Menu

Job 8:13 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכֵּ֗ן אָ֭רְחוֹת כָּל־ שֹׁ֣כְחֵי אֵ֑ל וְתִקְוַ֖ת חָנֵ֣ף תֹּאבֵֽד׃

BSASuchkên [so, thus, in this manner] is the destinyʼôrach [path, way, journey] of allkôl [everything, every person] who forgetshâkach [are oblivious to, mislay] Godʼêl [El, the strength and power of the universe] so the hopetiqvâh [cord of expectancy, waiting for something to happen] of the godlesschânêph [profane, hypocritical, without faith] will perishʼâbad [be destroyed, lost, come to nothing]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 8
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (to.Ved) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 8:13quick helps
In a sentenceJob describes the fate of those who forget God, emphasizing that their hope will ultimately fail.
Who is speakingBildad, one of Job's friends, addressing Job's condition.
Where we areIn a discourse about the consequences of forgetting God, within the larger context of Job's suffering.
The hard wordתֹּאבֵֽד
Take awayForgetting God leads to a lost hope.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁכַח 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 8:13

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 Consequences of Forgetting Godgenerated

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.
15He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.

Job 8:13 illustrates the fate of those who forget God, comparing their destiny to the fleeting nature of grass. Bildad, speaking to Job, emphasizes that the hope of the godless will not endure, contrasting it with the stability found in remembering God. This theme resonates throughout the book of Job, as Job grapples with his suffering and the responses of his friends, who often misinterpret his plight.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 6:12be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
2Deuteronomy 8:11–14Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day.
3Psalm 9:17The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations who forget God.
4Psalm 10:4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
5Psalm 50:22Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:

The Key Word כֵּן, Kengenerated

The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is an adverb meaning 'thus' or 'so,' indicating a manner or confirmation. It is often used to affirm a statement or describe a situation accurately. In this verse, it sets the tone for the following statement about the destiny of those who forget God.

This word appears frequently in the Old Testament, often in contexts where agreement or confirmation is emphasized. Its use here underscores the certainty of the consequences that Bildad is describing.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the meanings in this verse, rendering the concepts of forgetting God and the resulting fate similarly across versions.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse contains a main clause introduced by the adverb כֵּן, thus, establishing the context for the subsequent statement about the fate of those who forget God. The structure emphasizes the connection between forgetting God and the inevitable loss of hope.

The finite verb תֹּאבֵֽד, it will be lost, serves as the conclusion of the thought, with the subject being the hope of the godless. This arrangement highlights the cause-and-effect relationship central to Bildad's argument.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, כֵּן is rendered as οὕτως, which also means 'thus' or 'so'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the emphasis on the certainty of the statement.

The Greek translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text, reinforcing the idea that the fate of the godless is a direct consequence of their actions.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 8:13 explains that those who forget God will face a destiny where their hope is lost. Bildad, speaking to Job, emphasizes that just as grass withers quickly, so too will the hope of the godless perish.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to forget God?

Forgetting God refers to a lack of awareness or disregard for God's presence and commands, leading to a life that is disconnected from faith and reliance on Him.

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

This verse reflects the theme of the consequences of forgetting God, which is a central concern in Job's dialogues, as he navigates his suffering and the responses of his friends.

What is the significance of hope in this context?

Hope in this context represents the expectation of good outcomes based on faith in God. When one forgets God, that hope is rendered void and ultimately leads to despair.

How can we apply this message today?

This message encourages individuals to remain mindful of God in their lives, recognizing that forgetting Him can lead to a loss of hope and direction.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I ensure that I do not forget God in my daily life?
  2. How does remembering God influence my perspective on challenges and hardships?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to strengthen my hope in God?
  4. How can I support others who may be struggling to remember God in difficult times?

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

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the consequences of forgetting God, highlighting its moral implications.

Hesychius of JerusalemHOMILIES ON Job 11.8.13A d. after 451
Job has not really forgotten God. Being still subject to the test, Job has offered blessings and praise. That is why the final condition of the righteous is not comparable to the grass dried up by heat.
Early Church Fathers on Job 8 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book VIII c. 540–604
So are the paths of all that forget God, and the hypocrite's hope shall perish. But as we have before said, who he is to whom Bildad likens 'a rush' or 'a flag,' he makes plain at the moment, where he adds,
Early Church Fathers on Job 8 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 8:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

So [are] the paths of all that forget God,.... Who forget that there is a God; he is not in all, and scarce in any of their thoughts, and they live without him in the world; who forget the works of

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

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Paths - so ways (Proverbs 1:19). All that forget God - the distinguishing trait of the godless.

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

Of all that forget God, i.e. of wicked men, who are branded with this same character, 50:22; or hypocrites, as the next words explain it, who are described by their first and fundamental miscarriage, which is, that they forget, i.e. neglect, forsake, and despise, (for so this phrase is commonly understood, as 8:11 32:18 23:27) God, i.e. his presence, and commands, and worship, and providence; and therefore break forth into manifold sins. But by their paths he doth not understand the course of their actions, or manner of their living; but the events which befall them, called their paths objectively, because they are the paths of God, or the methods of his providence, or manner of his dealing…

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

Job 8:13 So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’ s hope shall perish:Ver. 13. So are the paths of all that forget God] To remember God is as necessary as to draw breath, saith Chrysostom. This the wicked man doth not, Psalms 9:17. He will neither have God in his head, Psalms 10:4, nor heart, Psalms 14:1, nor words, Psalms 12:2, nor ways, Titus 1:16. What wonder then though his paths wither, though his life, health, wealth, power, perish, since he is in such a posture of distance from, and defiance with, the fountain of living waters, the Father of all mercy and consolation; by whose favour such flourish for a time, sed exoriuntur, ut exurantur? And the hypocrite’ s…

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

Verse 13. So are the paths] The papyrus and the rush flourish while they have a plentiful supply of ooze and water; but take these away, and their prosperity is speedily at an end; so it is with the wicked and profane; their prosperity is of short duration, however great it may appear to be in the beginning. Thou also, O thou enemy of God, hast flourished for a time; but the blast of God is come upon thee, and now thou art dried up from the very roots. The hypocrite's hope shall perish] A hypocrite, or rather profligate, has no inward religion, for his heart is not right with God; he has only hope, and that perishes when he gives up the ghost. This is the first place in which the word…

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

13. Application of the simile. When men forget God, and His sustaining grace is withdrawn from them, they sink down suddenly and perish like the luxuriant water-reed. the hypocrite] This word is difficult to translate, it means rather the godless, or, profane, cf. Jeremiah 23:11; hypocrisy in the ordinary sense is not at all the idea of the term. The verb is rendered in the English Version mostly “defile” or “pollute,” but “profane” would suit most of the passages.

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

So are the paths of all that forget God - This is clearly a part of the quotation from the sayings of the ancients. The word “paths” here means ways, acts, doings. They who forget God are like the paper-reed.

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

13. Forget God — Ingratitude is a burning wind that dries up the fountains of piety and the streams of love. (St. Bernard.) The hypocrite — çðŠ.

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

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

RVARevised Version, American1894

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the godless man shall perish:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

So are the paths of al that forget God, and the hypocrites hope shall perish.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

So [are] the paths of all forgetting God, And the hope of the profane doth perish,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

So [are] the paths of all forgetting God, || And the hope of the profane perishes,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the hypocrite will perish:

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

So also are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Even so are the ways of all that forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

This is what happens to everyone who forgets God. The hopes of those who live without God come to nothing.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:

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.

clausepredicateכֵּ֗ן[are].thusnoun phrase · subjectאָ֭רְחוֹת[the].pathsnoun phraseכָּלof.allnoun phraseשֹׁ֣כְחֵי[those.who].forgetאֵ֑ל(of).Godוְand.[the]clausenoun phrase · subjectתִקְוַ֖תhopeחָנֵ֣ףof.[the].godlessverbתֹּאבֵֽדit.will.be.lost

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 majority of the wording in this verse, with seven of the eight words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same core message, though the word order and articles differ.

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

כֵּ֗ן אָ֭רְחוֹת כָּל־ שֹׁ֣כְחֵי אֵ֑ל וְתִקְוַ֖ת חָנֵ֣ף תֹּאבֵֽד׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כֵּ֗ןοὕτωςכָּל־πάντωνשֹׁ֣כְחֵיἐπιλανθανομένωνאֵ֑לκυρίουוְתִקְוַ֖תἐλπὶςחָנֵ֣ףἀσεβοῦςתֹּאבֵֽד׃ἀπολεῖται

7 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 8:13כֵּן[are] thus[are] thusכֵּןאֹ֫רַח[the] paths[the] paths ofאֹ֫רַחכֹּלallallכֹּלשָׁכַח[those who][those who] forשָׁכַחאֵלGodGodאֵלתִּקְוָהand [the] hand [the] hope תִּקְוָהחָנֵף[the] godle[the] godlessחָנֵףאָבַדit will be it will be lostאָבַדכּוּןto establito establish: pכּוּןאָרַחto journeyto journeyאָרַחכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלאַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלקָוָהto awaitto awaitקָוָהחָנֵףto polluteto polluteחָנֵףתִּקְוָהcordcordתִּקְוָהכֹּהthusthusכֹּהאָדוֹןLordLordאָדוֹןיָשַׁרto smoothto smoothיָשַׁררֶ֫גֶלfootfootרֶ֫גֶלעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהנֵ֫צַחperpetuityperpetuityנֵ֫צַחקַנָּאjealousjealousקַנָּאשַׁדַּיAlmightyAlmightyשַׁדַּיתּוֹחֶ֫לֶתhopehopeתּוֹחֶ֫לֶתאַחֲרִיתendendאַחֲרִית
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 8:13

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.

[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
כֵּ֗ןKen [are] thus H3651 Adverb
771× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
so, thus, in this manner
Tyndale gloss
right
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest

right

veritable, true

pl. concr. honest (men)

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

כֵּן adv. so

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3651 ken kane

from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as

adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)

rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and

relation; often with other particles):--+ after that

(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be

(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like

(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,

straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,

thus, true, well, X you.

see HEBREW for 03559

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֵּן (ken) — right.

adv

adj

1) right, just, honest, true, veritable

1a) right, just, honest

1b) correct

1c) true, veritable

[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.

adv

forasmuch as, since

כֵּן (ken) — so.

adv

1) so, therefore, thus

1a) thus, so

1b) just so

1c) therefore

1d) so...as (paired with adv)

1e) then

1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)

1g) (with prep)

1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)

1g2) hitherto

1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)

1g4) afterwards

1g5) in such case

Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Adverb
HD
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
אָ֭רְחוֹת'A.re.chot [the] paths of H734 Noun common · feminine plural construct
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A way or path, describing a road or journey, whether physical or metaphorical. This term is used to talk about travel, direction, and life's journey, often in wisdom literature and prophetic writings. It is found in books like Proverbs and Isaiah.
Amplified meaning
path, way, journey
Tyndale gloss
way
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֹ֫רַח (orach) means 'way' or 'path,' and can refer to both literal and figurative routes in life, including one's manner of living or character. It also denotes a traveler or wayfarer. The word is derived from a root meaning a well-trodden road, and it encompasses various aspects of life’s journey.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֹ֫רַח n.m. way, path

lit.

fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life

fig. way, of mode of living, or character

by meton. traveller, wayfarer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H734 אֹ֫רַח way, path . lit.

. fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life

. fig. way, of mode of living, or character

. by meton. traveller, wayfarer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

734 'orach o'-rakh

from 732; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively);

also a caravan:--manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop,

(by-, high-)way.

see HEBREW for 0732

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֹ֫רַח (o.rach) — way.

1) way, path

1a) path, road

1b) the path, way, passing of life (fig.)

1c) way of living (fig.)

1d) traveller, wayfarer (meton)

Aramaic equivalent: o.rach (אֹ֫רַח "way" H0735)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp — Noun common · feminine plural construct
HNcfpc
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…

[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
כָּל־kol- all 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.
Amplified meaning
everything, every person
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
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
שֹׁ֣כְחֵיSho.khe.chei [those who] forget H7911 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
102× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Amplified meaning
are oblivious to, mislay
Tyndale gloss
to forget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget

Qal 86 forget

Niph. be forgotten

Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget

Hiph. to make my people forget my name

Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7911 שָׁכַח forget

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7911 shakach shaw-kakh'

or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,

i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X

at all, (cause to) forget.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.

1) to forget, ignore, wither

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to forget

1a2) to cease to care

1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten

1c) (Piel) to cause to forget

1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget

1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten

Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural common
HVqrmpc
[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
אֵ֑ל'El God H410 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
241× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Amplified meaning
El, the strength and power of the universe
Tyndale gloss
god
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵל (*'el*) primarily means 'god' and conveys the idea of might or strength. It can refer to the one true God of Israel, as well as to other deities, angels, and mighty men. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including nature and power, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵל n.m. god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might

applied to men of might and rank

angels

gods of the nations

Ēl

as characterizing mighty things in nature

God, the one only and true God of Israel

אֵל strength, power

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H410 אֵל god, but with various subordinate applications to express the idea of might . applied to men of might and rank

. angels

. gods of the nations

. Ēl

. as characterizing mighty things in nature

. God, the one only and true God of Israel

. אֵל strength, power

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

410 'el ale

shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty;

especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):--God

(god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong.

Compare names in "-el."

see HEBREW for 0352

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵל (el) — God.

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

אֵל (el) — El (Berith).

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Berith" (berith בְּרִית H1286)

אֵל (el) — El (Elohe).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "God" (elohim אֱלֹהִים H0430)

אֵל (el) — El (Most High).

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

This name means god, god-like one, mighty one, strength, power

Combined with "Most High" (el.yon עֶלְיוֹן H5945B)

אֵל (el) — god.

: god

1) god, god-like one, mighty one

1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes

1b) angels

1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations)

1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah

2) mighty things in nature

3) strength, power

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

god ('Elohim, 'El, [`Elyon], Shadday, Yahweh; Theos):

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of ’Eloah_, plural _’Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by “LORD,” printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it. He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.) The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

This name, the derivation of which is uncertain, we give to that eternal, infinite, perfect, and incomprehensible Being, the Creator of all things, who preserves and governs all by his almighty power and wisdom, and is the only proper object of worship. The proper Hebrew name for God is JEHOVAH, which signifies He is. But the Jews, from a feeling of reverence, avoid pronouncing this name, substituting for it, wherever it occurs in the sacred test, the word ADONAI, Lord; except in the expression, ADONAI JEHOVAH, Lord Jehovah, for which they put, ADONAI ELOHIM, Lord God. This usage, which is not without an element of superstition, is very ancient, dating its origin some centuries before Christ; but there is no good ground for assuming its existence in the days of the inspired Old Testament writers. The proper word for God is ELOHIM, which is plural in its form, being thus used to signify…

[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
וְתִקְוַ֖תve.tik.Vat and [the] hope of H8615 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
34× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In Hebrew, this word for hope means a cord that attaches or expectancy, like waiting for something to happen. It appears in the Bible as a feeling of expectation or a thing someone longs for. The KJV translates it as hope or expectation.
Amplified meaning
cord of expectancy, waiting for something to happen
Tyndale gloss
cord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תִּקְוָה (tiqvah) means both 'cord' and 'hope.' It is derived from a root meaning to attach or bind, reflecting a sense of expectancy or longing. The term encompasses concepts of hope, expectation, and the outcomes of what is hoped for, as noted in various lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תִּקְוָה] n.f. cord

base

תִּקְוָה 34 n.f. hope

hope

= ground of hope

things hoped for, outcome

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8615a תִּקְוָה cord H8615b תִּקְוָה hope . hope

. = ground of hope

. things hoped for, outcome

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8615 tiqvah tik-vaw'

from 6960; literally, a cord (as an attachment (compare

6961)); figuratively, expectancy:--expectation ((-ted)),

hope, live, thing that I long for.

see HEBREW for 06960

see HEBREW for 06961

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — cord.

cord

תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — hope.

1) hope, expectation

1a) hope

1b) ground of hope

1c) things hoped for, outcome

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
HC/Ncfsc
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…

[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
חָנֵ֣ףcha.Nef [the] godless H2611 Adj
13× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes someone who is hypocritical and godless, like the Pharisees Jesus condemned in Matthew 23. It means being soiled by sin and acting irreligiously. The KJV Bible translates it as 'hypocrite'.
Amplified meaning
profane, hypocritical, without faith
Tyndale gloss
profane
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָנֵף (chaneph) refers to someone who is profane or irreligious, often implying a sense of being hypocritical or morally soiled by sin. The term is consistently associated with a lack of piety and is used in contexts that highlight its negative connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָנֵף adj. profane, irreligious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2611 חָנֵף profane, irreligious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2611 chaneph khaw-nafe'

from 2610; soiled (i.e. with sin), impious:--

hypocrite(-ical).

see HEBREW for 02610

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָנֵף (cha.neph) — profane.

hypocritical, godless, profane, hypocrite, irreligious

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

god'-les: This word is not found in the text of the King James Version. It is found, however, in Apocrypha (2 Macc 7:34, "O godless (the Revised Version (British and American) "unholy") man"). the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes the word "godless" for the word "hypocrite" in the following passages: Job 8:13; 13:16; 15:34; 17:8; 20:5; 27:8; 34:30; 36:13; Pr 11:9; Isa 33:14. the Revised Version (British and American) does not seem to be consistent in carrying out the idea of "godless" for "hypocrite," for in Isa 9:17; 10:6; Ps 35:16 this same Hebrew word chaneph is translated "profane." The principal…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[are] thus [the] paths of all [those who] forget God and [the] hope of [the] godless it will be lost
תֹּאבֵֽד׃to.Ved it will be lost H6 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
184× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Amplified meaning
be destroyed, lost, come to nothing
Tyndale gloss
to perish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—

Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals

. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory

. be lost, strayed

. . cause to perish, destroy, kill

. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with

. cause to stray, lose

. . destroy, put to death, in judgment

. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6 'abad aw-bad'

a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose

oneself; by implication to perish (causative,

destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,

lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be

undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.

1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) perish, die, be exterminated

1a2) perish, vanish (fig.)

1a3) be lost, strayed

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate

1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.)

1b3) cause to stray, lose

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to destroy, put to death

1c1a) of divine judgment

1c2) object name of kings (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate