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Job 29:19 — Word Study

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WLCשָׁרְשִׁ֣י פָת֣וּחַ אֱלֵי־ מָ֑יִם וְ֝טַ֗ל יָלִ֥ין בִּקְצִירִֽי׃

BSAMy rootssheresh [like a tree's foundation, source of strength] [will] spread outpâthach [open, reach down] toʼêl the watersmayim [liquid refreshment] and the dewṭal [moisture, gentle blessing] will rest nightlylûwn [lodge, lie, all night, every evening] on my branchesqâtsîyr [limbs, extensions of life]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 29
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 19 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 (bik.tzi.Ri) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 29:19quick helps
In a sentenceJob expresses confidence in his stability and prosperity, likening himself to a tree nourished by water.
Who is speakingJob, reflecting on his past blessings and strength.
Where we areIn a poetic reflection on his former state of well-being.
The hard wordשָׁרְשִׁ֣י
Take awayJob's roots symbolize his strength and connection to life-giving resources.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectטַל verbפָּתַח 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 29:19

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 His Former Glorygenerated

18So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.

Job 29:19 reflects Job's confidence in his past prosperity, where he likens himself to a tree whose roots reach deep into the waters, symbolizing strength and nourishment. This verse is part of a larger passage where Job reminisces about his former glory and the respect he commanded from others, as seen in the surrounding verses. His imagery evokes a sense of stability and abundance, drawing on nature to illustrate his points.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 18:16The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away.
2Psalm 1:3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
3Jeremiah 17:8He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.
4Hosea 14:5–7I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

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


The Key Word שָׁרְשִׁ֣י, sha.re.Shigenerated

The word שָׁרְשִׁ֣י (*sha.re.Shi*) means 'my roots' and is derived from the root שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ (*sheresh*), which refers to the underground part of a plant. In this context, it symbolizes the foundation and source of strength for Job, indicating his deep connection to life and sustenance.

As a noun in the construct state, it emphasizes a personal connection — these are Job's roots, representing his identity and stability. The imagery of roots spreading out suggests growth and resilience, showing how Job's life is sustained by the waters, which can signify both literal water and spiritual nourishment.


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 יָלִ֥ין, it will remain overnight, governs the sentence, with a subject and two prepositional phrases describing what will remain and where. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the dew and the branches, highlighting the nurturing aspect of nature.

The first noun phrase, שָׁרְשִׁ֣י, serves as the subject, while the prepositional phrases provide context about the roots' direction towards the waters and the dew's resting place on the branches. This layered structure enhances the imagery of growth and sustenance.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, שָׁרְשִׁ֣י is rendered as μου (*mou*), meaning 'my'. This choice emphasizes the personal connection Job has to his roots, reinforcing the idea of individual strength and stability.

The translation of יָלִ֥ין as αὐλισθήσεται (*aulisthēsetai*) indicates a focus on the dew's action of lodging or resting, which aligns with the nurturing imagery present in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 29:19 uses the imagery of roots and dew to convey strength and nourishment. Job reflects on his past, stating that his roots will spread to the waters and that dew will rest on his branches. This illustrates his connection to life and abundance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What do Job's roots symbolize?

Job's roots symbolize his strength and connection to life, indicating stability and nourishment from the waters.

What does the dew represent in this verse?

The dew represents a gentle blessing and moisture, highlighting the nurturing aspect of nature that supports growth.

How does this verse relate to Job's overall message?

This verse reflects Job's longing for the days of his prosperity and well-being, illustrating his connection to the blessings he once experienced.

Why is the imagery of a tree used in this context?

The imagery of a tree emphasizes stability, growth, and nourishment, which are central themes in Job's reflections on his past.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced nourishment and support in my own life, similar to Job's roots reaching for water?
  2. How can I cultivate a sense of stability and strength in my own circumstances?
  3. What blessings do I recognize in my life that are like the dew resting on branches?
  4. How does understanding Job's imagery help me relate to my own experiences of growth and abundance?

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

The early commentary from Gregory the Dialogist reflects on the imagery in this verse, interpreting the roots and dew as symbols of spiritual nourishment and truth.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XIX c. 540–604
My root is opened beside the waters. And the dew shall stay on my harvest. For 'by the waters the root is opened,' when, for receiving the streams of truth, secretly the thought of the mind is spread out.
Early Church Fathers on Job 29 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 29:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

My root [was] spread out by the waters,.... According to our version and others, Job here, and in the following verses, gives the reasons of his hope and confidence of his long life, and quiet and

Read John Gill on Job 29 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. Literally, opened to the waters: continually irrigated by them. Opposed to Job 17:16. "His roots shall be dried up beneath." Vigorous health.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 29 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I was continually watered by Divine favour and blessing, as a tree which is constantly supplied with moisture, both in its root and branches, and consequently must needs be fruitful and flourishing.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 29 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 29:19 My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.Ver. 19. My root was spread out by the waters] Heb. Opened to the waters; which therefore had free recourse to it, and much refreshed it. Hereby he describeth his flourishing condition when time was, through the perpetual inflowings of God’ s free grace and favour. And the dew lay all might upon my branch] Pernoctabat; because in the night the dew falleth. Beza thus paraphraseth this whole verse: For, downward, the root of my good and upright conscience was spread out by the ever flowing waters of God’ s bountifulness, with which it was daily watered; and upward, the boughs growing out of this root…

Read John Trapp on Job 29 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) My root was spread.—It is perhaps better to read this and the next verse in the present: “My root is spread out . . . and the dew lieth. My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed.” (Comp. Genesis 49:24.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 29 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 19. My root was spread out by the waters] A metaphor taken from a healthy tree growing beside a rivulet where there is plenty of water; which in consequence flourishes in all seasons; its leaf does not wither, nor its fruit fall off. See Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8.

Read AdamClarke on Job 29 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18–20. Job’s outlook on the future, amidst this benevolent and active life. He anticipated length of days and continued prosperity.

Read Cambridge on Job 29 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My root was spread out by the waters - Margin, as the Hebrew, “opened.” The meaning is, that it was spread abroad or extended far, so that the moisture of the earth had free access to it; or it was

Read Albert Barnes on Job 29 →

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

My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.

NETBNew English Translation2006

My roots reach the water, and the dew lies on my branches all night long.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch:

RVARevised Version, American1894

My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lieth all night upon my branch:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew will lie all night on my branch;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

My root is open to the waters, || And dew lodges on my branch.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectשָׁרְשִׁ֣rootיmyverbפָת֣וּחַ[is].openedprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֱלֵיtoמָ֑יִםwaterוְ֝andclausesubjectטַ֗לdewverbיָלִ֥יןit.will.remain.overnightprepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּonnoun phraseקְצִירִֽbranch[es]יmy

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Job 29:19 reads, "שָׁרְשִׁ֣י פָת֣וּחַ אֱלֵי־ מָ֑יִם וְ֝טַ֗ל יָלִ֥ין בִּקְצִירִֽי׃" which translates to, "My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the essential meaning, as all seven words correspond directly, although the word order and articles may differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. There are no significant differences noted among the other ancient witnesses such as the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse.

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

שָׁרְשִׁ֣י פָת֣וּחַ אֱלֵי־ מָ֑יִם וְ֝טַ֗ל יָלִ֥ין בִּקְצִירִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
שָׁרְשִׁ֣יμουפָת֣וּחַδιήνοικταιאֱלֵי־ἐπὶמָ֑יִםὕδατοςוְ֝טַ֗לδρόσοςיָלִ֥יןαὐλισθήσεταιבִּקְצִירִֽי׃μου

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Job 29:19שֹׁ֫רֶשׁroot myroot myשֹׁ֫רֶשׁפָּתַח[is] opened[is] openedפָּתַחאֶלtotoאֶלמַיwaterwaterמַיטַלand dewand dewטַללוּןit will remit will remain לוּןקָצִירon branch[eon branch[es] mקָצִירשָׁרַשׁto uprootto uprootשָׁרַשׁטָלַלto coverto coverטָלַלקָצֵרbe shortbe shortקָצֵרדָּלִיּוֹתbranchbranchדָּלִיּוֹתפְּרִיfruitfruitפְּרִיפִּתּוּחַengravingengravingפִּתּוּחַדָּלdoordoorדָּלפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הרָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהאוֹרָהlightlightאוֹרָהגִּזָּהfleecefleeceגִּזָּהלַ֫יְלָהnightnightלַ֫יְלָהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהקַ֫יִץsummersummerקַ֫יִץחִטָּהwheatwheatחִטָּה
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 29:19

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.

root my [is] opened to water and dew it will remain overnight on branch[es] my
שָׁרְשִׁ֣יsha.re.Shi root my H8328 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A root is the underground part of a plant. In the Bible, it can also mean a source or foundation, like in the book of Job.
Amplified meaning
like a tree's foundation, source of strength
Tyndale gloss
root
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ (*sheresh*) means 'root' and can refer to both literal roots and metaphorical uses, such as a foundation or source of something. It is associated with concepts of depth and permanence. The word is derived from a related term, שָׁרַשׁ (*sharash*, H8327), which also pertains to roots.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ n.m. root

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8328 שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ root

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8328 sheresh sheh'-resh

from 8327; a root (literally or figuratively):--bottom,

deep, heel, root.

see HEBREW for 08327

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ (she.resh) — root.

1) root

1a) root (literal)

1b) root (of people involving firmness or permanence) (fig)

1c) root, bottom (as lowest stratum) (fig)

Aramaic equivalent: sho.resh (שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ "root" H8330)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp1bs
root my [is] opened to water and dew it will remain overnight on branch[es] my
פָת֣וּחַfa.Tu.ach [is] opened H6605 Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singular
144× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to engrave or carve, and is used in Exodus to describe the intricate carvings on the furniture of the tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
open, reach down
Tyndale gloss
to open
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּתַח (pathach) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to open' and can refer to various actions such as opening doors, loosening restraints, or engraving. It has different forms, including Qal (to open), Niphal (to be opened), and Piel (to engrave). The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, but there is some overlap in meaning regarding its applications in opening and engraving.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּתַח vb. open

Qal open sack

Niph. be opened

Pi. be opened

free, i.e. ungird, camels

loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

open gates, doors

Hithp. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

base

[פָּתַח] vb. Pi. engrave

Pu. stones engraved with the engravings of a signet.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6605a פָּתַח open .open sack

. be opened

. be opened . free, i.e. ungird, camels

. loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

. open gates, doors

. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

H6605b פָּתַח Pi. engrave

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6605 pathach paw-thakh'

a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively);

specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break

forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self),

(be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to open.

1) to open

1a) (Qal) to open

1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to free

1c2) to loosen

1c3) to open, open oneself

1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself

Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to engrave.

1) to carve, engrave

1a) (Piel) to engrave

1b) (Pual) to be engraved

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Inf-c — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singular
HVqsmsa
root my [is] opened to water and dew it will remain overnight on branch[es] my
אֱלֵי־'e.lei- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
root my [is] opened to water and dew it will remain overnight on branch[es] my
מָ֑יִםMa.yim water H4325 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
liquid refreshment
Tyndale gloss
Water (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4325 mayim mah'-yim

dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+

piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַי (ma.yim) — water.

1) water, waters

1a) water

1b) water of the feet, urine

1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).

This name means water, refreshment

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):

(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.

(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.

(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CISTERN and WELLS.

In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5

→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9

→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11

→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20

→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5

→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22

→ Libation of 1Sa 7:6

→ Irrigation with

See IRRIGATION

→ Miraculously supplied

To the Israelites Ex 17:1,6; Nu 20:11

To Samson Jud 15:19

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- One of the elements of the world

Ge 1:2

- GOD ORIGINALLY

. Created the firmament to divide

Ge 1:6,7

. Collected into one place

Ge 1:9

. Created fowls and fishes, &c from

Ge 1:20,21

- Necessary to vegetation

Ge 2:5,6; Job 14:9; Isa 1:30

- Some plants particularly require

Job 8:11

- Necessary to the comfort and happiness of man

Isa 41:17; Zec 9:11

- COLLECTED IN

. Springs

root my [is] opened to water and dew it will remain overnight on branch[es] my
וְ֝טַ֗לve.Tal and dew H2919 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means dew, or the moisture that covers plants and grass overnight. It is often used to describe the natural world and the cycle of nature.
Amplified meaning
moisture, gentle blessing
Tyndale gloss
dew
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טַל (tal) refers to 'dew' or 'night-mist' in Hebrew. It is derived from a root that suggests a covering over vegetation. The term is consistent across entries, with no significant disagreement noted among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טַל n.m. night-mist, dew

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2919 טַל night-mist, dew

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2919 tal tal

from 2926; dew (as covering vegetation):--dew.

see HEBREW for 02926

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טַל (tal) — dew.

dew, night mist

Aramaic equivalent: tal (טַל "dew" H2920)

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

du (Tal; drosos).

1. Formation of Dew:

Two things are necessary for the formation of dew, moisture and cold. In moist countries there is less dew because the change in temperature between day and night is too small. In the deserts where the change in temperature between day and night is sometimes as much as 40 degrees F., there is seldom dew because of lack of moisture in the atmosphere. Palestine is fortunate in being near the sea, so that there is always a large percentage of water vapor in the air. The skies are clear, and hence, there is rapid radiation beginning immediately after sunset, which cools the land and the air until the moisture is condensed and settles on cool objects. Air at a low temperature is not capable of holding as much water vapor in suspension as warm air. The ice pitcher furnishes an example of the formation of dew. Just as the drops of water form on the cool…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Dew

“There is no dew properly so called in Palestine, for there is no moisture in the hot summer air to be chilled into dew-drops by the coldness of the night. From May till October rain is unknown, the sun shining with unclouded brightness day after day. The heat becomes intense, the ground hard, and vegetation would perish but for the moist west winds that come each night from the sea. The bright skies cause the heat of the day to radiate very quickly into space, so that the nights are as cold as the day is the reverse, a peculiarity of climate from which poor Jacob suffered thousands of years ago (Gen. 31:40). To this coldness of the night air the indispensable watering of all plant-life is due. The winds, loaded with moisture, are robbed of it as they pass over the land, the cold air condensing it into drops of water, which fall…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

This in the summer is so copious in Palestine that it supplies to some extent the absence of rain and becomes important to the agriculturist. Thus it is coupled in the divine blessing with rain, or mentioned as a prime source of fertility, (Genesis 27:28; 33:13; Zechariah 8:12) and its withdrawal is attributed to a curse. (2 Samuel 1:21; 1 Kings 17:1; Haggai 1:10) It becomes a leading object in prophetic imagery by reason of its penetrating moisture without the apparent effort of rain, (32:2; Job 29:19; Psalms…

root my [is] opened to water and dew it will remain overnight on branch[es] my
יָלִ֥יןya.Lin it will remain overnight H3885 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
84× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To grumble or complain, this word describes a negative attitude of discontent or murmuring. It is used in the Bible to describe people who are unhappy or stubborn.
Amplified meaning
lodge, lie, all night, every evening
Tyndale gloss
to lodge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לוּן (luwn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lodge or pass the night, and it can also imply abiding or remaining. It has a negative connotation when referring to murmuring or complaining. The word can be used in various forms, including Qal, Hiphil, and Hithpalpel, indicating different nuances of lodging and grumbling.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לוּן, לִין vb. lodge, pass the night, fig. abide

Qal

lodge, pass the night

fig. abide, remain

Hiph. cause to rest, lodge

Hithpalp. dwell, abide, of eagle

base

[לוּן] vb. murmur

Niph. murmur against

Hiph. murmur; cause to murmur

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3885a לוּן, לִין lodge, pass the night, fig. abide H3885b לוּן murmur

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3885 luwn loon

or liyn {leen}; a primitive root; to stop (usually over

night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad

sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to

complain):--abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure,

grudge, be left, lie all night, (cause to) lodge (all night,

in, -ing, this night), (make to) murmur, remain, tarry (all

night, that night).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לוּן (lun) — to lodge.

1) to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lodge, pass the night

1a2) to abide, remain (fig.)

1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rest, lodge

1c) (Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide

לוּן (lun) — to grumble.

1) to grumble, complain, murmur

1a) (Niphal) to grumble, murmur

1b) (Hiphil) to complain, cause to grumble

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
root my [is] opened to water and dew it will remain overnight on branch[es] my
בִּקְצִירִֽי׃bik.tzi.Ri on branch[es] my H7105 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
54× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the harvest or the time of harvest, as well as the reaper or the crop itself. It can also mean a limb or foliage of a tree, emphasizing the idea of growth and abundance. The concept of harvest is central to the biblical narrative, particularly in the book of Ruth.
Amplified meaning
limbs, extensions of life
Tyndale gloss
harvest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָצִיר (qatsiyr) refers to the act of harvesting or the harvest itself, encompassing the process, the crop, and the time of harvest. It can also denote boughs or branches of trees. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to sever,' indicating its connection to reaping.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָצִיר n.m. harvesting, harvest

process of harvesting

what is reaped, harvested, crop

time of harvest

base

קָצִיר n.m. usually coll., boughs, branches

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7105a קָצִיר harvesting, harvest H7105b קָצִיר usually coll., boughs, branches

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7105 qatsiyr kaw-tseer'

from 7114; severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the

time, the reaper, or figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, or

simply foliage):--bough, branch, harvest (man).

see HEBREW for 07114

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָצִיר (qa.tsir) — harvest.

1) harvest, harvesting

1a) process of harvesting

1b) crop, what is harvested or reaped

1c) time of harvest

קָצִיר (qa.tsir) — foliage.

boughs, branches

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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