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Job 33:30 — Word Study

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WLCלְהָשִׁ֣יב נַ֭פְשׁוֹ מִנִּי־ שָׁ֑חַת לֵ֝א֗וֹר בְּא֣וֹר הַֽחַיִּים׃

BSAto bring backshûwb [return, turn back] his soulnephesh [the essence of a person] frommin the Pitshachath [the grave, a place of destruction] that he may be enlightenedʼôwr [given spiritual light] with the lightʼôwr [happiness, spiritual understanding] of lifechay [physical and spiritual existence, being alive]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 33
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 30 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 (Ha.chai.yim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 33:30quick helps
In a sentenceJob speaks of God's ability to restore life and bring enlightenment.
Who is speakingJob, through the voice of Elihu, addressing the nature of divine intervention.
Where we areIn a discourse on God's ways with humanity, particularly in suffering.
The hard wordשׁוּב
Take awayGod can restore life and provide understanding.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause 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 33:30

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 — God's Intervention in Human Affairsgenerated

29Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
30to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

Job 33:30 describes how God acts to restore a person's soul from the grave, offering enlightenment and understanding. This verse is part of a larger discussion where Elihu explains how God communicates with people, especially in their suffering, to guide them back to life and understanding. The surrounding verses emphasize God's persistent efforts to reach out to humanity, highlighting His mercy and desire to enlighten those who may feel lost.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 33:24–28to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
2Psalm 40:1–2I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.
3Psalm 118:17–18I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.
4Psalm 56:13For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
5Isaiah 2:5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

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


The Key Word שׁוּב, le.ha.Shivgenerated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to return or turn back, indicating a broad range of contexts including physical return, spiritual repentance, and restoration. It is often used in the Bible to describe the act of returning to God or turning away from sin, as seen in various passages throughout the Psalms and prophetic literature.

In this verse, it signifies God's action of bringing back a person's soul from destruction, emphasizing the divine initiative in restoring life and hope. The parsing as a hiphil infinitive construct indicates causation — God causes the return of the soul, highlighting His active role in salvation and enlightenment.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses to bring back for שׁוּב.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb הָשִׁ֣יב (haShiv) governs the entire verse, indicating the action of bringing back. The structure includes several phrases: a prepositional phrase indicating the source of the soul's return, a noun phrase describing the soul, and a clause expressing the purpose of the action.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of returning, followed by the object and purpose, which is typical in Hebrew prose, allowing for a focus on God's restorative power.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew שׁוּב is rendered as ἐρρύσατο (errhysato), which carries the meaning of rescuing or saving. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of the act of returning, emphasizing the salvific aspect of God's intervention.

This translation suggests a focus on the deliverance from destruction, aligning with the overall theme of restoration found in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 33:30 speaks of God's power to bring back a person's soul from the grave and to enlighten them with understanding and life. This verse is part of a larger discussion about how God communicates with people, especially during their suffering, to guide them back to life and hope.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to bring back the soul from the Pit?

It refers to God's ability to restore life and vitality to a person who is in a state of despair or death, symbolizing hope and renewal.

How does God enlighten the soul?

God enlightens the soul by providing understanding and insight, often through His word or by His spirit, leading to spiritual awakening and clarity.

Why is the concept of the Pit significant?

The Pit symbolizes death and destruction, representing a state of hopelessness. God's action to bring back from the Pit signifies His power over death and His desire to restore life.

What does the light of life refer to?

The light of life refers to both physical existence and spiritual understanding, indicating a fullness of life that comes from God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's restoration in my own life?
  2. How can I seek spiritual enlightenment and understanding in my daily life?
  3. What does it mean for me to return to God when I feel lost?
  4. How can I help others find hope and light in their struggles?

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

Gregory the Dialogist references this verse to discuss God's power to restore souls from corruption and provide enlightenment.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXIV c. 540–604
That he may recal their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living. For that is the light of the dying which we behold with our bodily eyes.
Early Church Fathers on Job 33 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 33:30 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

To bring back his soul from the pit,.... From the pit of the grave; at the mouth or on the brink of which he seemed to be in the apprehension of his friends, and having the sentence of death in himself; see Psalms 90:3.

Read John Gill on Job 33 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. Referring to Job 33:28 (Psalms 56:13).

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 33 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

i.e. That he may enjoy the light of life, and continue in the land of the living, out of which he was going.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 33 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 33:30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.Ver. 30. To bring back his soul from the pit] i.e. That he may save him from temporal and eternal destruction, which is the most excellent fruit of affliction sanctified. We are judged by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. So that a saint may say, Periissem nisi periissem, I had been undone had I not been undone. Ferre minora vole, ne graviora feram. To be enlightened with the light of the living] To live comfortably, and to be famous among the saints, Conspicuus sit inter heroines (Mercer), who, had they not been reduced by affliction, would have perished infamous and obscure…

Read John Trapp on Job 33 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(30) To bring back his soul.—Here, again, is the very key-note of Elihu’s doctrine. God’s dealings are for the purpose of education and discipline, and this is what he wishes to impress upon Job.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 33 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 30. To bring back his soul from the pit] Nearly a repetition of the promise in Job 33:28. To be enlightened with the light of the living.] An echo of Ps 56:13: "Thou hast delivered my soul from death, that I may walk before God in the light of the living;" and probably quoted from it.

Read AdamClarke on Job 33 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

29, 30. Elihu sums up his doctrine regarding the gracious purpose and effect of God’s methods of speaking unto man.

Read Cambridge on Job 33 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To bring back his soul from the pit - To keep him from descending to the grave, and to the dark world beneath. He takes these methods of warning people, in order that they may not bring destruction on themselves. See Job 33:18.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 33 →

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

to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

NETBNew English Translation2006

to turn back his life from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

RVARevised Version, American1894

To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

To bring back his soul from the pit, To be enlightened with the light of the living.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

To bring back his soul from the pit, || To be enlightened with the light of the living.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

to bring his soul back from the pit, so that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

he saves them from the grave so they might see the light of life.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Keeping back his soul from the underworld, so that he may see the light of life.

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbהָשִׁ֣יבbring.backnoun phrase · objectנַ֭פְשׁselfוֹhisprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִנִּיfromשָׁ֑חַת[the].pitprepositional phrase · prepositionalלֵ֝toclauseverbא֗וֹרbe.lighted.upprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּbynoun phraseא֣וֹרthe.lightnoun phraseהַֽof.(the)חַיִּיםlife

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 33:30 aligns closely with the Septuagint, with six of the seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show one word on the leather, with the rest supplied by an editor, indicating some damage but no significant variation in meaning.

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

לְהָשִׁ֣יב נַ֭פְשׁוֹ מִנִּי־ שָׁ֑חַת לֵ֝א֗וֹר בְּא֣וֹר הַֽחַיִּים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לְהָשִׁ֣יבἐρρύσατοנַ֭פְשׁוֹψυξήνמִנִּי־ἐκשָׁ֑חַתθανάτουלֵ֝א֗וֹרἵναהַֽחַיִּים׃ζωή

6 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 2Q15a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[להשיב] [נפש׳ו] [מני] [שחת] [לאור] באור [החיים]

1 word on the leather — 6 supplied entire by an editor.

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

להשיב [נפש׳ו] [מני] [שחת] [לאור] [באור] [החיים]

1 word 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 33:30שׁוּבto bring bato bring backשׁוּבנֶ֫פֶשׁself hisself hisנֶ֫פֶשׁמִן־fromfromמִן־שַׁ֫חַת[the] pit[the] pitשַׁ֫חַתאוֹרto be lightto be lighted uאוֹראוֹרby [the] liby [the] light אוֹרחַיlifelifeחַינָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁשׁוּחַto sinkto sinkשׁוּחַאוֹרto lightto lightאוֹרחָיָהto liveto liveחָיָהמֵןstringstringמֵןשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַירָחַקto removeto removeרָחַקיָתַרto remainto remainיָתַרכוּרto digto digכוּררֶ֫שֶׁתnetnetרֶ֫שֶׁתנֵרlamplampנֵראוֹרlightlightאוֹרחֹ֫שֶׁךְdarknessdarknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְיָרֵחַmoonmoonיָרֵחַעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹף
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 33:30

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.

to bring back self his from [the] pit to be lighted up by [the] light of life
לְהָשִׁ֣יבle.ha.Shiv to bring back H7725 Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
return, turn back
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct common
HR/Vhcc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
to bring back self his from [the] pit to be lighted up by [the] light of life
נַ֭פְשׁוֹnaf.sho self his H5315 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Amplified meaning
the essence of a person
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

to bring back self his from [the] pit to be lighted up by [the] light of life
מִנִּי־mi.ni- from H4480 Preposition
1,189× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Tyndale gloss
from
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מִן־ (*min*) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' indicating separation or origin. It covers various uses, including temporal references, comparisons, and causal relationships. Additionally, it can denote a portion when used as a noun מֵן (*men*). The entries highlight its versatility in expressing different nuances of separation and position.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִן־, and מִ, before יְ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not

with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal

from, against

מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

of position, off, on the side of, on

Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

Partitively

Of time—

as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

towards, to

(וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

In comparisons, beyond, above

מן is prefixed to an infin.:

with causal force, from, on account of, through

after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

with a temporal force, since, after

Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

In compounds:

base

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4480a מִן־, מִ, prep. expressing the idea of separation, hence out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not . with verbs expressing (or implying) separation or removal . from, against

. מן also, without a verb of similar significance, sometimes expresses the idea of separation, away from, far from

. of position, off, on the side of, on

. Out of, Gk. ἐκ, Lat. ex

. Partitively

. Of time— . as marking the terminus a quo, the anterior limit of a continuous period from, since

. as marking the period immediately succeeding the limit after

. towards, to

. (וְעַד) עַד … מִן from … even to

. In comparisons, beyond, above

. מן is prefixed to an infin.: . with causal force, from, on account of, through

. after verbs implying restraint, prevention, cessation, etc.

. with a temporal force, since, after

. Once as a conj. before a finite verb. that

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4480 min min

or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural)

{min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of;

hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as

follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason

of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over,

since, X then, through, X whether, with.

see HEBREW for 04482

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִן־ (min) — from.

prep

1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than

1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of

1b) out of

1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling)

1b2) (of material from which something is made)

1b3) (of source or origin)

1c) out of, some of, from (partitively)

1d) from, since, after (of time)

1e) than, more than (in comparison)

1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or

1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons)

1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive)

conj

2) that

Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)

מֵן (men) — portion.

n.m.

portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
to bring back self his from [the] pit to be lighted up by [the] light of life
שָׁ֑חַתSha.chat [the] pit H7845 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This noun refers to a pit or grave, and it is often used figuratively to describe destruction or corruption, as seen in Proverbs and other books.
Amplified meaning
the grave, a place of destruction
Tyndale gloss
pit: grave
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שַׁ֫חַת (shachath) means 'pit' and is derived from a root that suggests destruction or corruption. It covers a range of meanings including a physical pit, grave, and figuratively, hell or destruction. The entries note its use in contexts related to traps and Sheol, the grave.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁ֫חַת n.f. pit

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7845 שַׁ֫חַת pit

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7845 shachath shakh'-ath

from 7743; a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively,

destruction:--corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit.

see HEBREW for 07743

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁ֫חַת (sha.chat) — Pit: hell.

Pit, of hell

Another name of she.ol (שְׁאוֹל "Sheol" H7585)

This name means pit, grave

שַׁ֫חַת (sha.chat) — pit: grave.

1) pit, destruction, grave

1a) pit (for catching lions)

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

The word translates different Hebrew words of which the most important are:

(1) bor, "pit" or "cistern," made by digging, (Ge 37:20); hence, "dungeon" (Jer 38:6, margin "pit");

(2) be'er, "pit" or "well" made by digging (Ge 21:25);

(3) she'ol, generally rendered "hell" in the King James Version (see HELL);

(4) shachath, a pit in the ground to catch wild animals. (1), (2) and (4) above are used metaphorically of the pit of the "grave" or of "sheol" (Ps 28:1; 30:3; Job 33:24). the King James Version sometimes incorrectly renders (4) by "corruption."

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Pit

A hole in the ground (Ex. 21:33, 34), a cistern for water (Gen. 37:24; Jer. 14:3), a vault (41:9), a grave (Ps. 30:3). It is used as a figure for mischief (Ps. 9:15), and is the name given to the unseen place of woe (Rev. 20:1, 3). The slime-pits in the vale of Siddim were wells which yielded asphalt (Gen. 14:10).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[HELL]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A reservoir, either natural or artificial, for water. Pits were sometimes used as dungeons, Ge 37:20; Jer 38:6; or being slightly covered, and baited, they served as traps to catch wild beasts, a device which illustrates the plots of designing men and women, Ps 119:85; Pr 22:14; 26:27; Eze 19:4. The word pit is also used to denote the grave, Ps 28:1; 30:3,9; and hell, Re 20:1.

to bring back self his from [the] pit to be lighted up by [the] light of life
לֵ֝א֗וֹרle.'or to be lighted up H215 Preposition · verb niphal infinitive construct common
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Or means to give light, whether physically or spiritually, as in Psalm 119:105 where God's word is a light to our path.
Amplified meaning
given spiritual light
Tyndale gloss
to light
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוֹר (or) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become light, covering various contexts such as shining of the sun, illumination by celestial bodies, and lighting lamps. It has different forms: Qal (to shine), Niphal (to be illuminated), and Hiphil (to give light). The entries emphasize both literal and metaphorical uses, including making one's face shine and enlightening the eyes.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אוֹר] 43 vb. be or become light

Qal;—become light, shine of sun (esp. in early morn.)

Niph.—become lighted up of day-break

Hiph.—

give light, of sun, moon & stars

light up, cause to shine, shine

light a lamp

lighten, of the eyes

make shine, of face of God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H215 אוֹר be or become light .—become light, shine of sun (esp. in early morn.)

.—become lighted up of day-break

.— . give light, of sun, moon & stars

. light up, cause to shine, shine

. light a lamp

. lighten, of the eyes

. make shine, of face of God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

215 'owr ore

a primitive root; to be (causative, make) luminous (literally

and metaphorically):--X break of day, glorious, kindle, (be,

en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹר (or) — to light.

1) to be or become light, shine

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to become light (day)

1a2) to shine (of the sun)

1a3) to become bright

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be illuminated

1b2) to become lighted up

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give light, shine (of sun, moon, and stars)

1c2) to illumine, light up, cause to shine, shine

1c3) to kindle, light (candle, wood)

1c4) lighten (of the eyes, his law, etc)

1c5) to make shine (of the face)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Niphal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb niphal infinitive construct common
HR/VNcc
to bring back self his from [the] pit to be lighted up by [the] light of life
בְּא֣וֹרbe.'or by [the] light of H216 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
121× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Light, including natural light from the sun or stars, and also spiritual light from God. It can refer to happiness, prosperity, or understanding. In the Bible, God is often described as the source of light and life.
Amplified meaning
happiness, spiritual understanding
Tyndale gloss
light
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוֹר 121 n.m. light

light as diffused in nature, light of day

morning light, dawn

light of the heavenly luminaries

daylight

lightning

light of lamp

light of life

light of prosperity

light of instruction

light of face

Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. morning light, dawn

. light of the heavenly luminaries

. daylight

. lightning

. light of lamp

. light of life

. light of prosperity

. light of instruction

. light of face

. Yahweh

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

216 'owr ore

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 0215

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹר (or) — light.

1) light

1a) light of day

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

1c) day-break, dawn, morning light

1d) daylight

1e) lightning

1f) light of lamp

1g) light of life

1h) light of prosperity

1i) light of instruction

1j) light of face (fig.)

1k) Jehovah as Israel's light

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
HR/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

to bring back self his from [the] pit to be lighted up by [the] light of life
הַֽחַיִּים׃Ha.chai.yim life H2416 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Amplified meaning
physical and spiritual existence, being alive
Tyndale gloss
alive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַי adj. alive, living

of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

of man

of animals, alive, living

animals and man

(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

of water, fresh

(dub.) lively, active

reviving

base

[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18

ref

חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal

animal

in general

wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

living beings, of the cherubic chariot

life, only in late poetry

appetite, activity of hunger

revival, renewal

base

חַיָּה n.f. community

base

חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life

life: physical

life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

sustenance, maintenance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

. of man

. of animals, alive, living

. animals and man

. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

. of water, fresh

. (dub.) lively, active

. reviving

H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general

. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

. living beings, of the cherubic chariot

. life, only in late poetry

. appetite, activity of hunger

. revival, renewal

H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical

. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

. sustenance, maintenance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2416 chay khah'-ee

from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,

year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine

singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether

literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)

beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living

(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)

old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

see HEBREW for 02421

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַי (chay) — alive.

adj

1) living, alive

1a) green (of vegetation)

1b) flowing, fresh (of water)

1c) lively, active (of man)

1d) reviving (of the springtime)

Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)

חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.

kinsfolk

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.

1) living thing, animal

1a) animal

1b) life

1c) appetite

1d) revival, renewal

Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.

community

חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.

1) life (abstract emphatic)

1a) life

1b) sustenance, maintenance

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

lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma):

I. THE TERMS

II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING

1. Popular Use of the Term

2. Complexity of the Idea

III. IN THE APOCRYPHA

IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. In the Synoptic Gospels

2. In the Fourth Gospel

3. In the Ac of the Apostles

4. In the Writings of Paul

5. In the Writings of John

6. In the Other Books of the New Testament

LITERATURE

I. The Terms.

Of the Hebrew terms, chayah is the verb which means "to live," "to have life," or the vital principle, "to continue to live," or "to live prosperously." In the Piel it signifies "to give life, or preserve, or quicken and restore life." The Hiphil is much like the Piel. The noun hayyim generally used in the plural is an abstract noun meaning "life," i.e. the possession of the vital principle with its energies and activities. Nephesh often means "living being" or "creature." Sometimes it has the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Life

Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Heb. 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Rom. 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matt. 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Bible, is either natural, Ge 3:17; spiritual, that of the renewed soul, Ro 8:6; or eternal, a holy and blissful immortality, Joh 3:36 Ro 6:23. Christ is the great Author of natural life, Col 1:16; and also of spiritual and eternal life; Joh 14:6 6:47. He has purchased these by laying down his own life; and gives them freely to his people, Joh 10:11,28. He is the spring of all their spiritual life on earth, Ga 2:20; will raise them up at the last day; and…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS

Breath of Ge 2:7

Called SPIRIT OF GOD Job 27:3

Tree of Ge 2:9; 3:22,24; Pr 3:18; 13:12; Re 2:7

→ (SACREDNESS OF, an inference from what is taught in the law concerning murder)

See HOMICIDE

Long life promised to obedient children Ex 20:12; De 5:16

To those who keep the commandments De 4:40; 22:7

Vanity of Ec 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7

Hated Ec 2:17

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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