and figurative changes.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁנָה] vb. change

Qal I do not change

Pi. transit., change, alter

Pu. usu. is changed, mollified

Hithp. arise, pray, and disguise thyself.

base

שָׁנָה vb. repeat, do again

Qal do again

Niph. concerning the dream’s being repeated

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8138a שָׁנָה change H8138b שָׁנָה repeat, do again

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8138 shanah shaw-naw'

a primitive root; to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or

figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or

intransitive):--do (speak, strike) again, alter, double, (be

given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer,

repeat, return, do the second time.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁנָה (sha.nah) — to change.

1) change, alter

1a) (Qal) to change

1b) (Piel) to change, alter

1c) (Pual) to be changed, mollified

1d) (Hithpael) to disguise oneself

שָׁנָה (sha.nah) — to repeat.

1) to repeat, do again

1a) (Qal) to do again

1b) (Niphal) to be repeated

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
HVprmsa
you overpower him to perpetuity and he went [you are] changing face his and you sent away him
פָ֝נָ֗יוfa.Nav face his H6440 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Amplified meaning
face, appearance
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

face, faces

presence, person

technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces

. . presence, person

. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh

{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),

against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),

+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,

face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er

time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +

honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +

meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,

open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,

presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right

forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,

X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)

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Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
you overpower him to perpetuity and he went [you are] changing face his and you sent away him
וַֽתְּשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃Va.te.sha.le.Che.hu and you sent away him H7971 Verb piel sequential imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
847× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Amplified meaning
dismiss, cast away, from your presence, into death
Tyndale gloss
to send: depart
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלַח 814 vb. send

Qal

send: human subj.

send: subj. י׳ (God)

stretch out, esp. acc. hand

rarely send away: human subj.

let loose

Niph. letters were sent

Pi.

send off, away, human subj.

send away, subj. י׳

give over

cast out

send out, forth

let go, set free

shoot forth branches

let down

shoot

Phrases

Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)

Hiph. and I (י׳) will send

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.

. send: subj. י׳ (God)

. stretch out, esp. acc. hand

. rarely send away: human subj.

. let loose

. letters were sent

. . send off, away, human subj.

. . send away, subj. י׳

. give over

. cast out

. send out, forth

. let go, set free

. shoot forth branches

. let down

. shoot

. Phrases

. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)

. and I (י׳) will send

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7971 shalach shaw-lakh'

a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great

variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the

way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give

(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),

push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send

(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,

stretch forth (out).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.

: depart/send

1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to send

1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct

1a3) to send away

1a4) to let loose

1b) (Niphal) to be sent

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out

1c2) to let go, set free

1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)

1c4) to let down

1c5) to shoot

1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled

1e) (Hiphil) to send

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.

: let_go/free

1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to send

1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct

1a3) to send away

1a4) to let loose

1b) (Niphal) to be sent

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out

1c2) to let go, set free

1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)

1c4) to let down

1c5) to shoot

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-2ms | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect second person masculine singular · suffix
Hc/Vpw2ms/Sp3ms
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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