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Nehemiah 3:28 — Word Study

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WLCמֵעַ֣ל׀ שַׁ֣עַר הַסּוּסִ֗ים הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ לְנֶ֥גֶד בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ ס

BSAAboveʻal [over, from a higher position] the Horseçûwç Gateshaʻar [where chariot horses passed] eachʼîysh of the priestskôhên [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people] made repairschâzaq [strengthened, restored] in frontneged of his [own] housebayith [opposite, across from, dwelling place, family home]

Word
Listen & take awayNehemiah 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 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 (bei.To) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Nehemiah 3:28quick helps
In a sentenceThe priests made repairs at the Horse Gate, each in front of his own house.
Who is speakingThe narrative describes the actions of the priests.
Where we areThis verse is part of the account of the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem.
The hard wordהֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙
Take awayEach priest took responsibility for the repairs near his home.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Poole, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause verbחָזַק 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 — Nehemiah 3:28

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 Rebuilding of Jerusalem's Wallsgenerated

27And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.
28Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.
29Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.
30Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters.

Nehemiah 3:28 describes the priests' efforts in repairing the walls of Jerusalem, specifically at the Horse Gate. This gate was significant for its role in the city's defense and commerce. The priests took initiative to repair the sections of the wall adjacent to their own homes, highlighting their commitment to the community and their spiritual leadership.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
12 Kings 11:16So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
22 Chronicles 23:15So they seized Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate to the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.
3Jeremiah 31:40The whole valley of the dead bodies and ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, will be holy to the LORD. It will never again be uprooted or demolished.”
4Nehemiah 3:10–23next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙, he.che.Zi.kugenerated

The verb חָזַק (*chazaq*) means to strengthen or repair. It is in the Hiphil stem, indicating a causative action, which in this context means that the priests actively engaged in strengthening the wall.

This word conveys a sense of responsibility and action, showing that the priests were not only leaders in worship but also in practical efforts to restore their city.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations generally agree on the meaning of הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙, rendering it as made repairs or repaired.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙, they repaired, governs the sentence, with several phrases providing additional information: a prepositional phrase indicating location, and a noun phrase describing the subject.

The structure emphasizes the action taken by the priests, with the location of the repairs being specified as in front of their own houses.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙ as ἐκράτησαν, which means 'they held fast' or 'they strengthened.' This choice reflects a similar emphasis on the act of reinforcing the wall.

This translation shows a consistent understanding of the priests' role in actively engaging in the restoration of Jerusalem.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Nehemiah 3:28 tells us that the priests made repairs at the Horse Gate, specifically in front of their own homes. This shows their dedication to both their spiritual duties and the physical restoration of Jerusalem.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the Horse Gate signify?

The Horse Gate was an important entry point for chariots and horses, symbolizing both commerce and military strength in Jerusalem.

Why did the priests repair the wall in front of their own houses?

Repairing the wall in front of their own homes demonstrated their commitment to the community and their leadership roles as spiritual guides.

What does this verse tell us about the role of priests?

This verse illustrates that priests were not only involved in spiritual matters but also took active roles in the physical well-being of their community.

How does this verse connect to the overall theme of Nehemiah?

The verse reflects the theme of rebuilding and restoration in Nehemiah, emphasizing collective effort and responsibility among the leaders.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways can I take responsibility for the well-being of my community, like the priests did?
  2. How can I apply the principle of serving both spiritually and practically in my own life?
  3. What are some areas in my life where I need to strengthen or repair relationships?
  4. How does this example of the priests inspire me to engage in community service?

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

Bede comments on the significance of the Horse Gate in the context of the city's rebuilding efforts, noting its eastern location.

BedeCommentary on Ezra and Nehemiah c. 673–735
Upwards to the Horse Gate they built, etc. Jeremiah mentions this gate and designates it to be on the eastern side of the city,
Early Church Fathers on Nehemiah 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Nehemiah 3:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

From above the horse gate repaired the priests,.... So called, either because near it were stables for horses; or through it horses were led to be watered at the brook of Kidron, to which it was

Read John Gill on Nehemiah 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The horse gate; not that belonging to the king’ s palace, , but one of the gates of the city so called; either because nigh unto that were many stables for horses, or because the horses commonly went out that way to their watering-place.

Read Matthew Poole on Nehemiah 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Nehemiah 3:28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.Ver. 28. From above the horse gate] So called, say some, because there they were wont to dismount, leaving their horses. When the king himself came, he must alight, and go afoot into the Temple. The Great Turk at this day, when he entereth into his mosque for devotion sake, alights and lays aside all his state, and goes in alone.

Read John Trapp on Nehemiah 3 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) From above the horse gate.—This gate was between the Temple and the palace, and the space from the wall of Ophel seems not to have needed repair.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Nehemiah 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 28. The horse gate] The place through which the horses passed in order to be watered; It was near the temple. Some rabbins suppose that in order to go to the temple, a person might go on horseback to the place here referred to, but then was obliged to alight, as a horse could pass no farther. Horses were never very plentiful in Jerusalem.

Read AdamClarke on Nehemiah 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. From above] R.V. Above. The word implies that the dwellingplaces of the priests stood on higher ground. the horse gate] This gate is mentioned 2 Kings 11:16; 2 Chronicles 23:15; Jeremiah 31:40, where it seems to be described as the easternmost portion of Jerusalem overlooking the valley of Kedron. It must have led to the S.E. corner of the Temple courts. It has been suggested that its name is derived from the horses dedicated to the sun by idolatrous kings of Judah (2 Kings 23:11). It was probably a little south of the modern ‘golden gate.’ over against his house] R.V. over against his own house, as in Nehemiah 3:29.

Read Cambridge on Nehemiah 3 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

28. The horse gate — So called, probably, from being the entrance to the royal stables. Compare marginal references. Its exact location can now be only a matter of conjecture.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Nehemiah 3 →

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

Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Above the Horse Gate the priests worked, each in front of his house.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his own house.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his own house.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

From above the horse-gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

From aboue the horsegate forth fortified the Priests, euery one ouer against his house.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

From above the horse-gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

From above the horse-gate have the priests strengthened, each over-against his house.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

From above the Horse Gate the priests have strengthened, each opposite his house.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

From above the horse-gate repaired the priests, every one opposite to his house.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The priests repaired above the Horse Gate, each opposite his own house.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And upward from the horse gate the priests built, every man over against his house.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs opposite his own house.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Further on, past the horse doorway, the priests were at work, every one opposite his house.

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 · prepositionalprepositional phraseמֵ(from)עַ֣לabovenoun phraseשַׁ֣עַרthe.gatenoun phraseהַofסּוּסִ֗יםthe.horsesverbהֶחֱזִ֨יקוּ֙they.repairednoun phrase · subjectהַtheכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםpriestsadverbialאִ֖ישׁeachprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseלְtoנֶ֥גֶדbeforenoun phraseבֵּיתֽhouseוֹhis.own

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 agree in this verse, with all words matching in meaning. There are no significant variations between the two texts, indicating a strong consistency in the preservation of this passage.

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

מֵעַ֣ל׀ שַׁ֣עַר הַסּוּסִ֗ים הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ לְנֶ֥גֶד בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מֵעַ֣ל׀ἀνώτερονשַׁ֣עַרπύληςהַסּוּסִ֗יםἵππωνהֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙ἐκράτησανהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםἱερεῖςאִ֖ישׁἀνὴρלְנֶ֥גֶדἐναντίαςבֵּיתֽוֹ׃ סαὐτοῦ

8 of the 8 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 3:28עַלaboveaboveעַלשַׁ֫עַר[the] gate [the] gate ofשַׁ֫עַרסוּסthe horsesthe horsesסוּסחָזַקthey repairthey repairedחָזַקכֹּהֵןthe prieststhe priestsכֹּהֵןאִישׁeach oneeach oneאִישׁנֶ֫גֶדto beforeto beforeנֶ֫גֶדבֵּיתown house hown house hisבֵּיתבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהשָׁעַרto calculato calculateשָׁעַרנָגַדto tellto tellנָגַדעַלheightheightעַלפָּרָשׁhorsehorseפָּרָשׁכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאמָדַדto measureto measureמָדַדפֶּ֫תַחentranceentranceפֶּ֫תַחפֶּ֫רֶדmulemuleפֶּ֫רֶדמֶרְכָּבָהchariotchariotמֶרְכָּבָהבֶ֫דֶקbreachbreachבֶ֫דֶקאָמֵץto strengtto strengthenאָמֵץאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרצָדוֹקZadokZadokצָדוֹק
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 3:28

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.

above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
מֵעַ֣ל׀me.'Al above H5921 Preposition · preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Amplified meaning
over, from a higher position
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Prep — Preposition · preposition
HR/R
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
שַׁ֣עַרSha.'ar [the] gate of H8179 Noun common · masculine singular construct
374× 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 gate or door, often referring to city entrances or temple doors, like in Genesis and Exodus. It can also symbolize a meeting place or marketplace. The word is used to describe important locations in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
where chariot horses passed
Tyndale gloss
gate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׁ֫עַר (sha'ar) means 'gate' and is derived from a root that signifies an opening. It encompasses various types of gates, including those of cities, palaces, and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like 'gate of heaven.' The entries consistently highlight its role as an entrance or threshold.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׁ֫עַר 373 n.m. gate

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8179 שַׁ֫עַר gate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8179 sha`ar shah'-ar

from 8176 in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or

gate:--city, door, gate, port (X -er).

see HEBREW for 08176

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate.

: gate

1) gate

1a) gate (of entrance)

1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)

1b1) city, town

1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)

1d) heaven

שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) — gate: town.

: town

1) gate

1a) gate (of entrance)

1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place)

1b1) city, town

1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle)

1d) heaven

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…

above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
הַסּוּסִ֗יםha.su.Sim the horses H5483 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
140× 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 horse, often referring to chariot horses. It also describes a swallow due to its swift flight, as seen in the book of Jeremiah. The word is used to describe strong and fast animals.
Tyndale gloss
swallow
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סוּס (sus) refers to both a 'swallow' and a 'horse,' derived from a root meaning to skip or leap. The word captures the swift nature of both the bird and the animal, often associated with chariot horses in the context of the Old Testament. There is a note in the entries about a comparison with another Hebrew word, but no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סוּס n.[m.] swallow or swift

base

סוּס 138 n.m. horse

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5483a סוּס swallow or swift H5483b סוּס horse

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5483 cuwc soos

or cuc {soos}; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly,

for joy); a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid

flight):--crane, horse((-back, -hoof)). Compare 6571.

see HEBREW for 06571

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סוּס (sus) — swallow.

swallow, swift

סוּס (sus) — Horse (Gate).

This name means horse

סוּס (sus) — horse.

1) horse

1a) chariot horses

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

Were anciently less used for labor, in Bible land, than oxen and asses. They were used by princes and warriors, both with and without chariots, Ex 14:9,23 Es 6:8 Ec 10:7. The finest description of the war-horse ever written is found in one of the most ancient books, Job 39:19-25. Horses were common in Egypt, Ge 47:17 50:9 So 1:9; but the Jews were at first forbidden to go there for them, De 17:16, or the keep any large number, Jos 11:6

above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
הֶחֱזִ֙יקוּ֙he.che.Zi.ku they repaired H2388 Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
291× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To strengthen means to be strong or courageous, and can also mean to seize or conquer, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
strengthened, restored
Tyndale gloss
to strengthen: strengthen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חָזַק (chazaq) means to be strong or to strengthen. It encompasses a range of meanings including to support, encourage, and make firm, as well as to seize or hold fast. The word can be used in various forms, such as to strengthen oneself or to display strength. There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָזַק 291 vb. be or grow firm, strong, strengthen

Qal

intrans. be or grow strong

transit. only strengthened him not

Pi.

make strong (physically)

strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage

make strong = bold, encourage

make firm

make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden

Hiph.

make strong, strengthen

make firm, the kingdom

display strength

make severe, of battle

support

= repair

prevail

esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp

Hithp.

strengthen oneself

put forth strength, use one's strength

withstand

hold strongly with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2388 חָזַק be or grow firm, strong, strengthen .. intrans. be or grow strong

. transit. only strengthened him not

. . make strong (physically)

. strengthen the hands (acc.) of anyone, sustain, encourage

. make strong = bold, encourage

. make firm

. make rigid, hard, i.e. perverse, obstinate, harden

. . . make strong, strengthen

. make firm, the kingdom

. display strength

. make severe, of battle

. support

. = repair

. prevail

. esp. take or keep hold of, seize, grasp

. . strengthen oneself

. put forth strength, use one's strength

. withstand

. hold strongly with

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2388 chazaq khaw-zak'

a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong

(figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help,

repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:--aid,

amend, X calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant,

constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly),

encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make

hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play

the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered,

repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be

stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold),

be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָזַק (cha.zaq) — to strengthen: strengthen.

: strengthen/support/encourage

1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be strong, grow strong

1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon

1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure

1a1c) to press, be urgent

1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense)

1a1e) to be severe, be grievous

1a2) to strengthen

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to make strong

1b2) to restore to strength, give strength

1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage

1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage

1b5) to make firm

1b6) to make rigid, make hard

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make strong, strengthen

1c2) to make firm

1c3) to display strength

1c4) to make severe

1c5) to support

1c6) to repair

1c7) to prevail, prevail upon

1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support

1c9) to hold, contain

1d) (Hithpael)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person common plural
HVhp3cp
above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםha.Ko.ha.Nim the priests H3548 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

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

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

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- First notice of persons acting as

Ge 4:3,4

- During patriarchal age heads of families acted as

Ge 8:20; 12:8; 35:7

- After the exodus young men (first-born) deputed to act as

Ex 24:5; 19:22

- The sons of Aaron appointed as, by perpetual statute

Ex 29:9; 40:15

- All except seed of Aaron excluded from being

Nu 3:10; 16:40; 18:7

- Sanctified by God for the office

Ex 29:44

- Publicly consecrated

Ex 28:3; Nu 3:3

- CEREMONIES AT CONSECRATION OF

. Washing in water

above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
אִ֖ישׁ'ish each one H376 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
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 absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wun.

See NUMBER.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
לְנֶ֥גֶדle.Ne.ged to before H5048 Preposition
151× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Before or in front of something, as in Genesis 18:22 where Abraham stands before the Lord. It describes a position of being face to face or in someone's presence.
Tyndale gloss
before
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֶ֫גֶד (neged) refers to something that is conspicuous or in front, functioning as both a noun and an adverb. It denotes a position opposite or before someone, often used to indicate presence or visibility. The word can imply a counterpart or mate, and it appears in contexts emphasizing sight or proximity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫גֶד 151 subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5048 נֶ֫גֶד subst. what is conspicuous or in front, always as adv. or prep. in front of, in sight of, opposite to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5048 neged neh'-ghed

from 5046; a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a

counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with

preposition) over against or before:--about, (over) against,

X aloof, X far (off), X from, over, presence, X other side,

sight, X to view.

see HEBREW for 05046

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫גֶד (ne.ged) — before.

subst

1) what is conspicuous, what is in front of

adv

2) in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of

3) in front of oneself, straightforward

4) before your face, in your view or purpose

with prep

5) what is in front of, corresponding to

6) in front of, before

7) in the sight or presence of

8) parallel to

9) over, for

10) in front, opposite

11) at a distance

prep

12) from the front of, away from

13) from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from

14) from before, in front of

15) as far as the front of

Aramaic equivalent: ne.ged (נֶ֫גֶד "before" H5049)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Prep — Preposition
HR/Acmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).

above [the] gate of the horses they repaired the priests each one to before own house his
בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ סbei.To own house his H1004 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
2,049× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Amplified meaning
opposite, across from, dwelling place, family home
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

base

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

house

place

receptacle

of house as containing a family

household, family (592 t.)

house, including household affairs

lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

מִבַּיִת

adv. on the inside

prep. within

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1004 bayith bah'-yith

probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest

variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,

daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as

would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),

inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,

temple, web, + within(-out).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית (bet) — place.

nm

place, origin, between

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.

: home/temple/building

nm

1) house

1a) house, dwelling habitation

1b) shelter or abode of animals

1c) human bodies (fig.)

1d) of Sheol

1e) of abode of light and darkness

1f) of land of Ephraim

2) place

3) receptacle

4) home, house as containing a family

5) household, family

5a) those belonging to the same household

5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body

6) household affairs

7) inwards (metaph.)

8) (TWOT) temple

adv

9) on the inside

prep

10) within

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/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."

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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