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Nehemiah 12:36 — Word Study

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WLCוְֽאֶחָ֡יו שְֽׁמַעְיָ֡ה וַעֲזַרְאֵ֡ל מִֽלֲלַ֡י גִּֽלֲלַ֡י מָעַ֞י נְתַנְאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙ חֲנָ֔נִי בִּכְלֵי־ שִׁ֥יר דָּוִ֖יד אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעֶזְרָ֥א הַסּוֹפֵ֖ר לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

BSAand his associatesʼâch [brethren, fellow priests] ShemaiahShᵉmaʻyâh AzarelʻĂzarʼêl MilalaiMilălay GilalaiGilălay MaaiMâʻay NethanelNᵉthanʼêl JudahYᵉhûwdâh and HananiChănânîy with the musicalshîyr instrumentskᵉlîy [of song, for worship] [prescribed by] DavidDâvid [a king after God's heart] the manʼîysh of Godʼĕlôhîym [Elohim, the supreme Creator] EzraʻEzrâʼ [a recorder of God's words] the scribeçâphar led the processionpânîym [marched in front of them, guided them]

Word
Listen & take awayNehemiah 12
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 36 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 (lif.nei.Hem) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Nehemiah 12:36quick helps
In a sentenceEzra leads a procession of priests and musicians, honoring God with prescribed instruments.
Who is speakingThe narrative is from Nehemiah, detailing the return of the exiles and their worship.
Where we areThe context is the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, highlighting the roles of various leaders.
The hard wordבִּכְלֵי־
Take awayThe worship is communal, with specific roles and instruments contributing to the celebration.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

3 of 17 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.

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 — Nehemiah 12:36

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalemgenerated

35and some of the priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,
36and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession.
37At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.
38The second thanksgiving choir proceeded to the left, and I followed it with half the people along the top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall,

Nehemiah 12:36 describes a significant moment during the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, where Ezra, a scribe and priest, leads a procession of fellow priests and musicians. This event emphasizes the importance of worship in the life of the returning exiles, as they celebrate their restoration and dedication to God. The passage highlights the roles of various individuals, including Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, who contribute to the worship with musical instruments prescribed by David, the man of God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Nehemiah 12:24The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, along with their associates, who stood across from them to give praise and thanksgiving as one section alternated with the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
21 Chronicles 23:54,000 are to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for giving praise.”
32 Chronicles 8:14In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.
4Amos 6:5You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments.
5Ezra 7:1Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

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


The Key Word וְֽאֶחָ֡יו, ve.'e.Chavgenerated

The word וְֽאֶחָ֡יו (ve.'e.Chav) means 'and his brothers' or 'and his associates.' It is a construct form indicating a close relationship, often used to refer to fellow priests or relatives in a communal or familial context. The parsing shows it as a conjunction with a noun, emphasizing the connection between Ezra and his associates.

In this verse, it signifies the collective effort of the priests and musicians, underscoring the unity and shared purpose in worshiping God during the dedication ceremony.


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 main clause of the verse is introduced by the conjunction וְֽאֶחָ֡יו, and his associates, which serves as the subject. This is followed by a list of names, indicating the individuals involved in the procession, and concludes with a prepositional phrase describing the instruments used in worship.

The structure highlights the roles of the individuals named, emphasizing their collective participation in the worship service, which is central to the dedication of the wall.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וְֽאֶחָ֡יו as αὐτοῦ, meaning 'of him' or 'his,' which reflects a narrowing of the relationship to Ezra alone. This choice emphasizes the connection of the individuals to Ezra rather than a broader community.

This rendering suggests a focus on Ezra's leadership role in the procession, aligning with the overall theme of his guidance in the restoration of worship.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Nehemiah 12:36 describes Ezra leading a group of priests and musicians during the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. The names listed are his associates who contributed to the worship with musical instruments prescribed by David. This event highlights the importance of communal worship and the roles of various individuals in honoring God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Who are the associates mentioned in this verse?

The associates are Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, who were priests and musicians participating in the worship during the dedication.

What significance do the musical instruments have?

The musical instruments prescribed by David were used to enhance the worship experience, reflecting the established practices of praise in Israel's history.

What role did Ezra play in this event?

Ezra led the procession, serving as a key figure in the restoration of worship and the spiritual leadership of the returned exiles.

How does this verse connect to the themes of Nehemiah?

This verse connects to the themes of restoration and communal worship, highlighting the efforts of the returned exiles to reestablish their relationship with God after the Exile.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I participate in communal worship in my community?
  2. How can I honor God with my talents and abilities, like the musicians in this verse?
  3. What role do leaders play in guiding worship in my church or community?
  4. How does the dedication of the wall reflect the importance of spiritual restoration in my own life?

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 12:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And his brethren,.... The brethren of Zechariah, the priest's son, and such are those that follow: Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical

Read John Gill on Nehemiah 12 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Nehemiah 12 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Nehemiah 12:36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.Ver. 36. And Ezra before them] Before the first company, as Nehemiah came after the second, Nehemiah 12:4. As the first went round from the west southward till they came to the east; so the second company went from the west northward, till they came to the east, where they both met at length in the Temple, Nehemiah 12:41. Praising God with all sorts of music, vocal and instrumental. This was a most solemn and sacred procession, far different from those of the Papists. The French historian telleth…

Read John Trapp on Nehemiah 12 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(36) With the musical instruments of David the man of God.—No part of the service deviated from sacred precedents (comp. Nehemiah 12:27). Ezra the scribe before them.—Between the singers and the princes came he who was the greatest in dignity, though the second in office.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Nehemiah 12 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

36. Azarael … Nethaneel] R.V. Azarel … Nethanel. These two names recall ‘Nethaniah and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph,’ in 1 Chronicles 25:2. David the man of God] Cf. Nehemiah 12:24. Ezra … before them] The mention of Ezra’s name here seems to indicate that he held in respect of the ‘right hand’ procession the same position occupied by Nehemiah in the other. If so, the words ‘before them’ will mean, not at the head of the professional musicians (which was Zechariah’s place), but at the head of the whole civil and religious procession. His place in the procession would then be before Hoshaiah and half of ‘the princes of Judah’ (Nehemiah 12:31-32).

Read Cambridge on Nehemiah 12 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

36. The musical instruments of David — Such instruments as David invented, and introduced into the sacred service. Comp. 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 23:5; 2 Chronicles 29:26.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Nehemiah 12 →

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 his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

and his brothers, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani—with the musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession.

NETBNew English Translation2006

and his colleagues – Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani – with musical instruments of David the man of God. (Ezra the scribe led them.)

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azareel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Iudah, Hanani, with the musicall instruments of Dauid the man of God: and Ezra the scribe went before them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azareel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe before them.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and his brethren Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with instruments of song of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe [is] before them;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and his brothers Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with instruments of song of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe [is] before them;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And his brethren, Shema'yah, and 'Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Ma'ai, Nethanel, and Judah, Chanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and 'Ezra the expounder walked before them.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

There also were Zechariah's relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra the scribe was in front of them.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And they went up over against them by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall of the house of David, and to the water gate eastward:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

and his fellow priests, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, along with the musical instruments as required by David, the man of God. Ezra the scribe led them.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel and Judah, Hanani, with the music-instruments of David, the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was at their head;

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.

וְֽandclausenoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseאֶחָ֡יbrothersוhisnoun phraseשְֽׁמַעְיָ֡הShemaiahוַandעֲזַרְאֵ֡לAzarelמִֽלֲלַ֡יMilalaiגִּֽלֲלַ֡יGilalaiמָעַ֞יMaaiנְתַנְאֵ֤לNethanelוִֽandיהוּדָה֙Judahחֲנָ֔נִיHananiprepositional phrase · predicateבִּwithnoun phraseכְלֵיthe.instrumentsnoun phraseשִׁ֥ירof.(the).songnoun phraseדָּוִ֖ידof.Davidnoun phraseאִ֣ישׁthe.mannoun phraseהָof.(the)אֱלֹהִ֑יםGodוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectעֶזְרָ֥אEzranoun phraseהַtheסּוֹפֵ֖רscribeprepositional phrase · predicateלִ[was]noun phraseפְנֵיbeforeהֶֽםthem

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in this verse, with 16 of the 17 words matched. The Septuagint's wording, however, reflects a different structure and emphasis, focusing on the individuals associated with Ezra.

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

וְֽאֶחָ֡יו שְֽׁמַעְיָ֡ה וַעֲזַרְאֵ֡ל מִֽלֲלַ֡י גִּֽלֲלַ֡י מָעַ֞י נְתַנְאֵ֤ל וִֽיהוּדָה֙ חֲנָ֔נִי בִּכְלֵי־ שִׁ֥יר דָּוִ֖יד אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעֶזְרָ֥א הַסּוֹפֵ֖ר לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְֽאֶחָ֡יוαὐτοῦשְֽׁמַעְיָ֡הσαμαιαוַעֲזַרְאֵ֡לοζιηλמִֽלֲלַ֡יαἰνεῖνגִּֽלֲלַ֡י’’מָעַ֞י’’נְתַנְאֵ֤ל’’וִֽיהוּדָה֙’’חֲנָ֔נִי’’בִּכְלֵי־’’שִׁ֥ירᾠδαῖςדָּוִ֖ידδαυιδאִ֣ישׁἀνθρώπουהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםθεοῦוְעֶזְרָ֥אεσδραςהַסּוֹפֵ֖רγραμματεὺς

16 of the 17 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

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


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

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

Nehemiah 12:36אָחand brotherand brothers hiאָחשְׁמַעְיָ֫הShemaiahShemaiahשְׁמַעְיָ֫העֲזַרְאֵלand Azareland AzarelעֲזַרְאֵלמִֽלֲלִיMilalaiMilalaiמִֽלֲלִיגִּלֲלִיGilalaiGilalaiגִּלֲלִימָעַיMaaiMaaiמָעַינְתַנְאֵלNethanelNethanelנְתַנְאֵליְהוּדָהand Judahand JudahיְהוּדָהחֲנָנִיHananiHananiחֲנָנִיכְּלִיwith [the] with [the] instכְּלִישִׁירsong ofsong ofשִׁירדָּוִדDavidDavidדָּוִדאִישׁ[the] man o[the] man ofאִישׁאֱלֹהִיםGodGodאֱלֹהִיםעֶזְרָאand Ezraand Ezraעֶזְרָאסָפַרthe scribethe scribeסָפַרפָּנֶה[was] befor[was] before thפָּנֶהשָׁמַעto hear: hto hear: hearשָׁמַעעָזַרto helpto helpעָזַרמָלַלto speakto speakמָלַלגֵּלdungdungגֵּלמֵעֶהbellybellyמֵעֶהנָתַןto give: gto give: giveנָתַןיָדָהto give thto give thanksיָדָהחָנַןbe gracioube graciousחָנַןכָּלָהto end: fito end: finishכָּלָהשִׁירto singto singשִׁירפָּנָהCorner (GaCorner (Gate)פָּנָהאָבfatherfatherאָבדּוֹדbelovedbelovedדּוֹדאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהאֱלֹהַּgodgodאֱלֹהַּעֶזְרָהhelphelpעֶזְרָהמִזְמוֹרmelodymelodyמִזְמוֹר
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 Nehemiah 12:36

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 brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
וְֽאֶחָ֡יוve.'e.Chav and brothers his H251 Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
630× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Amplified meaning
brethren, fellow priests
Tyndale gloss
brother: male-sibling
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָח 630 n.m. brother

brother, born of same mother (& father)

indef. = relative

fig. of resemblance

in phr. one … another

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H251 אָח brother

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

251 'ach awkh

a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of

literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance

(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.

Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".

see HEBREW for 01

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.

: male-sibling

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.

: male-relative

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.

: compatriot

1) brother

1a) brother of same parents

1b) half-brother (same father)

1c) relative, kinship, same tribe

1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)

1e) (fig.) of resemblance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
שְֽׁמַעְיָ֡הshe.ma'.Yah Shemaiah H8098 Noun proper masculine
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shemaiah means heard by God, the name of 25 Israelites, including a prophet in King Rehoboam's time and a false prophet in Jeremiah's time. He is mentioned in Jeremiah 36:12. Shemaiah was also the father of Delaiah, a prince of Judah.
Tyndale gloss
Shemaiah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁמַעְיָ֫ה (Shma`yah) means 'Jah has heard' and refers to a name associated with numerous individuals in the Old Testament, particularly prophets and Levites. The entries highlight its use for a prophet during King Rehoboam's reign and various descendants, including those in the time of Jeremiah and Nehemiah. Notably, it is mentioned in contexts involving both true and false prophets.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁמַעְיָ֫ה(וּ) n.pr.m.

prophet, Rehob.’s time

Jer.’s time

a prophet’s father

descendant of Zerub.

in Simeon

in Reuben

Levites

companions of Ezra

of Neh.

priests

a prince

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8098 שְׁמַעְיָ֫ה(וּ), שְׁמַעְיָה, שְׁמַעְיָהוּ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8098 Shma`yah shem-aw-yaw'

or Shmamyahuw {shem-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from 8085 and 3050; Jah has

heard; Shemajah, the name of twenty-five

Israelites:--Shemaiah.

see HEBREW for 08085

see HEBREW for 03050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁמַעְיָ֫הוּ (she.ma.yah) — Shemaiah.

A prophet living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.12.22

§ Shemaiah = "heard by Jehovah"

1) a prophet of the Lord in the reign of king Rehoboam of Judah

2) the Nehelamite, a false prophet in the time of the prophet Jeremiah

3) father of Delaiah, one of the princes of Judah in the time of the prophet Jeremiah

4) an inhabitant of Kirjathjearim and father of Urijah, a prophet of the Lord in the time of the prophet Jeremiah

5) a Judaite, son of Shechaniah, father of Hattush, and descendant of Zerubbabel

6) a Simeonite, father of Shimri

7) a Reubenite, son of Joel and father of Gog

8) a Merarite Levite, son of Hasshub in the time of Nehemiah

9) a Levite, son of Galal and father of Obadiah

10) a Levite and head of the family of the sons of Elizaphan who were commissioned to bring the ark to Jerusalem in the time of David

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

she-ma'-ya, she-mi'-a (shema`yah (in 2Ch 11:2; 17:8; 31:15; 35:9; Jer 26:20; 29:24; 36:12, shema`yahu), "Jahveh hears"): The name is most frequently borne by priests, Levites and prophets.

(1) Codex Vaticanus Sammaias; Codex Alexandrinus Samaias (2Ch 12:5,7). A prophet who, together with Ahijah, protested against Rehoboam's contemplated war against the ten revolted tribes (1Ki 12:22-24 = 2Ch 11:2-4). He declared that the rebellion had divine sanction. The second Greek account knows nothing of Ahijah in this connection and introduces Shemaiah at the gathering at Shechem where both Jeroboam and Rehoboam were present; it…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Shemaiah

Whom Jehovah heard. (1.) A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:22-24).

(2.) Neh. 3:29.

(3.) A Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:37).

(4.) A priest (Neh. 12:42).

(5.) A Levite (1 Chr. 9:16).

(6.) 1 Chr. 9:14; Neh. 11:15.

(7.) A Levite in the time of David, who with 200 of his brethren took part in the bringing up of the ark from Obed-edom to Hebron (1 Chr. 15:8).

(8.) A Levite (1 Chr. 24:6).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(heard by Jehovah). A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:22; 2 Chronicles 11:2) (B.C. 972.) He wrote a chronicle containing the events of Rehoboam’s reign. (2 Chronicles 12:5,15) The son of Shechaniah, among the descendants of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:23; Nehemiah 3:28) A prince of the tribe of Simeon. (1 Chronicles 4:27) Son of Joel, Reubenite. (1 Chronicles 5:4) (B.C. after 1706.) Son of Hasshub, a Merarite Levite. (1 Chronicles 9:14;

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A prophet of Israel, by whom God forbade Rehoboam to endeavor to coerce the ten tribes back to their allegiance, and called the king and his court to repent at the invasion of Shishak. He is said to have written the history of Rehoboam’s reign, 1Ki 12:22-24 2Ch 12:5-8,15.

2. A Levite, who made a registry of the twenty-four priestly classes, 1Ch 15:8,11 24:6.

3. A false prophet among the exiled Jews in Babylon, who opposed the prophet Jeremiah, and incurred divine judgments on himself and his family. For his name, Nehelamite, a dreamer, Jer 29:24-32.

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
וַעֲזַרְאֵ֡לva.'a.zar.'El and Azarel H5832 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Azarel was one of five Israelites with this name, including a Levite and son of Heman, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 25:4. His name is similar to Azareel.
Tyndale gloss
Azarel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֲזַרְאֵל (*Azar'el*) means "God has helped" and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament. It is composed of elements meaning 'help' and 'God.' The name appears in contexts related to warriors, musicians, and priests, specifically during the time of David and the return from exile. Notably, it is mentioned in 1 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲזַרְאֵל n.pr.m. (Ēl hath helped)

warrior of David

Levite musician

a Danite

one with foreign wife

priestly name

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5832 עֲזַרְאֵל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5832 `Azar'el az-ar-ale'

from 5826 and 410; God has helped; Azarel, the name of five

Israelites:--Azarael, Azareel.

see HEBREW for 05826

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲזַרְאֵל (a.zar.el) — Azarel.

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.12.6

§ Azarael or Azareel = "God has helped"

1) a Korhite warrior of David who joined him at Ziklag

2) a Levite musician of the family of Heman in the time of David

3) a Danite, son of Jeroham and a prince of the tribe at the census of David

4) one of the sons of Bani who took a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

5) a priest, ancestor of Maasiai or Amashai, a priest in Jerusalem after the return from exile

6) a priest and musician in the time of Nehemiah

עֲזַרְאֵל (a.zar.el) — Azarel.

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.27.22;

son of: Jeroham (H3395L)

§ Azarael or Azareel = "God has helped"

1) a Korhite warrior of David who joined him at Ziklag

2) a Levite musician of the family of Heman in the time of David

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

az'-a-rel `azarel, ("God is helper"; the King James Version reads Azareel in numbers 1-5, Azarael in numbers 6):

(1) A Korahite who entered the army of David at Ziklag (1Ch 12:6).

(2) A musician in the temple appointed by lot; son of Heman (1Ch 25:18; compare Uzziel, 1Ch 25:4).

(3) A captain of the tribe of Da in the service of David (1Ch 27:22).

(4) One of those who had "strange wives," a son of Bani (Ezr 10:41).

(5) The father of Amashai, a priest who dwelt in Jerusalem after the Exile (Ne 11:13).

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
מִֽלֲלַ֡יmi.la.Lai Milalai H4450 Noun proper masculine
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Milalai was an Israelite who lived during the time of the Exile and Return, as mentioned in Nehemiah 12:36. He was the son of Jonathan and a descendant of Asaph, and his name means eloquent.
Tyndale gloss
Milalai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִֽלֲלַי (Milalay) refers to a talkative individual and is the name of a priest's son mentioned in Nehemiah 12:36. He is described as a descendant of Asaph and has several brothers. The name is derived from the root word for 'talk' or 'speak' (H4448), indicating an eloquent nature.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִֽלֲלִי n.pr.m. a priest’s son, Ne 12:36.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4450 מִֽלֲלִי, מִלֲלַי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4450 Milalay mee-lal-ah'-ee

from 4448; talkative; Milalai, an Israelite:--Milalai.

see HEBREW for 04448

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִֽלֲלַי (mi.la.lay) — Milalai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.12.36;

son of: Jonathan (H3129K);

brother of: Zechariah (H2148Z), Shemaiah (H8098V), Azarel (H5832J), Gilalai (H1562), Maai (H4597), Nethanel (H5417P), Judah (H3063K) and Hanani (H2607K)

§ Milalai = "eloquent"

son of the priest Jonathan and a descendant of Asaph

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mil-a-la'-i, mil'-a-li (milalay): A Levite musician (Ne 12:36).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(eloquent), probably a Gershonite Levite of the sons of Asaph, who assisted at the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 12:36)

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

circumcision; my talk

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A priest who took part in the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem Ne 12:36

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
גִּֽלֲלַ֡יgi.la.Lai Gilalai H1562 Noun proper masculine
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gilalai was a Levitical musician and the son of Jonathan, living during the time of the Exile and Return. He played a role in the consecration of the wall of Jerusalem, as mentioned in Nehemiah 12:36.
Tyndale gloss
Gilalai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּלֲלִי (Gilalay) refers to a Levitical musician mentioned in Nehemiah 12:36. The name is derived from a root meaning 'dungy' and is associated with a man who lived during the Exile and Return, identified as the son of Jonathan and brother to several others. There is no significant disagreement among the entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גִּלֲלִי n.pr.m. a Levitical musician Ne 12:36.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1562 גִּלֲלִי, גִּלֲלַי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1562 Gilalay ghe-lal-ah'-ee

from 1561; dungy; Gilalai, an Israelite:--Gilalai.

see HEBREW for 01561

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּלֲלַי (gi.la.lay) — Gilalai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.12.36;

son of: Jonathan (H3129K);

brother of: Zechariah (H2148Z), Shemaiah (H8098V), Azarel (H5832J), Milalai (H4450), Maai (H4597), Nethanel (H5417P), Judah (H3063K) and Hanani (H2607K)

§ Gilalai "weighty"

a Levitical musician, one of the priest's sons at the consecration of the wall of Jerusalem

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gil'-a-li, gi-la'-li (gilalay): A musician in the procession at the dedication of the wall, son of a priest (Ne 12:36).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(weighty), one of the priests’ sons at the consecration of the wall of Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 12:36) (B.C. 446.)

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

a wheel

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A priest and musician Ne 12:36

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
מָעַ֞יma.'Ai Maai H4597 Noun proper masculine
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Maai was an Israelite who lived during the time of Exile and Return, mentioned in Nehemiah 12:36. He was the son of Jonathan and brother of several other men. Maai means compassionate in Hebrew.
Tyndale gloss
Maai
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָעַי (Ma`ai) is a proper name likely meaning 'compassionate.' It refers to a musician mentioned in Nehemiah 12:36, who was part of the musical service during the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. Maai is noted as an Israelite and is connected to several family members, including his father Jonathan and brother Zechariah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָעַי n.pr.m. a musician Ne 12:36

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4597 מָעַי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4597 Ma`ai maw-ah'-ee

probably from 4578; sympathetic; Maai, an Israelite:--Maai.

see HEBREW for 04578

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָעַי (ma.ay) — Maai.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.12.36;

son of: Jonathan (H3129K);

brother of: Zechariah (H2148Z), Shemaiah (H8098V), Azarel (H5832J), Milalai (H4450), Gilalai (H1562), Nethanel (H5417P), Judah (H3063K) and Hanani (H2607K)

§ Maai = "compassionate"

one of the sons of Asaph who took part in the musical service at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ma-a'-i, ma'i (ma`ay): An Asaphite musician who took part in the ceremony of the dedication of the walls (Ne 12:36).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(compassionate), one of the Bene-Asaph who took part in the solemn musical service by which the wall of Jerusalem was dedicated. (Nehemiah 12:36)

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

belly; heaping up

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A priest Ne 12:36

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
נְתַנְאֵ֤לne.tan.'El Nethanel H5417 Noun proper masculine
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Nethanel was a chief of the tribe of Issachar and his name means 'given of God', as noted in the book of Numbers and 1 Chronicles.
Tyndale gloss
Nethanel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נְתַנְאֵל (Nethanel) means "given of God" and is derived from the roots for "give" and "God." It refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, including a chief of the tribe of Issachar, the fourth son of Jesse, and various priests and Levites during different periods. Notably, Nethanel appears in contexts related to leadership and priesthood.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נְתַנְאֵל n.pr.m.

a chief of Issachar

4th son of Jesse

name of priests

priest’s son (who had strange wife)

Levite name

a prince of Jehoshaphat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5417 נְתַנְאֵל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5417 Nthane'l neth-an-ale'

from 5414 and 410; given of God; Nethanel, the name of ten

Israelites:--Nethaneel.

see HEBREW for 05414

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נְתַנְאֵל (ne.tan.el) — Nethanel.

A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.1.8;

son of: Zuar (H6686)

§ Nethaneel = "given of God"

1) son of Zuar and a chief of the tribe of Issachar at the exodus

2) the 4th son of Jesse and a brother of David

3) a priest in the reign of David who blew the trumpet before the ark when it was brought from the house of Obed-edom

4) a representative of the priestly family of Jedaiah in the time of Joiakim

5) a priest of the family of Pashur who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

6) a Levite, father of Shemaiah the scribe in the reign of David

7) a Levite, son of Obed-edom

8) a chief of the Levites in the reign of king Josiah of Judah

9) a prince of Judah in the reign of king Jehoshaphat of Judah who was sent by the king to teach in the cities of the kingdom

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ne-than'-el, neth'-a-nel (nethan'el, "God has given"; Nathanael; the King James Version Nethaneel, ne-than'-e-el):

(1) A chief or prince of Issachar (Nu 1:8; 2:5; 7:18,23; 10:15).

(2) The 4th son of Jesse (1Ch 2:14).

(3) One of the trumpet-blowers before the ark when it was brought up from the house of Obededom (1Ch 15:24).

(4) A Levite scribe, the father of Shemaiah (1Ch 24:6).

(5) The 5th son of Obed-edom (1Ch 26:4).

(6) One of the princes whom Jehoshaphat sent to teach in the cities of Judah (2Ch 17:7).

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
וִֽיהוּדָה֙vi.hu.Dah and Judah H3063 Conjunction · noun proper
820× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Judah is the name of the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob. It is also the name of the region where the tribe lived. The name means 'praised' and is first mentioned in Genesis.
Tyndale gloss
(Baalah of)Judah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהוּדָה (yehudah) means 'Judah' and is derived from a root meaning 'praised.' It refers to the son of Jacob and Leah, the tribe descended from him, and the territory they occupied. The term also encompasses the southern kingdom of Judah, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Additionally, it identifies various individuals, including Levites and overseers during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יְהוּדָה 820 n.pr.m. et terr. Judah

n.pr.m.

son of Jacob and Leah

tribe descended from Judah

nation, of southern kingdom under dynasty of David, as distinguished from northern kingdom of Ephraim or Israel

Levite, Ezra’s time

an overseer of Jerus.

Levite musician

priest

n.pr.terr. land of Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3063 יְהוּדָה Judah

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3063 Yhuwdah yeh-hoo-daw'

from 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five

Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of

its territory:--Judah.

see HEBREW for 03034

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהוּדָה (ye.hu.dah) — Judah.

A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35;

son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);

brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783);

half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559);

father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I)

§ Judah = "praised"

1) the son of Jacob by Leah

2) the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob

3) the territory occupied by the tribe of Judah

4) the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon

5) a Levite in Ezra's time

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper
HC/Npl
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Judah

Praise, the fourth son of Jacob by Leah. The name originated in Leah’s words of praise to the Lord on account of his birth: “Now will I praise [Heb. odeh] Jehovah, and she called his name Yehudah” (Gen. 29:35).

It was Judah that interposed in behalf of Joseph, so that his life was spared (Gen. 37:26, 27). He took a lead in the affairs of the family, and “prevailed above his brethren” (Gen. 43:3-10; 44:14, 16-34; 46:28; 1 Chr. 5:2).

Soon after the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah went to reside at Adullam, where he married a woman of Canaan. (See ONAN; TAMAR.) After the death of his wife Shuah, he returned to his father’s house, and there exercised much…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(praised, celebrated), the fourth son of Jacob and the fourth of Leah. (B.C. after 1753.) Of Judah’s personal character more traits are preserved than of any other of the patriarchs, with the exception of Joseph, whose life he in conjunction with Reuben saved. (Genesis 37:26-28) During the second visit to Egypt for corn it was Judah who understood to be responsible for the safety of Benjamin, ch. (Genesis 43:3-10) and when, through Joseph’s artifice, the brothers were brought back to the palace, he is again the leader and spokesman of the band. So too it is Judah who is sent before Jacob to smooth the way for him in the land of Goshen. ch. (Genesis 46:28) This ascendancy over his brethren is reflected in the last words…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, born in Mesopotamia, B. C. 1755, Ge 29:35. His name appears honorably in the history of Joseph, Ge 37:26,27 44:16-34; but disgracefully in that of Tamar his daughter-in-law, Ge 38:1-30. The dying benediction of Jacob foretells the superior power and prosperity of the family of Judah, and their continuance as chief of the Jewish race until the time of Christ, Ge 49:8-12. Though not the firstborn, Judah soon came to be considered as the chief of Jacob’s children, and his tribe was the most powerful and numerous. The southeastern part of Palestine fell to their lot. See JUDEA. On the border of their territory was Jerusalem, the seat of the…

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

the praise of the Lord; confession

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
חֲנָ֔נִיcha.Na.ni Hanani H2607 Noun proper masculine
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hanani means gracious, the name of six Israelites, including a musician and a brother of Zechariah. He is mentioned in Nehemiah and 1 Chronicles. Hanani lived during the time of Exile and Return.
Tyndale gloss
Hanani
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֲנָנִי (Chananiy) means 'gracious' and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament. Notably, it identifies a prophet, a chief musician during David's reign, and a brother of Nehemiah. The entries indicate that Chanani was involved in significant events, such as rebuking King Asa and taking a foreign wife during Ezra's time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲנָנִי n.pr.m.

father of the prophet Jehu

brother of Nehemiah

a chief musician of David

a chief musician in time of Nehemiah

a priest of Ezra’s time

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2607 חֲנָנִי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2607 Chananiy khan-aw-nee'

from 2603; gracious; Chanani, the name of six

Israelites:--Hanani.

see HEBREW for 02603

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲנָנִי (cha.na.ni) — Hanani.

A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.1;

father of: Jehu (H3058)

§ Hanani = "gracious"

1) one of the sons of Heman, a chief musician of David, and head of the 18th course of the service

2) a seer who rebuked Asa, king of Judah, and was imprisoned

2a) maybe, father of Jehu the seer who testified against Baasha

3) one of the priests who in the time of Ezra took a foreign wife

4) brother of Nehemiah whom Nehemiah appointed governor of Jerusalem

5) another priest who was the chief musician under Nehemiah

חֲנָנִי (cha.na.ni) — Hanani.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.25.4;

son of: Heman (H1968I);

brother of: Bukkiah (H1232), Mattaniah (H4983H), Uzziel (H5816J), Shebuel (H7619H), Jerimoth (H3406L), Hananiah (H2608P), Eliathah (H0448), Giddalti (H1437)…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha-na'-ni (chanani, "gracious"):

(1) A musician and son of Heman, David's seer, and head of one of the courses of the temple service (1Ch 25:4,25).

(2) A seer, the father of Jehu. He was cast into prison for his courage in rebuking Asa for relying on Syria (1Ki 16:1,7; 2Ch 19:2; 20:34).

(3) A priest, of the sons of Immer, who had married a foreign wife (Ezr 10:20).

(4) A brother or kinsman of Nehemiah who carried news of the condition of the Jews in Palestine to Susa and became one of the governors of Jerusalem (Ne 1:2; 7:2).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hanani

God has gratified me, or is gracious. (1.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4, 25). (2.) A prophet who was sent to rebuke king Asa for entering into a league with Benhadad I., king of Syria, against Judah (2 Chr. 16:1-10). He was probably the father of the prophet Jehu (1 Kings 16:7). (3.) Probably a brother of Nehemiah (Neh. 1:2; 7:2), who reported to him the melancholy condition of Jerusalem. Nehemiah afterwards appointed him to have charge of the city gates.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(gracious). One of the sons of Heman, and head of the eighteenth course of the service. (1 Chronicles 25:4,25) A seer who rebuked (B.C. 941) Asa king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 16:7) For this he was imprisoned. ver. 10 He or another Hanani was the father of Jehu the seer, who testified against Baasha, (1 Kings 16:1,7) and Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 19:2; 20:34) One of the priests who in the time of Ezra had taken strange wives. (Ezra 10:20) A brother of Nehemiah, (Nehemiah 1:2) who was made governor of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. Ch. (

1. A seer in the time of Asa, 955-914 B. C. imprisoned for his fidelity. He was also the father of the prophet Jehu, 1Ki 16:1-7 2Ch 16:7-10 19:2 20:34.

2. A brother of Nehemiah, who brought to Babylon an account of the wretched state of the Jews then at Jerusalem, and afterwards had charge of the gates of the city, Ne 1:1-3 7:2,3, B. C. 455.

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
בִּכְלֵי־bikh.lei- with [the] instruments of H3627 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
325× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to any object or tool, like a utensil or a piece of furniture. It is used to describe a wide range of items, from musical instruments to weapons. It emphasizes the object's purpose or function.
Amplified meaning
of song, for worship
Tyndale gloss
article/utensil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּלִי (kliy) refers to an article or utensil, encompassing a wide range of objects such as vessels, tools, and implements used for various purposes, including music and warfare. It is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare' and can denote anything from furniture to weapons. The entries highlight its general use in the Old Testament without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3627 כְּלִי article, utensil, vessel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3627 kliy kel-ee'

from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an

implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour

((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture,

instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that

which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool,

vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.

see HEBREW for 03615

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּלִי (ke.li) — article/utensil.

1) article, vessel, implement, utensil

1a) article, object (general)

1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel

1b1) implement (of hunting or war)

1b2) implement (of music)

1b3) implement, tool (of labour)

1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen)

1b5) utensils, furniture

1c) vessel, receptacle (general)

1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct
HR/Ncmpc
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 brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
שִׁ֥ירshir song of H7892 Noun common · masculine singular construct
90× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a song or singing, and it is used in the Bible to describe musical expressions of praise and worship, like the songs of David in the book of Psalms. It can also be used to describe a specific song or ode.
Tyndale gloss
song
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׁיר (shir) and שִׁירָה (shiyrah) both mean 'song' in Hebrew, covering various types of songs, including lyrical and religious ones. The entries indicate that shir is a masculine noun while shiyrah is feminine. The word is linked to the act of singing and is associated with Levitical choirs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׁיר 77 n.m. song

base

שִׁירָה n.f. song

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7892a שִׁיר song H7892b שִׁירָה song

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7892 shiyr sheer

or feminine shiyrah {shee-raw'}; from 7891; a song;

abstractly, singing:--musical(-ick), X sing(-er, -ing), song.

see HEBREW for 07891

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׁיר (shir) — song.

1) song

1a) lyric song

1b) religious song

1c) song of Levitical choirs

Also means: shi.rah (שִׁירָה "song" H7892B)

שִׁירָה (shi.rah) — song.

1) song

1a) song, ode

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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 brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
דָּוִ֖ידda.Vid David H1732 Noun proper masculine
1,075× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
David was the youngest son of Jesse and a king of Judah, first mentioned in Ruth 4:17, and an ancestor of Jesus.
Amplified meaning
a king after God's heart
Tyndale gloss
David
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּוִד (David) refers to the second king of Israel, known as the youngest son of Jesse. The name means 'beloved' and is associated with a significant lineage, including many siblings and notable descendants like Solomon. The entries highlight his familial connections and historical context, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּוִד, דָּוִיד 1066 n.pr.m. David

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1732 דָּוִד, דָּוִיד David

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1732 David daw-veed'

rarely (fully); Daviyd {daw-veed'}; from the same as 1730;

loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse:--David.

see HEBREW for 01730

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּוִד (da.vid) — David.

A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.4.17;

son of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I);

brother of: Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Shimeah (H8093), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684) and Elihu (H0453J); married to Michal (H4324), Abigail (H0026), Ahinoam (H0293H), Maacah (H4601I), Haggith (H2294), Abital (H0037), Eglah (H5698) and Bathsheba (H1339);

father of: Amnon (H0550), Chileab (H3609), Absalom (H0053), Adonijah (H0138), Shephatiah (H8203), Ithream (H3507), Shammua (H8051H), Shobab (H7727), Nathan (H5416), Solomon (H8010), Ibhar (H2984), Elishua (H0474), Nepheg (H5298H), Japhia (H3309I), Elishama (H0476H), Eliada (H0450), Eliphelet (H0467), Tamar (H8559H), Elpelet (H0467I), Nogah (H5052) and Jerimoth (H3406N)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon):

I. NAME AND GENEALOGY

II. EARLY YEARS

1. Shepherd

2. Slinger

3. Harpist

4. Poet

5. Psalmist

6. Tribesman

III. IN THE SERVICE OF SAUL

1. David First Meets Saul

2. His First Exploit

3. Envy of Saul and Flight of David

4. Jonathan and David

IV. DAVID IN EXILE

1. David as Outlaw

2. David Joins the Philistines

V. DAVID AS KING

1. Civil War

2. Conquests Abroad

3. Political Situation

4. The Ark

VI. DOMESTIC LIFE

1. His Wives and Children

2. Domestic Troubles

VII. HIS OFFICIALS

1. Prophets

2. Priests

3. Military Officers

4. Other Officials

5. Mutual Rivalry

VIII. PERSONAL CHARACTER OF DAVID

1. Chronicles

2. Psalms

3. Complex Character

4. Physical Courage

5. Moral Courage

6. Prudence

7. Strategy

8. Nobility

9. David in Relation to His Family

10. David in Relation to His Friends

11. His Success

12. His Foreign Friends

13. Nemesis

Easton's Bible Dictionary

David

Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal appearance, we only know that he was red-haired, with beautiful eyes and a fair face (1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42).

His early occupation was that of tending his father’s sheep on the uplands of Judah. From what we know of his after history, doubtless he frequently beguiled his time, when thus engaged, with his shepherd’s flute, while he drank in the many lessons taught him by the varied scenes spread around him. His first recorded exploits were his encounters with the wild beasts of the field. He mentions that with his own unaided hand he slew a lion and also a…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(well-beloved), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions: His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul; His relations with Saul; His reign. The early life of David contains in many important respects the antecedents of his future career. It appears that David was the youngest son, probably the youngest child, of a family of ten, and was born in Bethlehem B.C. 1085. The first time that David appears in history at once admits us to the whole family circle. The annual sacrificial feast is being held when Samuel appears, sent by God to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as they pass before him, (1 Samuel 16:6-10) Samuel sends for the youngest, David, who was "keeping the sheep," and anoints him. (1 Samuel 16:11-13) As David stood before Samuel we are enabled to…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Beloved, the youngest son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem B. C. 1085; one of the most remarkable men in either sacred of secular history. His life is fully recorded in 1Sa 16:1 1Ki 2:46. He was "the Lord’s anointed," chosen by God to be king of Israel instead of Saul, and consecrated to that office by the venerable prophet Samuel long before he actually came to the throne, 1Sa 16:1-13, for which God prepared him by the gift of his Spirit, and a long course of vicissitudes and dangers. In his early pastoral life he distinguished himself by his boldness, fidelity, and faith in God; and while yet a youth was summoned to court, as one expert in music, valiant, prudent in behavior, and comely in person. He…

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
אִ֣ישׁ'ish [the] man of H376 Noun common · masculine singular construct
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
הָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.Him God H430 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
2,603× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
Elohim, the supreme Creator
Tyndale gloss
God
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱלֹהִים (elohiym) is a plural noun meaning 'gods' or 'God,' often referring to the supreme deity in the Old Testament. It encompasses divine beings, rulers, and judges, reflecting divine majesty and power. The term can also denote angels and is used in a superlative sense. Notably, it is sometimes combined with יהוה (YHWH), the personal name of God.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.

pl. in number.

rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

angels

gods

pl. intensive

god or goddess

godlike one

works of God, or things belongng to him

God

הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

אֱלֹהִים = God

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H430 אֱלֹהִים n. m. pl. . pl. in number. . rulers, judges, either asdivine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels

. angels

. gods

. pl. intensive . god or goddess

. godlike one

. works of God, or things belongng to him

. God

. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God

. אֱלֹהִים = God

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

430 'elohiym el-o-heem'

plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically

used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the

supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to

magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X

exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X

mighty.

see HEBREW for 0433

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — God.

This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God"

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

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (LORD)-Elohe.

Combined with ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068)

אֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) — (Gibeath)-elohim.

Combined with giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeath" H1389)

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

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

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE GENERAL IDEA

1. The Idea in Experience and in Thought

2. Definition of the Idea

3. The Knowledge of God

4. Ethnic Ideas of God

(1) Animism

(2) Fetishism

(3) Idolatry

(4) Polytheism

(5) Henotheism

(6) Pantheism

(7) Deism

(8) Semitic Monolatry

(9) Monotheism

II. THE IDEA OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. The Course of Its Development

2. Forms of Its Manifestation

(1) The Face or Countenance of God

(2) The Voice and Word of God

(3) The Glory of God

(4) The Angel of God

(5) The Spirit of God

(6) The Name of God

(7) Occasional Forms

3. The Names of God

(1) Generic

(2) Attributive

(3) Yahweh

4. Pre-prophetic Conceptions of God

(1) Yahweh Alone Is the God of Israel

(a) His Early Worship

(b) Popular Religion

(c) Polytheistic Tendencies

(i) Coordination

(ii) Assimilation

(iii) Disintegration

(d) No Hebrew Goddesses

(e) Human Sacrifices

Easton's Bible Dictionary

God

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

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

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

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
וְעֶזְרָ֥אve.'ez.Ra' and Ezra H5830 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Ezra was an Israelite priest and scribe who led reforms in Jerusalem after the Exile, working with Nehemiah. His name means 'help'.
Amplified meaning
a recorder of God's words
Tyndale gloss
Ezra
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶזְרָא (Ezra) refers to a prominent figure in the Old Testament, specifically a priest and scribe who played a key role in the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem. The name means 'help' and is associated with several individuals, including a priest with Zerubbabel. Ezra is first mentioned in Ezra 7:1 and Nehemiah 12:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶזְרָא n.pr.m.

Ezra

priest with Zerub.

Ne 12:33

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5830 עֶזְרָא

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5830 `Ezra' ez-raw'

a variation of 5833; Ezra, an Israelite:--Ezra.

see HEBREW for 05833

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶזְרָא (ez.ra) — Ezra.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.7.1;

son of: Seraiah (H8304H);

brother of: Jehozadak (H3087)

Also named: ez.ra (עֶזְרָא "Ezra" H5831)

§ Ezra = "help"

1) the priest and scribe who led the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem; co-worker with Nehemiah

2) a priest with Zerubbabel

3) another post-exilic Jew

עֶזְרָא (ez.ra) — Ezra.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.12.1

§ Ezra = "help"

1) the priest and scribe who led the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem; co-worker with Nehemiah

2) a priest with Zerubbabel

3) another post-exilic Jew

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ez'-ra (Aramaic or Chaldee, `ezra', "help"; a hypocoristicon, or shortened form of Azariah, "Yahweh has helped." The Hebrew spells the name `ezrah, as in 1Ch 4:17, or uses the Aramaic spelling of the name, as in Ezr 7:1. The Greek form is Esdras):

(1) A priest who returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon (Ne 12:1). In Ne 10:2, Azariah, the full form of the name, is found.

(2) A descendant of Judah and father of Jethro and other sons (1Ch 4:17).

(3) The distinguished priest who is the hero of the Book of Ezra and co-worker with Nehemiah.

1. Family:

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ezra

Help. (1.) A priest among those that returned to Jerusalem under Zerubabel (Neh. 12:1).

(2.) The “scribe” who led the second body of exiles that returned from Babylon to Jerusalem B.C. 459, and author of the book of Scripture which bears his name. He was the son, or perhaps grandson, of Seraiah (2 Kings 25:18-21), and a lineal descendant of Phinehas, the son of Aaron (Ezra 7:1-5). All we know of his personal history is contained in the last four chapters of his book, and in Neh. 8 and 12:26.

In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus (see DARIUS), he obtained leave to go up to Jerusalem and to take with him a company of Israelites (Ezra 8). Artaxerxes manifested great interest in Ezra’s undertaking…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(help), called ESDRAS in the Apocrypha, the famous scribe and priest. He was a learned and pious priest residing at Babylon in the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus. The origin of his influence with the king does not appear, but in the seventh year of his reign he obtained leave to go to Jerusalem, and to take with him a company of Israelites. (B.C. 457.) The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem took just four months; and the company brought with them a large freewill offering of gold and silver, and silver vessels. It appears that Ezra’s great design was to effect a religious reformation among the Palestine Jews. His first step was to enforce separation upon all who had married foreign wives. (Ezra 10:1) ... This was effected in little more than six months after his arrival at Jerusalem. With the detailed account of this important…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A celebrated priest and leader of the Jewish nation. He was "a ready scribe in the law," a learned, able, and faithful man, and appears to have enjoyed great consideration in the Persian court. During the eighty years embraced in his narrative, most of the reign of Cyrus passed, and the whole reign of Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius Hystaspis, Xerxes, and eight years of Artaxerxes Longimanus. From this last king he received letters, money, and every desirable help, and went at the head of a large party of returning exiles to Jerusalem, B. C. 457. Here he instituted many reforms in the conduct of the people, and in the public worship, Ezr 8:1-10:44 Ne 8:1-18. After this he is generally believed to have collected and revised all the books of the Old Testament Scripture, which form the…

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
הַסּוֹפֵ֖רha.so.Fer the scribe H5608 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
159× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a scribe or secretary who records or inscribes information. It is used in the Bible to describe someone who counts or enumerates things. The KJV translates it as 'scribe, tell, writer'.
Tyndale gloss
to recount
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סָפַר (safar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to count or recount, with various forms indicating actions like declaring or rehearsing. The noun form סֹפֵר (sofer) refers to a scribe or secretary. The entries highlight its use in contexts of enumeration and record-keeping, but do not present significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָפַר 107 vb. count, Pi. recount, relate

Qal 27

count things, to learn their number

number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon

Niph. be counted, numbered

Pi. 67 recount, rehearse, declare

Pu. be recounted, related, rehearsed

base

סֹפֵר, סוֹפֵר n.m. enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5608a סָפַר count, Pi. recount, relate .. count things, to learn their number

. number = take account of, carefully observe and consider, reckon

. be counted, numbered

. recount, rehearse, declare

. be recounted, related, rehearsed

H5608b סֹפֵר, סוֹפֵר enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5608 caphar saw-far'

a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally

or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to

enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate:--commune,

(ac-)count; declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew

forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָפַר (sa.phar) — to recount.

v

1) to count, recount, relate

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to count (things)

1a2) to number, take account of, reckon

1b) (Niphal) to be counted, be numbered

1c) (Piel) to recount, rehearse, declare

1c1) to recount (something), rehearse

1c2) to talk

1c3) to count exactly or accurately

1d) (Pual) to be recounted, be rehearsed, be related

סֹפֵר (so.pher) — secretary.

1) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary, scribe

1a) enumerator, muster-officer, secretary

1b) learned man, scribe

Aramaic equivalent: sa.pher (סָפִר "scribe" H5613)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the earlier Hebrew writings, was one skilled in writing and accounts, Ex 5:6 Jud 5:14 Jer 52:25; the person who communicated to the people the commands of the king, like the modern Secretary of State, 2Sa 8:17 20:25. In the later times of the Old Testament, especially after the captivity, and in the New Testament, a scribe is a person skilled in the Jewish law, a teacher or interpreter of the law. So Ezra was "a ready scribe in the laws of Moses," Ezr 7:6 1Ch 27:32. The scribes of the New Testament were a class of men educated for the purpose of preserving and…

and brothers his Shemaiah and Azarel Milalai Gilalai Maai Nethanel and Judah Hanani with [the] instruments of song of David [the] man of God and Ezra the scribe [was] before them
לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.Hem [was] before them H6440 Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
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.
Amplified meaning
marched in front of them, guided them
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 | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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