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Job 16:13 — Word Study

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WLCיָ֘סֹ֤בּוּ עָלַ֨י׀ רַבָּ֗יו יְפַלַּ֣ח כִּ֭לְיוֹתַי וְלֹ֣א יַחְמ֑וֹל יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ לָ֝אָ֗רֶץ מְרֵרָֽתִי׃

BSAHis archersrab [skilled bowmen, surrounding me on all sides] surround meçâbab He piercespâlach [splits, cuts through] my kidneyskilyâh [innermost being, seat of emotions] withoutlôʼ mercychâmal [pity, compassion] and spillsshâphak [pours out, sheds] my gallmᵉrêrâh [bitter fluid] on the groundʼerets [earth, land]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 16
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (me.re.Ra.ti) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 16:13quick helps
In a sentenceJob expresses a deep sense of suffering, feeling surrounded and pierced by God's actions.
Who is speakingJob, lamenting his plight and the harshness of his experience.
Where we areIn the midst of Job's suffering, he reflects on the pain inflicted upon him.
The hard wordיְפַלַּ֣ח
Take awayJob's anguish is palpable; he feels both physically and emotionally wounded.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbסָבַב The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 10 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 16:13

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 Lamentgenerated

12I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;
13His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.
14He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.
15I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.

Job 16:13 captures Job's intense suffering as he feels targeted by God, surrounded by archers who inflict pain upon him. This verse is part of a larger lament where Job expresses his despair and the feeling of being crushed by relentless affliction. The surrounding verses highlight his sense of isolation and the severity of his wounds, as he grapples with the loss of comfort and hope.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 6:4For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
2Genesis 49:23The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.
3Psalm 7:12–13If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.
4Job 19:27I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!
5Lamentations 3:13He pierced my kidneys with His arrows.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יְפַלַּ֣ח, ye.fa.Lachgenerated

The verb יְפַלַּ֣ח (ye.fa.Lach) comes from the root פָּלַח (palach), meaning to cleave or split open. This word conveys a strong image of piercing or cutting through, which emphasizes the severity of Job's suffering.

In this context, it describes the action of God as one that is invasive and painful, suggesting a deep emotional and physical wound. The choice of this verb indicates not just a physical action but also the emotional impact it has on Job, highlighting his anguish.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

In the Berean Standard Bible, the word pierces is used, which aligns with the KJV's pierces and the ASV's he pierces, maintaining the sense of a violent action.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יְפַלַּ֣ח governs the structure, indicating Job's direct experience of being pierced. The surrounding phrases elaborate on the subject and the actions taken against him.

The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the actions of the archers and God's piercing, creating a vivid picture of Job's suffering as he feels surrounded and attacked.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְפַלַּ֣ח as βάλλοντες, which carries a similar meaning of throwing or casting, suggesting an aggressive action. This choice reflects a slight widening of the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing not just the act of piercing but an active aggression.

This interpretation in the Greek shows an understanding of Job's plight as not only personal suffering but also as an assault from external forces.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 16:13 describes Job's feeling of being surrounded by archers who pierce his kidneys without mercy and spill his gall on the ground. This verse illustrates his deep anguish and the intensity of his suffering, as he feels attacked and wounded by God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'His archers surround me'?

Job uses the imagery of archers to express his feeling of being targeted and attacked by God, emphasizing his sense of vulnerability.

Why does Job mention his kidneys?

In ancient Hebrew thought, kidneys were seen as the seat of emotions; Job refers to them to illustrate the depth of his emotional pain.

What is the significance of Job's gall being spilled on the ground?

Spilling gall symbolizes extreme bitterness and suffering, indicating that Job's anguish is profound and visceral.

How does this verse reflect Job's overall condition?

This verse encapsulates Job's feelings of despair and abandonment, as he perceives God as inflicting pain without compassion.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I feel surrounded by challenges, similar to Job's experience?
  2. How can I better understand the emotional aspects of suffering, as Job illustrates in his lament?
  3. What does it mean to me that Job expresses his pain so vividly?
  4. How can I find hope in my own struggles, reflecting on Job's journey?

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

Early commentary from Gregory the Dialogist reflects on Job's suffering, illustrating the profound impact of his lament.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XIII c. 540–604
Ver. 13. I, the same that was once rich, am crushed on a sudden. Herein, viz. that he declared himself to be 'crushed on a sudden,' he denoted the unguarded mind of weak persons: who,
Early Church Fathers on Job 16 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XIII c. 540–604
Ver. 13. He hath compassed me about with His lances, He hath wounded my loins together, He hath not spared, and He hath poured out my bowels upon the ground.
Early Church Fathers on Job 16 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 16:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

His archers compass me round about,.... Satan and his principalities and powers casting their fiery darts at him; or rather, his friends shooting their arrows, even bitter words, reproaches, and

Read John Gill on Job 16 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. His archers. The image of last verse is continued.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 16 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

His archers, i.e. his plagues or judgments, elsewhere compared to arrows, and here to archers. He cleaveth my reins asunder with his arrows, i.e. he wounds me inwardly, and mortally, and incurably; which also is noted by pouring out the gall; such wounds being deadly.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 16 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 16:13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.Ver. 13. His archers compass me round about] i.e. His instruments of my woe, whether persons or things, but especially my grievous sores putting me through intolerable pain; these are God’ s arrows or archers, and do make my poor body not unlike that shield of Sceva, at the siege of Dyrrachium, which had two hundred and twenty darts sticking in it, when Caesar came to his rescue, Densamque ferens in pectore silvam (Luc.). He cleaveth my reins asunder] As a skilful archer, he hits the white, he cleaves the pin, as they call it, he shooteth exactly (to the…

Read John Trapp on Job 16 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. His archers compass me] רביו rabbaiv "his great ones." The Vulgate and Septuagint translate this his spears; the Syriac, Arabic, and Chaldee, his arrows. On this and the following verse Mr. Heath observes: "The metaphor is here taken from huntsmen: first, they surround the beast; then he is shot dead; his entrails are next taken out; and then his body is broken up limb by limb."

Read AdamClarke on Job 16 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. The second figure—Job has been set up by God as a mark for His arrows. his archers] Rather, his arrows, cf. ch. Job 6:4. These arrows fly about him and cleave his vital parts and pour out his life to the ground. The Oriental speaks of the gall and gall-bladder where we might refer to the blood and the heart.

Read Cambridge on Job 16 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

His archers - He does not come alone to shoot at me; he has employed a company of bowmen, who also direct “their” arrows against me.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 16 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

13. My reins — The kidneys. “The Scriptures bring the tenderest and the most inward experience of a manifold kind into association with them.” — , Bib. Psychology, pp. 317-319.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 16 →

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

His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.

NETBNew English Translation2006

his archers surround me. Without pity he pierces my kidneys and pours out my gall on the ground.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

RVARevised Version, American1894

His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

His archers encompass me; he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Go round against me do his archers. He splitteth my reins, and spareth not, He poureth out to the earth my gall.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

His archers go around against me. He split my reins, and does not spare, || He pours out my gall to the earth.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

His archers surround me all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

His archers surround me. His arrows pierce my kidneys without mercy. He pours out my gall on the ground.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

His bowmen come round about me; their arrows go through my body without mercy; my life is drained out on the earth.

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.

clauseverbיָ֘סֹ֤בּוּthey.surroundprepositional phrase · prepositionalעָלַ֨(on)יmenoun phrase · subjectרַבָּ֗יarchersוhisclauseverbיְפַלַּ֣חhe.piercesnoun phrase · objectכִּ֭לְיוֹתַkidneysיmyוְandclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיַחְמ֑וֹלhe.has.compassionclauseverbיִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְhe.pours.outprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֝tonoun phrasetheאָ֗רֶץgroundnoun phrase · objectמְרֵרָֽתִgallיmy

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 agree in their wording, with all ten words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This correspondence indicates a consistent understanding of Job's lament across these ancient witnesses.

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

יָ֘סֹ֤בּוּ עָלַ֨י׀ רַבָּ֗יו יְפַלַּ֣ח כִּ֭לְיוֹתַי וְלֹ֣א יַחְמ֑וֹל יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ לָ֝אָ֗רֶץ מְרֵרָֽתִי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יָ֘סֹ֤בּוּἐκύκλωσάνעָלַ֨י׀μεרַבָּ֗יוλόγξαιςיְפַלַּ֣חβάλλοντεςכִּ֭לְיוֹתַיμουוְלֹ֣אοὐיַחְמ֑וֹלφειδόμενοιיִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְἐχέξεανלָ֝אָ֗רֶץγῆνמְרֵרָֽתִי׃μου

10 of the 10 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 16:13סָבַבthey surrouthey surroundסָבַבעַלmemeעַלרַבarchers hisarchers hisרַבפָּלַחhe splits ohe splits openפָּלַחכִּלְיָהkidneys mykidneys myכִּלְיָהלֹאand notand notלֹאחָמַלhe has comphe has compassiחָמַלשָׁפַךְhe pours ouhe pours outשָׁפַךְאֶ֫רֶץto the grouto the groundאֶ֫רֶץמְרֵרָהgall mygall myמְרֵרָהרָבַבto multiplto multiply tenרָבַבמָרַרto provoketo provokeמָרַרעַלheightheightעַלכְּלִיarticle/utarticle/utensilכְּלִידָּלdoordoorדָּלכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאכֹּלallallכֹּלכָּבֵדliverliverכָּבֵדבָּחַןto testto testבָּחַןיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדחוּסto pityto pityחוּסבָּחוּרyouthyouthבָּחוּרסֹלְלָהmoundmoundסֹלְלָהיְסוֹדfoundationfoundationיְסוֹדכְּנַ֫עַןCanaanCanaanכְּנַ֫עַןמִצְרַ֫יִם(Sea of) E(Sea of) Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִם
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 16:13

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.

they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
יָ֘סֹ֤בּוּya.So.bu they surround H5437 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
161× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To turn or surround is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can be used literally or figuratively. It appears in the Bible to describe changing direction or surrounding something.
Tyndale gloss
to turn: turn
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word סָבַב (savav) means to turn or go around, encompassing a range of actions such as surrounding, marching, and changing direction. It is built from a primitive root and has various applications, both literal and figurative, including transforming or enclosing. The entries detail its uses in different verbal forms, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָבַב vb. turn about, go around, surround

Qal

turn, intrans.

march, or walk, around

go partly round, circle, skirt

make a round, or circuit, go about to

surround, encompass

Niph.

turn oneself against, close round upon

turn round (from a direct course)

esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward

pass. be turned over to, into the power of

Pi. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter

Po‛.

encompass (with protection)

come about, assemble round

march or go about

enclose, envelop

Hiph.

turn (trans.), cause to turn

bring over (i.e. to allegiance)

turn into, of changing name

= bring round, of changing name

cause to go around

surround with (acc.) wall

perh. also encompass (as foe)

Hoph.

be turned, of cart wheel

surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5437 סָבַב turn about, go around, surround .. turn, intrans.

. . march, or walk, around

. go partly round, circle, skirt

. make a round, or circuit, go about to

. surround, encompass

. . . turn oneself against, close round upon

. turn round (from a direct course)

. esp. of boundary: turn round from, toward

. pass. be turned over to, into the power of

. to change, transform, the aspect of the matter

. . encompass (with protection)

. come about, assemble round

. march or go about

. enclose, envelop

. . . turn (trans.), cause to turn

. bring over (i.e. to allegiance)

. turn into, of changing name

. = bring round, of changing name

. . cause to go around

. surround with (acc.) wall

. perh. also encompass (as foe)

. . be turned, of cart wheel

. surrounded, i.e. set, of jewels

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5437 cabab saw-bab'

a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in

various applications, literally and figuratively (as

follows):--bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, X whirl, X

round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset

(about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to

come about, X circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round),

drive, environ, X on every side, beset (close, come, compass,

go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit

down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: turn.

: turn/bring_around

1) to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or around, surround, encircle, change direction

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn, turn about, be brought round, change

1a2) to march or walk around, go partly around, circle about, skirt, make a round, make a circuit, go about to, surround, encompass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to turn oneself, close round, turn round

1b2) to be turned over to

1c) (Piel) to turn about, change, transform

1d) (Poel)

1d1) to encompass, surround

1d2) to come about, assemble round

1d3) to march, go about

1d4) to enclose, envelop

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to turn, cause to turn, turn back, reverse, bring over, turn into, bring round

1e2) to cause to go around, surround, encompass

1f) (Hophal)

1f1) to be turned

1f2) to be surrounded

סָבַב (sa.vav) — to turn: surround.

: surround/go_round

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
עָלַ֨י׀'a.Lai me H5921 Preposition · suffix
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
רַבָּ֗יוra.Bav archers his H7228 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to an archer, someone skilled with a bow and arrow. It appears in Genesis 21:20, describing Ishmael as an archer. The concept is one of skill and precision.
Amplified meaning
skilled bowmen, surrounding me on all sides
Tyndale gloss
archer
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רַב (rav) means 'archer' in Hebrew. It is derived from a root that may relate to other words for archery. The entries consistently define it as an archer, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רַב] n.m. archer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7228 רַב

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7228 rab rab

by contraction from 7232; an archer (or perhaps the same as

7227):--archer.

see HEBREW for 07232

see HEBREW for 07227

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רַב (rav) — archer.

archer

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | 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
they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
יְפַלַּ֣חye.fa.Lach he splits open H6398 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cleave means to slice or break open something, like cutting through a material or piercing an object, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
splits, cuts through
Tyndale gloss
to cleave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּלַח (palach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cleave or slice. It encompasses actions like breaking open, piercing, and plowing. The word is built from a primitive root and appears in various forms, including Qal and Piel, indicating different nuances of cleaving or cutting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּלַח] vb. cleave

Qal of cleaving, ploughing

Pi.

cleave open, through

cause to cleave open

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6398 פָּלַח

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6398 palach paw-lakh'

a primitive root; to slice, i.e. break open or

pierce:--bring forth, cleave, cut, shred, strike through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּלַח (pa.lach) — to cleave.

1) to cleave, slice

1a) (Qal) to cleave, plow

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cleave open or through

1b2) to cause to cleave open

1b3) to slice, pierce

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVpi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Nu 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Ps 119:18; Jer 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A peculiar word, trachelizomai (literally, to have the neck bent back, to be laid bare), is used for "laid open" before God in Heb 4:13.

they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
כִּ֭לְיוֹתַיKil.yo.tai kidneys my H3629 Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to the kidneys, which were considered essential organs, and also symbolized the mind and emotions. It appears in passages like Psalm 7:9 and Revelation 2:23. The kidneys were thought to be the seat of feelings and affections.
Amplified meaning
innermost being, seat of emotions
Tyndale gloss
kidney
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּלְיָה (kilyah) refers to kidneys in the plural form, primarily as a physical organ. It can also denote the seat of emotion and affection figuratively, and is used in the context of sacrificial animals. The term is derived from a related word for 'kidney' and is noted for its figurative use in describing the mind or interior self.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כִּלְיָה] n.f. only pl. kidneys

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3629 [כִּלְיָה] only pl. kidneys

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3629 kilyah kil-yaw'

feminine of 3627 (only in the plural); a kidney (as an

essential organ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior

self):--kidneys, reins.

see HEBREW for 03627

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּלְיָה (kil.yah) — kidney.

1) kidneys

1a) of physical organ (lit.)

1b) of seat of emotion and affection (fig.)

1c) of sacrificial animals

2) (TWOT) reins

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffix
HNcfpc/Sp1bs
they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo' and not H3808 Conjunction · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
יַחְמ֑וֹלyach.Mol he has compassion H2550 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To spare or have pity is the meaning of this Hebrew verb, as seen in Genesis 43:14, where Joseph spares his brothers. It shows compassion and mercy towards others.
Amplified meaning
pity, compassion
Tyndale gloss
to spare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָמַל (chamal) is a primitive root meaning to spare or have compassion. It encompasses the ideas of commiseration and pity, primarily in the Qal stem. The entries consistently emphasize its connotation of sparing or showing compassion.

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2550 חָמַל spare

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2550 chamal khaw-mal'

a primitive root; to commiserate; by implication, to

spare:--have compassion, (have) pity, spare.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָמַל (cha.mal) — to spare.

(Qal) to spare, pity, have compassion on

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kom-pash'-un: Compassion is the translation of racham, "to love," "pity," "be merciful" (De 13:17; 30:3); of rachamim, "mercies" (1Ki 8:50); of chamal, "to pity," "spare" (Ex 2:6; 1Sa 23:21); rachum (Ps 78:38; 86:15; 111:4; 112:4; 145:8), is rendered by the American Standard Revised Version "merciful." We have splagchnizomai, "to have the bowels yearning," in Mt 9:36; 14:14, etc.; sumpatheo (Heb 10:34), "to suffer with (another)"; sumpathes (1Pe 3:8, the…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ OF GOD

See GOD, MERCY OF

→ OF CHRIST

See JESUS, COMPASSION OF

they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְyish.Pokh he pours out H8210 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
115× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To pour or spill something out, like blood or a liquid. In the Bible, it can mean to shed blood or to pour out one's heart in prayer or complaint. For example, in Psalm 42:4, the writer pours out his soul to God.
Amplified meaning
pours out, sheds
Tyndale gloss
to pour: pour
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁפַךְ (shaphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pour out or spill. It encompasses a range of actions, including pouring liquids, shedding blood, and even expressing emotions like anger. The word can also imply figurative uses, such as expending life or resources. Various forms of the verb exist, indicating different nuances, such as being poured out or pouring oneself out.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁפַךְ 113 vb. pour out, pour

Qal

lit.

fig.

Niph. be poured out

Pu. be poured out

Hithp. my soul pours itself out upon me

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8210 שָׁפַךְ pour out, pour

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8210 shaphak shaw-fak'

a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid

metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively)

to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively,

to sprawl out:--cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der,

out), slip.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: pour.

: pour

1) to pour, pour out, spill

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pour, pour out

1a2) to shed (blood)

1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed

1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to be poured out

1d2) to pour out oneself

שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: kill.

: kill/shed(blood/life)

1) to pour, pour out, spill

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pour, pour out

1a2) to shed (blood)

1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed

1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to be poured out

1d2) to pour out oneself

שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: build siege mound.

: build_siege_mound

1) to pour, pour out, spill

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pour, pour out

1a2) to shed (blood)

1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)

1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed

1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
לָ֝אָ֗רֶץla.'A.retz to the ground H776 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
2,504× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Amplified meaning
earth, land
Tyndale gloss
land: soil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land

earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

earth, opp. to heaven, sky

earth = inhabitants of earth

land =

country, territory

district, region

trial territory

piece of ground

specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

= inhabitants of land

used even of Shᵉʼôl

ground, surface of ground

soil, as productive

אֶרֶץ in phrases

people of the land

in measurements of distance

the country of the plain, level or plain country

land of the living

end(s) of the earth

pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)

. earth, opp. to heaven, sky

. earth = inhabitants of earth

. land = . country, territory

. district, region

. trial territory

. piece of ground

. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel

. = inhabitants of land

. used even of Shᵉʼôl

. . ground, surface of ground

. soil, as productive

. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land

. in measurements of distance

. the country of the plain, level or plain country

. land of the living

. end(s) of the earth

. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

776 'erets eh'-rets

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth

(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,

field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.

: country/field

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (-state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end(s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.

: soil

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HRd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Man made from Ge 2:7; 3:19,23; Job 4:19; 33:6

→ Animals made from Ge 2:19

→ Vegetables come from Ge 2:9

→ Cursed Ge 3:17; 5:29

they surround me archers his he splits open kidneys my and not he has compassion he pours out to the ground gall my
מְרֵרָֽתִי׃me.re.Ra.ti gall my H4845 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to gall, a bitter liquid produced by the body. In the Bible, it's used to describe something extremely bitter, like poison. It's often translated as 'gall'.
Amplified meaning
bitter fluid
Tyndale gloss
gall
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מְרֵרָה (mrerah) refers to gall, which is associated with bitterness. It is derived from the root word for bitterness and is mentioned specifically in Job 16:13. The entries consistently define it as bile or gall, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מְרֵרָה] n.f. gall; only sf. Jb 16:13

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4845 מְרֵרָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4845 mrerah mer-ay-raw'

from 4843; bile (from its bitterness):--gall.

see HEBREW for 04843

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְרֵרָה (me.re.rah) — gall.

gall

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp1bs
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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