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Job 36:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאִם־ לֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁמְעוּ בְּשֶׁ֣לַח יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ וְ֝יִגְוְע֗וּ כִּבְלִי־ דָֽעַת׃

BSABut ifʼim [in the event that, whether] they do notlôʼ [refuse to, are unwilling to] obeyshâmaʻ [listen and heed, respond with faith] then they perishʻâbar [die a violent death, meet a fatal end] by the swordshelach [missile, dart or, weapon of war, instrument of judgment] and diegâvaʻ [expire, cease to exist] withoutbᵉlîy [lacking, devoid of] knowledgedaʻath [understanding, spiritual insight]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 36
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 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 (Da.'at) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 36:12quick helps
In a sentenceJob warns that disobedience leads to violent death and a lack of understanding.
Who is speakingElihu, one of Job's friends, offering counsel.
Where we areIn a discourse on the consequences of obedience and disobedience to God.
The hard wordדַּעַת
Take awayDisobedience brings death and a lack of spiritual insight.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectדַּעַת verbשָׁמַע 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 36:12

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 — Elihu's Discourse on God's Justicegenerated

11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.
12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.
14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

Job 36:12 presents a stark warning about the fate of those who refuse to listen to God. Elihu emphasizes that disobedience leads to destruction, highlighting the importance of knowledge and understanding in one's relationship with the divine. This reflects a common theme in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, where the consequences of one's actions are closely tied to their spiritual insight and obedience to God's commands.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 18:15–22The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.
2Deuteronomy 29:15–20but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God, as well as with those who are not here today.
3Isaiah 1:20But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
4Isaiah 3:11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
5Romans 2:8–9But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word דַּעַת, Da.'atgenerated

The Hebrew word דַּ֫עַת (da'at) means knowledge and encompasses various forms of understanding, skill, and moral insight. It is often linked to wisdom, as seen in Proverbs, and signifies a deep comprehension that includes both intellectual and spiritual dimensions.

In this verse, דַּ֫עַת emphasizes the tragic outcome of lacking knowledge — a state that leads to destruction. Elihu's use of this term suggests that true understanding is crucial for life, and without it, one is vulnerable to dire consequences.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ, they will pass away, which governs the structure. It is preceded by a conditional clause introduced by וְאִם־, but if, indicating the condition under which the main action occurs.

The sentence is structured with multiple clauses, where the conditional clause sets the stage for the consequences described in the main clause, emphasizing the relationship between disobedience and its dire outcomes.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates דַּעַת as εἰδέναι (eidenai), which means 'to know' or 'to understand'. This choice highlights the importance of knowledge in the context of obedience and serves to reinforce the Hebrew text's emphasis on the necessity of understanding God's ways.

The Greek term carries a similar weight as the Hebrew, suggesting that a lack of understanding leads to negative consequences, aligning with Elihu's warning.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 36:12 warns that if people do not listen to God, they will face destruction by the sword and die without understanding. This highlights the importance of obeying God's commands and the consequences of ignoring them.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to die without knowledge?

Dying without knowledge refers to a lack of understanding or insight into God's ways, leading to dire consequences as highlighted by Elihu.

How does this verse relate to the theme of obedience in Job?

This verse underscores the importance of obedience to God, suggesting that disobedience results in death and a lack of spiritual insight.

What are the consequences of not listening to God according to this verse?

The consequences include perishing by the sword and dying without knowledge, emphasizing the seriousness of ignoring God's commands.

How does Elihu's perspective differ from Job's?

Elihu emphasizes God's justice and the need for obedience, while Job often questions his suffering and seeks to understand his plight.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to be more obedient to God's commands?
  2. How can I seek a deeper understanding of God's ways to avoid the fate described in this verse?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure I am listening to God's voice in my decisions?
  4. How does this verse challenge my understanding of knowledge and its importance in my spiritual life?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 36:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

But if they obey not,.... Who seem to be righteous and are not; and when afflicted are not submissive to the will of God; attend not to the voice of his providence; receive no instruction thereby;

Read John Gill on Job 36 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. Perish by the sword - (Job 33:18). Without knowledge - in, i:e., on account of, their foolishness (Job 4:20-21).

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 36 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

If they; the righteous, spoken of , opposed to the hypocrites here following, ; for even good men may sometimes be disobedient to Divine admonitions, and may suffer deeply, yea, even death itself, for their folly: see . Without knowledge; in or for their ignorance, or inadvertency, or folly. Or, because they are without knowledge; because they are foolish, or brutish, and will not learn the lessons which God so plainly teacheth them.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 36 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 36:12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.Ver. 12. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword] In gladium transibunt, they shall pass away by the sword; that is, some evil end shall befall them, and worthily, because they would not be warned, which is both a presage and desert of utter ruin. Lesser and lighter judgments (where they work not) are foretokens of greater and heavier at the heels of them; as the black horse in the Revelation followeth the red. And as clouds cluster against a storm, one following in the neck of the other, unless the sun break forth and scatter them; so do God’ s judgments usher in one another…

Read John Trapp on Job 36 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. But if they obey not] This also is a general rule, from which, in the course of Providence, there are only few, and those only apparent, deviations. Instead of they shall perish by the sword, the meaning of the Hebrew בשלח יעברו beshelach yaaboru, is, "By a dart they shall pass by." They shall be in continual dangers, and often fall before they have lived out half their days. Mr. Good translates: They pass by as an arrow. The VULGATE: Transibunt per gladium. "They shall pass away by the sword."

Read AdamClarke on Job 36 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5–25. Elihu’s doctrine is in a word: God is great and despiseth not, He is great in strength of heart. His greatness is that of understanding, which enables Him to estimate all rightly, to see through all right and wrong, and to adapt His providence to the strong and to the weak, the evil and the good. This thought with the illustrations of it, Job 36:6-15, and the application of it to Job , vv16-25, exhaust the first half of this concluding speech.

Read Cambridge on Job 36 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But if they obey not - If those who are afflicted do not turn to God, and yield him obedience, they must expect that he will continue their calamities until they are cut off.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 36 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12. Without knowledge — See note on Job 4:21. They die without that knowledge of God which is the eternal weal of the soul.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 36 →

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

But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

NETBNew English Translation2006

But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death, and expire without knowledge.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

RVARevised Version, American1894

But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

But if they wil not obey, they shall passe by the sworde, and perish without knowledge.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

But if they hearken not, they shall pass away by the sword, and expire without knowledge.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And if they do not hearken, By the dart they pass away, And expire without knowledge.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And if they do not listen, || They pass away by the dart, || And expire without knowledge.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

But if they hearken not, they will pass away through the sword, and they will perish in want of knowledge.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

However, if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die because they have no knowledge.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But if they do not listen they will die a violent death, ignorant of God.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

But if not, they come to their end, and give up their breath without knowledge.

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.

וְandclauseclauseאִםifclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיִ֭שְׁמְעוּthey.will.hearclauseclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּbyשֶׁ֣לַחa.missileverbיַעֲבֹ֑רוּthey.will.pass.awayוְ֝andclauseverbיִגְוְע֗וּthey.will.expireprepositional phrase · prepositionalכִּlikeclausepredicateבְלִיnotsubjectדָֽעַתknowledge

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads: וְאִם־ לֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁמְעוּ בְּשֶׁ֣לַח יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ וְ֝יִגְוְע֗וּ כִּבְלִי־ דָֽעַת׃. The Septuagint matches only one of the eight words, indicating a significant divergence in translation and interpretation.

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

וְאִם־ לֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁמְעוּ בְּשֶׁ֣לַח יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ וְ֝יִגְוְע֗וּ כִּבְלִי־ דָֽעַת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
דָֽעַת׃εἰδέναι

1 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Job 36:12אִםand ifand ifאִםלֹאnotnotלֹאשָׁמַעthey will hthey will hearשָׁמַעשֶׁ֫לַחby a missilby a missileשֶׁ֫לַחעָבַרthey will pthey will pass עָבַרגָּוַעand they maand they may exגָּוַעבְּלִיlike notlike notבְּלִידַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתשָׁלַחto send: dto send: departשָׁלַחבָּלָהto become to become oldבָּלָהיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבעָבַרto passto passעָבַראִישׁmanmanאִישׁיַרְדֵןJordanJordanיַרְדֵןחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץלוּififלוּדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתבְּלִיwithoutwithoutבְּלִיחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָה
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 36:12

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

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

and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
וְאִם־ve.'im- and if H518 Conjunction · 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.
Amplified meaning
in the event that, whether
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 | Conj — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
refuse to, are unwilling to
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
יִ֭שְׁמְעוּYish.me.'u they will hear H8085 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Amplified meaning
listen and heed, respond with faith
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
בְּשֶׁ֣לַחbe.She.lach by a missile H7973 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a weapon like a spear or a dart, but it can also mean a sprout or branch of a plant. In the Bible, it is used to describe both literal weapons and growth.
Amplified meaning
missile, dart or, weapon of war, instrument of judgment
Tyndale gloss
missile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫לַח (shelach) refers to a missile or weapon, such as a spear, and can also denote a sprout or shoot. The word is derived from a root meaning to send forth. It encompasses meanings related to both physical weapons and botanical growth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫לַח n.[m.] missile, weapon, sprout (late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7973 שֶׁ֫לַח

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7973 shelach sheh'-lakh

from 7971; a missile of attack, i.e. spear; also

(figuratively) a shoot of growth; i.e. branch:--dart, plant,

X put off, sword, weapon.

see HEBREW for 07971

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫לַח (she.lach) — missile.

1) weapon, missile, sprout

1a) missile, weapon

1b) sprout, shoot

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
יַעֲבֹ֑רוּya.'a.Vo.ru they will pass away H5674 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
556× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Amplified meaning
die a violent death, meet a fatal end
Tyndale gloss
to pass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָבַר (abar) is a versatile verb meaning to pass over, through, or by, and it encompasses a range of actions including crossing, traversing, and alienating. It can also imply causing something to pass or be transferred, as well as emotional states like anger in its Hithpael form. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, though they do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָבַר 648 vb. pass over, through, by, pass on

Qal

pass over

Pass beyond

Pass through, traverse

pass along by

pass by

sweep by, of scourge

be past, over, of time

pass along (from hand to hand)

Pass on, go on

Pass away

Niph. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

Pi.

his bull impregnateth

cause one to cross river

cause something to pass over

make over to

devote children to (לְ) heathen god

pass along (from hand to hand)

cause to pass through

let pass through

cause to pass by

let pass by

cause arrow to pass beyond

cause to pass under rod, for counting

cause to pass away, take away

Hiph.

cause to pass over, bring over

he made to pass across with chains of gold

base

[עָבַר] vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5674a עָבַר pass over, through, by, pass on .. pass over

. Pass beyond

. Pass through, traverse

. . pass along by

. pass by

. sweep by, of scourge

. be past, over, of time

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. Pass on, go on

. Pass away

. Impf. a stream which cannot be forded

. . his bull impregnateth . cause one to cross river

. cause something to pass over

. make over to

. devote children to (לְ) heathen god

. pass along (from hand to hand)

. . cause to pass through

. let pass through

. . cause to pass by

. let pass by

. cause arrow to pass beyond

. cause to pass under rod, for counting

. cause to pass away, take away

. . cause to pass over, bring over

. he made to pass across with chains of gold

H5674b עָבַר vb. denom. Hithp. be arrogant, infuriate oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5674 `abar aw-bar'

a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any

transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive,

intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over,

through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over),

convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail,

gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way,

in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle,

overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over)

pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over,

through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish,

provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove,

send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X

speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to)

transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be

wrath.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָבַר (a.var) — to pass.

1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over

1a2) to pass beyond

1a3) to pass through, traverse

1a3a) passers-through (participle)

1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant)

1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by

1a4a) passer-by (participle)

1a4b) to be past, be over

1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance

1a6) to pass away

1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory)

1a6b) to vanish

1a6c) to perish, cease to exist

1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree)

1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands

1b) (Niphal) to be crossed

1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross

1d) (Hiphil)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
וְ֝יִגְוְע֗וּve.yig.ve.'U and they may expire H1478 Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to die or expire, like when Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross in Matthew 27:50. It implies a complete stop, like a final breath. It is used in the Bible to describe the end of life.
Amplified meaning
expire, cease to exist
Tyndale gloss
to die
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּוַע (gava') is a primitive root meaning to breathe out, which implies dying or perishing. It covers various aspects of death, including to expire, give up the ghost, or be ready to die. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to death without any noted disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּוַע vb. expire, perish, die

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1478 גָּוַע expire, perish, die

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1478 gava` gaw-vah'

a primitive root; to breathe out, i.e. (by implication)

expire:--die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּוַע (ga.va) — to die.

1) to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die

1a) (Qal) to expire, die, be about to die

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine plural
HC/Vqu3mp
and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
כִּבְלִי־kiv.li- like 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.
Amplified meaning
lacking, devoid of
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 | Part — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
and if not they will hear by a missile they will pass away and they may expire like not knowledge
דָֽעַת׃Da.'at knowledge H1847 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
92× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, daath means knowledge or understanding, like when Solomon asked God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:9. It involves skill and perception, and is often linked to wisdom. This concept appears in the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
understanding, spiritual insight
Tyndale gloss
knowledge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דַּ֫עַת (da`ath) means knowledge, encompassing perception, skill, and moral understanding. It is associated with prophetic knowledge and is noted for its divine aspect, particularly in the context of wisdom literature. The entries highlight its use in various forms of knowledge, including discernment and understanding.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דַּ֫עַת n.f. knowledge

knowledge, perception

= skill (in workmanship)

of proph. knowledge

esp. knowledge with moral quality

knowledge possessed by God

esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1847 דַּ֫עַת knowledge . . knowledge, perception

. = skill (in workmanship)

. of proph. knowledge

. esp. knowledge with moral quality

. knowledge possessed by God

. esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1847 da`ath dah'-ath

from 3045; knowledge:--cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge),

(un-)awares (wittingly).

see HEBREW for 03045

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דַּ֫עַת (da.at) — knowledge.

1) knowledge

1a) knowledge, perception, skill

1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of good and evil Ge 2:9,17; 3:22

→ Is power Pr 3:20; 24:5

→ Desire for 1Ki 3:9; Ps 119:66; Pr 2; 3; 12:1; 15:14; 18:15

→ Rejected Ho 4:6

→ Those who reject are destroyed Ho 4:6

→ Fools hate Pr 1:22,29

→ A divine gift 1Co 12:8

→ Is pleasant Pr 2:10

→ Shall be increased Da 12:4

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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