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Job 8:12 — Word Study

Depth

WLCעֹדֶ֣נּוּ בְ֭אִבּוֹ לֹ֣א יִקָּטֵ֑ף וְלִפְנֵ֖י כָל־ חָצִ֣יר יִיבָֽשׁ׃

BSAWhileʻôwd the shootsʼêb [in their greenness, still flowering] are still uncutlôʼ [yet, in their budding stage, not plucked, untouched] they dry upyâbêsh [wither, become dry] more quickly thanpânîym [before any other] grasschâtsîyr [herb, plant, or leek]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 12 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (yi.Vash) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 8:12quick helps
In a sentenceJob compares the fleeting nature of life to uncut shoots that wither quickly.
Who is speakingJob, in a dialogue about the nature of existence and divine justice.
Where we areThe middle of a discussion on the fate of the wicked and the transient nature of life.
The hard wordיָבֵשׁ
Take awayLife is fragile and can wither away quickly.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbקָטַף 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 8:12

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

Context — The Transience of Lifegenerated

11Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.

Job 8:12 reflects on the ephemeral nature of life, using the imagery of uncut shoots that dry up faster than grass. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job's friends discuss the fate of the wicked and the importance of remembering God. The imagery emphasizes how quickly life can fade, paralleling the fate of those who forget their Creator, as seen in the subsequent verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 129:6–7May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow,
2Jeremiah 17:6He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
3Matthew 13:20The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
4James 1:10–11But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
51 Peter 1:24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.Psalm 129:6–7 Jeremiah 17:6 Matthew 13:20 James 1:10–11 1 Peter 1:24

The Key Word יָבֵשׁ, yi.Vashgenerated

The verb יָבֵשׁ (yavēsh) means to wither or dry up, often used to describe plants losing vitality. It conveys a sense of desiccation, as something that has lost its freshness or moisture. The parsing indicates it is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing action — in this case, the continuous process of drying up.

This word appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often associated with plants or life losing its vigor. The imagery here serves to illustrate the fragility of life, especially in the face of divine judgment.


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 finite verb יִיבָֽשׁ (yi.vash), meaning it is dried up, governs the structure of the verse, with two clauses following it: one describing the condition of the shoots and the other comparing their fate to grass. The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the drying up, highlighting the main action.

The sentence structure consists of a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase and a noun phrase, which together convey the idea of uncut shoots drying up quickly. This arrangement underscores the transient nature of life.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word יָבֵשׁ is rendered as χηραίνεται (chērainetai), which also means to dry up. This choice maintains the imagery of desiccation but may suggest a more passive process than the Hebrew, which implies an active state of withering.

The translation reflects a consistent understanding of the fleeting nature of life, aligning with the overall message of the verse.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 8:12 compares life to uncut shoots that dry up quickly, illustrating how fragile and fleeting existence can be. This verse is part of a conversation about the fate of the wicked and the need to remember God. The imagery emphasizes the quickness with which life can fade away.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by the shoots drying up?

Job uses the imagery of shoots drying up to illustrate the fleeting nature of life, especially for those who forget God.

How does this verse connect to the theme of the book of Job?

This verse reflects the broader theme of Job, which grapples with suffering, divine justice, and the transient nature of human life.

What can we learn from the comparison to grass?

The comparison to grass teaches us about the fragility of life and the inevitability of decay, reminding us to consider our relationship with God.

Why is the imagery of uncut shoots significant?

The imagery of uncut shoots signifies potential and vitality that is quickly lost, paralleling the lives of those who do not remain grounded in faith.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced the fleeting nature of life?
  2. How can I cultivate a deeper relationship with God to avoid the fate described in this verse?
  3. What reminders do I have in my life that help me remember the importance of faith?
  4. How can I support others in recognizing the transience of life and the need for spiritual grounding?

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

The early Church Fathers, such as Gregory the Dialogist, reference this verse to illustrate the fate of those who forget God, emphasizing the transient nature of life.

Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book VIII c. 540–604
Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. So are the paths of all that forget God, and the hypocrite's hope shall perish.
Early Church Fathers on Job 8 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 8:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Whilst it [is] yet in its greenness,.... Before it is come to its full height, or to a proper ripeness; when as yet it has not flowered, or is about it; before the time usual for it to turn and

Read John Gill on Job 8 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. Not cut down.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 8 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Yet in his greenness; whereby it promiseth long continuance. Not cut down; though no man cut it down, it withereth of itself, and will save a man the labour of cutting or plucking it up. It gives not a man so much warning that he can cut it down in time, as other green herbs do, but suddenly withereth. Before any other herb, i.e. sooner than other herbs, or in their presence, or they surviving; in which sense it seems to be said that Ishmael died in the presence of his brethren, ; the rest of the herbs looking upon it, and admiring this sudden change. For actions of sense and understanding are oft ascribed to lifeless creatures, both in Scripture and other authors.

Read Matthew Poole on Job 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 8:12 Whilst it [is] yet in his greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb.Ver. 12. Whilst it is yet in his greenness, &c.] And so withereth not through age, as being but in its shooting up. And not cut down] Or, cropped off, either by the hands of men or teeth of beasts. It withereth] For want of water, without store whereof it cannot live. The hypocrite is a sensualist, Judges 18:19 Job 21:11 Hosea 4:11; he liveth in such miry places as cannot be healed by the waters of the sanctuary, Ezekiel 47:11. He saith, as the vine and the olive in Jotham’ s parable, I cannot leave my wine, my fat and sweet sins; take away my liquor, you take away my life. He serveth not…

Read John Trapp on Job 8 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 12. Whilst it is yet in his greenness] We do not know enough of the natural history of this plant to be able to discern the strength of this allusion; but we learn from it that, although this plant be very succulent, and grow to a great size, yet it is short-lived, and speedily withers; and this we may suppose to be in the dry season, or on the retreat of the waters of the Nile. However, Soon RIPE, soon ROTTEN, is a maxim in horticulture.

Read AdamClarke on Job 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. and not cut down] lit. and not to be cut down (or, plucked, ch. Job 30:4), that is, in its full luxuriance, not ripe nor ready for cutting, and therefore with no trace of withering or decay in it. In this state of full freshness, when water is withdrawn from it, it sinks and collapses, withering sooner than any herb.

Read Cambridge on Job 8 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whilst it is yet in his greenness - That is, while it seems to be in its vigor. And is not cut down - Even when it is not cut down. If suffered to stand by itself, and if undisturbed, it will wither away.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 8 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12. It withereth — Our translators have disregarded the (in this case) important å: while yet it is in its greenness, it is uncut, (and) THEN, sooner than all (other) grass, it drieth up.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 8 →

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

While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up more quickly than grass.

NETBNew English Translation2006

While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Though it were in greene and not cutte downe, yet shall it wither before any other herbe.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Whilst it is yet in its greenness [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] grass.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

While it [is] in its budding — uncropped, Even before any herb it withereth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

While it [is] in its budding—uncropped, || Even before any herb it withers.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

It is yet in its greenness, not yet cut down, when it withereth before any other grass.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

While they are still green and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked up with the hand, it withereth before all herbs.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Even without being cut, while they are still flowering, they wither faster than grass.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.

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.

clauseadverbialעֹדֶ֣stillsubjectנּוּitprepositional phrase · predicateבְ֭[is].innoun phraseאִבּgreennessוֹitsclauseadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיִקָּטֵ֑ףit.is.plucked.offוְandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִnoun phraseפְנֵ֖יbeforenoun phraseכָלanyחָצִ֣ירherbageverbיִיבָֽשׁit.is.dried.up

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 largely agree on the content of this verse, with six of the eight words matched between them. The differences in word order and grammatical structure in the Septuagint do not significantly alter the meaning conveyed in the Hebrew.

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

עֹדֶ֣נּוּ בְ֭אִבּוֹ לֹ֣א יִקָּטֵ֑ף וְלִפְנֵ֖י כָל־ חָצִ֣יר יִיבָֽשׁ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עֹדֶ֣נּוּὂνלֹ֣אοὐיִקָּטֵ֑ףθερισθῇכָל־πᾶσαחָצִ֣ירβοτάνηיִיבָֽשׁ׃χηραίνεται

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

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


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

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

Job 8:12עוֹדstill itstill itעוֹדאֵב[is] in gre[is] in greenneאֵבלֹאnotnotלֹאקָטַףit is pluckit is plucked oקָטַףפָּנֶהand beforeand beforeפָּנֶהכֹּלanyanyכֹּלחָצִירherbageherbageחָצִיריָבֵשׁit is driedit is dried upיָבֵשׁעוּדto upholdto upholdעוּדפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלאָבִיבAbibAbibאָבִיבחָצִירabodeabodeחָצִיריָסַףto addto addיָסַףאֶ֫פֶסendendאֶ֫פֶסיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדרֹאשׁheadheadרֹאשׁבּוֹאLeboLeboבּוֹאסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהיָרָקherbherbיָרָקיֶ֫רֶקgreengreenיֶ֫רֶקחָרֵבto dryto dryחָרֵב
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 8:12

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

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

still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
עֹדֶ֣נּוּ'o.De.nu still it H5750 Suffix
490× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The word 'still' means something continues or happens again, like in Genesis 29:26 and Isaiah 2:11. It can also mean 'more' or 'additionally'.
Tyndale gloss
still
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹד (owd) primarily denotes a sense of iteration or continuance, functioning mostly as an adverb meaning 'still,' 'yet,' or 'again.' It can also imply addition or repetition, as in 'more' or 'besides.' The word appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing persistence or continuation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5750 עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5750 `owd ode

or rod {ode}; from 5749; properly, iteration or continuance;

used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again,

repeatedly, still, more:--again, X all life long, at all,

besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer,

(any) more(-over), X once, since, (be) still, when, (good,

the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet

(within).

see HEBREW for 05749

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹד (od) — still.

subst

1) a going round, continuance

adv

2) still, yet, again, besides

2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence)

2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition)

2c) again

2d) still, moreover, besides

Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv | Suff — Suffix
HAcmsc/Sp3ms
still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
בְ֭אִבּוֹve.'i.bo [is] in greenness its H3 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means greenery or freshness, like new green shoots growing. It's first used in the Bible to describe the earth's new life. In the KJV, it's translated as greenness or fruit.
Amplified meaning
in their greenness, still flowering
Tyndale gloss
greenery
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵב ('eb) refers to freshness or green vegetation, encompassing meanings like fresh green and greenery. It is derived from a root associated with greenness and fruit. The term appears in contexts related to plants, such as in Song of Solomon 6:11, where it describes green shoots by a stream.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אֵב] n.[m.] freshness, fresh green (Lag B N 207 inf. ibb; thence concr., cf. Ar. Arabic; above stem & mng. better than √ אנב (spring) cf. As. inbu, fruit, Aram. אִנְבֵּהּ (q.v.) Dl HA 65, Pr 114) עֹדֶנּוּ בְאִבּוֹ while in its freshness (i.e. אָחוּ, reed) Jb 8:12; concr., pl. green shoots בְּאִבֵּי הַנַּחַל Ct 6:11 (∥ הֲפָֽרְחָה הַגֶּפֶן הֵנֵצוּ הָרִמֹּנִֽים׃).

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3 [אֵב] freshness, fresh green

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3 'eb abe

from the same as 24; a green plant:--greenness, fruit.

see HEBREW for 024

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵב (ev) — greenery.

freshness, fresh green, green shoots, or greenery

Aramaic equivalent: ev (אֵב "fruit" H0004)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Amplified meaning
yet, in their budding stage, not plucked, untouched
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
יִקָּטֵ֑ףyi.ka.Tef it is plucked off H6998 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
5× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to pluck or strip something off, like cutting down a plant or removing fruit from a tree. It can also describe being plucked off, and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament to convey a sense of removal or separation.
Tyndale gloss
to pluck
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָטַף (qataph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pluck off or cut down. It can refer to stripping off twigs or similar items, with forms indicating both an active sense (to pluck off) and a passive sense (to be plucked off). The entries consistently emphasize its application in contexts involving removal or cutting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָטַף] vb. pluck off (twigs, etc.), or out

Qal he [i.e. eagle, in fig.] plucked off twigs

Niph. it is not plucked off.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6998 [קָטַף] pluck off (twigs, etc.), or out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6998 qataph kaw-taf'

a primitive root; to strip off:--crop off, cut down (up),

pluck.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָטַף (qa.taph) — to pluck.

1) to pluck off or out, cut off

1a) (Qal) to pluck off

1b) (Niphal) to be plucked off

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVNi3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
וְלִפְנֵ֖יve.lif.Nei and before H6440 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
2,127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means face or presence, like being in front of someone or something. It's used in many contexts, like in Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to describe interactions and relationships.
Amplified meaning
before any other
Tyndale gloss
face
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

face, faces

presence, person

technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

face of seraphim

face of animals

face (= surface) of ground

as adv.loc. before

for other phrases

with prepositions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces

. . presence, person

. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

. face of seraphim

. face of animals

. face (= surface) of ground

. as adv. loc. before

. for other phrases

. with prepositions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6440 paniym paw-neem'

plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh

{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);

used in a great variety of applications (literally and

figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a

preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),

against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),

+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,

face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er

time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +

honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +

meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,

open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,

presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right

forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,

X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)

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Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.

: before/to/front

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.

: face

1) face

1a) face, faces

1b) presence, person

1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)

1d) face (of animals)

1e) face, surface (of ground)

1f) as adv of loc/temp

1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before

1g) with prep

1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-cp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HC/R/Ncmpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
כָל־khol- any H3605 Noun common · masculine singular construct
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
חָצִ֣ירcha.Tzir herbage H2682 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word can mean grass or a type of plant, like a leek. It appears in Numbers 5:18, describing a ritual involving holy water and a grain offering.
Amplified meaning
herb, plant, or leek
Tyndale gloss
grass
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָצִיר (chatsiyr) refers to green grass or herbage, and can also denote leeks. The entries highlight its association with the greenness of a courtyard and its use as food for animals. Additionally, it is noted as a symbol of things that perish quickly.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָצִיר n.m. green grass, herbage

grass, as food for animals;spec. of leeks

as type of what is quickly perishing

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2682a חָצִיר green grass, herbage H2682b חָצִיר green grass, herbage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2682 chatsiyr khaw-tseer'

perhaps originally the same as 2681, from the greenness of a

courtyard; grass; also a leek (collectively):--grass, hay,

herb, leek.

see HEBREW for 02681

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָצִיר (cha.tsir) — grass.

1a) grass

1b) of the quickly perishing (fig.)

חָצִיר (cha.tsir) — leek.

grass, leek, green grass, herbage

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
still it [is] in greenness its not it is plucked off and before any herbage it is dried up
יִיבָֽשׁ׃yi.Vash it is dried up H3001 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
59× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to wither or dry up, like a plant without water. It can also mean to be ashamed or disappointed. The Bible uses it to describe things that have lost their freshness or vitality.
Amplified meaning
wither, become dry
Tyndale gloss
to wither
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָבֵשׁ (yabesh) primarily means to be dry or to wither. It can refer to something that is dried up or lacking moisture, as well as the act of drying something out. The word has different forms, including Qal (to be dry), Piel (to make dry), and Hiphil (to dry up). It conveys a sense of desiccation or loss of vitality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָבֵשׁ vb. be dry, dried up, withered

Qal

be dry, dried up without moisture

be dried up

Pi. make dry, dry up

Hiph. dry up, make dry

dry up water

make dry, wither

exhibit dryness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3001 יָבֵשׁ be dry, dried up, withered

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3001 yabesh yaw-bashe'

a primitive root; to be ashamed, confused or disappointed;

also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as

herbage):--be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up),

(do) shame(-fully), X utterly, wither (away).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) — to wither.

1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture

1a2) to be dried up

1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to dry up, make dry

1c1a) to dry up (water)

1c1b) to make dry, wither

1c1c) to exhibit dryness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
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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