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Job 31:19 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאִם־ אֶרְאֶ֣ה א֭וֹבֵד מִבְּלִ֣י לְב֑וּשׁ וְאֵ֥ין כְּ֝ס֗וּת לָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃

BSAifʼim I have seenrâʼâh one perishʼâbad [near to death, perishing, be destroyed, lost] for lackbᵉlîy of clothinglᵉbûwsh [without, having no, garments, a wife] or a needy manʼebyôwn [poor, oppressed, someone in need] withoutʼayin [lacking, having no] a cloakkᵉçûwth [covering, a garment to cover the body]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 31
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 (la.'ev.Yon) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 31:19quick helps
In a sentenceJob reflects on his moral integrity by considering the plight of the needy.
Who is speakingJob, defending his righteousness before God.
Where we areJob's discourse on justice and compassion in his life.
The hard wordא֭וֹבֵד
Take awayJob's concern for the vulnerable is a measure of his character.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectלְבוּשׁ verbרָאָה 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 31:19

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 Compassiongenerated

18though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,

Job 31:19 presents Job's introspection regarding his treatment of the less fortunate. He emphasizes his awareness of those who suffer from lack of basic needs, such as clothing, and his moral obligation to care for them. This verse is part of a larger section where Job defends his integrity against accusations of wrongdoing, highlighting the importance of compassion in one's life.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 22:6For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
22 Chronicles 28:15Then the men who were designated by name arose, took charge of the captives, and provided from the plunder clothing for the naked. They clothed them, gave them sandals and food and drink, anointed their wounds, and put all the feeble on donkeys. So they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.
3Isaiah 58:7Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
4Matthew 25:36–43I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’
5Luke 3:11John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;Job 22:6 2 Chronicles 28:15 Isaiah 58:7 Matthew 25:36–43 Luke 3:11 Acts 9:39 James 2:16 1 John 3:18

The Key Word א֭וֹבֵד, 'O.vedgenerated

The word א֭וֹבֵד ('O.ved) is a participle form of the verb אָבַד (abad), meaning to perish or be lost. In this context, it describes someone who is near death due to lack of essential needs, emphasizing the severity of their plight.

The use of this participle indicates a continuous state of being in danger or loss, rather than a single event. Job's choice of this word reflects his deep empathy for the suffering of others, showing that he does not turn a blind eye to their needs.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions conveying Job's concern for those in need.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse is built around a conditional clause introduced by אִם ('im), meaning 'if'. This sets the stage for Job's reflections on his actions. The main verb אֶרְאֶ֣ה ('er.'Eh, 'I saw') governs the subsequent phrases, which detail the conditions Job is considering.

The sentence contains two main clauses: the first describes Job's observation of someone perishing, and the second specifies the lack of clothing for the needy. The use of conditional phrasing emphasizes Job's moral reasoning.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew phrase for 'without clothing' is rendered as ἠμφίασα (amphiasan), which means 'to cover'. This choice narrows the focus to the act of providing a covering, highlighting the importance of clothing as a basic need.

The Greek term emphasizes the physical and social implications of being without proper garments, aligning with Job's moral concern for the welfare of the needy.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 31:19 expresses Job's concern for those who suffer due to lack of clothing. He reflects on his moral duty to help the needy, indicating that he has always been aware of their struggles. This verse is part of Job's defense of his character and integrity.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'one perish for lack of clothing'?

Job is referring to someone who is suffering and close to death due to not having adequate clothing, highlighting the severity of their need.

Why does Job mention the needy man?

Job emphasizes his awareness of the vulnerable in society and his moral obligation to care for them, reflecting his character.

What is the significance of Job's reflections?

Job's reflections serve as a defense of his integrity, showing that he has treated others with compassion and has not ignored their suffering.

How does this verse relate to the broader themes in Job?

This verse encapsulates Job's commitment to justice and compassion, which are central themes throughout the book as he grapples with his suffering.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I demonstrate compassion to those in need in my own life?
  2. What are some ways I might overlook the struggles of others?
  3. In what situations have I felt compelled to help those who are suffering?
  4. How does Job's example inspire me to act justly and care for the vulnerable?

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

Gregory the Dialogist cites this verse to discuss the moral obligation to care for those in need, emphasizing Job's compassion.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXI c. 540–604
If I despised any passing by, because he had no covering, and a poor man without clothing, if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep.
Early Church Fathers on Job 31 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 31:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing,.... A man may be in such poor circumstances as to want proper clothing to cover his naked body with, and preserve it from the inclemencies of the

Read John Gill on Job 31 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; Job affirms his freedom from unfairness toward his servants: from harshness and oppression toward the needy.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 31 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When it was in my power to clothe and arm them against cold and nakedness.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 31 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 31:19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;Ver. 19. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing] Job was ad omnem humanitatem effectus atque assuefactus. This liberal man devised liberal things; and as he dealt his bread to the hungry, so when he saw the naked he covered him; he hid not himself from his own flesh, Isaiah 58:7. Giles, of Brussels, and Mr Wiseheart, the Scot, are famous among the martyrs for their charity in this kind. And so is Mr Fox, the martyrologer, of whom it is reported, that as he gave away his horse at one time to a poor man when he had no money to give him; so at another, having bestowed his wife’ s money in a…

Read John Trapp on Job 31 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) If I have seen any perish for want of.—Or, any wanderer without.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 31 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. seen any perish] Rather, perishing, or ready to perish, ch. Job 29:13.

Read Cambridge on Job 31 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If I have seen any perish ... - He turns to another virtue of the same general class - that of providing for the poor. The meaning is clear, that he had always assisted the poor and needy.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 31 →

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

if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,

NETBNew English Translation2006

If I have seen anyone about to perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without a coat,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering;

RVARevised Version, American1894

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

If I see [any] perishing without clothing, And there is no covering to the needy,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

If I see [any] perishing without clothing, || And there is no covering for the needy,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If ever I saw someone needing clothes, the poor without anything to wear,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;

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.

clauseאִםifclauseverbאֶרְאֶ֣הI.sawnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseclauseverbא֭וֹבֵד[one.who.was].perishingprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromclausepredicateבְּלִ֣יnotsubjectלְב֑וּשׁclothingוְandnoun phraseclausepredicateאֵ֥יןthere.[was].notsubjectכְּ֝ס֗וּתcoveringprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָfornoun phrasethe.needyאֶבְיֽוֹן[person]

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


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

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Dead Sea Scrolls, which contain a partial agreement with the Hebrew text. However, the scrolls show some editorial restoration, indicating that not all words were preserved in their original form.

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

אִם־ אֶרְאֶ֣ה א֭וֹבֵד מִבְּלִ֣י לְב֑וּשׁ וְאֵ֥ין כְּ֝ס֗וּת לָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֵ֥יןοὐκכְּ֝ס֗וּתἠμφίασαלָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ἀδύνατοι

3 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q99a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

אם אראה [אובד] [מבלי] [לבוש] [ואין] [כסות] [לאביון]

2 words on the leather — 6 supplied entire by an editor.

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 31:19אִםififאִםרָאָהI sawI sawרָאָהאָבַד[one who] w[one who] was pאָבַדבְּלִיbecause notbecause notבְּלִילְבוּשׁclothingclothingלְבוּשׁאַ֫יִןand notand notאַ֫יִןכְּסוּתcoveringcoveringכְּסוּתאֶבְיוֹן[belonged] [belonged] to tאֶבְיוֹןבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהלָבֵשׁto clotheto clotheלָבֵשׁכָּסָהto coverto coverכָּסָהאָבָהbe willingbe willingאָבָהאַ֫יִןwhere?where?אַ֫יִןחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁעֳנִיafflictionafflictionעֳנִינָבַטto lookto lookנָבַטתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהשָׁמַדto destroyto destroyשָׁמַדדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתשַׂקsackclothsackclothשַׂקאַרְגָּמָןpurplepurpleאַרְגָּמָןכְּמוֹlikelikeכְּמוֹלְבוּשׁclothingclothingלְבוּשׁבְּלִיwithoutwithoutבְּלִי
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 31:19

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.

if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
אִם־'im- if H518 Particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
אֶרְאֶ֣ה'er.'Eh I saw H7200 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
1,300× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Tyndale gloss
Provider
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָאָה 1315 vb. see

Qal 1141

see, subj.

see, c. acc. rei

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

see, so as to learn to know

abs. see, have (power of) vision

see = perceive

look at, see, by direct volition

of mental observation

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

see, c. acc. rei

Niph.

appear

be seen

be visible

Pu. appar. his bones are not detected

Hithp. recipr. look at each other

Hiph.

cause one to see something, shew

cause to experience something

cause to look intently at, to behold

Hoph.

be caused to see, be shewn

be exhibited to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.

. see, c. acc. rei

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

. see, so as to learn to know

. abs. see, have (power of) vision

. see = perceive

. look at, see, by direct volition

. of mental observation

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

. see, c. acc. rei

. . appear

. be seen

. be visible

. appar. his bones are not detected

. recipr. look at each other

. . . cause one to see something, shew

. cause to experience something

. cause to look intently at, to behold

. . be caused to see, be shewn

. be exhibited to

H7200b רְאוּת look

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7200 ra'ah raw-aw'

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

numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

surely, X think, view, visions.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.

: see/show

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

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

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

1a6) to look at, gaze at

1a7) to provide, choose

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to appear, present oneself

1b2) to be seen

1b3) to be visible

1c) (Pual) to be seen

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to see, show

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

1e) (Hophal)

1e1) to be caused to see, be shown

1e2) to be exhibited to

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

רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.

: examine/consider

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

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to see

1a2) to see, perceive

1a3) to see, have vision

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

so.

See TOOLS.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Egyptian saws, so far as has yet been discovered, are single-handed. As is the case in modern Oriental saws, the teeth usually incline toward the handle, instead of away from it like ours. They have, in most cases, bronze blades, apparently attached to the handles by leathern thongs. No evidence exists of the use of the saw applied to stone in Egypt, but we read of sawn stones used in the temple. (1 Kings 7:9) The saws "under" or "in" which David is said to have placed his captives were of iron. The expression in (2 Samuel 12:31) does not necessarily imply torture, but the word "cut" in (1 Chronicles 20:3) can hardly be understood otherwise.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Used as an instrument of torture 2Sa 12:31; Heb 11:37

→ Used for cutting stone 1Ki 7:9

→ FIGURATIVE Isa 10:15

if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
א֭וֹבֵד'O.ved [one who] was perishing H6 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
184× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Amplified meaning
near to death, perishing, be destroyed, lost
Tyndale gloss
to perish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals

. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory

. be lost, strayed

. . cause to perish, destroy, kill

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

. cause to stray, lose

. . destroy, put to death, in judgment

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6 'abad aw-bad'

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

oneself; by implication to perish (causative,

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.

1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) perish, die, be exterminated

1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)

1a3) be lost, strayed

1b) (Piel)

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

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

1b3) cause to stray, lose

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to destroy, put to death

1c1a) of divine judgment

1c2) object name of kings (fig.)

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
מִבְּלִ֣יmi.be.Li because not H1097 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means without or nothing, often used for negation. It appears in various forms, such as without or not yet, in the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
without
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּלִי (bli) refers to a state of wearing out or destruction, and serves as an adverb of negation meaning 'without' or 'not.' It is derived from the root meaning failure and can indicate absence or lack in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence

fig. destruction

defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1097 בְּלִי subst. wearing out, hence . fig. destruction

. defect, failure, hence adv. of negation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1097 bliy bel-ee'

from 1086; properly, failure, i.e. nothing or destruction;

usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as

long as, etc.:--corruption, ig(norantly), for lack of, where

no...is, so that no, none, not, un(awares), without.

see HEBREW for 01086

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּלִי (be.li) — without.

subst

1) wearing out

adv of negation

2) without, no, not

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
לְב֑וּשׁle.Vush clothing H3830 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to clothing or garments, and sometimes even a wife. It is used in descriptions of how people dress, like in the book of Matthew. The KJV translates it as apparel or clothing.
Amplified meaning
without, having no, garments, a wife
Tyndale gloss
clothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לְבוּשׁ (lebush) refers to clothing or garments in a literal or figurative sense, and can also imply a euphemism for a wife. It encompasses terms like apparel and raiment. The word is derived from a root meaning related to clothing, and its Aramaic equivalent is noted as well.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לְבוּשׁ, לְבֻשׁ n.m. garment, clothing, raiment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3830 לְבוּשׁ, לְבֻשׁ garment, clothing, raiment

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3830 lbuwsh leb-oosh'

or lbush {leb-oosh'}; from 3847; a garment (literally or

figuratively); by implication (euphem.) a wife:--apparel,

clothed with, clothing, garment, raiment, vestment, vesture.

see HEBREW for 03847

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לְבוּשׁ (le.vush) — clothing.

clothing, garment, apparel, raiment

Aramaic equivalent: le.vush (לְבוּשׁ "garment" H3831)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Smith's Bible Dictionary

[DRESS]

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of the Israelites, did not become old De 8:4; 29:5; Ne 9:21

→ See DRESS

if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
וְאֵ֥יןve.'Ein and not H369 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
789× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Amplified meaning
lacking, having no
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought

to nothing, as nothing

cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

in circumst. clauses

with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

with prefixes

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing

. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not

. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not

. in circumst. clauses

. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …

. with prefixes

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

369 'ayin ah'-yin

as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not

exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative

particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,

in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,

thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),

well-nigh, without. Compare 370.

see HEBREW for 0370

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.

1) nothing, not, nought n

1a) nothing, nought neg

1b) not

1c) to have not (of possession) adv

1d) without w/prep

1e) for lack of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
כְּ֝ס֗וּתke.Sut covering H3682 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A covering can also refer to a garment or clothing that is used to cover the body, as seen in many biblical descriptions of dress. It can also be used figuratively to describe a veiling or a concealment of something, such as a secret or a hidden truth. The Bible often uses this term to describe the clothing of important figures.
Amplified meaning
covering, a garment to cover the body
Tyndale gloss
covering
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּסוּת (kcuwth) refers to a covering or clothing, with implications for concealment. It is derived from the root meaning to cover. The entries consistently emphasize its use in the context of garments or veiling.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּסוּת n.f. covering

covering, clothing

covering, for concealment

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3682 כְּסוּת covering . covering, clothing

. covering, for concealment

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3682 kcuwth kes-ooth'

from 3680; a cover (garment); figuratively, a

veiling:--covering, raiment, vesture.

see HEBREW for 03680

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּסוּת (ke.sut) — covering.

1) covering, clothing

1a) covering, clothing

1b) covering (for concealment)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if I saw [one who] was perishing because not clothing and not covering [belonged] to the needy [person]
לָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃la.'ev.Yon [belonged] to the needy [person] H34 Preposition
61× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes someone who is needy or poor, often oppressed and in need of help from God. It appears in the Bible to describe those who are vulnerable and in need of deliverance. In the KJV, it is translated as beggar, needy, or poor man.
Amplified meaning
poor, oppressed, someone in need
Tyndale gloss
needy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶבְיוֹן (*ebyown*) means needy or poor, derived from a root indicating want. It describes individuals who are destitute, oppressed, or in need of help, particularly from God. This term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, often referring to the lowest social class and the importance of caring for such individuals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶבְיוֹן adj. in want, needy, poor,—so, alw. abs., Dt 15:4 + 40 t.; אֶבְיֹנְךָ Ex 23:6 Dt 15:11; אֶבְיוֹנִים Am 4:1 + 14 t.; אֶבְיוֹנֵי (אֶבְיֹנֵי) Ex 23:11 Is 29:19; אֶבְיוֹנֶיהָ ψ 132:15—(Hex. only JED; mostly poet., 23 t. ψ) needy, chiefly poor (in material things); as adj. Dt 15:7, 7, 9; 24:14 ψ 109:16 (both ∥ עָנִי); elsewhere subst.; ψ 49:3 (∥ עָשִׁיר); Dt 15:4, 11; subj. to oppression & abuse Am 2:6

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Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H34 אֶבְיוֹן in want, needy, poor

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

34 'ebyown eb-yone'

from 14, in the sense of want (especially in feeling);

destitute:--beggar, needy, poor (man).

see HEBREW for 014

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶבְיוֹן (ev.yon) — needy.

1) in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person

2) subject to oppression and abuse

3) needing help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God

4) general reference to lowest class

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HRd/Aamsa
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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