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Job 3:7 — Word Study

Depth

WLCהִנֵּ֤ה הַלַּ֣יְלָה הַ֭הוּא יְהִ֣י גַלְמ֑וּד אַל־ תָּבֹ֖א רְנָנָ֣ה בֽוֹ׃

BSABeholdhinnêh [look, take notice] may thathûwʼ nightlayil [be solitary, desolate] behâyâh barrengalmûwd [without fruit, sterile] may noʼal joyful voicerᵉnânâh [triumphant, celebratory, sound of joy, shouting] comebôwʼ

Word
Listen & take awayJob 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (vo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 3:7quick helps
In a sentenceJob expresses a wish for a night to be barren and devoid of joy.
Who is speakingJob, lamenting his circumstances.
Where we areIn a poetic lament, Job wishes for the night of his birth to be cursed.
The hard wordגַלְמוּד
Take awayThe night should not bring any joyful noise.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectרְנָנָה verbהָיָה 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 3:7

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

Context — Job's Lamentgenerated

6If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.
7Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.
8May it be cursed by those who curse the day — those prepared to rouse Leviathan.
9May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

Job 3:7 is part of Job's lament where he curses the day of his birth. He expresses deep sorrow and wishes that the night of his birth be barren and devoid of joy. This reflects his profound grief and sense of loss, as he longs for the night to be desolate and unwelcoming. The surrounding verses amplify his despair, as he wishes for darkness to overshadow that night, indicating the depth of his suffering.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 13:20–22She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there.
2Isaiah 24:8The joyful tambourines have ceased; the noise of revelers has stopped; the joyful harp is silent.
3Jeremiah 7:34I will remove from the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sounds of joy and gladness and the voices of the bride and bridegroom, for the land will become a wasteland.”
4Revelation 18:22–23And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again. Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again.

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


The Key Word גַלְמוּד, gal.Mudgenerated

The word גַלְמוּד (galmuwd) is an adjective describing something that is barren or desolate. It conveys a sense of sterility and harshness, often used in contexts that evoke loneliness or bleakness. The parsing indicates that it functions as a simple adjective here, emphasizing the state of the night Job refers to.

This word appears infrequently, only four times in the Old Testament, which underscores its specific and impactful use in this lament. The emotional weight it carries in this verse highlights Job's desire for the night to be devoid of any joy or celebration.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree that the night is to be barren and without joyful noise.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse consists of two main clauses, each beginning with a jussive verb: יְהִ֣י, let it be, and תָּבֹ֖א, may it come. The first clause expresses a wish for the night to be barren, while the second clause expresses a wish for no joyful voice to enter it.

The word order emphasizes the emotional weight of Job's wishes, with the verb יְהִ֣י placed at the beginning to highlight the desire for the night to be desolate.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word גַלְמוּד is rendered as ὀδύνη, which means 'sorrow' or 'pain'. This choice reflects an interpretation that emphasizes the emotional suffering associated with the barrenness of the night.

The use of ὀδύνη instead of a direct translation indicates a broader interpretation of the night as not only barren but also filled with sorrow.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 3:7 expresses Job's wish for the night of his birth to be barren and without any joyful noise. He laments deeply, wishing that this night would be desolate and devoid of celebration, reflecting his intense sorrow and grief.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by wishing for the night to be barren?

Job is expressing a desire for the night of his birth to be devoid of joy, reflecting his deep sorrow and regret over his existence.

Why does Job wish for no joyful voice to enter that night?

He associates the night with his suffering and wants it to be a time of desolation, rather than celebration.

How does this verse reflect Job's emotional state?

It shows his profound grief and desire for the night of his birth to be cursed and unwelcoming, highlighting his despair.

What literary devices are present in this lament?

Job uses vivid imagery and emotional language to convey his feelings of sorrow and hopelessness regarding his existence.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I relate to Job's feelings of sorrow and despair?
  2. How can I find hope in my own moments of darkness and grief?
  3. What does it mean to wish for something to be barren or desolate in my own life?
  4. How can I support others who are experiencing deep sorrow, as Job did?

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

Early interpretations of this verse highlight its moral and historical significance, as seen in the writings of Gregory the Dialogist, who reflects on the themes of solitude and the nature of sin.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book IV c. 540–604
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION. Lo, let that night be solitary, let it be worthy of no praise. That night is made solitary, in that it is divided by an eternal separation from the company of the land above.
Early Church Fathers on Job 3 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book IV c. 540–604
MORAL INTERPRETATION. Lo, let that night be solitary, and worthy of no praise. There are some men that not only never bewail what they do, but who do not cease to uphold and applaud it, and verily a sin that is upheld, is doubled.
Early Church Fathers on Job 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 3:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Lo, let that night be solitary,.... Let there be no company for journeys, or doing any business; no meetings of friends, neighbours, or relations on it, for refreshment, pleasure, and recreation,

Read John Gill on Job 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Solitary - rather, unfruitful. 'Would that it had not given birth to me' (Maurer and Umbreit).

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Solitary, i.e. destitute of all society of men meeting and feasting together, which commonly was done at night, suppers being the most solemn meals among divers ancient nations. See ,17. Let no joyful voice; neither of the bride and bridegroom, nor any that celebrate their nuptials, or any other merry solemnity.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 3:7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.Ver. 7. Lo, let that night be solitary] And so consequently sorrowful; for aloneness is comfortless, et optimum solatium sodalitium. There is a desirable solitariness, such as was that of Isaac, Genesis 24:63, of Jacob, Genesis 32:24, of Christ, Mark 1:35, of Peter, Acts 10:9, to talk with God and with themselves. But usually to sit solitary is a misery, Lamentations 1:1 (for Satan is readiest to assault when none is by to assist), neither is there a greater tie to constancy than the society of saints. This the heathen persecutors perceived, and therefore banished and confined the Christian confessors to isles and…

Read John Trapp on Job 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 7. Lo, let that night be solitary] The word הנה hinneh, behold, or lo, is wanting in one of De Rossi's MSS., nor is it expressed in the Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, or Arabic. The word גלמוד galmud, which we translate solitary, is properly Arabic. From [Arabic] ghalama or jalama, signifying to cut off, make bare, amputate, comes [Arabic] jalmud, a rock, a great stone; and [Arabic] jalameedet, weight, a burden, trouble, from which we may gather Job's meaning: "Let that night be grievous, oppressive, as destitute of good as a bare rock is of verdure." The Targum gives the sense, In that night let there be tribulation. Let no joyful voice come therein.] Let there be no choirs of singers…

Read AdamClarke on Job 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. be solitary] Rather perhaps, barren, as Isaiah 49:21. Let it not experience a parent’s joy, and le nought that lives date its birth from it. no joyful voice] of birthday rejoicing.

Read Cambridge on Job 3 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lo, let that night be solitary - Dr. Good, “O! that night! Let it be a barren rock!” Noyes, “O let that night be unfruitful!” Herder, “Let that night be set apart by itself.” The Hebrew word used

Read Albert Barnes on Job 3 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

7. Solitary — âìîåã, barren, as in Isaiah 49:21. “It is a metaphor,” says Gesenius, “taken from the hard, sterile, and stony soil.” Let it be not only a night without Job’s birth, but without any births.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 3 →

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

Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Behold, let that night be barren. Let no joyful voice come therein.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Lo, let that night be barren; Let no joyful voice come therein.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Lo, let that night be barren; let no joyful voice come therein.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Yea, desolate be that night, and let no ioy be in it.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful sound come therein;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Lo! that night — let it be gloomy, Let no singing come into it.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Behold! That night—let it be barren, || Let no singing come into it.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Lo, may that night be solitary, let no song of joy occur thereon.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

See, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Let that night be solitary, and not worthy of praise.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Let that night be childless, with no sounds of happiness heard.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

As for that night, let it have no fruit; let no voice of joy be sounded in it;

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.

clauseclauseהִנֵּ֤הthere!clausenoun phrase · subjectהַthenoun phraseלַּ֣יְלָהnightadjective phraseהַ֭(the)הוּאthatverbיְהִ֣יlet.it.beobjectגַלְמ֑וּדbarrenclauseadverbialאַלnotverbתָּבֹ֖אlet.it.comesubjectרְנָנָ֣הa.cry.of.joyprepositional phrase · prepositionalבֽinוֹit

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with seven of the nine words matched. The Septuagint's rendering reflects a different word order and choice of terms, particularly in the emotional framing of the night.

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

הִנֵּ֤ה הַלַּ֣יְלָה הַ֭הוּא יְהִ֣י גַלְמ֑וּד אַל־ תָּבֹ֖א רְנָנָ֣ה בֽוֹ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
הִנֵּ֤הἀλλὰהַלַּ֣יְלָהνὺχהַ֭הוּאἐκείνηיְהִ֣יεἴηגַלְמ֑וּדὀδύνηאַל־μὴתָּבֹ֖אἔλθοι

7 of the 9 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 3:7הִנֵּהthere!there!הִנֵּהלַ֫יְלָהthe nightthe nightלַ֫יְלָההוּאthatthatהוּאהָיָהlet it belet it beהָיָהגַּלְמוּדbarrenbarrenגַּלְמוּדאַלmay notmay notאַלבּוֹאit comeit comeבּוֹארְנָנָהa cry of joa cry of joyרְנָנָהוֹin itin itוֹגָּלַםto foldto foldגָּלַםרוּןto overcomto overcomeרוּןהֵןlook!look!הֵןלוּלstairsstairsלוּלהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאלֹאnotnotלֹאנֶ֫גַעplagueplagueנֶ֫גַעחֲלוֹםdreamdreamחֲלוֹםיוֹמָםby dayby dayיוֹמָםאוֹרto lightto lightאוֹרטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתאֵ֫לֶּהthesetheseאֵ֫לֶּהחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁשִׂמְחָהjoyjoyשִׂמְחָהבּוֹאLeboLeboבּוֹא
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 3:7

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

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

there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
הִנֵּ֤הhi.Neh there! H2009 Particle
843× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
look, take notice
Tyndale gloss
behold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2009 hinneh hin-nay'

prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.

see HEBREW for 02005

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.

behold, lo, see, if

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTj
there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
הַלַּ֣יְלָהha.Lay.lah the night H3915 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
233× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Night refers to the time of darkness, opposed to day, and can also symbolize adversity or hardship. It is a period of rest, but also of potential danger or uncertainty.
Amplified meaning
be solitary, desolate
Tyndale gloss
night
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לַ֫יְלָה (layil) means 'night' and is derived from a root that suggests a twist away from light. It encompasses the literal sense of night as opposed to day, as well as figurative uses related to gloom or adversity. The term appears in contexts like Isaiah 21:11.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל 242 n.m. night

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3915 לַ֫יְלָה, לַ֫יִל night

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3915 layil lah'-yil

or (Isa. 21:11) leyl {lale}; also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from

the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e.

night; figuratively, adversity:--((mid-))night (season).

see HEBREW for 03883

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לַ֫יְלָה (lay.lah) — night.

1) night

1a) night (as opposed to day)

1b) of gloom, protective shadow (fig.)

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

nit.

See DAY AND NIGHT for the natural usage and the various terms.

1. In the Old Testament:

Figurative uses: The word "night" (laylah or layil is sometimes used figuratively in the Old Testament. Thus, Moses compares the brevity of time, the lapse of a thousand years, to "a watch in the night" (Ps 90:4). Adversity is depicted by it in such places as Job 35:10; compare Isa 8:20; Jer 15:9. Disappointment and despair are apparently depicted by it in the "burden of Dumah" (Isa 21:11,12); and spiritual blindness, coming upon the false prophets (Mic 3:6); again sudden and…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[DAY]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The ancient Hebrews began their artificial day at evening, and ended it the next evening, so that the night proceeded the day. This usage may probably be traced to the terms employed in describing the creation, Ge 1:5,8,13, etc., "The evening and the morning were the first day." The Hebrews allowed twelve to the day; but these hours were not equal, except at the equinox. At other times, when the hours of the night were long, those of the day were short, as in winter; and when the hours of night were short, as at midsummer, the hours of the day were long in proportion. See HOURS.

The nights are sometimes extremely cold in Syria, when the days are very hot; and travelers in the deserts and among the mountains near Palestine refer to their own sufferings from these opposite extremes, in illustration of Jacob’s words in

→ General scriptures concerning Ge 1:5,16,18

→ Meditations in Ps 19:2; 77:6; 119:148; 139:11

→ Worship in Ps 134:1

→ Jesus prays all night Lu 6:12

→ No night in heaven Re 21:25; 22:5

→ Divided into watches Ex 14:24; Jud 7:19; 1Sa 11:11; Ne 12:9; Ps 63:6; 119:148; La 2:19;

there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
הַ֭הוּאHa.hu' that H1931 Particle · pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Pron — Particle · pronoun
HTd/Pp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
יְהִ֣יye.Hi let it be H1961 Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-3ms — Verb · Qal · jussive third person masculine singular
HVqj3ms
there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
גַלְמ֑וּדgal.Mud barren H1565 Adj
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A desolate or barren place, or a person who is sterile, is described with this word. It can also mean harsh or bleak, like a lonely landscape. This concept is found in the Bible's descriptions of wilderness areas.
Amplified meaning
without fruit, sterile
Tyndale gloss
solitary
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּלְמוּד (galmuwd) describes something that is hard, barren, or desolate. It can refer to harsh conditions or a solitary state, particularly in contexts involving desolation or sterility. The word is derived from a root meaning to be wrapped up too tightly, indicating a sense of sterility or bleakness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּלְמוּד adj. hard, barren

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1565 גַּלְמוּד hard, barren

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1565 galmuwd gal-mood'

probably by prolonged from 1563; sterile (as wrapped up too

hard); figuratively, desolate:--desolate, solitary.

see HEBREW for 01563

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּלְמוּד (gal.mud) — solitary.

1) hard, barren, harsh, bleak

1a) harsh, bleak (of a company of wicked men)

1b) barren (of women)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Barren

For a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (Gen. 16:2; 30:1-23; 1 Sam. 1:6, 27; Isa. 47:9; 49:21; Luke 1:25). Instances of barrenness are noticed (Gen. 11:30; 25:21; 29:31; Judg. 13:2, 3; Luke 1:7, 36).

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
תָּבֹ֖אta.Vo' it come H935 Verb · Qal · jussive third person feminine singular
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-3fs — Verb · Qal · jussive third person feminine singular
HVqj3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kum: The translation of many Hebrew and Greek words. In the phrase "The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him" (Jud 14:6,19; 15:14; 1Sa 10:10; 11:6; 16:13), the word is tsaleah; Jud 14:6; 15:14 "came mightily," which is the uniform translation of the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Jud 13:25 "to move," i.e. to disturb or stir up). In Jud 6:34; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 24:20, it is labhesh, "to clothe"; the Revised Version, margin "The Spirit .... clothed itself with Gideon" and .... "with Zechariah,"…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
רְנָנָ֣הre.na.Nah a cry of joy H7445 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a triumphant shout for joy, like the joyful singing in Psalm 100. It's about celebrating with a loud, ringing cry. In the Bible, it's often used to describe worship and praise.
Amplified meaning
triumphant, celebratory, sound of joy, shouting
Tyndale gloss
triumphing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רְנָנָה (rənānā) refers to a joyful shout or exultation. It is derived from the root word meaning to shout or sing, and encompasses expressions of joy and triumph. The entries highlight its use in contexts of joyful voices and singing, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רְנָנָה n.f. id. [t.de.ab]; exultation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7445 רְנָנָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7445 rnanah ren-aw-naw'

from 7442; a shout (for joy):--joyful (voice), singing,

triumphing.

see HEBREW for 07442

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רְנָנָה (re.na.nah) — triumphing.

ringing cry, shout (for joy)

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

joi (simchah; chara):

1. Terms:

The idea of joy is expressed in the Old Testament by a wealth of synonymous terms that cannot easily be differentiated. The commonest is simchah (1Sa 18:6, etc.), variously translated in English Versions of the Bible "joy," "gladness," "mirth"; from sameah, properly "to be bright," "to shine" (Pr 13:9, "The light of the righteous rejoiceth," literally, "is bright"), but generally used figuratively "to rejoice," "be glad" (Le 23:40 and very frequent).

Other nouns are masos and sason, both from sus, properly "to spring," "leap," hence, "exult," "rejoice"; rinnah, "shouting." "joy"; gil, from verb gil or gul, "to go in a circle," hence, "be excited" (dancing round for joy), "rejoice." In the New…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Attributed to God De 28:63; 30:9; Jer 32:41

→ In heaven Lu 15:10-32

→ UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO De 12:18; 1Sa 2:1; 1Ch 16:27; 2Ch 7:10; Ezr 6:22; Ne 8:10,12; 12:43; Job 8:21; 22:21,26; 33:26; Ps 2:11; 4:7; 5:11; 9:2,14; 13:5; 14:7; 16:5,6,8,9,11; 17:15; 19:8; 20:5; 21:1,6; 28:7…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- God gives

Ec 2:26; Ps 4:7

- Christ appointed to give

Isa 61:3

- Is a fruit of the Spirit

Ga 5:22

- The gospel, good tidings of

Lu 2:10,11

- God's word affords

Ne 8:12; Jer 15:16

- The gospel to be received with

1Th 1:6

- Promised to saints

Ps 132:16; Isa 35:10; 55:12; 56:7

- Prepared for saints

Ps 97:11

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
there! the night that let it be barren may not it come a cry of joy in it
בֽוֹ׃vo in it H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
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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