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Leviticus 18:23 — Word Study

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WLCוּבְכָל־ בְּהֵמָ֛ה לֹא־ תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖ לְטָמְאָה־ בָ֑הּ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה לֹֽא־ תַעֲמֹ֞ד לִפְנֵ֧י בְהֵמָ֛ה לְרִבְעָ֖הּ תֶּ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃

BSAYou must notlôʼ lienâthan carnallyshᵉkôbeth [in a sexual manner, to defile] with anykôl animalbᵉhêmâh [beast, livestock] thus defiling yourselfṭâmêʼ [making unclean, polluting] a womanʼishshâh [female, wife] must notlôʼ standʻâmad [position herself, present herself] beforepânîym an animalbᵉhêmâh [beast, creature] to mate with itrâbaʻ [lie down, copulate] thathûwʼ is a perversiontebel [confusion, abomination, contrary to nature]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 18
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 23 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 (Hu') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 18:23quick helps
In a sentenceLeviticus prohibits sexual relations with animals, declaring such acts as defilement and perversion.
Who is speakingGod, providing laws to the Israelites through Moses.
Where we areIn a section of Leviticus detailing moral and ceremonial laws.
The hard wordתֶּ֥בֶל
Take awayThese laws emphasize the importance of purity and the natural order.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאִשָּׁה verbנָתַן 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 — Leviticus 18:23

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 — Laws on Sexual Conductgenerated

22You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.
23You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.
24Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves.
25Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.

Leviticus 18:23 is part of a larger discourse on sexual ethics, where God outlines behaviors that are considered sinful and defiling. This chapter serves as a guide for the Israelites to maintain holiness and avoid the practices of surrounding nations. The laws are meant to protect the community's moral integrity and relationship with God, emphasizing the distinction between human and animal conduct.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Leviticus 20:15–16If a man lies carnally with an animal, he must be put to death. And you are also to kill the animal.
2Exodus 22:19Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
3Leviticus 20:12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

confusionLeviticus 20:12

The Key Word בְּהֵמָה, be.he.Mahgenerated

The word בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to animals, particularly large quadrupeds such as livestock. It encompasses all creatures that are not human, highlighting the distinction between humans and animals in moral conduct.

This term is significant in this verse as it sets the context for the prohibition against sexual relations with animals, underscoring the seriousness of such actions as morally unacceptable.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree that the verse prohibits sexual relations with animals, using terms like animal (BSB, KJV, ASV) and beast (YLT, WEB, BBE) interchangeably.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb תִתֵּ֥ן, you will give, governs the structure of the verse, indicating the action being prohibited. The sentence contains multiple phrases that elaborate on the subjects and objects involved in the act of defilement.

The Hebrew syntax places emphasis on the actions and their consequences, with the prohibition clearly stated at the beginning, followed by the conditions and the nature of the act.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates בְּהֵמָה as τετράπουν, indicating a focus on the physical aspect of animals, aligning with the Hebrew meaning.

This choice of word reflects a similar understanding of the moral implications of the actions described, maintaining the seriousness of the prohibition.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 18:23 clearly states that no one should engage in sexual relations with animals, as it is considered a defilement. A woman is also prohibited from positioning herself before an animal to mate with it, as this is described as a perversion. The verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining moral purity.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does this verse teach about sexual conduct?

This verse emphasizes that sexual relations with animals are strictly forbidden and considered a serious moral violation.

Why is this prohibition important?

The prohibition serves to maintain the moral integrity of the community and uphold the natural order as defined by God.

How does this verse relate to other laws in Leviticus?

This verse is part of a broader set of laws in Leviticus that outline acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, particularly regarding sexual ethics.

What does the term 'perversion' imply in this context?

The term 'perversion' indicates actions that go against the natural order and divine standards set by God, highlighting the seriousness of such behaviors.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What are some ways we can uphold moral integrity in our lives today?
  2. How can understanding these laws help us appreciate the importance of purity?
  3. In what ways can we educate others about the significance of these prohibitions?
  4. What parallels can we draw between these ancient laws and contemporary moral issues?

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

The verse is referenced in early writings to discuss the moral implications of sexual conduct, emphasizing the seriousness of the prohibitions outlined.

Richard Challoner 1691–1781
Because it is a heinous crime: In Hebrew, this word heinous crime is expressed by the word confusion, signifying the shamefulness and baseness of this abominable sin.
Early Church Fathers on Leviticus 18 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 18:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Neither shall thou lie with any beast, to defile thyself therewith,.... A female one, as Aben Ezra notes, as a mare, cow, or ewe, or any other beast, small or great, as Ben Gersom, or whether tame or

Read John Gill on Leviticus 18 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 18 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

A horrible confusion of the natures which God hath distinguished, and of the order which God hath appointed, and an overthrow of. all bounds of religion, honesty, sobriety, and modesty.

Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 18 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Leviticus 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it [is] confusion.Ver. 23. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast.] See what a foul sink of sin man’ s nature is! Who would think that any such surpassing wickedness - so Aristotle calls bestiality - should ever enter into man’ s heart? But "there, as in the sea, is that Leviathan," the devil, and there are "creeping things," abominable and ugly lusts, "innumerable." υπερβαλλουσατιςκακιαηθηριστης. 2. Mag. Mor., cap. 5.

Read John Trapp on Leviticus 18 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(23) Any beast.—The necessity for the prohibition of this shocking crime, for which the Mosaic law enacts the penalty of death (see Leviticus 20:15-16; Exodus 22:18), will appear all the more important when it is borne in mind that this degrading practice actually formed a part of the religious worship of the Egyptians in connection with the goat deities.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 18 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 23. With any beast] This abomination is also punishable with death by the laws of this country. Any woman stand before a beast] That this was often done in Egypt there can be no doubt; and we have already seen, from the testimony of Herodotus, that a fact of this kind actually took place while he was in Egypt. See Clarke on Leviticus 17:7, and "Leviticus 20:16".

Read AdamClarke on Leviticus 18 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

23. With any beast — Let him who denies the inherent depravity of man study this prohibition. This prohibition implies the sacredness and dignity of human nature, inasmuch as the abomination was punished by death.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 18 →

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

You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

“‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

You must not lie carnally with any animal, thus defiling yourself with it; a woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it; that is a perversion.

NETBNew English Translation2006

You must not have sexual intercourse with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual intercourse with it; it is a perversion.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Thou shalt not also lie with any beast to bee defiled therewith, neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie downe thereto: for it is abomination.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And thou shalt lie with no beast to become unclean therewith; and a woman shall not stand before a beast to lie down with it: it is confusion.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

'And with any beast thou dost not give thy copulation, for uncleanness with it; and a woman doth not stand before a beast to lie down with it; confusion it [is].

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And you do not commit your intercourse with any beast, to become unclean with it; and a woman does not stand before a beast to mate with it; it [is] perversion.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And with any beast shalt thou not lie to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not sleep with any animal and defile yourself with it. No woman must consider sleeping with any animal. This would be perversion.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Thou shalt not copulate with any beast, neither shalt thou be defiled with it. A woman shall not lie down to a beast, nor copulate with it: because it is a heinous crime.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't have sex with any animal. This would pollute you and make you unclean.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And you may not have sex relations with a beast, making yourself unclean with it; and a woman may not give herself to a beast: it is an unnatural act.

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.

וּandclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְinnoun phraseכָלanyבְּהֵמָ֛הanimaladverbialלֹאnotverbתִתֵּ֥ןyou.will.givenoun phrase · objectשְׁכָבְתְּcopulationךָ֖yourprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbטָמְאָהbe.uncleanprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָ֑byהּitוְandclausesubjectאִשָּׁ֗הa.womanadverbialלֹֽאnotverbתַעֲמֹ֞דshe.will.standprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִbeforenoun phraseפְנֵ֧יtoבְהֵמָ֛הan.animalprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtoclauseverbרִבְעָ֖lieadverbialהּwith.itclausepredicateתֶּ֥בֶל[is].confusionsubjectהֽוּאit

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 Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word in this verse, affirming the consistency of the prohibition against sexual relations with animals.

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

וּבְכָל־ בְּהֵמָ֛ה לֹא־ תִתֵּ֥ן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖ לְטָמְאָה־ בָ֑הּ וְאִשָּׁ֗ה לֹֽא־ תַעֲמֹ֞ד לִפְנֵ֧י בְהֵמָ֛ה לְרִבְעָ֖הּ תֶּ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּבְכָל־πᾶνבְּהֵמָ֛הτετράπουνלֹא־οὐתִתֵּ֥ןδώσειςשְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖σουבָ֑הּαὐτόוְאִשָּׁ֗הγυνὴלֹֽא־οὐתַעֲמֹ֞דστήσεταιלִפְנֵ֧יπρὸςבְהֵמָ֛הτετράπουνתֶּ֥בֶלμυσερὸνהֽוּא׃ἐστιν

13 of the 15 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ובכל בהמה לא תתן שׁכבתך לטמאה בה ואשׁה לא תעמד לפני בהמה לרבעה תבל הוא

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

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.

Leviticus 18:23כֹּלand in anyand in anyכֹּלבְּהֵמָהanimalanimalבְּהֵמָהלֹאnotnotלֹאנָתַןyou will giyou will giveנָתַןשְׁכֹ֫בֶתcopulation copulation yourשְׁכֹ֫בֶתטָמֵאto be uncleto be uncleanטָמֵאהָby itby itהָאִשָּׁהand a womanand a womanאִשָּׁהלֹאnotnotלֹאעָמַדshe will stshe will standעָמַדפָּנֶהbeforebeforeפָּנֶהבְּהֵמָהan animalan animalבְּהֵמָהרָבַעto stretch to stretch out רָבַעתֶּ֫בֶל[is] confus[is] confusionתֶּ֫בֶלהוּאititהוּאכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלאִישׁmanmanאִישׁאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףאָדָםthe man (Athe man (Adam)אָדָםיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדבְּהֵמָהanimalanimalבְּהֵמָהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהנַחֲלָהinheritancinheritanceנַחֲלָהזֶ֫רַעseedseedזֶ֫רַעטָמֵאto defileto defileטָמֵאעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶברָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץ
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 Leviticus 18:23

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.

and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
וּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol- and in any H3605 Conjunction · preposition · 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
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/R/Ncmsc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
בְּהֵמָ֛הbe.he.Mah animal H929 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Amplified meaning
beast, livestock
Tyndale gloss
animal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to a beast or animal, typically denoting domesticated livestock or cattle, and occasionally wild beasts. It is derived from a root that suggests being mute, implying a 'dumb beast.' The term encompasses all living creatures other than humans, with a specific mention of large quadrupeds.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּהֵמָה 187 n.f. beast, animal, cattle

of living creatures other than man

opp. also to wild beasts

rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H929 בְּהֵמָה beast, animal, cattle . of living creatures other than man

. opp. also to wild beasts

. rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

929 bhemah be-hay-maw'

from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly,

a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often

collective):--beast, cattle.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) — animal.

1) beast, cattle, animal

1a) beasts (coll of all animals)

1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals)

1c) wild beasts

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

an'-i-mal: See under the various names and also the general article on ZOOLOGY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Animal

An organized living creature endowed with sensation. The Levitical law divided animals into clean and unclean, although the distinction seems to have existed before the Flood (Gen. 7:2). The clean could be offered in sacrifice and eaten. All animals that had not cloven hoofs and did not chew the cud were unclean. The list of clean and unclean quadrupeds is set forth in the Levitical law (Deut. 14:3-20; Lev. 11).

and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
לֹא־lo'- 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.
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
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
תִתֵּ֥ןti.Ten you will give H5414 Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
2,011× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Tyndale gloss
to give: give
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set

Qal 1917

give

Put, set

Make, constitute

Niph.

82be given

Be put, set

Hoph.

be given, bestowed

= be given to one for wife

be put upon

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give

. Put, set

. Make, constitute

. . be given

. Be put, set

. . . be given, bestowed

. = be given to one for wife

. be put upon

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5414 nathan naw-than'

a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of

application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,

assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,

hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +

cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X

without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),

grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),

(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,

occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X

pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send

(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,

strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,

turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)

God, yield.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.

: give/deliver/send/produce

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend

1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate

1a3) to make, constitute

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned

1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up

1c2) to be put upon

נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.

: put/set/apppoint

1) to give, put, set

1a) (Qal)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singular
HVqi2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
שְׁכָבְתְּךָ֖she.kha.ve.te.Kha copulation your H7903 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
4× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Copulation refers to the act of lying with someone, often in a sexual context. It is used in the Bible to describe human relationships and intimacy.
Amplified meaning
in a sexual manner, to defile
Tyndale gloss
copulation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁכֹ֫בֶת (shkobeth) refers to a sexual lying together or copulation. It is derived from the root word שָׁכַב (shakab), which means to lie down. The term is used in contexts related to sexual relations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שְׁכֹ֫בֶת] n.f. copulation

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7903 שְׁכֹ֫בֶת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7903 shkobeth shek-o'-beth

from 7901; a (sexual) lying with:--X lie.

see HEBREW for 07901

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁכֹ֫בֶת (she.kho.vet) — copulation.

copulation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/Sp2ms
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
לְטָמְאָה־le.ta.me.'ah- to be unclean H2930 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
162× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be foul or contaminated, often in a moral or ceremonial sense. It is used in the Bible to describe something that is unclean or polluted. In the book of Leviticus, it talks about being unclean and how to become clean again.
Amplified meaning
making unclean, polluting
Tyndale gloss
to defile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָמֵא (tame') is a Hebrew root meaning to be or become unclean, covering various contexts such as sexual, religious, and ceremonial impurity. The noun form, טָמְאָה (tam'ah), refers to uncleanness itself. The entries indicate that the word can be used reflexively to mean defiling oneself.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָמֵא vb. be or become unclean

Qal be or become unclean

Niph. defile oneself, be defiled

Pi. defile

Pu. myself is not polluted

Hithp.—reflexive, defile oneself

Hothp. after that she has been defiled

base

טָמְאָה n.f. uncleanness Mi 2:10

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2930a טָמֵא be or become unclean .be or become unclean

. defile oneself, be defiled

. defile

. myself is not pulluted

.—reflexive, defile oneself

. after that she has been defiled

H2930b טָמְאָה uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2930 tame' taw-may'

a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or

moral sense (contaminated):--defile (self), pollute (self), be

(make, make self, pronounce) unclean, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָמֵא (ta.me) — to defile.

1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure

1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean

1a1) sexually

1a2) religiously

1a3) ceremonially

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled

1b1a) sexually

1b1b) by idolatry

1b1c) ceremonially

1b2) to be regarded as unclean

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to defile

1c1a) sexually

1c1b) religiously

1c1c) ceremonially

1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially)

1c3) to profane (God's name)

1d) (Pual) to be defiled

1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean

1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled

טָמְאָה (tam.ah) — uncleanness.

uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CLEAN.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Ceremonially speaking)

Creatures designated as such Le 11; De 14

→ See UNCLEANNESS

and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
בָ֑הּVah by it H9034 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָ (ha) — her.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3fs
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
וְאִשָּׁ֗הve.'i.Shah and a woman H802 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
781× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Amplified meaning
female, wife
Tyndale gloss
woman
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִשָּׁה (ishshah) means 'woman,' 'wife,' or 'female.' It can refer to a woman in general, a wife in relation to a man, or the female of animals. The term also has distributive and reciprocal uses, indicating 'each woman' from her neighbor. The word is derived from the masculine forms אִישׁ (ish) and אִישָׁה (ishah), indicating a broad range of meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִשָּׁה 773 n.f. woman, wife, female

woman

Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

Female of animals

With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H802 אִשָּׁה woman, wife, female . woman

. Wife (woman belonging to a man, usually cstr. or sf.)

. Female of animals

. With distrib. & recipr. sense, each woman from her neighbor; each one

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

802 'ishshah ish-shaw'

feminine of 376 or 582; irregular plural, nashiym

{naw-sheem'}; a woman (used in the same wide sense as

582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none,

one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

see HEBREW for 0376

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0582

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman.

: woman

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: wife.

: wife/widow

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

אִשָּׁה (ish.shah) — woman: another.

: another

1) woman, wife, female

1a) woman (opposite of man)

1b) wife (woman married to a man)

1c) female (of animals)

1d) each, every (pronoun)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

woom'-an ('ishshah, "a woman" (feminine of 'ish, "a man"]; gune, "a woman" "wife"):

I. IN THE CREATIVE PLAN

II. IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES

1. Prominence of Women

2. Social Equality

3. Marriage Laws

4. Inheritance

5. Domestic Duties

6. Dress and Ornaments

7. Religious Devotion and Service

(1) in Idolatry and False Religion

(2) in Spiritual Religion

III. INTER-TESTAMENTAL ERA

IV. IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES

1. Mary and Elisabeth

2. Jesus and Women

3. In the Early Church

4. Official Service

5. Widows

6. Deaconesses

IV. LATER TIMES

1. Changes in Character and Condition

2. Notable Examples of Christian Womanhood

3. Woman in the 20th Century

The generic term "man" includes woman. In the narrative of the creation (Ge 1:26,27) Adam is a collective term for mankind. It may signify human being, male or female, or humanity entire. "God said, Let us make man .... and let them"…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Woman

Was “taken out of man” (Gen. 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. “The head of the woman is the man;” but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, “as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Cor. 11:3, 8, 9; 1 Pet. 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36, 37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is spoken of in Scripture as the beloved and honored companion and helpmeet, not the servant, of man, Ge 2:23,24, created as the necessary completion of man, Ge 3:16 1Co 11:3,8,9 14:34,35 1Ti 2:11-14, yet specially qualified for that sphere, and as necessary in it as man in his. Man and woman are indeed essentially one, the natural qualities of each so responding to those of the other as to lay the foundation of the most tender and abiding unity. The Bible thus raised the Jewish woman high above the woman of heathenism; and the Old Testament contains some of the finest portraitures of female character. But still greater is the contrast between the women of heathenism and…

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Origin and cause of the name

Ge 2:23

- ORIGINALLY MADE

. By God in his own image

Ge 1:27

. From one of Adam's ribs

Ge 2:21,22

. For man

1Co 11:9

. To be an helpmeet for man

Ge 2:18,20

. Subordinate to man

1Co 11:3

. To be the glory of man

1Co 11:7

- Deceived by Satan

Ge 3:1-6; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14

- Led man to disobey God

and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
לֹֽא־lo'- 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.
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
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
תַעֲמֹ֞דta.'a.Mod she will stand H5975 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
521× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means 'to stand' in a strong sense, like in Exodus 17:12 where Moses stood with his arms up to help Israel win a battle.
Amplified meaning
position herself, present herself
Tyndale gloss
to stand: stand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עָמַד (amad) means to stand and encompasses a variety of related actions such as remaining, enduring, and taking a stand. It can refer to both literal and figurative stances, including presenting oneself or being appointed. The word appears in various contexts, including standing still, ceasing movement, and even serving. There are different forms of the verb, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, each with specific nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָמַד 620 take one's stand, stand

Qal 435

take one's stand, and (esp. pt.) stand, be in a standing attitude

stand forth

take a stand against, in opposition to

present oneself before

attend upon, be(come) servant of

stand afar

stand (silent)

stand (appealingly)

stand, subj. רֶגֶל

stand, of water

stand still, stop, cease moving

= be inactive

= be attentive

stop, cease doing a thing

tarry, delay

remain

continue, abide

endure

be steadfast

persist

make a stand, hold one's ground

stand upright

arise, appear, come on the scene

stand forth, appear = come into being

rise up as foe

rare usages

Hiph.

83station, set

cause to stand firm

cause to stand up, set up, erect

present one before king

appoint

other meanings

Hoph. be presented

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5975 עָמַד take one's stand, stand .. . take one's stand, and (esp. pt.) stand, be in a standing attitude

. stand forth

. take a stand against, in opposition to

. present oneself before

. attend upon, be(come) servant of

. stand afar

. stand (silent)

. stand (appealingly)

. stand, subj. רֶגֶל

. stand, of water

. . stand still, stop, cease moving

. = be inactive

. = be attentive

. stop, cease doing a thing

. . tarry, delay

. remain

. continue, abide

. endure

. be steadfast

. persist

. make a stand, hold one's ground

. stand upright

. . arise, appear, come on the scene

. stand forth, appear = come into being

. rise up as foe

. rare usages

. . station, set

. cause to stand firm

. cause to stand up, set up, erect

. present one before king

. appoint

. other meanings

. be presented

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5975 `amad aw-mad'

a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and

figurative, intransitive and transitive):--abide (behind),

appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed,

endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be)

present (self), raise up, remain, repair, + serve, set (forth,

over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-)stand (by,

fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָמַד (a.mad) — to stand: stand.

: stand/stop/establish

1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of

1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease

1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast

1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground

1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright

1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against

1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to station, set

1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain

1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect

1b4) to present (one) before (king)

1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
לִפְנֵ֧יlif.Nei before H6440 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.
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)

Read the full entry →
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…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HR/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
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
בְהֵמָ֛הve.he.Mah an animal H929 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
190× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Amplified meaning
beast, creature
Tyndale gloss
animal
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בְּהֵמָה (bhemah) refers to a beast or animal, typically denoting domesticated livestock or cattle, and occasionally wild beasts. It is derived from a root that suggests being mute, implying a 'dumb beast.' The term encompasses all living creatures other than humans, with a specific mention of large quadrupeds.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בְּהֵמָה 187 n.f. beast, animal, cattle

of living creatures other than man

opp. also to wild beasts

rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H929 בְּהֵמָה beast, animal, cattle . of living creatures other than man

. opp. also to wild beasts

. rarely of wild beasts, esp. carnivora

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

929 bhemah be-hay-maw'

from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly,

a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often

collective):--beast, cattle.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בְּהֵמָה (be.he.mah) — animal.

1) beast, cattle, animal

1a) beasts (coll of all animals)

1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals)

1c) wild beasts

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

an'-i-mal: See under the various names and also the general article on ZOOLOGY.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Animal

An organized living creature endowed with sensation. The Levitical law divided animals into clean and unclean, although the distinction seems to have existed before the Flood (Gen. 7:2). The clean could be offered in sacrifice and eaten. All animals that had not cloven hoofs and did not chew the cud were unclean. The list of clean and unclean quadrupeds is set forth in the Levitical law (Deut. 14:3-20; Lev. 11).

and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
לְרִבְעָ֖הּle.riv.'Ah to stretch out with it H7250 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffix
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to mate means to lie down or squat, often referring to animals. It's used in the Bible to describe animal breeding or inappropriate behavior with animals.
Amplified meaning
lie down, copulate
Tyndale gloss
to mate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָבַע (raba`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to lie down or stretch out, particularly in the context of copulation. It can refer to both resting and mating, with specific uses in cattle breeding. The entries highlight its basic meaning and its application in different contexts, but do not show significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָבַע] vb. lie stretched out, lie down

Qal my lying down

Hiph. thy cattle thou shalt not cause to (let) lie down (i.e. breed) in two kinds.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7250 רָבַע, רֶבַע

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7250 raba` raw-bah'

a primitive root; to squat or lie out flat, i.e.

(specifically) in copulation:--let gender, lie down.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָבַע (ra.va) — to mate.

1) to lie stretched out, lie down

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie down

1a1a) for repose

1a1b) for copulation (of woman with beast)

1b) (Hiphil) to cause to lay down (of cattle breeding)

Also means: re.va (רֶבַע "to lie down" H7252)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffix
HR/Vqcc/Sp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
תֶּ֥בֶלTe.vel [is] confusion H8397 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes a perversion of nature, like bestiality or other unnatural behaviors. It's used in the book of Leviticus to condemn such actions as sinful.
Amplified meaning
confusion, abomination, contrary to nature
Tyndale gloss
perversion
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תֶּ֫בֶל (tebel) refers to confusion or a violation of natural or divine order, often associated with perversion, particularly in a sexual context. It is derived from a root meaning mixture. The term captures a sense of unnaturalness and is noted in various contexts within the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תֶּ֫בֶל n.[m.] confusion, violation of nature, or the divine order

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8397 תֶּ֫בֶל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8397 tebel teh'-bel

apparently from 1101; mixture, i.e. unnatural

bestiality:--confusion.

see HEBREW for 01101

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תֶּ֫בֶל (te.vel) — perversion.

1) confusion (violation of nature or divine order)

1a) perversion (in sexual sin)

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

kon-fu'-zhun (bosheth, "shame, paleness," kelimmah, "blushing," tohu; akatastasia, sugchusis): In the Old Testament bosheth (1Sa 20:30; Ps 109:29 the King James Version) and kelimmah (Ps 44:15; Isa 30:3) are the words most frequently translated "confusion"; tohu, "wastiness," "emptiness" is so translated (Isa 24:10; 34:11; 41:29), also qalon, "lightness," "contempt" (Job 10:15 = ignominy, the American Standard Revised Version) and tebhel, "profanation" (Le 18:23; 20:12); ra`ash, "shaking," "trembling,"…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of tongues Ge 11:1-9

and in any animal not you will give copulation your to be unclean by it and a woman not she will stand before an animal to stretch out with it [is] confusion it
הֽוּא׃Hu' it H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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