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Job 15:11 — Word Study

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WLCהַמְעַ֣ט מִ֭מְּךָ תַּנְחֻמ֣וֹת אֵ֑ל וְ֝דָבָ֗ר לָאַ֥ט עִמָּֽךְ׃

BSAAre the consolationstanchûwm [comforts, solace] of Godʼêl [Elohim, the supreme Creator] not enoughmᵉʻaṭ [too small, insufficient] for youmin even wordsdâbâr [a gentle word, a soft utterance] [spoken] gentlyʼaṭ [softly, in a whisper] to youʻim

Word
Listen & take awayJob 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 ('i.Makh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 15:11quick helps
In a sentenceJob questions whether God's comfort and gentle words are sufficient for the listener.
Who is speakingJob, addressing his friend.
Where we areIn a discourse about the nature of God's consolation amidst suffering.
The hard wordמְעַט
Take awayGod's comfort is available, but the listener's response matters.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 15:11

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 Discourse on God's Comfortgenerated

10Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
11Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
12Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?

Job 15:11 is part of a larger conversation where Job's friend challenges the listener's understanding of God's comfort. Job asserts that the divine consolations should be sufficient, questioning the listener's perception of their value. This passage reflects the struggle to comprehend God's support during difficult times, as seen throughout the book of Job.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 5:8–26However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—
2Job 11:13–19As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,
32 Corinthians 1:3–5Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
42 Corinthians 7:6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
5Job 15:8Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מְעַט, ham.'Atgenerated

The word מְעַט (ma'at) indicates something that is small in quantity or degree. It can describe a little, few, or limited amount, suggesting insufficiency in the context of divine consolation.

In this verse, it emphasizes the idea that the comforts provided by God may be perceived as inadequate by the listener. The parsing as a particle and noun indicates it modifies the noun phrase, highlighting the relationship between God's consolations and the listener's needs.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with the BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE all conveying the idea that God's consolations are questioned for their sufficiency.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse revolves around a main clause, with the finite verb מְעַט (is little) serving as the predicate. The sentence is built around this central idea, with additional phrases providing context about God's consolations and the listener's perception.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the concept of 'little' in relation to God's comforts, indicating a questioning of their adequacy.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the Greek word ὧν to translate תַּנְחֻמ֣וֹת (tanchumot), which implies a focus on the nature of the comforts rather than their quantity. This choice may reflect a broader interpretation of the emotional and spiritual support provided by God.

The translation suggests a nuanced understanding of consolation, emphasizing its relational aspect rather than merely its sufficiency.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 15:11 questions whether the comfort God offers is enough for the listener. Job emphasizes that God's gentle words should provide solace, yet he challenges the listener's perception of their value.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'the consolations of God'?

Job refers to the comfort and support that God provides to those in distress, suggesting that these should be sufficient.

Why does Job question the sufficiency of God's comfort?

Job is addressing the listener's attitude, implying that they may not fully appreciate the depth of God's consolation.

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

This verse highlights the struggle to understand God's presence and support during suffering, a central theme in the book.

What can we learn from Job's questioning of God's comfort?

It encourages reflection on our own perceptions of divine support and the importance of recognizing God's presence in our lives.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's comfort in my life?
  2. How do I respond to the challenges of feeling that God's support is insufficient?
  3. What does it mean to me to receive gentle words from God?
  4. How can I better appreciate the consolations offered by God?

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

Early commentary on Job's discourse highlights the significance of divine consolation, as seen in the writings of Gregory the Dialogist.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XII c. 540–604
Ver. 11. Is it a great thing that God should console thee? But thine evil words prevent this. As if he said to him in plain words;
Early Church Fathers on Job 15 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 15:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[Are] the consolations of God small with thee?.... Meaning either those which Eliphaz and his friends had administered, when, upon his repentance and reformation, they promised him great and good

Read John Gill on Job 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Are those comforts, which we in the name, and according to the mind, and by the direction, of God have propounded to thee, upon condition of thy true repentance, ,14, &c., small and contemptible in thine eyes? Hast thou any secret and peculiar ground or way of comfort which is unknown to us, and to all other men, except thyself; for which, or in comparison of which, thou despisest our consolations as mean and trivial? To pretend to this is vanity and impudence; and if thou hast not this, to despise and reject our comforts is horrible pride and stubbornness.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 15:11 [Are] the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?Ver. 11. Are the consolations of God] Sic fastuose suas consolationes appellat et sociorum, saith Mercer; so Eliphaz, with state enough, calleth the comforts that he and his fellows had ministered to Job, promising him mercy from God upon his sound repentance; but telling him withal, that unless he Would yield himself a hypocrite, those promises would profit him nothing at all. Had Job slighted the precious promises, those conduits of comfort, he had been much to blame, as he was, doubtless, who said, My soul refused comforts, Psalms 77:2; like some sullen child, that will not eat his milk because…

Read John Trapp on Job 15 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Are the consolations of God small with thee?—This is one of the obscure phrases of Job upon which it is very difficult to decide. The Authorised Version gives very good sense, which seems to suit the context in the following verse; but it is susceptible of other phases of meaning: e.g., “or a word that dealeth gently with thee (2 Samuel 4:5), such as ours have been (?)”; or “the word that he hath spoken softly with thee” (but see Job 15:8); or, again, the consolations of God may mean strong consolations (Psalms 80:11), such as ours have been, spoken in strong language,” in which case the second clause would mean, “Was thine own speech gentle?” “Small with thee” means, of course, too…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 15 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. Are the consolations of God small with thee?] Various are the renderings of this verse. Mr. Good translates the verse thus: "Are then the mercies of God of no account with thee?" or, "the addresses of kindness before thee?" The VULGATE thus: - "Can it be a difficult thing for God to comfort thee? But thou hinderest this by thy intemperate speeches." The SYRIAC and ARABIC thus: - "Remove from thee the threatenings (Arabic, reproaches) of God, and speak tranquilly with thy own spirit." The SEPTUAGINT thus: - "Thou hast been scourged lightly for the sins which thou hast committed; and thou hast spoken greatly beyond measure; or, with excessive insolence." Houbigant thus: - "Dost thou…

Read AdamClarke on Job 15 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. small with thee] Rather, are the consolations of God too small for thee? do they seem to thee beneath thy deserts and notice? Numbers 16:9; Isaiah 7:13. is there any secret thing with thee] Rather, and a word that dealt gently with thee? The consolations or comforts of God are such as proceed from God and are authorized by Him. Eliphaz so describes his own teaching, e.g. the oracle, ch. Job 4:12 seq., which came directly from God; but also, no doubt, such consoling views of God’s providence as he shewed ch. Job 5:8 seq. In the phrase “a word that dealt gently with thee” he describes the gentle and conciliatory manner of his own first speech. He may include his friends with him in all…

Read Cambridge on Job 15 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Are the consolations of God small with thee? - The “consolations of God” here refer probably to those considerations which had been suggested by Eliphaz and his friends, and which he takes to be the

Read Albert Barnes on Job 15 →

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

Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle toward you?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

NETBNew English Translation2006

Are God’s consolations too trivial for you; or a word spoken in gentleness to you?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, and the word that dealeth gently with thee?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Seeme the consolations of God small vnto thee? is this thing strange vnto thee?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Are the consolations of God too small for thee? and the word gently spoken to thee?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Too few for thee are the comforts of God? And a gentle word [is] with thee,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Are the comforts of God too few for you? And a gentle word [is] with you,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Are the divine consolations too little for thee? and the word that was so mild with thee?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Are the consolations of God too small for you, the words that are gentle toward you?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Is it a great matter that God should comfort thee? but thy wicked words hinder this.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Are the comforts of God not enough for you, and the gentle word which was said 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.

clauseהַ[too]clauseclausepredicateמְעַ֣טlittle?prepositional phrase · prepositionalמִ֭מְּforךָyounoun phrase · subjectתַּנְחֻמ֣וֹת[are].the.consolationsאֵ֑לof.Godוְ֝andclausenoun phrase · subjectדָבָ֗רa.wordprepositional phraseלָtonoun phraseאַ֥טgentlenessprepositional phraseעִמָּֽwithךְyou

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 some alignment in the translation of key terms, with four out of seven words matched. However, the Septuagint's word order and articles differ from the Hebrew text, indicating a distinct interpretative approach.

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

הַמְעַ֣ט מִ֭מְּךָ תַּנְחֻמ֣וֹת אֵ֑ל וְ֝דָבָ֗ר לָאַ֥ט עִמָּֽךְ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הַמְעַ֣טὧνמִ֭מְּךָἡμάρτηκαςתַּנְחֻמ֣וֹתμεμαστίγωσαιוְ֝דָבָ֗רλελάληκας

4 of the 7 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 15:11מְעַט¿ [too] lit¿ [too] littleמְעַטמִן־for youfor youמִן־תַּנְחוּם[are] [the][are] [the] conתַּנְחוּםאֵלGodGodאֵלדָּבָרand a wordand a wordדָּבָראִטִּיto gentleneto gentlenessאִטִּיעִםwith youwith youעִםמָעַטto diministo diminishמָעַטנחםto be sorrto be sorry: coנחםאַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםמֵןstringstringמֵןתְּנוּמָהslumberslumberתְּנוּמָהשֵׁנָהsleepsleepשֵׁנָהרָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרקַנָּאjealousjealousקַנָּאשַׁדַּיAlmightyAlmightyשַׁדַּייֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶרסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרהָלַךְto go: walto go: walkהָלַךְאֶלto(wards)to(wards)אֶלשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַר
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 15:11

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.

¿ [too] little for you [are] [the] consolations of God and a word to gentleness with you
הַמְעַ֣טham.'At ¿ [too] little H4592 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
101× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means something is small or little in amount, like a few people or a short time. It appears in various Bible translations as almost, few, or small. In the Bible, it often describes something that is limited or lacking.
Amplified meaning
too small, insufficient
Tyndale gloss
little
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4592 m`at meh-at'

or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often

adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),

lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,

soon, X very.

see HEBREW for 04591

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְעַט (me.at) — little.

1) littleness, few, a little, fewness

1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little

1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTi/Ncmsa
¿ [too] little for you [are] [the] consolations of God and a word to gentleness with you
מִ֭מְּךָMi.me.kha for you H4480 Preposition · suffix
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
¿ [too] little for you [are] [the] consolations of God and a word to gentleness with you
תַּנְחֻמ֣וֹתtan.chu.Mot [are] [the] consolations of H8575 Noun common · feminine plural construct
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means comfort or solace, like the consolation God gives to those who mourn, as seen in Isaiah 61:2. It's about finding peace in difficult times. The Bible often talks about God's comfort.
Amplified meaning
comforts, solace
Tyndale gloss
consolation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תַּנְחוּם (tanchuwm) means 'consolation' or 'comfort.' It is derived from the root meaning compassion or solace. The word is used in contexts related to providing comfort and support, reflecting emotional relief.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תַּנְחוּם] n.m. consolation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8575 [תַּנְחוּם] consolation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8575 tanchuwm tan-khoom'

or tanchum {tan-khoom'}; and (feminine) tanchuwmah

{tan-khoo-maw'}; from 5162; compassion, solace:--comfort,

consolation.

see HEBREW for 05162

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תַּנְחוּם (tan.chum) — consolation.

consolation(s)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp — Noun common · feminine plural construct
HNcfpc
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…

¿ [too] little for you [are] [the] consolations of God and a word to gentleness with you
אֵ֑ל'El God H410 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
241× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Amplified meaning
Elohim, the supreme Creator
Tyndale gloss
god
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵל (*'el*) primarily means 'god' and conveys the idea of might or strength. It can refer to the one true God of Israel, as well as to other deities, angels, and mighty men. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including nature and power, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵל n.m. god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might

applied to men of might and rank

angels

gods of the nations

Ēl

as characterizing mighty things in nature

God, the one only and true God of Israel

אֵל strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H410 אֵל god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might . applied to men of might and rank

. angels

. gods of the nations

. Ēl

. as characterizing mighty things in nature

. God, the one only and true God of Israel

. אֵל strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

410 'el ale

shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty;

especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God

(god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong.

Compare names in "-el."

see HEBREW for 0352

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵל (el) — God.

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֵל (el) — El (Berith).

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Berith" (berith בְּרִית H1286)

אֵל (el) — El (Elohe).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "God" (elohim אֱלֹהִים H0430)

אֵל (el) — El (Most High).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Most High" (el.yon עֶלְיוֹן H5945B)

אֵל (el) — god.

: god

1) god, god-like one, mighty one

1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes

1b) angels

1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations)

1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah

2) mighty things in nature

3) strength, power

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

¿ [too] little for you [are] [the] consolations of God and a word to gentleness with you
וְ֝דָבָ֗רve.da.Var and a word H1697 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Amplified meaning
a gentle word, a soft utterance
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

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

wurd: The commonest term in the Old Testament for "word" is dabhar (also "matter" "thing"); in the New Testament logos ("reason," "discourse," "speech"); but also frequently rhema. Rhema is a "word" in itself considered; logos is a spoken word, with reference generally to that which is in the speaker's mind. Some of the chief applications of the terms may thus be exhibited:

(1) We have the word of Yahweh (or God; see below)

(a) as the revelation to the patriarch, prophet, or inspired person (Ge 15:1; Ex 20:1; Nu 22:38, etc.);

(b) as spoken forth by the prophet (Ex 4:30; 34:1; 2Ki 7:1;

One of the titles of the second person of the Trinity, indicating perhaps that by his acts and teachings God is revealed, somewhat as thought is by words, 1Jo 1:1 5:7 Re 19:13. "The word of the Lord" was a common phrase in the Old Testament, always denoting some revelation of Jehovah. Long before the coming of Christ, the Jewish paraphrasts of the Bible used "The Word" in the passage where Jehovah occurred in the original; and the term was familiar to Jewish writers as the name of a divine being, the Son of God.

To show its true meaning and its application to our Savior, was of great importance to John, the last of the inspired writers, in whose later years certain errors as to the person of Christ, borrowed from Eastern philosophy, had begun to creep into the Christian church. He describes "The Word" as a personal and divine Being…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A title of Jesus Joh 1:1,14; 1Jo 5:7; Re 19:13

→ See JESUS, NAMES OF

¿ [too] little for you [are] [the] consolations of God and a word to gentleness with you
לָאַ֥טla.'At to gentleness H328 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means doing something gently or softly, like a necromancer's incantations. It can also mean flowing or being smooth.
Amplified meaning
softly, in a whisper
Tyndale gloss
mutterer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִטִּי (*it.ti*) refers to a 'mutterer,' often associated with necromancers or enchanters due to their soft incantations. It can also denote gentleness or softness when used adverbially. The entries indicate that the word has a dual nature, covering both a noun form related to magical practices and an adverbial form expressing gentleness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אִטִּי] n.m. mutterer Is 19:3 mutterers i.e. either ventriloquists or whisperers of charms

ref

אַט subst. gentleness, used only adverbially

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H328a [אִטִּי] mutterer. H328b אַט gentleness.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

328 'at at

from an unused root perhaps meaning to move softly; (as a

noun) a necromancer (from their soft incantations), (as an

adverb) gently:--charmer, gently, secret, softly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִטִּי (it.ti) — mutterer.

enchanter, necromancer (substantive)

אַט (at) — softly.

1) gentleness, softness

1a) gently

1b) flowing

1c) softly

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

jen'-t'-l-nes (`anah; epieikeia, chrestotes): In 2Sa 22:36 `anah, "to bend low," "to condescend," is translated "gentleness," "Thy gentleness hath made me great," the Revised Version, margin "or condescension"; so also Ps 18:35, where the word is `anwah "humility," "gentleness," or "condescension." In the New Testament epieikeia ("fairness," "moderation," in Ac 24:4 translated "clemency") is in 2Co 10:1 translated "gentleness," "the meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2 Macc 2:22 "favour," the Revised Version (British and American) "forbearance"); chrestotes, "kindness," "usefulness," is translated "gentleness" in Ga…

→ OF CHRIST Isa 40:11; 2Co 10:1; Mt 11:29

See JESUS, COMPASSION OF

See JESUS, HUMILITY OF

See JESUS, MEEKNESS OF

→ OF GOD 2Sa 22:36; Ps 18:35; Isa 40:11

See GOD, COMPASSION OF

See GOD, LONG-SUFFERING OF

Of Paul 1Th 2:7

→ EXHORTATIONS TO Ga 5:22; 2Ti 2:24-26; Tit 3:1,2; Jas 3:17

See HUMILITY

See KINDNESS

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
¿ [too] little for you [are] [the] consolations of God and a word to gentleness with you
עִמָּֽךְ׃'i.Makh with you H5973 Preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — 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.

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