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Job 9:29 — Word Study

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WLCאָנֹכִ֥י אֶרְשָׁ֑ע לָמָּה־ זֶּ֝֗ה הֶ֣בֶל אִיגָֽע׃

BSASince I amʼânôkîy [am already condemned, will be found guilty] already found guiltyrâshaʻ [to be wicked, in the wrong] whymâh should I laboryâgaʻ [take trouble, toil, be weary] in vainhebel [emptiness, futility, for nothing]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 9
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 29 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 ('i.Ga') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 9:29quick helps
In a sentenceJob expresses the futility of effort when he feels already condemned.
Who is speakingJob, in a moment of despair, reflecting on his suffering.
Where we areJob's discourse on the nature of his plight and God's justice.
The hard wordאֶרְשָׁ֑ע
Take awayJob questions the purpose of his toil when he feels guilty.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאָנֹכִי verbרָשַׁע 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 9:29

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 Reflection on Sufferinggenerated

28I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.

Job 9:29 captures Job's lament as he grapples with his guilt and the apparent futility of his efforts. He feels condemned and questions the value of his labor in light of his perceived wickedness. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job expresses his anguish and seeks understanding of his suffering, echoing themes found throughout the book of Job.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 9:22It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
2Job 10:7–14though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?
3Job 21:16–17Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
4Job 22:5–30Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
5Psalm 73:13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?Job 9:22 Job 10:7–14 Job 21:16–17 Job 22:5–30 Psalm 73:13 Jeremiah 2:35

The Key Word אֶרְשָׁ֑ע, 'er.Sha'generated

The verb רָשַׁע (*rasha`*) is in the imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing state of being guilty or wicked. Job uses this term to describe his condition, suggesting a sense of hopelessness regarding his moral standing.

This word emphasizes Job's internal struggle with guilt and the implications of his actions. The parsing as a first-person common singular verb underscores that Job is speaking about himself, reinforcing the personal nature of his lament.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree on the meaning of אֶרְשָׁ֑ע as 'I will be guilty.' All versions maintain this interpretation without significant variation.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb is אֶרְשָׁ֑ע, I will be guilty, which anchors the sentence. It is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the reason for Job's inquiry and a noun phrase that describes the nature of his labor.

The structure of the verse highlights Job's questioning nature, with the subject אָנֹכִ֥י at the beginning, setting the tone for his personal reflection on guilt and effort.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates אֶרְשָׁ֑ע as ἀσεβής, which conveys the sense of being ungodly or wicked. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of Job's moral standing rather than a straightforward declaration of guilt.

This translation suggests an emphasis on Job's relationship with God and the ethical implications of his suffering.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 9:29 expresses Job's feeling of being guilty and questions the purpose of his hard work. He wonders why he should exert himself when he believes he is already condemned. This verse highlights Job's struggle with his suffering and his search for meaning.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does Job mean by saying he is already guilty?

Job acknowledges his perceived moral failings and feels that he is condemned before God, which influences his view on the futility of his efforts.

Why does Job question the purpose of his labor?

Job feels that if he is already found guilty, any effort he makes seems pointless, leading him to question the value of his toil.

How does this verse reflect Job's overall struggle?

This verse encapsulates Job's deep sense of despair and confusion about his suffering, as he grapples with his guilt and the seeming absence of justice.

What can we learn from Job's questioning?

Job's questions reflect a universal struggle with understanding suffering and the human condition, prompting readers to consider their own experiences and beliefs.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I struggle with feelings of guilt or inadequacy in my own life?
  2. How can I find purpose in my efforts, even when I feel overwhelmed or condemned?
  3. What does it mean to labor in vain, and how can I avoid this in my own pursuits?
  4. How can I better understand and support those who are suffering, like Job?

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

Early Church Fathers comment on Job's reflections, exploring themes of guilt and divine justice as Job questions his suffering.

John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON Job 9:29-31 c. 347–407
“If I am ungodly, why have I not died?” You see how he does not deny being a sinner. “Why have I not died?” he says. This is not the expression of a man who accuses but who searches. I do not know at all, he says, God’s plans.
Early Church Fathers on Job 9 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book IX c. 540–604
But if even so I be wicked, why, then, have I laboured in vain? For if we be examined pity set aside, our work which we look to have recompensed with a reward is deserving of punishment.
Early Church Fathers on Job 9 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 9:29 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?] If he was that wicked person, that hypocrite, Bildad and his other friends took him to be, it was in vain for him to make his supplications to God, as

Read John Gill on Job 9 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? The if is better omitted: I (am treated by God, once for all, as) If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 9 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Heb. I shall be wicked, or guilty, to wit, before thee. Whether I be holy or wicked, if I dispute with thee, I shall be found guilty. Or thus, I shall be used like a wicked man, and punished as such. So this is opposed to his not being held innocent, , i.e. not being acquitted or exempt from punishment. Why then should I not indulge my griefs, but restrain them? Why should I comfort myself with vain hopes of deliverance, as thou advisest me, ; or seek to God, as I was directed, , for that ease which I see he is resolved not to give me? Why should I trouble myself with clearing mine innocency, seeing God will still hold me guilty?

Read Matthew Poole on Job 9 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 9:29 [If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?Ver. 29. If I be wicked] Heb. I am wicked, sc. in your thoughts, and you have so earnestly and effectually affirmed it, and confirmed it, that I am almost ready to say as you say, I am wicked. Plato brings in Socrates in his apology to the judges, thus bespeaking them, My lords, I know not how you have been affected with mine accusers’ eloquence while you heard them speak; for mine own part, I assure you that I, whom it toucheth most, was almost drawn to believe that all they said, though against myself, was true, when they scarcely uttered one word of truth. The Chaldee paraphrase reads it, I shall be culpable, or, I shall be condemned.…

Read John Trapp on Job 9 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 29. If I be wicked] If I am the sinner you suppose me to be, in vain should I labour to counterfeit joy, and cease to complain of my sufferings.

Read AdamClarke on Job 9 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

29. if I be wicked] Rather, I shall be guilty, that is, I have to be, shall be held, guilty; God has resolved so to consider me. Everywhere in these verses guilt and afflictions mean the same thing, the one being the sign of the other.

Read Cambridge on Job 9 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? - The word “if,” here introduced by our translators, greatly obscures the sense. The meaning evidently is, “I am held to be guilty, and cannot answer to that charge.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 9 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

Strophe b — Job is divinely judged to be guilty; all efforts to free himself from guilt will therefore be futile, Job 9:29-31.29. If I be wicked — I, I am to be held guilty. Literally, I shall be guilty.Omit if.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 9 →

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

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

NETBNew English Translation2006

If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

RVARevised Version, American1894

I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

If I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

I — I am become wicked; why [is] this? [In] vain I labour.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I will be condemned; why, then, should I try in vain?

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?

BBEBible in Basic English1949

You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for 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.

clausesubjectאָנֹכִ֥יIverbאֶרְשָׁ֑עI.will.be.guiltyclauseprepositional phrase · predicateלָמָּהwhy?noun phrase · subjectזֶּ֝֗הthisclauseadverbialהֶ֣בֶלvanityverbאִיגָֽעwill.I.labor

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 wording of this verse, with five out of six words matching. The Septuagint's translation reflects a similar understanding of Job's plight, though its word order varies.

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

אָנֹכִ֥י אֶרְשָׁ֑ע לָמָּה־ זֶּ֝֗ה הֶ֣בֶל אִיגָֽע׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אָנֹכִ֥יεἰμιאֶרְשָׁ֑עἀσεβήςלָמָּה־τίהֶ֣בֶלοὐκאִיגָֽע׃ἀπέθανον

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

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


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

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

Job 9:29אָֽנֹכִ֫יIIאָֽנֹכִ֫ירָשַׁעI will be gI will be guiltרָשַׁעמָהwhy?why?מָהזֶהthisthisזֶההֶ֫בֶלvanityvanityהֶ֫בֶליָגֵעַwill I labowill I laborיָגֵעַהָבַלto become to become vainהָבַלזֶהthisthisזֶהזֹהthisthisזֹהצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהמִצְוָהcommandmencommandmentמִצְוָהעָוָהto twistto twistעָוָהצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקכָּ֫כָהthusthusכָּ֫כָהפָּעַלto workto workפָּעַלאַיwhere?where?אַיהֶ֫בֶלvanityvanityהֶ֫בֶלקֹהֶ֫לֶתpreacherpreacherקֹהֶ֫לֶתרְעוּתlonginglongingרְעוּתיָעֵףto faintto faintיָעֵףרִיקvainvainרִיק
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 9:29

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.

I I will be guilty why? this vanity will I labor
אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.Khi I H595 Pronoun
359× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This simple Hebrew word just means 'I', referring to the speaker, like in Genesis 27 where Esau says 'I' when talking to his father Isaac.
Amplified meaning
am already condemned, will be found guilty
Tyndale gloss
I
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אָֽנֹכִ֫י (*anokiy*) is a first-person singular pronoun meaning 'I' or 'me.' It is a variant spelling of אֲנִי (*ani*), which also means 'I.' The entries confirm its use as a personal pronoun without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי pron. 1s. comm. I

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H595 אָֽנֹכִ֫י, אָנֹ֑כִי I

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

595 'anokiy aw-no-kee'

sometimes {aw-no'-kee}; a primitive pro.; I:--I, me, X

which.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָֽנֹכִ֫י (a.no.khi) — I.

I (first pers. sing.)

Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp1bs
I I will be guilty why? this vanity will I labor
אֶרְשָׁ֑ע'er.Sha' I will be guilty H7561 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
34× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Being wicked or acting wrongly is what this Hebrew word describes. In Psalm 37:7, the Bible warns against being wicked and instead encourages trusting in God.
Amplified meaning
to be wicked, in the wrong
Tyndale gloss
be wicked
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָשַׁע (rasha`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be wicked or to act wickedly. It covers various aspects of wrongdoing, including being guilty and condemning others in both civil and ethical contexts. The entries indicate a distinction between its basic meaning of wickedness and its implications of guilt and condemnation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָשַׁע] vb. denom. be wicked, act wickedly

Qal

be wicked, act wickedly

be guilty

Hiph.

condemn as guilty, in civil relations

condemn as guilty, in ethical and religious relations

act wickedly, in ethics and religious

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7561 רָשַׁע vb. denom. be wicked, act wickedly .. be wicked, act wickedly

. be guilty

. . condemn as guilty, in civil relations

. condemn as guilty, in ethical and religious relations

. act wickedly, in ethics and religious

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7561 rasha` raw-shah'

a primitive root; to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong;

by implication, to disturb, violate:--condemn, make trouble,

vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked(-ly, -ness).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָשַׁע (ra.sah) — be wicked.

1) to be wicked, act wickedly

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be wicked, act wickedly

1a2) to be guilty, be condemned

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to condemn as guilty (in civil relations)

1b2) to condemn as guilty (in ethical or religious relations)

1b3) to act wickedly (in ethics and religion)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gil'-ti: In addition to the general discussion under GUILT (which see), several New Testament passages demand special notice because the word "guilty" is not used in the principal sense of blameworthy, but with one of the two lesser meanings noted above which go to make up the complete idea. In 3 of these passages the King James Version renders "guilty" and the Revised Version (British and American) gives another rendering. In Mt 26:66 the King James Version, Jesus' foes declare he is "guilty of death" (enochos, "liable to"). Here "guilty" simply means the one who is legally held, and the reference is not to the blame but to the consequence. This is a true use of the word in the lower and legal sense. It does not correspond with our higher usage, and so we have it in the Revised Version (British and American) "worthy of death." So…

I I will be guilty why? this vanity will I labor
לָמָּה־la.mah- why? H4100 Preposition · 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
Prep | Part — Preposition · pronoun
HR/Pi
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
I I will be guilty why? this vanity will I labor
זֶּ֝֗הZeh this H2088 Particle
1,180× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Tyndale gloss
this
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זֶה (zeh) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone, be used appositively, or function as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns, adding emphasis and directness. In poetry, it may serve as a relative pronoun, though this usage is rare.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here

standing alone

In appos. to subst.

More oft. as pred.

It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

With prefixes (in special senses)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2088 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone

. In appos. to subst.

. More oft. as pred.

. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.

. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)

. With prefixes (in special senses)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2088 zeh zeh

a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this

or that:--he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the

one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same,

such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on

that side, X thus, very, which. Compare 2063, 2090, 2097,

2098.

see HEBREW for 02063

see HEBREW for 02090

see HEBREW for 02097

see HEBREW for 02098

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זֶה (zeh) — this.

1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such

1a) (alone)

1a1) this one

1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another

1b) (appos to subst)

1b1) this

1c) (as predicate)

1c1) this, such

1d) (enclitically)

1d1) then

1d2) who, whom

1d3) how now, what now

1d4) what now

1d5) wherefore now

1d6) behold here

1d7) just now

1d8) now, now already

1e) (poetry)

1e1) wherein, which, those who

1f) (with prefixes)

1f1) in this (place) here, then

1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter

1f3) thus and thus

1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus

1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side

1f6) on this account

1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTm — Particle
HTm
I I will be guilty why? this vanity will I labor
הֶ֣בֶלHe.vel vanity H1892 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hebel means emptiness or vanity, describing something transitory and unsatisfactory, like a breath of air. It appears in the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes about life's fleeting nature. The KJV translates it as vanity or altogether.
Amplified meaning
emptiness, futility, for nothing
Tyndale gloss
vanity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֶ֫בֶל (hevel) refers to vapour or breath, and is often associated with concepts of emptiness or vanity, indicating something transitory and unsatisfactory. The word can function as an adverb meaning 'vainly.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to breathe' and appears in contexts discussing the fleeting nature of life.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֶ֫בֶל 73 n.m. vapour, breath

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1892 הֶ֫בֶל vapour, breath

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1892 hebel heh'bel

or (rarely in the abs.) habel {hab-ale'}; from 1891;

emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and

unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb:--X altogether, vain,

vanity.

see HEBREW for 01891

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶ֫בֶל (he.vel) — vanity.

1) vapour, breath

1a) breath, vapour

1b) vanity (fig.)

adv

2) vainly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Does not usually denote, in Scripture, self-conceit or personal pride, 2Pe 2:18, but sometimes emptiness and fruitlessness, Job 7:3 Ps 144:4 Ec 1:1-18. It often denotes wickedness, particularly falsehood, De 32:21 Ps 4:2 24:4 119:37, and sometimes idols and idol-worship, 2Ki 17:15 Jer 2:5 18:15 Jon 2:8. Compare Paul’s expression, "they turned the truth of God into a lie,"

→ A consequence of the fall Ro 8:20

→ Every man has Ps 39:11

→ Every state of man is Ps 62:9

→ Man, at his best estate, is Ps 39:5

→ Man is similar to Ps 144:4

→ The thoughts of man are Ps 94:11

→ The days of man are Job 7:16; Ec 6:12

→ Childhood and youth are Ec 11:10

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- A consequence of the fall

Ro 8:20

- Every man is

Ps 39:11

- Every state of man is

Ps 62:9

- Man at his best estate is

Ps 39:5

- Man is like to

Ps 144:4

- The thoughts of man are

Ps 94:11

- The days of man are

Job 7:16; Ec 6:12

- Childhood and youth are

Ec 11:10

- The beauty of man is

Ps 39:11; Pr 31:30

I I will be guilty why? this vanity will I labor
אִיגָֽע׃'i.Ga' will I labor H3021 Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be weary or toil, like in Exodus where the Israelites were exhausted from their labor, and is often translated as faint or labor in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
take trouble, toil, be weary
Tyndale gloss
be weary/toil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָגֵעַ (yaga`) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses the concepts of toil and weariness. It can mean to labor or grow tired, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as causing weariness or making someone toil. The entries consistently highlight its association with exhaustion and labor.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָגֵעַ, יָגַע] vb. toil, grow or be weary

Qal

toil, labour

grow or be weary

Pi. weary, make weary

Hiph. make to toil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3021 יָגֵעַ, יָגַע toil, grow or be weary

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3021 yaga` yaw-gah'

a primitive root; properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted,

to tire, to toil:--faint, (make to) labour, (be) weary.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָגֵעַ (ya.ga) — be weary/toil.

1) to toil, labour, grow weary, be weary

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to toil, labour

1a2) to grow weary, be weary

1b) (Piel) to weary, make weary, cause to go toilsomely

1c) (Hiphil) to make to toil, make weary, cause to be weary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singular
HVqi1cs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

la'-ber (yeghia`, `amal; kopos): The word (noun and verb) denoting hard work or "toil" (thus in the Revised Version (British and American) of De 26:7; Jos 7:3; Re 2:2) represents several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly those above. Occasionally, as in Hab 3:17 (ma`aseh), it stands for "fruit of labor." Sometimes, in conjunction with "travail," it refers to childbirth (Ge 35:16,17, yaladh; compare 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8). Examples of the word in the ordinary sense are: of yeghia`,

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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