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Leviticus 23:11 — Word Study

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WLCוְהֵנִ֧יף אֶת־ הָעֹ֛מֶר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם מִֽמָּחֳרַת֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת יְנִיפֶ֖נּוּ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

BSAAnd he shall wavenûwph [move back and forth, sprinkle] the sheafʻômer [a unit of measurement, about 2 liters of grain] beforepânîym the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] so that it may be accepted on your behalfrâtsôwn [delight, pleasure] the priestkôhên [one who serves God and leads others in worship] is to wave itnûwph [shake, lift up] on the day aftermochŏrâth [morrow, the next day] the Sabbathshabbâth [a day of rest and worship]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 23
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 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 (ha.ko.Hen) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 23:11quick helps
In a sentenceThe priest waves the sheaf before Yahweh to ensure it is accepted on behalf of the people.
Who is speakingGod, giving instructions to Moses for the Israelites.
Where we areThis verse is part of the instructions for the Feast of Firstfruits.
The hard wordוְהֵנִ֧יף
Take awayThe act of waving the sheaf is a ritual for acceptance before God.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנוּף 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 23:11

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 — Instructions for the Feast of Firstfruitsgenerated

10“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest.
11And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.
12On the day you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a year-old lamb without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD,
13along with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil—an offering made by fire to the LORD, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter hin of wine.

Leviticus 23:11 provides specific instructions for the Israelites on how to present the sheaf of firstfruits to the LORD. This act symbolizes gratitude for the harvest and acknowledges God's provision. The waving of the sheaf is a key ritual that signifies acceptance and is performed by the priest as part of the offerings made to God, reflecting the importance of worship in the agricultural calendar.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Leviticus 9:21but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.
2Leviticus 10:14And you and your sons and daughters may eat the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution in a ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the peace offerings of the sons of Israel.
3Exodus 29:24Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.

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

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.Leviticus 9:21 Leviticus 10:14 Exodus 29:24

The Key Word וְהֵנִ֧יף, ve.he.Nifgenerated

The verb נוּף (nuwph) is in the Hiphil stem, indicating a causative action — the priest causes the sheaf to wave. This action involves moving the sheaf back and forth, often in a ritualistic manner, which signifies offering and dedication to God.

Waving the sheaf is not merely a physical act; it carries deep spiritual significance, representing the people's acknowledgment of God's blessings. The priest's role is crucial, as he mediates between God and the people through this offering.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the key actions in this verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb וְהֵנִ֧יף governs the sentence, indicating the action of waving. The structure includes a noun phrase for the object (הָעֹ֛מֶר), a prepositional phrase indicating the direction of the action (לִפְנֵ֥י), and a clause that describes the priest's action.

The syntax emphasizes the priest's role in performing the ritual, with the object and its purpose clearly defined, highlighting the importance of the sheaf in the worship process.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וְהֵנִ֧יף as ἀνοίσει (anóisei), which suggests an opening or lifting action. This choice may imply a broader interpretation of the act of waving as not only a physical movement but also an invitation for God's presence.

This translation captures the essence of the ritual while adapting it to a Greek-speaking audience, emphasizing the significance of the offering.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 23:11 describes how the priest waves a sheaf before Yahweh to ensure it is accepted on behalf of the people. This act is part of the rituals for the Feast of Firstfruits, showing gratitude for the harvest and acknowledging God's provision.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of waving the sheaf?

Waving the sheaf is a ritual act that signifies the offering of the firstfruits to God, representing gratitude for the harvest and seeking God's acceptance.

Who performs the waving of the sheaf?

The priest is responsible for waving the sheaf before the LORD as part of the sacrificial offerings during the Feast of Firstfruits.

What does the sheaf represent?

The sheaf represents the first harvest of the season, symbolizing the people's acknowledgment of God's provision and blessings.

Why is the timing of the offering important?

The offering is made on the day after the Sabbath, marking a significant moment in the agricultural calendar and ensuring that the harvest is dedicated to God.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I express gratitude to God for His provision in my life?
  2. What rituals or practices do I observe that help me acknowledge God's blessings?
  3. In what ways can I serve as a mediator for others, like the priest in this verse?
  4. How does understanding the significance of offerings enhance my worship experience?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 23:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord,.... Or the omer of barley; this was done by the priest in the tabernacle and temple, where was the presence of God, and that before the handful of it was

Read John Gill on Leviticus 23 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 23 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To be accepted for you; that God may accept of you, and bless you in the rest of your harvest. On the morrow after the sabbath, i.e. after the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, which was a sabbath, or day of rest, as appears from , or upon the sixteenth day of the month. And this was the first of those fifty days, in the close whereof was the feast of pentecost, or Whitsuntide.

Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 23 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Leviticus 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.Ver. 11. And he shall wave the sheaf.] This signified that they and theirs were accepted of God through Christ. On the morrow after the Sabbath.] Here the Lord’ s day was prefigured, saith one, therefore prescribed, and instituted of God. This shake day sheaf was a pregnant type of Christ’ s rising again, the firstfruits from the dead. It was fulfilled in Christ’ s resurrection, the day after the Sabbath. And because this Sabbath was chiefly meant of the Passover (which was a high Sabbath) it was a double Sabbath wherein Christ rested in the grave.…

Read John Trapp on Leviticus 23 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) And he shall wave the sheaf.—Better, and he shall wave the omer. The priest mixed with the omer of meal a log of oil, put on a handful of frankincense (see Leviticus 2:15), as on other meat-offerings, waved it, took a handful of it and caused it to ascend in smoke (see Leviticus 2:16), and then consumed the residue in company with his fellow-priests. Immediately after this ceremony, bread, parched corn, green ears, &c, of the new crop were exposed for sale in the streets of Jerusalem, as, prior to the offering of the omer, no use whatever was allowed to be made of the new corn. On the morrow after the sabbath.—The interpretation of this phrase also constituted one of the differences…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 23 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. He shalt wave the sheaf] He shall move it to and fro before the people, and thereby call their attention to the work of Divine Providence, and excite their gratitude to God for preserving to them the kindly fruits of the earth. See Clarke on Exodus 29:27, and "Leviticus 7:38" at end.

Read AdamClarke on Leviticus 23 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. The ritual here set forth has no parallel elsewhere in the Pentateuch. Deuteronomy 26:2 prescribes that ‘the first of all the fruit of the ground’ shall be offered, but gives no direction as to any particular day. In Deuteronomy 16:9-10 the nature of the offering is left undetermined, and the date is seven weeks ‘from the time thou beginnest to put the sickle to the standing corn.’ shall wave] See Appendix IV, pp. 183 ff. the morrow after the sabbath] For this vague expression see introd. note to ch. Driver (LO T.9 p. 55 note) says that it is understood traditionally of the 1st day of Maẓ ?ẓ ?oth (unleavened bread); but this is an unusual sense of ‘sabbath.’ He considers it probable…

Read Cambridge on Leviticus 23 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

11. The morrow after the sabbath — After the first day of holy convocation. Hence the waving of the sheaf, according to Josephus, was on the sixteenth of Nisan.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 23 →

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

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that it may be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.

NETBNew English Translation2006

and he must wave the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for your benefit – on the day after the Sabbath the priest is to wave it.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And hee shall shake the sheafe before the Lord, that it may be acceptable for you: the morowe after the Sabbath, the Priest shall shake it.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah, to be accepted for you; on the next day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

then he hath waved the sheaf before Jehovah for your acceptance; on the morrow of the sabbath doth the priest wave it.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

then he has waved the sheaf before YHWH for your acceptance; on the next day of the Sabbath the priest waves it.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he shall wave the omer before the Lord, that it may be favorably received for you; on the morrow after the holy day shall the priest wave it.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He will raise the bundle of grain before Yahweh and present it to him, for it to be accepted on your behalf. It is on the day after the Sabbath that the priest will raise it and present it to me.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Who shall lift up the shed before the Lord, the next day after the sabbath, that it may be acceptable for you, and shall sanctify it.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He will wave the stack of grain before the Lord so that it may be accepted on your behalf. The priest is to do this the day following the Sabbath.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And let the grain be waved before the Lord, so that you may be pleasing to him; on the day after the Sabbath let it be waved by the priest.

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.

וְandclauseverbהֵנִ֧יףhe.will.wavenoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseהָtheעֹ֛מֶרsheafprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִbeforenoun phraseפְנֵ֥ייְהוָ֖הYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִֽfornoun phraseרְצֹנְacceptanceכֶ֑םyourclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִֽfromnoun phraseמָּחֳרַת֙the.next.daynoun phraseהַofשַּׁבָּ֔תthe.sabbathverbיְנִיפֶ֖heobjectנּוּwill.wave.itnoun phrase · subjectהַtheכֹּהֵֽןpriest

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text aligns closely with the Septuagint, with nine out of ten words matching. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using רצונכם (your pleasure) instead of the Masoretic לרצונכם (for acceptance your), which may reflect a different emphasis on the nature of the offering.

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

וְהֵנִ֧יף אֶת־ הָעֹ֛מֶר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם מִֽמָּחֳרַת֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת יְנִיפֶ֖נּוּ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהֵנִ֧יףἀνοίσειהָעֹ֛מֶרδράγμαלִפְנֵ֥יἔναντιיְהוָ֖הκυρίουלִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑םὑμῖνמִֽמָּחֳרַת֙ἐπαύριονהַשַּׁבָּ֔תπρώτηςיְנִיפֶ֖נּוּαὐτὸהַכֹּהֵֽן׃ἱερεύς

9 of the 10 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

והניף את העמר לפני יהוה לרצונכם ממחרת השׁבת יניפנו הכהן

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: רצונכם (pleasure)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q24a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[והניף] [את] [העמר] [לפני] [יהוה] [לרצנ׳כם] ממחרת [השבת] יניפ׳נו הכהן

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 7 supplied entire by an editor.

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 23:11נוּףand he willand he will wavנוּףאֵתthe object the object markאֵתעֹ֫מֶרthe sheafthe sheafעֹ֫מֶרפָּנֶהbeforebeforeפָּנֶהיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהרָצוֹןfor acceptafor acceptance רָצוֹןמָחֳרָתfrom [the] from [the] nextמָחֳרָתשַׁבָּתthe sabbaththe sabbathשַׁבָּתנוּףhe will wavhe will wave itנוּףכֹּהֵןthe priestthe priestכֹּהֵןאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתעִמֵּרto bindto bindעִמֵּרפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָההָיָהto beto beהָיָהרָצָהto acceptto acceptרָצָהשָׁבַתto ceaseto ceaseשָׁבַתמָחָרtomorrowtomorrowמָחָרכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןמַשּׂוֹרsawsawמַשּׂוֹרתְּנוּפָהwave offerwave offeringתְּנוּפָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁקָצִירharvestharvestקָצִירנוּףto sprinklto sprinkleנוּףסָתַרto hideto hideסָתַרנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּסנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאפּוּקto promoteto promoteפּוּק
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 23:11

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 he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
וְהֵנִ֧יףve.he.Nif and he will wave H5130 Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To wave means to move something back and forth, like waving a hand or an offering to God, as described in the book of Leviticus. It can also mean to sprinkle or shake something, like sprinkling water for purification.
Amplified meaning
move back and forth, sprinkle
Tyndale gloss
to sprinkle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נוּף (nuwph) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses a range of actions including to sprinkle, wave, and move to and fro. It can refer to various movements such as shaking a hand or waving an offering, often in a ritual context. The term has applications in both everyday actions and religious rites, particularly those involving offerings to God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נוּף] vb. move to and fro, wave, besprinkle

Qal I have besprinkled my couch with myrrh

Po‛lel he brandisheth his hand toward the mt.

Hiph.

wield, move to and fro in using it

Shake or wave the hand

swing to and fro, as a signal

Oft. term. techn. in P (H), of rite in which originally the priest lifted his share of offering and waved it, i.e. moved it toward altar and back, in token of its presentation to God and its return by him to priest

Shed abroad

Hoph. be waved

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5130a נוּף besprinkle H5130b נוּף move to and fro, wave, besprinkle .I have besprinkled my couch with myrrh

.he brandisheth his hand toward the mt.

. . wield, move to and fro in using it

. Shake or wave the hand

. swing to and fro, as a signal

. Oft. term. techn. in P (H), of rite in which originally the priest lifted his share of offering and waved it, i.e. moved it toward altar and back, in token of its presentation to God and its return by him to priest

. Shed abroad

. be waved

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5130 nuwph noof

a primitive root; to quiver (i.e. vibrate up and down, or

rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications

(including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, bastinadoing,

sawing, waving, etc.):--lift up, move, offer, perfume, send,

shake, sift, strike, wave.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נוּף (nuph) — to sprinkle.

1) to sprinkle

1a) (Qal) to besprinkle, sprinkle

נוּף (nuph) — to wave.

1) to move to and fro, wave

1a) (Qal) to move

1b) (Polel) to wave, brandish (in threat)

1c) (Hiphil) to swing, wield, wave

1c1) to wield

1c2) to wave or shake (the hand)

1c2a) to wave (hand)

1c2b) to shake or brandish against

1c2c) to swing to and fro

1c3) to wave (an offering), offer

1c4) to shed abroad

1d) (Hophal) to be waved

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vhq3ms
and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
הָעֹ֛מֶרha.'O.mer the sheaf H6016 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
An omer is a unit of measurement, about 2 liters, used to quantify dry goods like grain, as described in Exodus 16:36. It was an important standard in ancient Israel for trade and commerce.
Amplified meaning
a unit of measurement, about 2 liters of grain
Tyndale gloss
sheaf
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֹ֫מֶר (omer) refers to both a sheaf and a measure of dry volume, specifically one-tenth of an ephah, approximately two liters. The term is derived from a root meaning 'heap.' It appears in the context of agricultural produce, particularly in Exodus 16.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֹ֫מֶר n.m. sheaf

base

עֹ֫מֶר n.m. omer;—a measure, only Ex 16

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6016a עֹ֫מֶר sheaf H6016b עֹ֫מֶר omer;—a measure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6016 `omer o'-mer

from 6014; properly, a heap, i.e. a sheaf; also an omer, as a

dry measure:--omer, sheaf.

see HEBREW for 06014

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֹ֫מֶר (o.mer) — sheaf.

sheaf

עֹ֫מֶר (o.mer) — omer.

1) omer

1a) a dry measure of 1/10 ephah (about 2 litres)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
לִפְנֵ֥יlif.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 he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
יְהוָ֖הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑םlir.tzo.ne.Khem for acceptance your H7522 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
56× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to acceptance or delight, often used to describe God's pleasure or favor. It appears in Psalms and Isaiah, highlighting God's goodwill towards us. This word is about taking pleasure in something.
Amplified meaning
delight, pleasure
Tyndale gloss
acceptance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָצוֹן (ratsown) refers to concepts of goodwill, favor, acceptance, and will. It encompasses ideas of delight, desire, and pleasure, particularly in the context of personal relationships and sacrifices. The word is derived from a root meaning to delight, and it captures both voluntary will and the notion of being acceptable.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָצוֹן n.[m.] goodwill, favour, acceptance, will

goodwill, favour

acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice

will, desire, pleasure

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7522 רָצוֹן goodwill, favour, acceptance, will . goodwill, favour

. acceptance, of persons, offering sacrifice

. will, desire, pleasure

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7522 ratsown raw-tsone'

or ratson {raw-tsone'}; from 7521; delight (especially as

shown):--(be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire,

favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will,

as...(what) would.

see HEBREW for 07521

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָצוֹן (ra.tson) — acceptance.

1) pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will

1a) goodwill, favour

1b) acceptance

1c) will, desire, pleasure, self-will

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2mp
and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
מִֽמָּחֳרַת֙mi.mo.cho.Rat from [the] next day of H4283 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means tomorrow or the next day, referring to a future time. It appears in several places in the Bible, including Genesis 30:33 and Exodus 16:23, where it is used to make promises or give instructions for the next day.
Amplified meaning
morrow, the next day
Tyndale gloss
morrow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָחֳרָת (mochorath) refers to the morrow or the day following a past day. It is a feminine noun derived from a related term, indicating its use in contexts referring to tomorrow or the next day. The word appears in 1 Samuel 30:17.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָחֳרָת n.f. the morrow (the day following a past day)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4283 מָחֳרָת the morrow (the day following a past day)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4283 mochorath mokh-or-awth'

or mochoratham (1 Sam. 30:17) {mokh-or-aw- thawm'}; feminine

from the same as 4279; the morrow or (adverbially)

tomorrow:--morrow, next day.

see HEBREW for 04279

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מׇחֳרָת (mo.cho.rat) — morrow.

the morrow, the day after

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
HR/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
הַשַּׁבָּ֔תha.sha.Bat the sabbath H7676 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
111× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, as commanded by God in Exodus 20:8-11 and observed by the Israelites. It is a special day set apart for spiritual renewal and reflection, as Jesus taught in Matthew 12:1-14.
Amplified meaning
a day of rest and worship
Tyndale gloss
Sabbath
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׁבָּת (shabbath) refers to the Sabbath, a day of rest observed weekly, as well as the Day of Atonement and the sabbath year. It may also denote a week or the produce that grows during the sabbath year. The word is derived from a root meaning 'intermission.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁבָּת 111 n.f. and m. Sabbath

sabbath

day of atonement

sabbath year

= week (?)

= produce in sabbath year (growing of itself)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7676 שַׁבָּת Sabbath . sabbath

. day of atonement

. sabbath year

. = week (?)

. = produce in sabbath year (growing of itself)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7676 shabbath shab-bawth'

intensive from 7673; intermission, i.e (specifically) the

Sabbath:--(+ every) sabbath.

see HEBREW for 07673

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁבָּת (shab.bat) — Sabbath.

Sabbath

1a) sabbath

1b) day of atonement

1c) sabbath year

1d) week

1e) produce (in sabbath year)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sab'-ath (shabbath, shabbathon; sabbaton, ta sabbata; the root shabhath in Hebrew means "to desist," "cease," "rest"):

I. ORIGIN OF THE SABBATH

1. The Biblical Account

2. Critical Theories

II. HISTORY OF THE SABBATH AFTER MOSES

1. In the Old Testament

2. In the Inter-Testamental Period

3. Jesus and the Sabbath

4. Paul and the Sabbath

LITERATURE

The Sabbath was the day on which man was to leave off his secular labors and keep a day holy to Yahweh.

I. Origin of the Sabbath.

1. The Biblical Account:

The sketch of creation in Ge 1:1-2:3 closes with an impressive account of the hallowing of the 7th day, because on it God rested from all the work which He had made creatively. The word "Sabbath" does not occur in the story; but it is recognized by critics of every school that the author (P) means to describe the Sabbath as primeval. In

Sabbath

(Heb. verb shabbath, meaning “to rest from labour”), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:2). “The sabbath was made for man,” as a day of rest and refreshment for the body and of blessing to the soul.

It is next referred to in connection with the gift of manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 16:23); and afterwards, when the law was given from Sinai (20:11), the people were solemnly charged to “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Thus it is spoken of as an institution already existing.

In the Mosaic law strict regulations were laid down regarding its observance (Ex. 35:2, 3;

Rest. God having created the world in six days, "rested" on the seventh, Ge 2:2,3; that is, he ceased from producing new beings in this creation; and because he had rested on it, he "blessed" or sanctified it, and appointed it in a peculiar manner for his worship.

We here have an account of the ORIGINAL INSTITUTION of the day of rest. Like the institution of marriage, it was given to man for the whole race. Those who worshipped God seem to have kept the Sabbath from the first, and there are tokens of this in the brief sketch the Bible contains of the ages before the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. Noah sent forth the raven from the ark, and the dove thrice, at intervals of seven days, Ge 8:1-22. The account of the sending of manna in the desert proves that the Sabbath was already…

and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
יְנִיפֶ֖נּוּye.ni.Fe.nu he will wave it H5130 Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
37× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To wave means to move something back and forth, like waving a hand or an offering to God, as described in the book of Leviticus. It can also mean to sprinkle or shake something, like sprinkling water for purification.
Amplified meaning
shake, lift up
Tyndale gloss
to sprinkle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נוּף (nuwph) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses a range of actions including to sprinkle, wave, and move to and fro. It can refer to various movements such as shaking a hand or waving an offering, often in a ritual context. The term has applications in both everyday actions and religious rites, particularly those involving offerings to God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נוּף] vb. move to and fro, wave, besprinkle

Qal I have besprinkled my couch with myrrh

Po‛lel he brandisheth his hand toward the mt.

Hiph.

wield, move to and fro in using it

Shake or wave the hand

swing to and fro, as a signal

Oft. term. techn. in P (H), of rite in which originally the priest lifted his share of offering and waved it, i.e. moved it toward altar and back, in token of its presentation to God and its return by him to priest

Shed abroad

Hoph. be waved

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5130a נוּף besprinkle H5130b נוּף move to and fro, wave, besprinkle .I have besprinkled my couch with myrrh

.he brandisheth his hand toward the mt.

. . wield, move to and fro in using it

. Shake or wave the hand

. swing to and fro, as a signal

. Oft. term. techn. in P (H), of rite in which originally the priest lifted his share of offering and waved it, i.e. moved it toward altar and back, in token of its presentation to God and its return by him to priest

. Shed abroad

. be waved

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5130 nuwph noof

a primitive root; to quiver (i.e. vibrate up and down, or

rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications

(including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, bastinadoing,

sawing, waving, etc.):--lift up, move, offer, perfume, send,

shake, sift, strike, wave.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נוּף (nuph) — to sprinkle.

1) to sprinkle

1a) (Qal) to besprinkle, sprinkle

נוּף (nuph) — to wave.

1) to move to and fro, wave

1a) (Qal) to move

1b) (Polel) to wave, brandish (in threat)

1c) (Hiphil) to swing, wield, wave

1c1) to wield

1c2) to wave or shake (the hand)

1c2a) to wave (hand)

1c2b) to shake or brandish against

1c2c) to swing to and fro

1c3) to wave (an offering), offer

1c4) to shed abroad

1d) (Hophal) to be waved

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVhi3ms/Sp3ms
and he will wave the object marker the sheaf before Yahweh for acceptance your from [the] next day of the sabbath he will wave it the priest
הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ha.ko.Hen the priest H3548 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
one who serves God and leads others in worship
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

prest (kohen, "priest," "prince," "minister"; hiereus archiereus; for hiereus megas, of Heb 10:21, see Thayer's Lexicon, under the word hiereus:

I. NATURE OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE

1. Implies Divine Choice

2. Implies Representation

3. Implies Offering Sacrifice

4. Implies Intercession

II. THE TWO GREAT PRIESTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MELCHIZEDEK AND AARON

III. PRIESTLY FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTER

1. A Strictly Religious Order

2. Priestism Denied

3. The High Priest's Qualifications

4. Symbolism of Aaron's Rod

IV. CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS (EXODUS 29; LEVITICUS 8)

1. Symbolism of Consecration

2. Type and Archetype

LITERATURE

A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things, particularly to offer sacrifices at the altar, and who acts as mediator between men and God. In the New Testament the term is applied to priests of the Gentiles…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Priest

The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices.

At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved on the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (12:7; 13:4), Isaac (26:25), Jacob (31:54), and Job (Job 1:5).

The name first occurs as applied to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18). Under the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi, and to only one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron. Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Lev. 21:16-23. There are ordinances also regarding the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct of sin. Men feel that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of some one of whom they can think as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in "things pertaining unto God." He may become also (though this does not always follow) the representative of God to man. The functions of the priest and prophet may exist in the same person. No trace of a hereditary or caste priesthood meets us in the worship of the patriarchal age. Once and once only does the word cohen meet us as…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who officiated in the public worship of God, especially in making expiation for sin, being "ordained for men in things pertaining to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." In the Old Testament, the priesthood was not annexed to a certain family till after the promulgation of the law by Moses. Before that time, the firstborn of each family, the fathers, the princes, the kings, were priests in their own cities and in their own houses. Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Job, Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and Jacob offered personally their own sacrifices. In the solemnity of the covenant made by the Lord with his people, at the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses performed the office of mediator, and young men were chosen from among Israel to perform the office of priests, Ex 24:5. But after the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to…

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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