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Job 6:24 — Word Study

Depth

WLCה֭וֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ וּמַה־ שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִי הָבִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃

BSATeach meyârâh [show me, explain to me] and Iʼănîy [myself, personally] will be silentchârash [hold my tongue, keep quiet] Help me understandbîyn [cause me to understand, make me see] howmâh I have erredshâgâh [gone astray, wandered morally]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 6
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 24 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 (Li) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 6:24quick helps
In a sentenceJob seeks understanding from God about his errors and expresses a willingness to listen.
Who is speakingJob, in a moment of distress, directly addresses God.
Where we areJob is in a dialogue about his suffering and the nature of his mistakes.
The hard wordה֭וֹרוּנִי
Take awayJob is ready to learn and reflect on his actions.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאֲנִי verbחָרֵשׁ 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 6:24

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

Context — Job's Plea for Understandinggenerated

23deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
24Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
25How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
26Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?

Job 6:24 captures Job's desire for clarity regarding his mistakes. He expresses a willingness to listen and learn, indicating his readiness to accept correction and understand his missteps. This plea comes amid his suffering, highlighting his search for truth and understanding in the face of adversity, similar to the reflections found in Psalm 32:8 where God promises to guide those who seek Him.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 5:27Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true! So hear it and know for yourself.”
2Job 32:11–15Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,
3Job 33:1–31“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
4Job 34:32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
5Psalm 32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word ה֭וֹרוּנִי, Ho.ru.nigenerated

The verb הוֹרוּ (*horu*) is a Hiphil imperative form, meaning 'teach' or 'show.' It implies a request for instruction, emphasizing Job's desire for guidance. The root suggests a literal action of pointing out or directing, which aligns with Job's need for clarity in his situation.

This word is frequently used in contexts of teaching and instruction, indicating that Job is not merely asking for information but for a deeper understanding of his moral failings. His plea reflects a humble approach, as he is ready to remain silent and absorb the lessons he needs to learn.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study references the Berean Standard Bible, which uses teach me and help me understand.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse is built around two main verbs: ה֭וֹרוּנִי and אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ. The first verb, 'teach me,' sets the tone for Job's request, while the second, 'I will keep silent,' indicates his willingness to listen. This pairing emphasizes the relationship between learning and silence.

The sentence includes a direct address to God, showing Job's personal engagement in the conversation. The order of the clauses reflects the urgency and depth of Job's need for understanding.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew verb הוֹרוּ is rendered as με, which means 'me.' This choice highlights the personal nature of Job's request for teaching, focusing on his individual need for instruction.

The Greek translation does not alter the meaning significantly but emphasizes the relational aspect of Job's plea to God.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 6:24 shows Job asking God to teach him about his mistakes. He promises to be silent and listen, wanting to understand where he has gone wrong. This reflects Job's humility and desire for clarity in his suffering.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by 'teach me'?

Job is asking God to provide him with understanding and clarity about his errors, indicating his willingness to learn.

Why does Job say he will be silent?

Job expresses a readiness to listen and reflect, showing humility and a desire to absorb the lessons he needs to learn.

What kind of errors is Job referring to?

Job is likely referring to moral or spiritual mistakes he has made, seeking to understand how he has strayed from the right path.

How does this verse reflect Job's character?

This verse highlights Job's humility and openness to correction, demonstrating his earnest desire for understanding amidst his suffering.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some areas in my life where I need to seek understanding and guidance, like Job?
  2. How can I practice being silent and listening for wisdom in my own life?
  3. In what ways have I strayed from the right path, and how can I seek correction?
  4. How can I cultivate a humble attitude when faced with my mistakes?

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

Gregory the Dialogist comments on Job's plea, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's errors and the humility required to learn.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book VII c. 540–604
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue, and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. It seems doubtful under the scale of what pointing this should hang, whether it be joined to what he had brought in, Did I say,
Early Church Fathers on Job 6 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 6:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue,.... Job having made his defence, and which he thought a sufficient one to acquit him of the charge against him; yet to show that he was not stubborn and flexible,

Read John Gill on Job 6 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. Irony. If you can teach me the right view, I am willing to be set right and hold my tongue, and to be made to see my error.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 6 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Teach me; instead of censuring and reproaching, instruct and convince me by solid arguments. I will hold my tongue; I will patiently hear and gladly receive your counsels; or, I will be silent; I will neither contradict you, nor complain of my own griefs. Compare ,5 Proverbs 30:32. Wherein I have erred, i.e. my mistakes and miscarriages.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 6 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 6:24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.Ver. 24. Teach me, and I will hold my tongue] If I be in an error, I am willing to be rectified. Hitherto you have mistook my case; and so your speech hath been to small purpose. But if you will come home to my case indeed, and weigh things in an even balance, I shall gladly submit to your more mature judgment and direction. Teach me, and you shall find that I am not indocible, that I am not as "horse and mule that have no understanding," Psalms 32:9, nor will learn any; much less than the creature called rhinoceros, untameable and untractable. It shall appear to you that I am not utterly…

Read John Trapp on Job 6 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 24. Teach me] Show me where I am mistaken. Bring proper arguments to convince me of my errors; and you will soon find that I shall gladly receive your counsels, and abandon the errors of which I may be convicted.

Read AdamClarke on Job 6 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14–30. Job’s sorrowful disappointment at the position taken up towards him by his three friends Job had freely expressed his misery in ch. 3, believing that the sympathies of his friends were entirely with him. He is a brother noble, Whose nature is so far from doing harms That he suspects none. Lear, i. 2. And more sorrowful to him than any cold, critical words which they have uttered is the feeling that his friends have taken up such a position against him. This was what he had not looked for. And his disappointment is like that of the thirsty caravan that finds the long-looked-for waters dried up in the heat. Every emotion seems now to find a place in Job’s mind in succession. First, his…

Read Cambridge on Job 6 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue - That is, give me any real instruction, or show me what is my duty, and I will be silent.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 6 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

Second strophe — Their words, far from being forcible, have in them the elements of cruelty, Job 6:24-27.24.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 6 →

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

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

NETBNew English Translation2006

“Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand in what I have erred.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Teach me, and I wil hold my tongue: and cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Shew me, and I — I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Show me, and I keep silent, || And what I have erred, let me understand.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Teach me, and I will indeed remain silent; and wherein I erred give me to understand.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Teach me, and I will hold my peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Explain this to me, and I'll be quiet. Show me where I'm wrong.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.

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.

clauseclauseverbה֭וֹרוּteachobjectנִיmeוַandclausesubjectאֲנִ֣יIverbאַחֲרִ֑ישׁI.will.keep.silentוּandclauseclause · objectadverbialמַהwhat?verbשָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִיhave.I.erredverbהָבִ֥ינוּexplainprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִֽtoיme

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 in their wording, with all seven Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of Job's request for teaching and understanding.

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

ה֭וֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ וּמַה־ שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִי הָבִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
ה֭וֹרוּנִיμεוַאֲנִ֣יἐγὼאַחֲרִ֑ישׁκωφεύσωוּמַה־τιשָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִיπεπλάνημαιהָבִ֥ינוּφράσατέלִֽי׃μοι

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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 6:24יָרָאteach meteach meיָרָאאֲנִיand Iand IאֲנִיחָרַשׁI will keepI will keep silחָרַשׁמָהand what?and what?מָהשָׁגָהhave I errehave I erredשָׁגָהבִּיןexplainexplainבִּיןנִיto meto meנִיאָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫יחֵץarrowarrowחֵץנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַעקָצֵרbe shortbe shortקָצֵרכָּ֫כָהthusthusכָּ֫כָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלשֵׁכָרstrong dristrong drinkשֵׁכָרתָּעָהto go astrto go astrayתָּעָהדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתחָכָםwisewiseחָכָם
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 6:24

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.

teach me and I I will keep silent and what? have I erred explain to me
ה֭וֹרוּנִיHo.ru.ni teach me H3384 Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine plural · suffix
80× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To show or teach something, like pointing it out or shooting an arrow. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe instructing or directing others.
Amplified meaning
show me, explain to me
Tyndale gloss
to shoot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָרָא (*yarah*) encompasses meanings related to shooting, pouring, and throwing. It can refer to actions like shooting arrows or casting water, as well as figurative uses such as teaching or directing. The entries indicate that it has both a literal and a figurative range, with roots in the idea of flowing or pointing out.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָרָא] vb. shoot, pour

Qal shoot with arrows

Hiph. and they shot at; Pt. pl. the shooters, archers

Hoph. he that watereth shall himself also be watered

base

יָרָה vb. throw, shoot

Qal

throw, cast

cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

shoot arrows

throw water, rain

Niph. shot through (with arrows)

Hiph.

throw, cast

shoot (arrows)

throw water, rain

point out, shew

direct, teach, instruct

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3384a יָרָא shoot, pour H3384b יָרָה throw, shoot .. throw, cast

. cast (= lay, set), corner-stone; pillar

. shoot arrows

. throw water, rain

. shot through (with arrows)

. . throw, cast

. shoot (arrows)

. throw water, rain

. point out, shew

. direct, teach, instruct

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3384 yarah yaw-raw'

or (2 Chr. 26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root;

properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to

lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot);

figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to

teach:--(+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew,

shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָרָא (ya.ra) — to shoot.

1) to shoot, pour

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to shoot arrows

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to shoot at

1b2) part. shooter, archer

1c) to throw water, rain

יָרָה (ya.rah) — to show.

1) to point out, show

1b) to direct, teach, instruct

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp | Suff — Verb hiphil imperative second person masculine plural · suffix
HVhv2mp/Sp1bs
teach me and I I will keep silent and what? have I erred explain to me
וַאֲנִ֣יva.'a.Ni and I H589 Conjunction · pronoun
874× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Amplified meaning
myself, personally
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֲנִי, transliterated as aniy, is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is often used for emphasis and can also imply possession, as in 'mine' or 'myself.' The word is derived from a form that indicates self-reference, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H589 אֲנִי, אָ֑נִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

589 'aniy an-ee'

contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X

which, X who.

see HEBREW for 0595

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲנִי (a.ni) — I.

I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pp1bs
teach me and I I will keep silent and what? have I erred explain to me
אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ'a.cha.Rish I will keep silent H2790 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect first person common singular
74× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb can mean to be quiet or silent, but also to scratch or engrave, like a farmer plowing a field. It is used in various contexts, including being silent or deaf. The KJV translates it in different ways, including 'cease' or 'hold peace'.
Amplified meaning
hold my tongue, keep quiet
Tyndale gloss
to plow/plot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָרַשׁ (*charash*) encompasses meanings related to cutting, engraving, and plowing, as well as devising, often with a negative connotation. It also has a related form, חָרֵשׁ (*charesh*), which means to be silent or deaf. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical actions to metaphorical implications of secrecy and silence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָרַשׁ] vb. cut in, engrave, plough, devise

Qal

cut in, engrave

plough

devise

Niph. Zion, as a field she shall be ploughed

Hiph. fabricating mischief against

base

[חָרֵשׁ] vb. 1. be silent, dumb, speechless; 2. be deaf; chiefly poet.

Qal

be silent, alw. of God’s keeping silence when men pray

be deaf

Hiph.

be silent (= exhibit silence)

once causat. make silent

be deaf, shew deafness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2790a חָרַשׁ cut in, engrave, plough, devise H2790b חָרֵשׁ . be silent, dumb, speechless

. be deaf; chiefly poet.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2790 charash khaw-rash'

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

engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate

(of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense);

hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone;

hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of

dumbness):--X altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise,

ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace,

plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep

silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue,

worker.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָרַשׁ (cha.rash) — to plow/plot.

1) to cut in, plough, engrave, devise

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut in, engrave

1a2) to plough

1a3) to devise

1b) (Niphal) to be ploughed

1c) (Hiphil) to plot evil

חָרֵשׁ (cha.resh) — be quiet.

1) to be silent, be dumb, be speechless, be deaf

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be silent

1a2) to be deaf

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to be silent, keep quiet

1b2) to make silent

1b3) to be deaf, show deafness

1c) (Hithpael) to remain silent

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect first person common singular
HVhi1cs
teach me and I I will keep silent and what? have I erred explain to me
וּמַה־u.ma.ho.Sha- and what? H4100 Conjunction · pronoun
753× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Tyndale gloss
what?
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught

interrog. what?

Used adverbially

Indef. pron.

With preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַה‍ּ, מֶה, מַ‍ּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?

. Used adverbially

. Indef. pron.

. With preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4100 mah maw

or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a

primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including

how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including

how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even

relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various

adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-

soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),

whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָה (mah) — what?.

interr pron

1) what, how, of what kind

1a) (interrogative)

1a1) what?

1a2) of what kind

1a3) what? (rhetorical)

1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what

1b) (adverb)

1b1) how, how now

1b2) why

1b3) how! (exclamation)

1c) (with prep)

1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?

1c2) because of what?

1c3) the like of what?

1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?

1c3b) for how long?

1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?

1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?

indef pron

2) anything, aught, what may

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part — Conjunction · pronoun
HC/Pi
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
teach me and I I will keep silent and what? have I erred explain to me
שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִיSha.Gi.ti have I erred H7686 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to wander or stray, often used to describe someone who has made a moral mistake or is drunk, like in Proverbs 5:23. It can also mean to lead someone astray.
Amplified meaning
gone astray, wandered morally
Tyndale gloss
to wander
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁגָה (shagah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stray or err, often in a moral or mental sense. It can refer to wandering off course, committing sins of ignorance, or leading others astray. The entries highlight its use in both a literal and figurative context, including the idea of intoxication or being enraptured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁגָה] vb. go astray, err

Qal

err, stray, of flock

swerve, meander, reel or roll

go astray

specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence

Hiph. lead astray

lit.

mentally = mislead

morally

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7686 [שָׁגָה] go astray, err .. err, stray, of flock

. swerve, meander, reel or roll

. go astray

. specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence

. lead astray . lit.

. mentally = mislead

. morally

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7686 shagah shaw-gaw'

a primitive root; to stray (causatively, mislead), usually

(figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress;

by extension (through the idea of intoxication) to reel,

(figuratively) be enraptured:--(cause to) go astray, deceive,

err, be ravished, sin through ignorance, (let, make to)

wander.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁגָה (sha.gah) — to wander.

1) to go astray, stray, err

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to err, stray

1a2) to swerve, meander, reel, roll, be intoxicated, err (in drunkenness)

1a3) to go astray (morally)

1a4) to commit sin of ignorance or inadvertence, err (ignorantly)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead astray

1b2) to lead astray, mislead (mentally)

1b3) to lead astray (morally)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singular
HVqp1cs
teach me and I I will keep silent and what? have I erred explain to me
הָבִ֥ינוּha.Vi.nu explain H995 Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine plural
170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To understand or discern, this verb means to separate mentally and know something with your mind, as seen in Proverbs where it talks about gaining insight.
Amplified meaning
cause me to understand, make me see
Tyndale gloss
to understand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בִּין vb. discern

Qal

perceive

understand, know (with mind)

observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

have discernment, insight, understanding

Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

Po. he attentively considereth him

Hiph.

understand

give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

give understanding, make understand, teach

Hithp.

shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

get understanding, understand

shew oneself to have understanding

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H995 בִּין discern .. perceive

. understand, know (with mind)

. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)

. have discernment, insight, understanding

. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding

. he attentively considereth him

. . understand

. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern

. give understanding, make understand, teach

. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently

. get understanding, understand

. shew oneself to have understanding

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

995 biyn bene

a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),

i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,

diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,

have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be

prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,

make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)

wise(-ly, man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בִּין (bin) — to understand.

1) to discern, understand, consider

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to perceive, discern

1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)

1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider

1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding

1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to understand

1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach

1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently

1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct

2) (TWOT) prudent, regard

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine plural
HVhv2mp
teach me and I I will keep silent and what? have I erred explain to me
לִֽי׃Li to me H9030 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נִי (ni) — me.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bs
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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