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Job 20:7 — Word Study

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WLCכְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹ לָנֶ֣צַח יֹאבֵ֑ד רֹ֝אָ֗יו יֹאמְר֥וּ אַיּֽוֹ׃

BSAhe will perishʼâbad [be destroyed, come to an end] forevernetsach [for perpetuity, everlasting] like his own dunggêlel [excrement, waste] those who had seen himrâʼâh [looked after, provided for] will askʼâmar Where is heʼay [how, in what place, has he gone, what happened to him]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('ai.Yo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 20:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse declares the fate of the arrogant, emphasizing their ultimate demise.
Who is speakingJob, reflecting on the fate of the wicked.
Where we areThis verse is part of Job's discourse on the transient nature of the wicked's success.
The hard wordכְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹ
Take awayThe arrogant will face destruction, and their absence will be noted by those who once knew them.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָבַד 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 20:7

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Fate of the Wickedgenerated

6Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
7he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
8He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him.

Job 20:7 reflects on the fate of the wicked, illustrating that despite their apparent success, they will ultimately face destruction. Job emphasizes that their end is as worthless as dung, and those who once saw them will wonder where they have gone. This stark imagery serves to highlight the transient nature of their lives and the certainty of their demise.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 14:10Because of all this, behold, I am bringing disaster on the house of Jeroboam: I will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both slave and free, in Israel; I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns up dung until it is gone!
22 Kings 9:37And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’ ”
3Psalm 83:10who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.
4Jeremiah 8:2They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground.
5Job 14:10But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

shall sayJob 14:10

The Key Word כְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹ, ke.ge.la.logenerated

The word כְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹ (ke.ge.la.lo) is a prepositional phrase meaning 'like his own dung.' It refers specifically to dung or excrement, often seen as unclean and worthless. In this verse, it underscores the idea that the arrogant will be treated as something of no value, emphasizing their ultimate fate.

This word is derived from a root that conveys the idea of something that is cast aside. The use of this term in Job serves to illustrate the complete and utter destruction of the wicked, contrasting their previous pride with their final state of worthlessness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יֹאבֵ֑ד (yo.Ved), meaning 'he will perish,' governs the main clause of the verse, which is followed by a simile that compares the fate of the wicked to dung. The structure emphasizes the certainty of their demise.

The sentence is constructed with a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase and a subordinate clause, illustrating the relationship between the subject's fate and the perception of those who once knew him.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יֹאבֵ֑ד as ἀπολεῖται (apoleitai), meaning 'he will be destroyed.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizes the finality of destruction, suggesting a complete loss of existence.

The Greek rendering of כְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹ is absent in the Septuagint, indicating a possible interpretive choice by the translators to convey the concept of worthlessness without directly referencing dung.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 20:7 states that the arrogant will perish like dung, emphasizing their ultimate destruction. Those who once saw them will wonder where they have gone, highlighting the transient nature of their existence.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the arrogant will perish like dung?

This metaphor illustrates the complete worthlessness of the arrogant's fate, emphasizing that they will be treated as something undesirable and discarded.

Who will ask, 'Where is he?'

Those who had previously seen the arrogant will ask this question, indicating their surprise at the sudden absence of someone who once seemed powerful.

What does the term 'perish forever' imply?

It implies a final and irreversible destruction, indicating that the arrogant will not return or regain their former status.

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

This verse reflects the theme of divine justice, showing that despite the apparent success of the wicked, they will ultimately face judgment and destruction.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see arrogance in myself or others, and how can I address it?
  2. How does the imagery of worthlessness in this verse challenge my understanding of success?
  3. What does this verse teach about the nature of divine justice?
  4. How can I remind myself of the temporary nature of earthly power and success?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 20:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[Yet] he shall perish for ever like his own dung,.... Not only in this world, but in the world to come, both in his outward substance here, and in his body in the grave, and in his soul to all

Read John Gill on Job 20 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 20 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Like his own dung; which men cast away with contempt and abhorrency. Compare . They which have seen him, with admiration at his felicity. Where is he? i.e. he is no where to be found; he is utterly lost and gone.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 20 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 20:7 [Yet] he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where [is] he?Ver. 7. Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung] Than the which nothing is more filthy and detestable. See this exemplified in Herod, Haman, Boniface VIII, bloody Bonner buried in a muck hill, &c. The word rendered dung hath its denomination from rolling, because it is rolled out of doors, and swept out of sight. Many instances hereof might be given in the pristine and modern persecutors, punished with ignominious and disgraceful ends. Sisera and Jabin perished at Endor, and became as dung for the earth, Psalms 83:10. Jehoram died undesired, Julian the apostate abhorred. God…

Read John Trapp on Job 20 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 7. He shall perish for ever] He is dust, and shall return to the dust from which he was taken. Zophar here hints his disbelief in that doctrine, the resurrection of the body, which Job had so solemnly asserted in the preceding chapter. Or he might have been like some in the present day, who believe that the wicked shall be annihilated, and the bodies of the righteous only be raised from the dead; but I know of no scripture by which such a doctrine is confirmed. Like his own dung] His reputation shall be abominable, and his putrid carcass shall resemble his own excrement. A speech that partakes as much of the malevolence as of the asperity of Zophar's spirit.

Read AdamClarke on Job 20 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. like his own dung] Zophar is not the most refined of the three, cf. 2 Kings 9:37. On the last words of the verse cf. ch. Job 14:10.

Read Cambridge on Job 20 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7. Like his own dung — Hirtzel renders the first clause: “According to his greatness so shall he perish forever.” So that “his destruction is the greater even as he himself is greater,” (Ewald,)

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 20 →

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

he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

WEBWorld English Bible2000

yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

NETBNew English Translation2006

he will perish forever, like his own excrement; those who used to see him will say, ‘Where is he?’

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they who have seen him shall say, Where is he?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Yet shall hee perish for euer, like his dung, and they which haue seene him, shall say, Where is hee?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

As his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders say: 'Where [is] he?'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

He perishes as his own dung forever, || His beholders say, Where [is] he?

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Yet when he but turneth round will he vanish for ever; those who have seen him will say, Where is he?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

yet such a person will perish permanently like his own feces; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

In the end he shall be destroyed like a dunghill, and they that has seen him shall say: Where is he?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

they will vanish forever like their own excrement. People who knew them will ask, ‘Where have they gone?’

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he?

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכְּֽ֭likenoun phraseגֶלֲלhis.ownוֹdungprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָtoנֶ֣צַחperpetuityverbיֹאבֵ֑דhe.will.perishclausenoun phrase · subjectרֹ֝אָ֗י[thoseוwho].saw.himverbיֹאמְר֥וּthey.will.sayclause · objectpredicateאַיּֽwhere.[is]subjectוֹhe?

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 largely agree in meaning, with five of the six words matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the core message of destruction remains consistent.

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

כְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹ לָנֶ֣צַח יֹאבֵ֑ד רֹ֝אָ֗יו יֹאמְר֥וּ אַיּֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לָנֶ֣צַחτέλοςיֹאבֵ֑דἀπολεῖταιרֹ֝אָ֗יוδὲיֹאמְר֥וּἐροῦσινאַיּֽוֹ׃ἐστιν

5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Job 20:7גֵּלlike own dulike own dung hגֵּלנֵ֫צַחto perpetuito perpetuityנֵ֫צַחאָבַדhe will perhe will perishאָבַדרָאָה[those who][those who] sawרָאָהאָמַרthey will sthey will sayאָמַראַיwhere [is]?where [is]? heאַינָצַחto conductto conductנָצַחאַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןגָּלָלdungdungגָּלָלאָדָםthe man (Athe man (Adam)אָדָםשָׁכַחto forgetto forgetשָׁכַחבַּלnotnotבַּלתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהשָׁמַדto destroyto destroyשָׁמַדעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהלְחִיjawjawלְחִיזֶהthisthisזֶה
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 20:7

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

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

like own dung his to perpetuity he will perish [those who] saw him they will say where [is]? he
כְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹke.ge.la.lo like own dung his H1561 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word refers to dung or a ball of dung, often used as fertilizer. It is mentioned in the Bible as something unclean and worthless, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
excrement, waste
Tyndale gloss
dung
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גֵּל (gelel) refers to dung, specifically in the form of balls of dung. It is a variation of another Hebrew word related to dung and is classified as a masculine noun. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גֵּל] n.[m.] dung (ball of dung)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1561 גֵּל, גֵּלֶל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1561 gelel gay'-lel

a variation of 1557; dung (plural balls of dung):--dung.

see HEBREW for 01557

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גֵּל (ge.lel) — dung.

dung, ball of dung

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/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
like own dung his to perpetuity he will perish [those who] saw him they will say where [is]? he
לָנֶ֣צַחla.Ne.tzach to perpetuity H5331 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for perpetuity or everlastingness, often used to describe God's nature. It appears in Psalm 9:7, where the psalmist praises God's enduring presence. This word conveys the idea of something lasting forever.
Amplified meaning
for perpetuity, everlasting
Tyndale gloss
perpetuity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5331 נֵ֫צַח eminence, enduring, everlasting, perpetuity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5331 netsach neh'-tsakh

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

the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence

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

(objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially),

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

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

perpetual, strength, victory.

see HEBREW for 05329

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֵ֫צַח (ne.tsach) — perpetuity.

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

1a) eminence

1b) enduring of life

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

1d) everlastingness, ever

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
like own dung his to perpetuity he will perish [those who] saw him they will say where [is]? he
יֹאבֵ֑דyo.Ved he will perish H6 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
184× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Amplified meaning
be destroyed, come to an end
Tyndale gloss
to perish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—

Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals

. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory

. be lost, strayed

. . cause to perish, destroy, kill

. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with

. cause to stray, lose

. . destroy, put to death, in judgment

. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6 'abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose

oneself; by implication to perish (causative,

destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,

lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be

undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.

1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) perish, die, be exterminated

1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)

1a3) be lost, strayed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate

1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)

1b3) cause to stray, lose

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to destroy, put to death

1c1a) of divine judgment

1c2) object name of kings (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
like own dung his to perpetuity he will perish [those who] saw him they will say where [is]? he
רֹ֝אָ֗יוro.'Av [those who] saw him H7200 Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Amplified meaning
looked after, provided for
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,

behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have

experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look

(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,

upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,

regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one

another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out

1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal | Suff — Verb qal participle (active) masculine plural common · suffix
HVqrmpc/Sp3ms
like own dung his to perpetuity he will perish [those who] saw him they will say where [is]? he
יֹאמְר֥וּyo.me.Ru they will say H559 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
like own dung his to perpetuity he will perish [those who] saw him they will say where [is]? he
אַיּֽוֹ׃'ai.Yo where [is]? he H335 Particle · suffix
39× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for where or how, used to ask questions about location or method, as seen in various Bible translations, including how, what, or which way.
Amplified meaning
how, in what place, has he gone, what happened to him
Tyndale gloss
where?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַי (ay) is an interrogative adverb meaning 'where?' It can also be prefixed to other adverbs or pronouns to add an interrogative force. The word covers a range of meanings related to location and inquiry, including 'how,' 'what,' and 'whence.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אַי]

interrog. adv. where?

prefixed to other adverbs or prons., אַי imparts an interrog. force

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H335 אַי . interrog. adv. where?

. prefixed to other adverbs or prons., אַי imparts an interrog. force

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

335 'ay ah'ee

perhaps from 370; where? hence how?:--how, what, whence,

where, whether, which (way).

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַי (ay) — where?.

1) whereto ?, whence?

2) which?, how? (in prefix with other adverb)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part | Suff — Particle · suffix
HTi/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

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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