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Leviticus 25:53 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכִּשְׂכִ֥יר שָׁנָ֛ה בְּשָׁנָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֣ה עִמּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־ יִרְדֶּ֥נּֽוּ בְּפֶ֖רֶךְ לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃

BSAHe shall be treatedhâyâh like a man hiredsâkîyr [hired worker, servant] from yearshâneh [a period of time, a cycle] to yearshâneh [a cycle, a season] but [a foreign owner] must notlôʼ [a master, a ruler] rule over himrâdâh [exercise power, dominate] harshlyperek [with severity, cruelly] in your sightʻayin [before your eyes, in your presence]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 25
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 53 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 (le.'ei.Nei.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
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Leviticus 25:53quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse outlines the treatment of a hired worker and the restrictions on a foreign owner's authority.
Who is speakingThe speaker is addressing the Israelites regarding their treatment of hired workers.
Where we areThis verse is part of the laws concerning the treatment of servants and hired workers.
The hard wordבְּפֶ֖רֶךְ
Take awayHired workers should be treated fairly, without harshness.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Poole, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה 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 25:53

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 Concerning Servants and Hired Workersgenerated

52If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to calculate and pay his redemption according to his remaining years.
53He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight.
54Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children shall be released in the Year of Jubilee.
55For the Israelites are My servants. They are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 25:53 provides guidelines for how hired workers should be treated, emphasizing fairness and compassion. This is part of a broader discussion on social justice and the treatment of individuals within the community, reflecting God's concern for the well-being of all people, especially those in vulnerable positions.


Cross References


The Key Word שָׂכִיר, kis.Khirgenerated

The word שָׂכִיר (sakiyr) refers to someone who is hired, typically as a laborer or servant. It is derived from a root meaning 'to hire' and is commonly used in contexts involving daily or yearly wages. In this verse, it emphasizes the status of the worker, likening him to a hired laborer who deserves fair treatment.

The parsing as a preposition indicates its role in establishing a relationship between the hired worker and the conditions of his employment. This word underscores the expectation of equitable treatment in the context of labor.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih.Yeh), he will be, governs the main clause, establishing the condition of the hired worker. The structure includes a series of prepositional phrases that describe the nature of his treatment and the authority of the foreign owner.

The word order places emphasis on the treatment of the worker, with the main clause followed by conditions that clarify the expected behavior of the foreign owner.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates שָׂכִיר as μισθωτὸς (misthōtos), which means 'hired' or 'wage worker'. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but also indicates a broader understanding of employment in the Greek context.

The use of ἔσται for יִהְיֶ֣ה suggests a clear assertion of the worker's status, reinforcing the expectation of fair treatment.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 25:53 explains that a hired worker should be treated fairly, just like any other worker. It emphasizes that a foreign owner should not treat him harshly, ensuring that all workers are respected and not oppressed.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to treat a hired worker like a man hired from year to year?

It means to recognize the worker's rights and ensure fair treatment, similar to how one would treat any employee.

Why is there a specific mention of a foreign owner?

The mention of a foreign owner highlights the importance of fairness in treatment, regardless of the worker's background.

What is the significance of not ruling over him harshly?

This emphasizes the moral and ethical responsibility to treat all individuals with dignity and respect, preventing exploitation.

How does this verse reflect God's concern for justice?

It shows that God cares about the treatment of vulnerable individuals and expects His people to act justly and compassionately.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I ensure that I treat others with fairness and respect in my daily interactions?
  2. What are some examples of how I can advocate for the rights of workers in my community?
  3. In what ways can I reflect God's justice in my relationships with others?
  4. How can I be more aware of the treatment of those who are vulnerable or marginalized in society?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 25:53 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[And] as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him,.... Being redeemable every year, and upon his redemption might quit his master's service, as an hireling may; and the price of his redemption to

Read John Gill on Leviticus 25 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thou shalt not suffer this to be done, but whether thou art a magistrate, or a private person, thou shalt take care according to thy capacity to get it remedied.

Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 25 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(53) And as a yearly hired servant shall he be.—Better, As a yearly servant, &c, without the “and,” which is not in the original, and is not wanted. That is, as long as he is in service his master must not treat him like a slave, but is to behave to him as if he were simply one who hires out his services from year to year, and who, after a short time, will be his own master again. And the other shall not rule with rigour over him.—Better, he shall not rule, &c, that is, the heathen master. The words “and the other” are not in the original, and the sense of the passage is quite plain without them. In thy sight.—The Israelite is here admonished not to be a tacit spectator of the cruel…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 25 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

53. in thy sight] whenever thou art cognizant of it.

Read Cambridge on Leviticus 25 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

53. As a yearly hired servant — He shall be treated mercifully, and all his rights shall be respected as if serving for wages.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 25 →

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

He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight.

NETBNew English Translation2006

He must be with the one who bought him like a yearly hired worker. The one who bought him must not rule over him harshly in your sight.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him: he shall not rule with rigor over him in thy sight.

RVARevised Version, American1894

As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him: he shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigor over him in thy sight.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He shalbe with him yeere by yeere as an hired seruant: he shall not rule cruelly ouer him in thy sight.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

As a hired servant shall he be with him year by year; [his master] shall not rule with rigour over him before thine eyes.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

as an hireling, year by year, he is with him, and he doth not rule him with rigour before thine eyes.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

as a hired worker, year by year, he is with him, and he does not rule him with rigor before your eyes.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

As a laborer hired from year to year shall he be with him; he shall not rule over him with rigor before thy eyes.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He is to be treated like a man hired year by year. You must make sure he is not treated with harshness.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

His wages being allowed for which he served before: he shall not afflict him violently in thy sight.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They are to live with their foreign owner just like a paid worker, hired from year to year, but see to it that the owner doesn't treat him brutally.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And he will be with him as a servant working for payment year by year; his master is not to be cruel to him before your eyes.

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.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalכִּlikenoun phraseשְׂכִ֥ירa.hired.laborerשָׁנָ֛הof.a.yearprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinשָׁנָ֖הa.yearverbיִהְיֶ֣הhe.will.beprepositional phrase · prepositionalעִמּ֑withוֹhimclauseadverbialלֹֽאnotverbיִרְדֶּ֥heobjectנּֽוּwill.rule.over.himprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwithפֶ֖רֶךְharshnessprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseעֵינֶֽיeyesךָyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text is consistent with the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agree word for word on this verse. This alignment suggests a strong tradition of interpretation regarding the treatment of hired workers.

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

כִּשְׂכִ֥יר שָׁנָ֛ה בְּשָׁנָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֣ה עִמּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־ יִרְדֶּ֥נּֽוּ בְּפֶ֖רֶךְ לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כִּשְׂכִ֥ירμισθωτὸςשָׁנָ֛הἐνιαυτὸνבְּשָׁנָ֖הἐνιαυτοῦיִהְיֶ֣הἔσταιעִמּ֑וֹαὐτοῦלֹֽא־οὐיִרְדֶּ֥נּֽוּαὐτὸνבְּפֶ֖רֶךְμόξθῳלְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃σου

9 of the 9 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

כשׂכיר שׁנה בשׁנה יהיה עמו לא ירדנו בפרך לעיניך

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 25:53שָׂכִירlike a hirelike a hired laשָׂכִירשָׁנָהa yeara yearשָׁנָהשָׁנָהin a yearin a yearשָׁנָההָיָהhe will behe will beהָיָהעִםwith himwith himעִםלֹאnotnotלֹארָדָהhe will rulhe will rule ovרָדָהפֶּ֫רֶךְwith harshnwith harshnessפֶּ֫רֶךְעַ֫יִןto eyes youto eyes yourעַ֫יִןשָׁנָהto changeto changeשָׁנָהסָכַרto hireto hireסָכַרעָמַםto darkento darkenעָמַםהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאמָלַךְto reignto reignמָלַךְעֶשְׂרִיםtwentytwentyעֶשְׂרִיםתּוֹשָׁבsojournersojournerתּוֹשָׁבשָׂכָרwageswagesשָׂכָרשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַריָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדפֶּ֫רֶךְseverityseverityפֶּ֫רֶךְבֵ֫לֶתlestlestבֵ֫לֶתרָדָהto ruleto ruleרָדָהלֹאnotnotלֹאחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁר
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 25:53

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.

like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
כִּשְׂכִ֥ירkis.Khir like a hired laborer of H7916 Preposition
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes a hired worker, someone paid by the day or year. In the Bible, hired laborers were common, and the KJV translates this word as hired or hireling.
Amplified meaning
hired worker, servant
Tyndale gloss
hired
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂכִיר (sakiyr) refers to someone who is hired, typically as a laborer or servant. The term can also apply to animals that are hired for work. It is derived from a root meaning 'to hire' and is used in contexts involving daily or yearly wages.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂכִיר adj. hired

hired, of beast

usu. as subst. hireling, hired labourer

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7916 שָׂכִיר hired . hired, of beast

. usu. as subst. hireling, hired labourer

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7916 sakiyr saw-keer'

from 7936; a man at wages by the day or year:--hired (man,

servant), hireling.

see HEBREW for 07936

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂכִיר (sa.khir) — hired.

1) hired

1a) hired (of animal)

1b) hireling, hired labourer (subst)

1b1) mercenary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Aamsc
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…

like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
שָׁנָ֛הsha.Nah a year H8141 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
877× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Amplified meaning
a period of time, a cycle
Tyndale gloss
year
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8141 shaneh shaw-neh'

(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year

(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,

year(X -ly).

see HEBREW for 08138

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.

1) year

1a) as division of time

1b) as measure of time

1c) as indication of age

1d) a lifetime (of years of life)

Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)

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

yer (shanah, Aramaic shenah, "a return" (of the sun), like the Greek eniautos; yamim, "days," is also used for "year," and the Greek hemerai, corresponds to it (Jos 13:1; Lu 17,18); etos, is also employed frequently in the New Testament; for the difference between etos and eniautos, see Grimm-Thayer, under the word): The Hebrew year was solar, although the month was lunar, the adjustment being made in intercalation.

See ASTRONOMY; TIME.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Year

Heb. shanah, meaning “repetition” or “revolution” (Gen. 1:14; 5:3). Among the ancient Egyptians the year consisted of twelve months of thirty days each, with five days added to make it a complete revolution of the earth round the sun. The Jews reckoned the year in two ways, (1) according to a sacred calendar, in which the year began about the time of the vernal equinox, with the month Abib; and (2) according to a civil calendar, in which the year began about the time of the autumnal equinox, with the month Nisan. The month Tisri is now the beginning of the Jewish year.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

the highest ordinary division of time. Two years were known to, and apparently used by, the Hebrews. A year of 360 days appears to have been in use in Noah’s time. The year used by the Hebrews from the time of the exodus may: be said to have been then instituted, since a current month, Abib, on the 14th day of which the first Passover was kept, was then made the first month of the year. The essential characteristics of this year can be clearly determined, though we cannot fix those of any single year. It was essentially solar for the offering of productions of the earth, first-fruits, harvest produce and ingathered fruits, was fixed to certain days of the year, two of which were in the periods of great feasts, the third itself a feast reckoned from one of the former days. But it is certain that the months were lunar, each commencing with a new moon. There must therefore have been some…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Hebrews always had years of twelve months. But at the beginning, as some suppose, they were solar years of twelve months, each month having thirty days, excepting the twelfth, which had thirty-five days. We see, by the enumeration of the days of the deluge, Ge 7:1-8:22, that the original year consisted of three hundred and sixtyfive days. It is supposed that they had an intercalary month at the end of one hundred and twenty years, at which time the beginning of their year would be out of its place full thirty days. Subsequently, however, and throughout the history of the Jews, the year was wholly lunar, having alternately a full month of thirty days, and a defective month of twenty-nine days, thus completing their year in three hundred and fifty-four days. To accommodate this lunar year to the solar year, (365 days, 5 hours, 48…

like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
בְּשָׁנָ֖הbe.sha.Nah in a year H8141 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
877× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Amplified meaning
a cycle, a season
Tyndale gloss
year
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁנָה (shaneh) means 'year' and is derived from the root meaning to change or revolve. It encompasses various aspects of time, including divisions of time, measures of age, and even a lifetime. The Aramaic equivalent is שְׁנָה (she.nah), also meaning 'year'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁנָה 877 n.f. year (etym. v. √[v.ek.aa])

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8141 שָׁנָה year (etym. v. √[8138a])

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8141 shaneh shaw-neh'

(in plura or (feminine) shanah {shaw-naw'}; from 8138; a year

(as a revolution of time):--+ whole age, X long, + old,

year(X -ly).

see HEBREW for 08138

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁנָה (sha.neh) — year.

1) year

1a) as division of time

1b) as measure of time

1c) as indication of age

1d) a lifetime (of years of life)

Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)

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

yer (shanah, Aramaic shenah, "a return" (of the sun), like the Greek eniautos; yamim, "days," is also used for "year," and the Greek hemerai, corresponds to it (Jos 13:1; Lu 17,18); etos, is also employed frequently in the New Testament; for the difference between etos and eniautos, see Grimm-Thayer, under the word): The Hebrew year was solar, although the month was lunar, the adjustment being made in intercalation.

See ASTRONOMY; TIME.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Year

Heb. shanah, meaning “repetition” or “revolution” (Gen. 1:14; 5:3). Among the ancient Egyptians the year consisted of twelve months of thirty days each, with five days added to make it a complete revolution of the earth round the sun. The Jews reckoned the year in two ways, (1) according to a sacred calendar, in which the year began about the time of the vernal equinox, with the month Abib; and (2) according to a civil calendar, in which the year began about the time of the autumnal equinox, with the month Nisan. The month Tisri is now the beginning of the Jewish year.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

the highest ordinary division of time. Two years were known to, and apparently used by, the Hebrews. A year of 360 days appears to have been in use in Noah’s time. The year used by the Hebrews from the time of the exodus may: be said to have been then instituted, since a current month, Abib, on the 14th day of which the first Passover was kept, was then made the first month of the year. The essential characteristics of this year can be clearly determined, though we cannot fix those of any single year. It was essentially solar for the offering of productions of the earth, first-fruits, harvest produce and ingathered fruits, was fixed to certain days of the year, two of which were in the periods of great feasts, the third itself a feast reckoned from one of the former days. But it is certain that the months were lunar, each commencing with a new moon. There must therefore have been some…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Hebrews always had years of twelve months. But at the beginning, as some suppose, they were solar years of twelve months, each month having thirty days, excepting the twelfth, which had thirty-five days. We see, by the enumeration of the days of the deluge, Ge 7:1-8:22, that the original year consisted of three hundred and sixtyfive days. It is supposed that they had an intercalary month at the end of one hundred and twenty years, at which time the beginning of their year would be out of its place full thirty days. Subsequently, however, and throughout the history of the Jews, the year was wholly lunar, having alternately a full month of thirty days, and a defective month of twenty-nine days, thus completing their year in three hundred and fifty-four days. To accommodate this lunar year to the solar year, (365 days, 5 hours, 48…

like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yeh he will be H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
עִמּ֑וֹi.Mo with him H5973 Preposition · suffix
1,052× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עִם prep. with

of fellowship and companionship

of aid

Of actions done jointly with another

If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against

Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another

Of a common lot together with the wicked

Of equality or resemblance generally aid

Of time, as long as

Of a locality, close to, beside

Of persons, עִם is spec.

in the house or family or service of

In possession of

In the custody or care of

Beside = except

With = friendly with

Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

base

מֵעִם 72 from with or beside

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship

. Of a locality, close to, beside

. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of

. In possession of

. In the custody or care of

. Beside = except

. With = friendly with

. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one

. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding

H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5973 `im eem

from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction

with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;

often with prepositional prefix (and then usually

unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X

long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from

(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,

with(-al).

see HEBREW for 06004

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עִם (im) — with.

1) with

1a) with

1b) against

1c) toward

1d) as long as

מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.

1a) beside, except

1b) in spite of

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp3ms
like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
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.
Amplified meaning
a master, a ruler
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
like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
יִרְדֶּ֥נּֽוּyir.De.nu he will rule over him H7287 Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to have power or control over someone or something. It can also mean to scrape or crumble something, like scraping out a bowl.
Amplified meaning
exercise power, dominate
Tyndale gloss
to rule
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָדָה (radah) is a Hebrew verb with two main meanings: to rule or have dominion, and to scrape out. It can refer to subjugating or dominating in the Qal form, while the Hiphil form indicates causing someone to dominate. The word encompasses both authority and a physical action of scraping.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָדָה] vb. have dominion, rule, dominate

Qal have dominion, rule, over

Hiph. and kings he causeth (him) to dominate

base

רָדָה vb. scrape out

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7287a רָדָה have dominion, rule, dominate H7287b רָדָה scrape out

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7287 radah raw-daw'

a primitive root; to tread down, i.e. subjugate;

specifically, to crumble off:--(come to, make to) have

dominion, prevail against, reign, (bear, make to) rule,(-r,

over), take.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָדָה (ra.dah) — to rule.

1) to rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down

1a) (Qal) to have dominion, rule, subjugate

1b) (Hiphil) to cause to dominate

רָדָה (ra.dah) — to scrape.

1) to scrape out

1a) (Qal) to scrape, scrape out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular · suffix
HVqi3ms/Sp3ms
like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
בְּפֶ֖רֶךְbe.Fe.rekh with harshness H6531 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means severity or harshness, like cruelty or rigor. It describes something or someone that is strict or unyielding. In the Bible, it is used to convey a sense of intensity or sternness.
Amplified meaning
with severity, cruelly
Tyndale gloss
severity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫רֶךְ (perek) refers to harshness or severity, often associated with cruelty or rigor. It is derived from an unused root meaning to break apart or fracture. The term is consistently defined across entries, emphasizing its connotations of severity in various contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫רֶךְ n.[m.] harshness, severity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6531 פֶּ֫רֶךְ harshness, severity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6531 perek peh'-rek

from an unused root meaning to break apart; fracture, i.e.

severity:--cruelty, rigour.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫רֶךְ (pe.rekh) — severity.

harshness, severity, cruelty

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
like a hired laborer of a year in a year he will be with him not he will rule over him with harshness to eyes your
לְעֵינֶֽיךָ׃le.'ei.Nei.kha to eyes your H5869 Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
887× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
before your eyes, in your presence
Tyndale gloss
eye
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye

lit. as physical organ

eyes as showing mental qualities

desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

Transferred mngs.:

visible surface of earth

appearance

gleam, sparkle

Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

base

עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:

ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1

ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19

ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.

ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ

. . eyes as showing mental qualities

. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes

. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states

. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth

. appearance

. gleam, sparkle

. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead

H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5869 `ayin ah'-yin

probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or

figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the

landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +

think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +

displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,

fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,

knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,

presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +

think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.

: eye

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.

§ spring, fountain

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.

: seeing

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.

: appearance

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).

: before(the_eyes)

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.

: sin

1) eye

1a) eye

1a1) of physical eye

1a2) as showing mental qualities

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HR/Ncfdc/Sp2ms
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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