Job 38:4 — Word Study
WLCאֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיָסְדִי־ אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־ יָדַ֥עְתָּ בִינָֽה׃
BSAWhereʼêyphôh [in what location, at what point] were youhâyâh■ when I laid the foundationsyâçad [founded, established, the base, the starting point] of the earthʼerets [the land, the material world] Tell [Me]nâgad [declare, make known] ifʼim [on the condition that, provided that] you have understandingyâdaʻ■ [possess, understand, discernment, wisdom]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֵיפֹ֣ה | where? | Particle |
| הָ֭יִיתָ | were you | Verb, Qal, perfect second person masculine singular |
| בְּיָסְדִי־ | when founded I | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| אָ֑רֶץ | [the] earth | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| הַ֝גֵּ֗ד | tell | Verb, Hiphil, imperative second person masculine singular |
| אִם־ | if | Particle |
| יָדַ֥עְתָּ | you know | Verb, Qal, perfect second person masculine singular |
| בִינָֽה׃ | understanding | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. |
| KJV | Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. |
| ASV | Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. |
| YLT | Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding. |
| WEB | “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. |
| BBE | Where were you when I put the earth on its base? Say, if you have knowledge. |
Where they part company is הַגֵּ֗ד — see How Translations Differ.
One main question with a command and a condition attached. The structure highlights the challenge posed to Job's understanding.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 38:4
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 Questions Jobgenerated
Job 38:4 is part of a larger discourse where God challenges Job's understanding of the universe and creation. This section emphasizes God's sovereignty and the limitations of human knowledge. The surrounding verses (Job 38:3-6) illustrate God's authority in creation and His expectation that Job should comprehend these profound truths.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 8:22–29 | The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. |
| 2 | Proverbs 30:4 | Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— surely you know! |
| 3 | Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
| 4 | Psalm 102:25 | In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. |
| 5 | Psalm 104:5 | He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָסְדִי, ya.se.digenerated
The verb יָסַד (yasad) means to establish or lay a foundation. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of fixing or setting something in place. In this context, it refers specifically to the act of laying the foundations of the earth, which is a metaphor for God's creative power.
This verb is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action. It emphasizes that the act of founding the earth was a definitive moment in creation, underscoring God's role as the ultimate creator.
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 is הָ֭יִיתָ, were you, which governs the entire question posed by God. This verb is followed by a prepositional phrase בְּיָסְדִי, when founded I, indicating the timing of the action, and concludes with the imperative הַגֵּ֗ד, tell, which commands Job to respond.
The structure emphasizes the direct challenge to Job's knowledge and understanding, with the verb הָ֭יִיתָ positioned to highlight Job's absence during the foundational act of creation.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָסַד as με, indicating the same foundational concept but in a Greek context. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the verb as establishing a base or foundation.
The use of ποῦ for אֵיפֹ֣ה shows a direct translation of the question about location, maintaining the inquiry's essence in both languages.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 38:4 shows God asking Job where he was when God laid the foundations of the earth. This question emphasizes God's role as the creator and challenges Job's understanding of the universe. It serves as a reminder of God's authority and the limits of human knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
God is emphasizing His sovereignty and the fact that Job was not present during creation, highlighting the limits of human understanding.
This question is meant to illustrate God's power in creation and to challenge Job's perspective on suffering and divine justice.
The foundations represent the stability and order that God established in creation, underscoring His authority over the natural world.
This verse is part of God's response to Job, where He reveals the vastness of His wisdom compared to human understanding, setting the stage for Job's eventual realization of God's greatness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding God's role in creation change my perspective on my own life?
- What does it mean to me that God is the one who laid the foundations of the earth?
- In what ways do I question God's authority or understanding in my own life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper understanding of God's wisdom as it relates to the world around me?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
An early commentary from Gregory the Dialogist interprets this verse allegorically, emphasizing the historical context of creation.
Where wast thou when I was laying the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if thou hast understanding. ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION Behold all things are put together in historical narration, as if concerning the origin of the world.Early Church Fathers on Job 38 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 38:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhere wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?.... The earth has foundations, and such firm ones that it cannot be moved; but what are they, since it is hung in the air on nothing!
Read John Gill on Job 38 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhere wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. To understand the cause of things, man should have been present at their origin.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 38 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThen thou wast no where, thou hadst no being; thou art but of yesterday; and dost thou presume to judge of my eternal counsels? I made the world without thy help, and therefore can govern it without thy counsel, and I do not need thee to be the controller or censurer of my works. When I laid the foundations of the earth; when I made the earth, which is as the foundation or lower part of the whole world, and settled it as firm and fast upon its own centre as if it had been built upon the surest foundations. But if thou art ignorant of these manifest and visible works, do. not pretend to the exact knowledge of my secret counsels and mysterious providences.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 38 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.Ver. 4. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?] q.d. Thou wast nowhere, a mere nonens; thou wast no companion or counsellor of mine; nay, not so much as an onlooker, for thou art but of yesterday. Thou understandest not the reason of this fair fabric; much less of my dark and deep counsels. Declare, if thou hast understanding] Heb. if thou kuowest understanding. An irony, but friendly, and free from all bitterness; the better to convince Job of his folly and faultiness; for which end, also, multis eum interrogationibus onerat, God loadeth him with many deep questions…
Read John Trapp on Job 38 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) Where wast thou?—The comparison of the creation of the world to the building of an edifice is such a concession to the feebleness of man as serves of itself to heighten the effect of the inevitable answer to the question preferred.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 38 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?] Thou hast a limited and derived being; thou art only of yesterday; what canst thou know? Didst thou see me create the world?
Read AdamClarke on Job 38 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4–38. A survey of the inanimate creation, the wonders of earth and sky—the earth, Job 38:4-18; the heavens, Job 38:18-38
Read Cambridge on Job 38 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhere wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? - The first appeal is to the creation. The question here, “Where wast thou?” implies that Job was not present. He had not then an existence.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 38 →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
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding!
Tyndale line
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast vnderstanding,
Strictly literal
Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
Where were you when I founded the earth? Declare, if you have known understanding.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations? Tell me, if you have so much understanding.
From the Latin
Where wast thou when I laid up the foundations of the earth? tell me if thou hast understanding.
Simplified
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have such knowledge!
Where were you when I put the earth on its base? Say, if you have 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.
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 38:4 reads, "אֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיָסְדִי־ אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־ יָדַ֥עְתָּ בִינָֽה׃" which translates to, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all eight words correspond, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse are not available for comparison, so we cannot determine if they align with the Masoretic Text or the Septuagint.
אֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיָסְדִי־ אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־ יָדַ֥עְתָּ בִינָֽה׃
8 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.
Lexicons — every word in Job 38:4
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.
אֵיפֹה ('eyphoh) is an adverb meaning 'where?' and 'of what kind?'. It is derived from two roots, one related to place and the other to time or means. The word is used in contexts asking about location or manner.
אֵיפֹה adv.
where?
of what kind?
base
H375 אֵיפֹה . where?
. of what kind?
375 'eyphoh ay-fo'
from 335 and 6311; what place?; also (of time) when?; or (of
means) how?; --what manner, where.
see HEBREW for 0335
see HEBREW for 06311
אֵיפֹה (e.phoh) — where?.
1) where?
2) what kind?
Part — ParticleHTi
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Perf-2ms — Verb · Qal · perfect second person masculine singularHVqp2ms
יָסַד (yacad) means to establish or found, with nuances of fixing and laying a foundation. It can refer to both literal and figurative settings, such as appointing or consulting. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to found), Niphal (to be founded), and Piel (to establish). The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
יָסַד vb. establish, found, fix
Qal found, establish
Niph.
fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave
be founded
Pi.
found
establish
Pu. be founded, be laid, of a foundation
Hoph. be founded
base
H3245 יָסַד establish, found, fix
3245 yacad yaw-sad'
a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively);
intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e.
settle, consult:--appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the,
lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.
יָסַד (ya.sad) — to found.
1) to found, fix, establish, lay foundation
1a) (Qal) to found, establish, begin
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave
1b2) to be founded
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to found
1c2) to establish, appoint, ordain
1d) (Pual) to be founded, be laid
1e) (Hophal) to be founded
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vqcc/Sp1bs
אֶ֫רֶץ (erets) is a feminine noun meaning 'earth' or 'land.' It encompasses various meanings, including the whole earth, specific territories like Canaan, and even inhabitants of the land. It can refer to soil, ground, or regions, and is used in phrases related to distance and the living. There is a note on the plural form אֲרָצוֹת, which mainly appears in later texts to denote multiple lands.
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
earth, opp. to heaven, sky
earth = inhabitants of earth
land =
country, territory
district, region
trial territory
piece of ground
specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
= inhabitants of land
used even of Shᵉʼôl
ground, surface of ground
soil, as productive
אֶרֶץ in phrases
people of the land
in measurements of distance
the country of the plain, level or plain country
land of the living
end(s) of the earth
pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
base
H776 אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land . . earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
. earth = inhabitants of earth
. land = . country, territory
. district, region
. trial territory
. piece of ground
. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
. = inhabitants of land
. used even of Shᵉʼôl
. . ground, surface of ground
. soil, as productive
. אֶרֶץ in phrases . people of the land
. in measurements of distance
. the country of the plain, level or plain country
. land of the living
. end(s) of the earth
. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
776 'erets eh'-rets
from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth
(at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: country/planet.
: country/field
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region
1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground
1b5) land of Canaan, Israel
1b6) inhabitants of land
1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world
1b8) city (-state)
1c) ground, surface of the earth
1c1) ground
1c2) soil
1d) (in phrases)
1d1) people of the land
1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)
1d3) level or plain country
1d4) land of the living
1d5) end(s) of the earth
1e) (almost wholly late in usage)
1e1) lands, countries
1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) — land: soil.
: soil
1) land, earth
1a) earth
1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)
1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)
1a3) earth (inhabitants)
1b) land
1b1) country, territory
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
urth ('adhamah, 'erets, 'aphar; ge, oikoumene):
In a hilly limestone country like Palestine, the small amount of iron oxide in the rocks tends to be oxidized, and thereby to give a prevailing reddish color to the soil. This is especially the case on relatively barren hills where there is little organic matter present to prevent reddening and give a more blackish tinge.
'Adhamah (compare 'adham, "a man," and Adam) is from 'adham, "to be red," and is used in the senses: "earth" (Ex 20:24), "land" (Ps 105:35), a "land" or country (Isa 14:2), "ground" (Ge 4:11), "the earth" (Ge 7:4).
Earth
(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah’. In Gen. 9:20 “husbandman” is literally “man of the ground or earth.” Altars were to be built of earth (Ex. 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules’ burden of earth (2 Kings 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil.
(2). As the rendering of ’erets, it means the whole world (Gen. 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (1:10). Erets also denotes a country (21:32); a plot of ground (23:15); the ground on which a man stands (33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (
The term is used in two widely-different senses: (1) for the material of which the earth’s surface is composed; (2) as the name of the planet on which man dwells. The Hebrew language discriminates between these two by the use of separate terms, adamah for the former, erets for the latter. Adamah is the earth in the sense of soil or ground, particularly as being susceptible of cultivation. (Genesis 2:7) Erets is applied in a more or less extended sense-- (1) to the whole world, (Genesis 1:1) (2) to land as opposed to sea, (Genesis 1:10) (3) to a country, (Genesis 21:32) (4) to a plot of ground, (Genesis 23:15) and (5) to…
In both Hebrew and Greek the same word is used to denote the earth as a whole, and a particular land. Only the context can enable us to decide in which of these senses it is to be taken in a given passage.
Thus in Mt 27:45 we might, so far as the original word is concerned, render either "there was darkness over all the land," or over all the earth. The expression "all the earth" is sometimes used hyperbolically for a large portion of it, Ezr 1:2. The word is used of the whole world, etc. In a moral sense, earthly is opposed to what is heavenly, spiritual and holy, Joh 3:31 1Co 15:47 Col 3:2
נָגַד (nagad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to declare or tell, with implications of being conspicuous or manifesting something. It covers a range of meanings including to announce, report, and make known, often through spoken word. The entries indicate that it can also mean to expose or predict, and in the Hophil form, it refers to something being told or reported.
[נָגַד] 363 vb. be conspicuous
Hiph. declare, tell
Hoph. be told, announced, reported
base
H5046 נָגַד be conspicuous . declare, tell
. be told, announced, reported
5046 nagad naw-gad'
a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out
opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest;
figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one
present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain,
praise:--bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing),
denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess,
rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
נָגַד (na.gad) — to tell.
1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known
1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare
1a1) to tell, announce, report
1a2) to declare, make known, expound
1a3) to inform of
1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim
1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess
1a5a) messenger (participle)
1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine singularHVhv2ms
See TALE.
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.
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
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
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.
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
Conj — ParticleHTc
יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
know, learn to know
perceive
perceive and see; find out and discern
discriminate, distinguish
know by experience
recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
consider
not know = not expect
know a person, be acquainted with
know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
be skilful in
abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
be made known, be or become known, of things
make oneself known of pers.
be perceived
be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
base
H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know
. perceive
. perceive and see; find out and discern
. discriminate, distinguish
. know by experience
. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
. consider
. not know = not expect
. know a person, be acquainted with
. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
. be skilful in
. abs. have knowledge, be wise
. . be made known, be or become known, of things
. make oneself known of pers.
. be perceived
. be instructed
. cause to know
. known
. make known, declare
. made known
. make oneself known
3045 yada` yaw-dah'
a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation,
punishment, etc.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted
with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,
(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X
could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to)
discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel,
can have, be (ig-)norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause
to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have
(knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be
learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man
of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,
יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.
1) to know
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to know
1a1a) to know, learn to know
1a1b) to perceive
1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern
1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish
1a1e) to know by experience
1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
1a1g) to consider
1a2) to know, be acquainted with
1a3) to know (a person carnally)
1a4) to know how, be skilful in
1a5) to have knowledge, be wise
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
1b2) to make oneself known
1b3) to be perceived
1b4) to be instructed
1c) (Piel) to cause to know
1d) (Poal) to cause to know
1e) (Pual)
1e1) to be known
1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare
1g) (Hophal) to be made known
1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
V-Qal-Perf-2ms — Verb · Qal · perfect second person masculine singularHVqp2ms
בִּינָה (biynah) means understanding and encompasses the act, faculty, and object of knowledge, even personified in some contexts. It is derived from the root meaning to discern or comprehend. The Aramaic equivalent is בִּינָה (H0999).
בִּינָה n.f. understanding
the act
the faculty
the object of knowledge
personified
base
H998 בִּינָה understanding . the act
. the faculty
. the object of knowledge
. personified
998 biynah bee-naw'
from 995; understanding:--knowledge, meaning, X perfectly,
understanding, wisdom.
see HEBREW for 0995
בִּינָה (bi.nah) — understanding.
1) understanding, discernment
1a) act
1b) faculty
1c) object
1d) personified
Aramaic equivalent: bi.nah (בִּינָה "understanding" H0999)
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
