Menu

Job 22:28 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְֽתִגְזַר־ א֭וֹמֶר וְיָ֣קָם לָ֑ךְ וְעַל־ דְּ֝רָכֶ֗יךָ נָ֣גַֽהּ אֽוֹר׃

BSAYour decisionsgâzar [purposes, decrees] will be carried outqûwm [established, successful] and lightʼôwr [divine illumination, happiness] will shinenâgahh [glitter, radiate] onʻal your waysderek [path, journey, manner of life]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 22
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 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 ('or) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 22:28quick helps
In a sentenceJob asserts that one's decisions will be established and that divine light will illuminate one's path.
Who is speakingJob, through the voice of Eliphaz, addressing a suffering friend.
Where we areIn a discourse on the outcomes of righteousness and the power of one's words.
The hard wordגָּזַר
Take awayThe decisions made by a person can lead to established outcomes and guidance.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאוֹר verbנָגַהּ 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 22:28

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

Context — Job's Discourse on Righteousnessgenerated

27You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”

Job 22:28 presents a perspective on the power of human decisions and their consequences. Eliphaz encourages Job to recognize that his choices can lead to positive outcomes, suggesting that if Job aligns his actions with righteousness, he will experience divine favor and guidance. This verse is part of a broader conversation about the relationship between human conduct and divine response, emphasizing the importance of living in accordance with God's will.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 20:4May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
2Psalm 90:17May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands— yes, establish the work of our hands!
3Lamentations 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
4Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
5James 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

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


The Key Word גָּזַר, ve.tig.zar-generated

The verb גָּזַר (gazár) is a Qal form meaning 'to cut' or 'to decide.' It encompasses a range of actions, such as making decrees or establishing decisions, and implies a sense of authority in the outcomes that follow. The parsing indicates that it is a second person masculine singular verb, addressing Job directly in this context.

In this verse, the act of 'deciding' is not just about personal choice but carries the weight of establishing a reality that will be fulfilled. The implications of this word suggest that Job's decisions are significant and impactful, reflecting the biblical theme of the power of words and intentions.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with variations primarily in the choice of words.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb תִגְזַר (tigzar), meaning 'you may decide,' governs the structure of the verse, indicating the action taken by Job. Two clauses follow: one indicating the fulfillment of the decision and the other describing the illumination on Job's ways.

The structure reflects a cause-and-effect relationship: the decisions lead to outcomes, and the light symbolizes guidance and clarity on the path of life.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates גָּזַר as ἀποκαταστήσει, which means 'to restore' or 'to establish.' This choice suggests a broader interpretation of the Hebrew, emphasizing not only the act of deciding but also the restoration of order and purpose in one's life.

This translation indicates that the Greek translators understood the implications of Job's decisions as having a restorative power, aligning with the themes of divine intervention and guidance.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 22:28 tells us that if you make decisions in line with God's will, those decisions will be established, and divine light will shine on your path. This verse emphasizes the importance of righteous choices and the guidance that follows them.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that my decisions will be carried out?

It means that the choices you make can lead to real outcomes and impacts in your life, particularly when aligned with God's purposes.

How does light shining on my ways relate to my decisions?

The light symbolizes guidance and clarity, suggesting that righteous decisions will lead to a clearer path and understanding of one's journey.

Can my decisions affect others?

Yes, decisions made in righteousness can have a positive impact not only on your life but also on the lives of those around you.

What is the significance of the word 'light' in this verse?

Light represents divine illumination and happiness, indicating that following God's ways brings joy and clarity to one's life.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to make more righteous decisions?
  2. How can I seek God's guidance to ensure that my choices align with His will?
  3. What does it mean for me to have light shine on my ways, and how can I cultivate that in my life?
  4. How can I support others in making decisions that lead to positive outcomes?

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

Gregory the Dialogist comments on Job's assertion about the power of decisions, emphasizing their significance in the life of the believer.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XVI c. 540–604
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee. This is used to be the special conclusion of those going weakly, that in such proportion they esteem a man righteous as they see him obtain all that he desires;
Early Church Fathers on Job 22 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 22:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee,.... Strictly speaking, this is only true of God, whose decrees are unfrustrable, whose counsel shall stand, and the thoughts of

Read John Gill on Job 22 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Decree - purpose or resolve on a thing, and thy resolution shall be realized. Light - success.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 22 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thy purposes and designs shall not be disappointed, but effected and ratified by God; which is a great satisfaction. In all thy counsels, and courses, and actions, God shall give thee the light of his direction and governance, and of comfort and success; and thou shalt not be in such a dark, and doubtful, and perplexed condition as now thou art.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 22 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 22:28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.Ver. 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee] God will be better to thee than thy prayers; and prosper all thy counsels, effect thy designs. The ungodly are not so, as is to be seen in those revolted Israelites, Judges 2:1-3, in King Saul, and in our King John. Or if they have their designs, it is for a further mischief to them. As, if the godly be crossed, it is in mercy; like as the story is told of our Queen Isabel, that being to repass from Zealand into England with an army, they had all been utterly cast away had she come unto the…

Read John Trapp on Job 22 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) Thou shalt also decree a thing.—As, for instance, in the memorable case of Abraham’s intercession for Sodom, to which there is not improbably an allusion here.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 22 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing] Whatsoever thou purposest in his strength, thou shalt be enabled to accomplish.

Read AdamClarke on Job 22 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

21–30. Eliphaz exhorts Job to reconcile himself with God; assuring him of restoration and great felicity if he will do so. The passage consists of two parts, first, a series of exhortations, each of which is accompanied by a promise (Job 22:21-25); and second, a series of great promises simply (Job 22:26-30). The exhortations are: (1) that Job should reconcile himself with God and receive His words into his heart—thus should he be in peace and good would come to him (Job 22:21-22); (2) that he should put away his evil—then should he be restored (Job 22:23); (3) that he should set his heart no more on earthly treasure, but fling it to the dust and among the pebbles of the brooks—then should…

Read Cambridge on Job 22 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee - Thou shalt form a purpose or plan, and it shall not be frustrated.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 22 →

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

Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

You will also decree a thing, and it will be established to you. Light will shine on your ways.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; And light shall shine upon thy ways.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established to thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and he shall establish it vnto thee, and the light shall shine vpon thy wayes.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And you decree a saying, || And it is established to you, || And light has shone on your ways.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And if thou decree a thing, it will be fulfilled unto thee; and upon thy ways the light will shine.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

You will also decree anything, and it will be confirmed for you; light will shine on your paths.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Thou shalt decree a thing, and it I shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.

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.

וְֽandclauseverbתִגְזַרyou.will.decideobjectא֭וֹמֶרa.matterוְandclauseverbיָ֣קָםit.will.be.fulfilledprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֑forךְyouוְandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonnoun phraseדְּ֝רָכֶ֗יwaysךָyourverbנָ֣גַֽהּit.will.shinesubjectאֽוֹרlight

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


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

The Masoretic Text presents the verse as: וְֽתִגְזַר־ א֭וֹמֶר וְיָ֣קָם לָ֑ךְ וְעַל־ דְּ֝רָכֶ֗יךָ נָ֣גַֽהּ אֽוֹר׃. The Septuagint matches 6 of the 8 words, indicating a strong correspondence between the two texts, though the word order and specific articles differ.

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

וְֽתִגְזַר־ א֭וֹמֶר וְיָ֣קָם לָ֑ךְ וְעַל־ דְּ֝רָכֶ֗יךָ נָ֣גַֽהּ אֽוֹר׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְיָ֣קָםἀποκαταστήσειלָ֑ךְσοιוְעַל־ἐπὶדְּ֝רָכֶ֗יךָσουנָ֣גַֽהּἔσταιאֽוֹר׃φέγγος

6 of the 8 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 22:28גָּזַרand you mayand you may decגָּזַראֹמֶרa mattera matterאֹמֶרלֵבand it may and it may be fלֵבךְfor youfor youךְעַלand onand onעַלדֶּ֫רֶךְways yourways yourדֶּ֫רֶךְנָגַהּit will shiit will shineנָגַהּאוֹרlightlightאוֹרדָּרַךְto treadto treadדָּרַךְאוֹרto lightto lightאוֹראֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרעַלheightheightעַלחֹ֫שֶׁךְdarknessdarknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְחַיalivealiveחַידּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹרלַ֫יְלָהnightnightלַ֫יְלָהנֶ֫דֶרvowvowנֶ֫דֶרעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹןנֵרlamplampנֵריָרֵחַmoonmoonיָרֵחַ
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 22:28

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.

and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
וְֽתִגְזַר־ve.tig.zar- and you may decide H1504 Conjunction · verb qal second person masculine singular
13× 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 to cut or divide something, like cutting down a tree or deciding a matter. It is used in various ways, such as cutting off or destroying something. This word appears in books like Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
purposes, decrees
Tyndale gloss
to cut
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּזַר (gazár) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut or divide. It encompasses a range of actions including cutting down, cutting off, and making decrees. The word can also imply destruction or exclusion. Notably, it is used in contexts such as dividing the Red Sea, indicating its significance in biblical narratives.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּזַר vb. cut, divide

Qal

divide, cut in two

divide the Red Sea

cut down

cut off (piece of meat to eat, but obj. not expr.)

cut off, i.e. destroy, exterminate

decree

Niph.

be cut off, separated, excluded

be cut off = destroyed, exterminate

be decreed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1504 גָּזַר cut, divide .. divide, cut in two

. divide the Red Sea

. cut down

. cut off (piece of meat to eat, but obj. not expr.)

. cut off, i.e. destroy, exterminate

. decree

. . be cut off, separated, excluded

. be cut off = destroyed, exterminate

. be decreed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1504 gazar gaw-zar'

a primitive root; to cut down or off; (figuratively) to

destroy, divide, exclude, or decide:--cut down (off), decree,

divide, snatch.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּזַר (ga.zar) — to cut.

1) to cut, divide, cut down, cut off, cut in two, snatch, decree

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut in two, divide

1a2) to cut down

1a3) to cut off, destroy, exterminate

1a4) to decree

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be cut off, separated, excluded

1b2) to be destroyed, cut off

1b3) to be decreed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Conjunction · verb qal second person masculine singular
HC/Vqu2ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
א֭וֹמֶר'o.mer a matter H562 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
6× 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 something that is said, like a promise, speech, or command. It is often used to describe God's word or a person's speech.
Tyndale gloss
word
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹמֶר (omer) refers to an utterance, speech, or word, often used in a poetic or elevated context. It can also imply a promise or command. The entries suggest a focus on the formal aspects of speech, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹמֶר n.m. utterance, speech, word, only poet., & exalted style

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H562 אֹמֶר utterance, speech, word, only poet., & exalted style

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

562 'omer o'-mer

the same as 561:--promise, speech, thing, word.

see HEBREW for 0561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹמֶר (o.mer) — word.

utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mat'-er: This word being a very general term may express various ideas. the Revised Version (British and American) therefore frequently changes the reading of the King James Version in order to state more definitely the meaning of the context (compare Ex 24:14; 1Sa 16:18; 1Ki 8:59; 2Sa 11:19; Es 3:4; Ps 35:20; 64:5; Pr 16:20; 18:13). dabhar, and the Greek logos, both meaning "word," are very frequently translated by "matter." hule, "wood," is rendered "matter" in

and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
וְיָ֣קָםve.Ya.kom and it may be fulfilled H6965 Conjunction · verb qal jussive third person masculine singular
628× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Qum means to rise or stand up, used in various contexts like rising to power or standing firm, as seen in Jeremiah and Ezra.
Amplified meaning
established, successful
Tyndale gloss
(Leb)-kamai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קוּם (qum) is a primitive root meaning 'to rise' and encompasses a range of actions such as standing, becoming powerful, and establishing. It can imply a sudden or hostile rise, as well as the act of fulfilling or confirming something. The entries also note various grammatical forms, indicating its use in different contexts, including raising up or causing to stand.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.

ref

קוּם 628 vb. arise, stand up, stand

Qal 460

arise

arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)

arise, abs., = become powerful

arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet

arise for, i.e. to become

arise for action

arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed

esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere

stand

Pi.

fulfil

confirm, ratify

confirm, establish

impose, an obligation

Pō‛l. raise up

Hithpō‛l. raise oneself, = rise up

Hiph.

146cause to arise, raise

raise, set up, stones

erect, build

fig, of setting up law

raise up = bring on the scene

raise up = rouse, stir up

instigate, build

fig, of setting up law

raise up = constitute

cause to stand

Hoph. be raised up

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6965a לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash H6965b קוּם arise, stand up, stand .. arise

. arise, in hostile sense (oft. with idea of suddenness)

. arise, abs., = become powerful

. arise = come on the scene, appear, of leader, prophet

. arise for, i.e. to become

. . arise for action

. arise (out of inaction), introducing some specific deed

. esp. arise = start, make a move, to go somewhere

. stand

. . fulfil

. . confirm, ratify

. confirm, establish

. impose, an obligation

. raise up

. raise oneself, = rise up

. . cause to arise, raise

. . raise, set up, stones

. erect, build

. fig, of setting up law

. raise up = bring on the scene

. . raise up = rouse, stir up

. instigate, build

. fig, of setting up law

. raise up = constitute

. cause to stand

. be raised up

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6965 quwm koom

a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal,

figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X

be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X

enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift

up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise

(up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse

up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up,

strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -

rising).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָמָי (qa.may) — (Leb)-kamai.

Combined with lev (לֵב "Leb" H3820B)

§ -Kamai = "my adversary"

Leb-kamai, i.e., people of Gambulai

קוּם (qum) — to arise: rise.

: rise/get_going

1) to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to arise

1a2) to arise (hostile sense)

1a3) to arise, become powerful

1a4) to arise, come on the scene

1a5) to stand

1a5a) to maintain oneself

1a5b) to be established, be confirmed

1a5c) to stand, endure

1a5d) to be fixed

1a5e) to be valid

1a5f) to be proven

1a5g) to be fulfilled

1a5h) to persist

1a5i) to be set, be fixed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to fulfil

1b2) to confirm, ratify, establish, impose

1c) (Polel) to raise up

1d) (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to cause to arise, raise

1e2) to raise, set up, erect, build

1e3) to raise up, bring on the scene

1e4) to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate

1e5) to raise up, constitute

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal jussive third person masculine singular
HC/Vqj3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The ordinary meaning of this word is sufficiently obvious. It will ultimately be recorded over against all the predictions and promises of Jehovah, every one having been fully accomplished at the proper time and place, Jos 23:14; Mt 2:17; 8:17; 12:17. There are in the New Testament many instances of such an accomplishment, where the purposes of men were very different, and those who figured in the transaction did not dream of any thing but some evil project of their own. Thus in Joh 19:24,28,36, the actual agents in Christ’s crucifixion had no thought that they were fulfilling the purposes of God. Sometimes also the phrase, "that it might be fulfilled," signifies that the occurrence to which it is applied is a secondary…

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828)

FULFILL'ED, participle passive Accomplished; performed; completed; executed.

and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
לָ֑ךְLakh for you H9032 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךְ (kh) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp2ms
and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
וְעַל־ve.'al- and on H5921 Conjunction · preposition
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
Conj | Prep — Conjunction · preposition
HC/R
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
דְּ֝רָכֶ֗יךָde.ra.Khei.kha ways your H1870 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
708× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Amplified meaning
path, journey, manner of life
Tyndale gloss
way: road
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (derek) means way, road, or journey, and can refer to both literal paths and figurative courses of life or actions. It encompasses various aspects such as direction, manner, and moral character, often highlighting the nature of one's conduct. The term is used in both positive and negative contexts, reflecting the moral implications of one's path.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ 715 n.m. way, road, distance, journey, manner

way, road, path

journey

of direction, almost or quite = toward

way, manner

fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

of moral action and character

of duty

specif.: in good sense

oftener in bad sense

way of י׳

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1870 דֶּ֫רֶךְ way, road, distance, journey, manner . way, road, path

. journey

. of direction, almost or quite = toward

. way, manner

. fig. of course of life, or action, undertakings

. . of moral action and character

. of duty

. specif.: in good sense

. oftener in bad sense

. way of י׳

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1870 derek deh'-rek

from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of

life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because

of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner,

passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side),

whither(-soever).

see HEBREW for 01869

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: conduct.

: conduct/lifestyle

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — Way.

This name means way, road

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — (King's) Highway.

This name means way, road

Combined with me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "King's" H4428I)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: direction.

: direction

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: road.

: road/route

1) way, road, distance, journey, manner

1a) road, way, path

1b) journey

1c) direction

1d) manner, habit, way

1e) of course of life (fig.)

1f) of moral character (fig.)

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) — way: journey.

: journey

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp2ms
and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
נָ֣גַֽהּNa.gah it will shine H5050 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
6× 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 to shine or glitter, and is often used to describe God's light, as seen in Psalm 104:2 where God stretches out the heavens like a curtain, shining with his glory.
Amplified meaning
glitter, radiate
Tyndale gloss
to shine
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַהּ (nagah) means to shine or glitter, with a focus on illuminating or causing to shine. It has a basic form (Qal) and a causative form (Hiphil), which includes meanings like enlightening or causing something to shine, such as the moon. The entries collectively emphasize the concept of light and brightness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָגַהּ vb. shine

Qal 

Hiph.

enlighten

cause to shine (of moon)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5050 נָגַהּ shine

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5050 nagahh naw-gah'

a primitive root; to glitter; causatively, to

illuminate:--(en-)lighten, (cause to) shine.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַהּ (na.gah) — to shine.

1) to shine

1a) (Qal) to shine

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to enlighten

1b2) to cause to shine

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

shin: The Hebrew words 'ahal, 'or, halal, zahar, zarach, yapha`, naghah, `ashath and qaran are all translated "shine." All indicate either the direct or indirect diffusion of beams of light. In a direct and literal sense the word "shine" is used of the heavenly bodies, or of candles, and fire (Job 18:5; 25:5 the King James Version; Job 29:3; 31:26; 2Ki 3:22). In a figurative sense it is used of reflected light or brightness, in any sense (Ex 34:29 f,35; Isa 60:1; Eze 43:2; Da 12:3). God as the sun of righteousness…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and you may decide a matter and it may be fulfilled for you and on ways your it will shine light
אֽוֹר׃'or light H216 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
121× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Light, including natural light from the sun or stars, and also spiritual light from God. It can refer to happiness, prosperity, or understanding. In the Bible, God is often described as the source of light and life.
Amplified meaning
divine illumination, happiness
Tyndale gloss
light
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוֹר (or) means 'light' and encompasses various forms of illumination, including daylight, dawn, and the light of heavenly bodies like the sun and stars. It can also refer to metaphorical concepts such as the light of life, prosperity, and instruction, as well as Yahweh as a source of light.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוֹר 121 n.m. light

light as diffused in nature, light of day

morning light, dawn

light of the heavenly luminaries

daylight

lightning

light of lamp

light of life

light of prosperity

light of instruction

light of face

Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H216 אוֹר light . light as diffused in nature, light of day

. morning light, dawn

. light of the heavenly luminaries

. daylight

. lightning

. light of lamp

. light of life

. light of prosperity

. light of instruction

. light of face

. Yahweh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

216 'owr ore

from 215; illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every

sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.):--bright, clear,

+ day, light (-ning), morning, sun.

see HEBREW for 0215

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹר (or) — light.

1) light

1a) light of day

1b) light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars)

1c) day-break, dawn, morning light

1d) daylight

1e) lightning

1f) light of lamp

1g) light of life

1h) light of prosperity

1i) light of instruction

1j) light of face (fig.)

1k) Jehovah as Israel's light

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lit ('or, ma'or; phos; many other words):

1. Origin of Light

2. A Comprehensive Term

(1) Natural Light

(2) Artificial Light

(3) Miraculous Light

(4) Mental, Moral, Spiritual Light

3. An Attribute of Holiness

(1) God

(2) Christ

(3) Christians

(4) The Church

4. Symbolism

5. Expressive Terms

1. Origin of Light:

The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life. "Let there be light" (Ge 1:3) was the first word of God spoken after His creative Spirit "moved" upon the primary material out of which He created the heavens and the earth, and which lay, until the utterance of that word, in the chaos of darkness and desolation. Something akin, possibly, to the all-pervasive electro-magnetic activity of the aurora borealis penetrated the chaotic night of the world. The ultimate focusing of light (on the 4th day of creation,

Light

The offspring of the divine command (Gen. 1:3). “All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light” (1 Kings 11:36; Isa. 58:8; Esther 8:16; Ps. 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the most wonderful, cheering, and useful of all the works of God; called into being on the first of the six days of creation, by his voice: "Let there be light;" and there was light. No object better illustrates whatever is pure, glorious, spiritual, joyful, and beneficent. Hence the beauty and force of the expressions, "God is light," 1Jo 1:5, and "the Father of lights," Jas 1:17; Christ is the "Sun of righteousness," and "the light of the world," Joh 1:9 8:12. So also the word of God is "a light," Ps 119:105; truth and Christians are lights, Joh 3:19 12:36; prosperity is "light," Es 8:16; and heaven is full of…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Created Ge 1:3-5; Isa 45:7; 2Co 4:6

→ Miraculous Mt 17:2; Ac 9:3

→ FIGURATIVE AND SYMBOLICAL 1Ki 11:36; Ps 27:1; 119:105,130; Pr 6:23; Ec 2:13; Isa 8:20; 49:6; 58:8; 60:19,20; Mt 4:16; 5:14,16; Lu 2:32; 11:34; 16:8;

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate