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Job 21:8 — Word Study

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WLCזַרְעָ֤ם נָכ֣וֹן לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם עִמָּ֑ם וְ֝צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֗ם לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

BSATheir descendantszeraʻ [seed, offspring, children] are establishedkûwn [set up, appointed, settled] around themʻim and their offspringtseʼĕtsâʼ [children, generation, produce] before their eyesʻayin [in the presence of, in front of, sight, vision, perception]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 21
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 8 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 (le.'ei.nei.Hem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 21:8quick helps
In a sentenceJob observes that the wicked often prosper, with their descendants established around them.
Who is speakingJob, reflecting on the fate of the wicked.
Where we areJob is questioning the prosperity of the wicked in his discourse.
The hard wordנָכ֣וֹן
Take awayThe wicked may seem to thrive, with their offspring present before them.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbכּוּן 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 21:8

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

Context — Job's Reflection on the Wickedgenerated

7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
8Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.
10Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.

Job 21:8 presents Job's contemplation on the apparent success of the wicked, noting how their descendants are established and visible. This verse is part of a larger argument where Job questions the justice of God in allowing the wicked to prosper, contrasting their fate with that of the righteous, as seen in the surrounding verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 5:3–4I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
2Job 18:19He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived.
3Job 20:10–28His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
4Proverbs 17:6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

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

Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.Job 5:3–4 Job 18:19 Job 20:10–28 Proverbs 17:6

The Key Word זַרְעָם, zar.'Amgenerated

The noun זֶרַע (zera`) means seed or offspring. It can refer to literal seeds in agriculture or figuratively to descendants, as in God's promise to Abraham. This word emphasizes both physical lineage and moral qualities, indicating a continuity of life and legacy.

In this verse, זַרְעָם highlights the presence of the wicked's offspring, suggesting a sense of security and establishment in their lives. The term encompasses not just biological descendants but also the idea of a generational legacy.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree that the verse communicates the idea of the wicked's descendants being established.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb נָכ֣וֹן, is established, governs the main idea of the verse, with two noun phrases following it: the subject זַרְעָם (their offspring) and the complement וְ֝צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶם (and their descendants). This structure emphasizes the state of being established.

The Hebrew word order places the subject before the verb, highlighting the importance of the descendants in the context of the wicked's prosperity.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates זַרְעָם as σπόρος (sporos), which means 'seed' or 'sowing.' This choice retains the agricultural connotation of the Hebrew term while also implying a generational aspect.

The use of ὀφθαλμοῖς for לְעֵינֵיהֶם emphasizes the visibility and presence of the descendants, aligning with the Hebrew meaning of being before their eyes.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 21:8 shows that the wicked have their descendants established around them, suggesting a sense of security and prosperity. This verse is part of Job's broader reflection on the fate of the wicked, as he questions why they seem to thrive.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that their descendants are established?

It suggests that the offspring of the wicked are secure and well-placed in life, indicating a sense of stability and continuity.

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

This verse contributes to Job's exploration of the justice of God, particularly regarding the prosperity of the wicked compared to the suffering of the righteous.

What implications does the word 'offspring' carry in this context?

The term 'offspring' emphasizes not only biological descendants but also the legacy and moral standing of the wicked in society.

Why is the visibility of the descendants significant?

The visibility of the descendants before their eyes underscores the idea that the wicked's prosperity is apparent and undeniable, raising questions about divine justice.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I see the impact of my actions on future generations?
  2. What does it mean to me that my legacy is visible to those around me?
  3. In what ways can I ensure that my 'offspring' are established in righteousness?
  4. How do I reconcile the apparent prosperity of the wicked with my understanding of justice?

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

The verse is quoted by Gregory the Dialogist in his work on Job, discussing the prosperity of the wicked and their heirs.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XV c. 540–604
Ver. 8. Their seed is established in their sight with them. 46. For the increase of exceeding happiness, together with a large patrimony, they have heirs too given them;
Early Church Fathers on Job 21 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 21:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Their seed is established in their sight with them,.... Which is to be understood not of seed sown in the earth, and of the permanence and increase of that, but of their children; to have a numerous

Read John Gill on Job 21 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. In opposition to Job 18:19; Job 5:4; Jeremiah 12:1; Psalms 73:3, etc.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 21 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Their seed; either, 1. The fruits of their ground; or rather, 2. Their children; as it is explained in the next branch of the verse, the words both here and there used being commonly so understood. Their seed is established, i.e. they multiply and prosper greatly. In their sight; which is a great addition to their happiness.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 21 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 21:8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.Ver. 8. Their seed is established in their sight with them] Some understand it of their seed sown in the fields, nor blasted nor wasted, but timely gathered into their barns and granaries; and so by offspring, Germina, they, taking it literally, conceive to be meant their plants, trees, flowers, fruits, all which come kindly, and grow to their minds. But better interpret it of their children and nephews, whom they have many, healthy, lusty, and lively, Multos, sanos, vegetos, et viraces, and not unfitly compared to seed; as if the parents were but only the husks; and to branches or sprigs…

Read John Trapp on Job 21 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Their seed is established in their sight.—Not only are they mighty in power themselves, but they leave their power to their children after them (comp. Psalms 17:14). This contradicts what Eliphaz had said (Job 15:34), what Bildad had said (Job 18:19), and what Zophar had said (Job 20:10).

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 21 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 8. Their seed is established] They see their own children grow up, and become settled in the land; and behold their children's children also; so that their generations are not cut off. Even the posterity of the wicked continue.

Read AdamClarke on Job 21 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. They have the additional felicity of seeing their children grow up beside them—a pathetic touch from the hand of the man whose sons had been taken from him.

Read Cambridge on Job 21 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Their seed - Their children - their posterity. Is established in their sight - Around them, where they may often see them - where they may enjoy their society.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 21 →

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

Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Their seed is established, || Before their face with them, || And their offspring before their eyes.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

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.

clauseclausenoun phrase · subjectזַרְעָ֤offspringםtheirverbנָכ֣וֹן[is].establishedprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִbeforenoun phraseפְנֵיpresenceהֶ֣םthemprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִמָּ֑withםthemוְ֝andclausenoun phrase · subjectצֶאֱצָאֵיdescendantsהֶ֗םtheirprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseעֵינֵיeyesהֶֽםtheir

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads: זַרְעָ֤ם נָכ֣וֹן לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם עִמָּ֑ם וְ֝צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֗ם לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃. The Septuagint matches 3 of the 6 words, indicating a partial agreement in the translation, although the word order differs.

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

זַרְעָ֤ם נָכ֣וֹן לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם עִמָּ֑ם וְ֝צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֗ם לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
זַרְעָ֤םσπόροςוְ֝צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֗םδὲלְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ὀφθαλμοῖς

3 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 21:8זֶ֫רַעoffspring toffspring theirזֶ֫רַעכּוּן[is] establ[is] establisheכּוּןפָּנֶהbefore thembefore themפָּנֶהעִםwith themwith themעִםצֶאֱצָאand descendand descendantsצֶאֱצָאעַ֫יִןto eyes theto eyes theirעַ֫יִןזָרַעto sowto sowזָרַעפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםיָצָאto come outo come out: coיָצָאתֵּבֵלworldworldתֵּבֵלכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרזֶ֫רַעseedseedזֶ֫רַעעַםAmawAmawעַםחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁר
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 21:8

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.

offspring their [is] established before them with them and descendants their to eyes their
זַרְעָ֤םzar.'Am offspring their H2233 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
229× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means seed or offspring, like in Genesis where God promises Abraham many descendants. It can also mean a plant or sowing time, as in Isaiah 55:10. This concept is central to God's plan for humanity.
Amplified meaning
seed, offspring, children
Tyndale gloss
seed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֶ֫רַע (zera`) means seed, sowing, or offspring. It can refer to literal seed, such as in agriculture, or figuratively to descendants and moral qualities of individuals or communities. The term encompasses concepts like sowing time and can denote a practitioner of righteousness. There is a consistent emphasis on both physical and moral implications of the word.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶ֫רַע n.m. sowing, seed, offspring

lit.:

a sowing

sowing as regularly recurring at its season

seed

seed = semen virile

seed = offspring

seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2233 זֶ֫רַע sowing, seed, offspring . lit.: . a sowing

. sowing as regularly recurring at its season

. seed

. seed = semen virile

. seed = offspring

. seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2233 zera` zeh'-rah

from 2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time,

posterity:--X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-

time.

see HEBREW for 02232

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed.

: seed/sowing

1) seed, sowing, offspring

1a) a sowing

1b) seed

1c) semen virile

1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children

1e) of moral quality

1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)

1f) sowing time (by meton)

זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: children.

: children/descendants

1) seed, sowing, offspring

1a) a sowing

1b) seed

1c) semen virile

1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children

1e) of moral quality

1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)

1f) sowing time (by meton)

זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: semen.

: semen

1) seed, sowing, offspring

1a) a sowing

1b) seed

1c) semen virile

1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children

1e) of moral quality

1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)

1f) sowing time (by meton)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3mp
offspring their [is] established before them with them and descendants their to eyes their
נָכ֣וֹןna.Khon [is] established H3559 Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singular
217× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Amplified meaning
set up, appointed, settled
Tyndale gloss
to establish: prepare
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כּוּן (kuwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to establish or prepare. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to be firm, to fix, to direct, and to be ready, with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. The entries indicate various forms of the verb, such as Niph'al (to be established) and Hiph'il (to establish), but there is a note on a noun form, נָכוֹן (nakhon), meaning 'blow'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כּוּן] 218 vb. prob. be firm, only in der. conj.

Niph.

be set up, established, fixed

in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

prepare, be ready

pass. be prepared, of judgments

Hiph.

establish, set up

fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

provide for, provide, furnish

direct one's face toward

arrange, order

Hoph.

be established, of throne

be prepared for

Po‛lēl.

set up, establish

constitute, make, a man (in womb)

fix, so as to be ready

direct

Po‛lal. be established

Hithpo‛l. be established

base

נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow Jb 12:5

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3559a כּוּן prob. be firm, only in der. conj. . . be set up, established, fixed

. in a moral sense, be directed aright, of ways

. prepare, be ready

. pass. be prepared, of judgments

. . establish, set up

. . fix, so as to be ready, make ready, prepare, a gift

. provide for, provide, furnish

. direct one's face toward

. arrange, order

. . be established, of throne

. be prepared for

. . set up, establish

. constitute, make, a man (in womb)

. fix, so as to be ready

. direct

. be established

. be established

H3559b נָכוֹן n. [m.] = blow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3559 kuwn koon

a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand

perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great

variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper

or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness,

fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet,

ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self),

provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright,

fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very

deed.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כּוּן (kun) — to establish: prepare.

: prepare/direct

1) to be firm, be stable, be established

1a) (Niphal)

1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed

1a1a) to be firmly established

1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring

1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined

1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense)

1a3) to prepare, be ready

1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm

1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish

1b3) to direct toward (moral sense)

1b4) to arrange, order

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be established, be fastened

1c2) to be prepared, be ready

1d) (Polel)

1d1) to set up, establish

1d2) to constitute, make

1d3) to fix

1d4) to direct

1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared

1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored

נָכוֹן (na.khon) — blow.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVNrmsa
offspring their [is] established before them with them and descendants their to eyes their
לִפְנֵיהֶ֣םlif.nei.Hem before them H6440 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

face, faces

presence, person

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

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. . presence, person

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

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

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

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

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

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

1g) with prep

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

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

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

1g) with prep

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

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
offspring their [is] established before them with them and descendants their to eyes their
עִמָּ֑ם'i.Mam with them 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
HRd/Sp3mp
offspring their [is] established before them with them and descendants their to eyes their
וְ֝צֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֗םve.tze.'e.tza.'ei.Hem and descendants their H6631 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Offspring or produce, this term describes children or descendants, as well as the fruit of the earth. It is used to describe the outcome of human or natural processes. The Bible uses it to talk about family and heritage.
Amplified meaning
children, generation, produce
Tyndale gloss
offspring
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צֶאֱצָא (tse'etsa') refers to offspring or produce, specifically in plural form. It encompasses children, descendants, and the produce of the earth. The term is derived from another Hebrew word, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage in specific verses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[צֶאֱצָא] n.m. only pl., issue, offspring, produce

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6631 [צֶאֱצָא] only pl., issue, offspring, produce

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6631 tse'etsa' tseh-ets-aw'

from 3318; issue, i.e. produce, children:--that which cometh

forth (out), offspring.

see HEBREW for 03318

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֶאֱצָא (tse.e.tsa) — offspring.

1) offspring, produce, issue

1a) offspring (of men)

1b) produce (of earth)

1c) descendants (metaphorical)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
offspring their [is] established before them with them and descendants their to eyes their
לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃le.'ei.nei.Hem to eyes their H5869 Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
in the presence of, in front of, sight, vision, perception
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HR/Ncfdc/Sp3mp
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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