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Job 41:19 — Word Study

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WLCמִ֭פִּיו לַפִּידִ֣ים יַהֲלֹ֑כוּ כִּיד֥וֹדֵי אֵ֝֗שׁ יִתְמַלָּֽטוּ׃

BSAto devisechâshab strawteben ironbarzel treeʻêts rottennessriqqâbôwn bronzenᵉchûwshâh

Word
Listen & take awayJob 41
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 19 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (yit.ma.La.tu) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 41:19quick helps
In a sentenceJob describes a powerful creature whose mouth emits flames and sparks.
Who is speakingJob, recounting the characteristics of a great creature, often interpreted as a dragon or leviathan.
Where we areIn a poetic description of the creature's fearsome nature, emphasizing its fiery breath.
The hard wordכִּיד֥וֹדֵי
Take awayThe imagery evokes the creature's terrifying and destructive power.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectבַּרְזֶל verbלְ The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

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 41:19

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

Context — The Description of a Fearsome Creaturegenerated

18His snorting flashes with light, and his eyes are like the rays of dawn.
19Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth!
20Smoke billows from his nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
21His breath sets coals ablaze, and flames pour from his mouth.

Job 41:19 is part of a larger passage where Job is presented with a vivid description of a powerful creature, often understood to symbolize chaos or evil. This creature's characteristics highlight its formidable nature, particularly through the imagery of fire and sparks, which conveys both danger and awe. The surrounding verses further illustrate the creature's strength and the fear it instills, making it a fitting representation of the challenges Job faces.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 18:8Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.Psalm 18:8

The Key Word כִּיד֥וֹדֵי, ki.Do.deigenerated

The word כִּיד֥וֹדֵי (*kiydod*) means 'sparks' and is derived from a root related to striking. It refers to small fiery particles that can ignite or cause flames. In this verse, it emphasizes the destructive potential of the creature's breath, as sparks shoot forth.

The plural construct form indicates a multitude of sparks, enhancing the imagery of fire and danger. This word captures the essence of the creature's breath as not just a singular event but an ongoing threat, illustrating the chaos it can unleash.


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 in the verse is יַהֲלֹ֑כוּ, they go, which governs the action of the sparks as they emerge. The structure highlights the relationship between the subject, the sparks, and their action of moving outward.

The prepositional phrase מִ֭פִּיו (from his mouth) introduces the source of the sparks, emphasizing the creature's mouth as a powerful and dangerous origin of fire.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates כִּיד֥וֹדֵי as χύλον (chylon), which also refers to sparks. This choice indicates a consistent understanding of the Hebrew term's meaning, focusing on the fiery nature of the creature's breath.

The use of χύλον suggests a direct connection to the imagery of fire, reinforcing the theme of destruction associated with the creature.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 41:19 describes a powerful creature whose mouth emits fire and sparks. This vivid imagery highlights the creature's dangerous nature, suggesting it can unleash destruction. The surrounding verses further emphasize its strength and the fear it instills.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the creature's fiery breath symbolize?

The fiery breath symbolizes the creature's power and danger, representing chaos and destruction.

Why is the imagery of fire significant in this passage?

Fire is often associated with divine judgment and power in the Bible, making it a fitting representation of the creature's fearsome nature.

How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Job?

This verse illustrates the challenges Job faces, emphasizing the overwhelming power of chaos and evil in contrast to God's sovereignty.

What can we learn from the description of the creature?

The description serves as a reminder of the realities of suffering and the existence of forces beyond human control, prompting reflection on faith and perseverance.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the imagery of fire in this verse reveal about the nature of challenges we face?
  2. How can understanding this creature's power help us in our own struggles?
  3. In what ways can we find hope in the midst of chaos and destruction?
  4. How does this description of the creature influence our understanding of God's power and authority?

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

The early Church Fathers often referenced this verse to discuss the nature of evil and chaos. Here are some quotations where they draw from Job's description.

Origen of AlexandriaFRAGMENTS ON Job 28.114 c. 185–253
I believe that all the impious teachers of immoral doctrines are properly the limbs of the dragon. What are the names, if you want to listen,
Early Church Fathers on Job 41 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book XXXIII c. 540–604
Out of his mouth proceed lamps. As kindled torches of fire. 58. For those who look forward are called his 'eyes,' but those who preach,
Early Church Fathers on Job 41 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 41:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, [and] sparks of fire leap out.

Read John Gill on Job 41 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Burning lamps - torches: namely, in respiring (Job 41:18) seem to go out.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 41 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

i.e. His breathings and blowings are very hot, or flaming, as the following verses explain this. This also may seem better to agree to the crocodile, which breathes (as Aristotle affirms) like the hippopotamus, of which ancient authors affirm, that his nostrils are very large, and he breathes forth a fiery smoke like that of a furnace, than to the whale, which rather casts forth streams of water, as was noted before, than flames of fire, there being no such great heat observed in whales, nor, as far as I know, in any other fishes.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 41 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 41:19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, [and] sparks of fire leap out.Ver. 19. Out of his mouth go burning lamps] This and those that follow are all hyperbolic expressions. Here he is brought in as a spit fire, as the devil was wont to be in plays and pageants. And by this passage some conjecture, that not the whale, but the sea dragon, is here described. Let it be what it will, it must needs be a great heat within this great fish, that sendeth forth, as it were, burning lamps and sparks of fire; and a strong sulphurous breath he must have, like the outbursts of Aetna, by this description. Aristotle saith the whale is of a hot fiery nature; and that he hath lungs, and breatheth; a pipe…

Read John Trapp on Job 41 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 19. Out of his mouth go burning lamps] Dr. Young, in his paraphrase, has a sensible note on this passage: - "This is nearer the truth than at first view may be imagined. The crocodile, according to naturalists, lying long under water, and being there forced to hold its breath, when it emerges, the breath long repressed is hot, and bursts out so violently, that it resembles fire and smoke. The horse does not repress his breath by any means so long, neither is he so fierce and animated; yet the most correct of poets ventures to use the same metaphor concerning him, volvit sub naribus ignem. By this I would caution against a false opinion of the boldness of Eastern metaphors, from…

Read AdamClarke on Job 41 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12–34. Description of the parts of Leviathan.

Read Cambridge on Job 41 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Out of his mouth go burning lamps - The word “lamps” here is probably used to denote torches, or fire-brands.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 41 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

19. Burning lamps — Flames better expresses the root idea of the Hebrew lappidh, and it is the rendering of Gesenius. A forcible figure for the burning, fiery breath.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 41 →

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

Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth!

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap out.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Firebrands stream from his mouth; fiery sparks shoot forth!

NETBNew English Translation2006

Out of its mouth go flames, sparks of fire shoot forth!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Out of his mouth go burning torches, and sparks of fire leap forth.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire dart forth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The archer canot make him flee: ye stones of the sling are turned into stubble vnto him:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out:

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Out of his mouth do flames go, sparks of fire escape.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Flames go out of his mouth, sparks of fire escape.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(41:11) Out of his mouth issue burning torches, sparks of fire escape [therefrom].

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Out of his mouth go burning torches, sparks of fire leap out.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The archer shall not put him to flight, the stones of the sling are to him like stubble.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Flames pour from its mouth, sparks of fire shoot out.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Out of his mouth go burning lights, and flames of fire are jumping up.

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 · prepositionalמִ֭fromnoun phraseפִּיmouthוitssubjectלַפִּידִ֣יםtorchesverbיַהֲלֹ֑כוּthey.goclausenoun phrase · subjectכִּיד֥וֹדֵיsparksאֵ֝֗שׁof.fireverbיִתְמַלָּֽטוּthey.escape

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all six words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same imagery and meaning as the Hebrew, emphasizing the creature's fiery breath.

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

מִ֭פִּיו לַפִּידִ֣ים יַהֲלֹ֑כוּ כִּיד֥וֹדֵי אֵ֝֗שׁ יִתְמַלָּֽטוּ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מִ֭פִּיוσίδηρονלַפִּידִ֣יםἄξυραיַהֲלֹ֑כוּὥσπερכִּיד֥וֹדֵיχύλονאֵ֝֗שׁσαθρόνיִתְמַלָּֽטוּ׃ξαλκὸν

6 of the 6 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 41:19פֶּהfrom mouth from mouth itsפֶּהלַפִּידtorchestorchesלַפִּידהָלַךְthey gothey goהָלַךְכִּידוֹדsparks ofsparks ofכִּידוֹדאֵשׁfirefireאֵשׁמָלַטthey escapethey escapeמָלַטפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָההָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְכִּידruinruinכִּידכַּדְכֹּדrubyrubyכַּדְכֹּדאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחבָּרַקto use ligto use lightninבָּרַקבָּעַרto burn: bto burn: burnבָּעַרדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהלֶהָבָהflameflameלֶהָבָהיָצַתto kindleto kindleיָצַתנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּס
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 41:19

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

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

from mouth its torches they go sparks of fire they escape
מִ֭פִּיוMi.piv from mouth its H6310 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

. external organ

. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,

assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +

file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)

say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,

tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
from mouth its torches they go sparks of fire they escape
לַפִּידִ֣יםla.pi.Dim torches H3940 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A torch or lamp, this word refers to a burning flame or fire. In the Bible, it describes a light source or a symbol of God's power.
Tyndale gloss
torch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לַפִּיד (lappiyd) means 'torch' and is derived from a root that likely means 'to shine.' It refers to a source of light such as a flambeau, lamp, or flame. The entries consistently define it as a torch without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לַפִּיד n.m. torch

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3940 לַפִּיד torch

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3940 lappiyd lap-peed'

or lappid {lap-peed'}; from an unused root probably meaning

to shine; a flambeau, lamp or flame:--(fire-)brand, (burning)

lamp, lightning, torch.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לַפִּיד (lap.pid) — torch.

torch

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Torches

On the night of his betrayal, when our Lord was in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas, “having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:1-3). Although it was the time of full moon, yet in the valley of the Kidron “there fell great, deep shadows from the declivity of the mountain and projecting rocks; there were there caverns and grottos, into which a fugitive might retreat; finally, there were probably a garden-house and tower, into whose gloom it might be necessary for a searcher to throw light around.” Lange’s Commentary. (Nahum 2:3, “torches,” Revised Version, “steel,” probably should be “scythes” for war-chariots.)

Thompson Chain Reference topics
from mouth its torches they go sparks of fire they escape
יַהֲלֹ֑כוּya.ha.Lo.khu they go H1980 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(halakh, yalakh, bo', yatsa'; ago, hupago, anabaino, erchomi, aperchomai, poreuomai): "Go" ("went," etc.) occurs very frequently in the English Bible, and is the translation of a great many different Hebrew and Greek terms. As the word implies movement of all kinds, physical and mental, it has naturally many applications.

1. In the Old Testament:

In the Old Testament halakh and yalakh are among the commonest words, meaning "to go" in its original sense of "to walk," but also in the most varied senses, according to the verbal conjugations, etc., the preposition attached, and the words in connection with which the terms stand; halakh and yalakh are often used figuratively (translated "to walk," etc.) for to live, to pursue a way of life, e.g. "to walk ever in his ways" (De 19:9; compare

Mt 9:13; 21:28; 28:7; Lu 10:37; Joh 8:11

--SEE Divine Direction, GUIDANCE

from mouth its torches they go sparks of fire they escape
כִּיד֥וֹדֵיki.Do.dei sparks of H3590 Noun common · masculine plural construct
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a spark, like something struck off to create a flame. It's used in the Bible to describe a small, fiery particle. The image is one of something being struck to create light.
Tyndale gloss
spark
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כִּידוֹד (kiydowd) means 'spark' and is derived from a root related to striking. It appears in the plural construct form in Job 41:11, referring to the breath of a crocodile. The lexicons consistently define it as a spark, with no significant disagreement noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כִּידוֹד] n.m. spark—only pl. cstr. Jb 41:11 of breath of crocodile

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3590 כִּידוֹד, כִידוֹד

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3590 kiydowd kee-dode'

from the same as 3589 (compare 3539); properly, something

struck off, i.e. a spark (as struck):--spark.

see HEBREW for 03589

see HEBREW for 03539

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כִּידוֹד (ki.dod) — spark.

spark

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpc — Noun common · masculine plural construct
HNcmpc
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…

from mouth its torches they go sparks of fire they escape
אֵ֝֗שׁ'Esh fire H784 Noun common · both singular absolute
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Tyndale gloss
fire
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵשׁ (esh) means 'fire' and encompasses various types, including natural fire, supernatural fire associated with divine appearances, and fire used for cooking or on altars. It can also figuratively represent God's anger. The entries consistently highlight its literal and metaphorical uses, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵשׁ 377 n.f. fire

fire, of conflagration

of supernatural fire

fire for cooking, roasting, parching

esp. of altar fire

fig. of Yahweh's anger

in various combinations

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H784 אֵשׁ fire . fire, of conflagration

. of supernatural fire

. fire for cooking, roasting, parching

. esp. of altar fire

. fig. of Yahweh's anger

. in various combinations

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

784 'esh aysh

a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):--

burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵשׁ (esh) — fire.

1) fire

1a) fire, flames

1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany)

1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching)

1d) altar-fire

1e) God's anger (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcbsa — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fir ('esh; pur):

These are the common words for fire, occurring very frequently. 'Ur, "light" (Isa 24:15 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American); Isa 31:9, and see FIRES), nur (Aramaic) (Da 3:22 ff) are found a few times, also 'eshshah (Jer 6:29), and be`erah (Ex 22:6), once each. Ac 28:2,3 has pura, "pyre," and Mr 14:54; Lu 22:56, phos, "light," the Revised Version (British and American) "in the light (of the fire)." "To set…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Fire

(1.) For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chr. 7:1, 3). The expressions “fire from heaven” and “fire of the Lord” generally denote lightning, but sometimes also the fire of the altar was so called (Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; 2:3; 3:5, 9).

Fire for a sacred purpose obtained otherwise than from the altar was called “strange fire” (Lev. 10:1, 2;

is represented as the symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power, in the way either of approval or of destruction. (Exodus 3:2; 14:19) etc. There could not be a better symbol for Jehovah than this of fire, it being immaterial, mysterious, but visible, warming, cheering, comforting, but also terrible and consuming. Parallel with this application of fire and with its symbolical meaning are to be noted the similar use for sacrificial purposes and the respect paid to it, or to the heavenly bodies as symbols of deity, which prevailed among so many nations of antiquity, and of which the traces are not even now extinct; e.g. the Sabean and Magian systems of worship. (Isaiah 27:9) Fire for sacred purposes obtained elsewhere than from the altar was called "strange fire," and for the use of such Nadab and Abihu were punished…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50 Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will be "in flaming fire," 2Th 1:8. In the New Testament it illustrates the enlightening, cheering, and purifying agency of the Holy Spirit, Mt 3:11 Ac 2:3. By sending fire from heaven to consume sacrifices, God often signified his acceptance of them: as in the case of Abel, Ge 4:4; Abraham, Ge…

from mouth its torches they go sparks of fire they escape
יִתְמַלָּֽטוּ׃yit.ma.La.tu they escape H4422 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine plural
95× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to escape or be delivered, like slipping away to safety. It is used in the Bible to describe people being saved from danger, like in the book of Psalms. The KJV translates it as deliver or escape.
Tyndale gloss
to escape
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלַט (malat) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to escape or slip away. It encompasses various nuances such as delivering, saving, and even giving birth in specific contexts. The entries indicate that it can refer to both physical escape and the act of laying eggs. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָלַט] vb. slip away (not in Qal)

Niph.

slip away

escape

pass. be delivered

Pi.

lay (eggs)

let escape

deliver

Hiph.

give birth to a male child

deliver

Hithp.

slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

escape

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4422 מָלַט slip away . . slip away

. escape

. pass. be delivered

. . lay (eggs)

. let escape

. deliver

. . give birth to a male child

. deliver

. . slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

. escape

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4422 malat maw-lat'

a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by

implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively,

to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit

sparks:--deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone,

let go, preserve, save, X speedily, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלַט (ma.lat) — to escape.

1) to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered

1a)(Niphal)

1a1) to slip away

1a2) to escape

1a3) to be delivered

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to lay, let slip out (of eggs)

1b2) to let escape

1b3) to deliver, save (life)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give birth to

1c2) to deliver

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to slip forth, slip out, escape

1d2) to escape

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVti3mp — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVti3mp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ NONE, FROM THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD Ge 3:7-11; 4:9-11; Job 34:21,22; Isa 10:3; Mt 23:33; Ro 2:3; 1Th 5:2,3; Heb 2:2,3; 12:25,26; Re 6:15-17

See SIN, FRUITS OF

See SIN, PUNISHMENT OF

See JUDGMENTS, NO ESCAPE FROM

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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