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Numbers 17:13 — Word Study

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WLCכֹּ֣ל הַקָּרֵ֧ב׀ הַקָּרֵ֛ב אֶל־ מִשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה יָמ֑וּת הַאִ֥ם תַּ֖מְנוּ לִגְוֹֽעַ׃ ס

BSAwill diemûwth [perish, succumb to death, to expire, as a punishment, literally or spiritually]

Word
Listen & take awayNumbers 17
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (lig.Vo.a') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Numbers 17:13quick helps
In a sentenceAnyone approaching the tabernacle of the LORD faces death.
Who is speakingThe Israelites, expressing fear of death.
Where we areThe Israelites are reacting to God's command regarding the tabernacle.
The hard wordיָמ֑וּת
Take awayDeath is the consequence of approaching the sacred space.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbחַי 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 — Numbers 17:13

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 Consequences of Approaching the Tabernaclegenerated

10The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”
11So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.
12Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
13Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

Numbers 17:13 describes a dire warning to the Israelites regarding the tabernacle of the LORD. They are reminded that approaching this sacred space carries the severe consequence of death, highlighting the holiness of God's dwelling among His people. This warning is a response to their fear of perishing, as seen in the surrounding verses, where they express their anxiety about their fate.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Numbers 1:51–53Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.
2Numbers 18:4–7They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you.
3Genesis 3:3but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’”
41 Samuel 6:19–21But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.
52 Samuel 6:6–12When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.

The Key Word יָמ֑וּת, ya.Mutgenerated

The verb מוּת (mut) means 'to die' and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible to indicate death, whether literal or as a punishment. In this verse, it emphasizes the fatal consequence of approaching the tabernacle, underscoring the seriousness of God's holiness.

This verb is in the imperfect tense, indicating a future action — anyone who comes near will die. The use of this verb in a warning context serves to highlight the gravity of the situation and the need for reverence when approaching the sacred.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations of this verse generally agree on the meaning.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is יָמ֑וּת, he will die, which governs the sentence. The structure includes noun phrases indicating who is affected and a prepositional phrase specifying the location of the tabernacle.

The Hebrew word order emphasizes the fatal consequence of approaching the tabernacle, with the warning placed prominently at the beginning of the sentence.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the Greek word τεθνηκότων to translate the Hebrew מוּת (mut), which also means 'to die.' This choice reflects the seriousness of the warning, aligning closely with the Hebrew text's emphasis on death as a consequence.

The translation maintains the original meaning, ensuring that the gravity of approaching the tabernacle is preserved in the Greek rendering.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Numbers 17:13 warns that anyone who approaches the tabernacle of the LORD will die. The Israelites express their fear of perishing, highlighting the seriousness of God's holiness and the consequences of violating sacred boundaries.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to approach the tabernacle?

To approach the tabernacle means to come near to the sacred dwelling place of God, which was reserved for specific individuals under strict conditions.

Why is there a warning about death?

The warning emphasizes the holiness of God and the seriousness of approaching Him without proper reverence and authority.

How does this relate to the Israelites' fear?

The Israelites' fear reflects their understanding of God's holiness and their own unworthiness to approach Him without consequences.

What can we learn from this verse?

This verse teaches about the importance of reverence for God's holiness and the seriousness of approaching sacred spaces.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does it mean to you to approach God in a sacred way?
  2. How can we show reverence for God's holiness in our lives today?
  3. What are some boundaries we should respect in our relationship with God?
  4. How does understanding the consequences of sin affect your view of approaching God?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Numbers 17:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Whosoever cometh anything near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die,.... They who before were so bold and daring as to think the priesthood was common to them with Aaron, or they had as good a

Read John Gill on Numbers 17 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying? Cometh any thing near - i:e., nearer than he ought to do; an error into which many may fall.

Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 17 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Any thing near, i.e. nearer than he should do; an error which we may easily commit. Shall we be consumed? will God proceed with us in these severe courses, according to his strict justice? will he show us no mercy nor pity, till all the people be cut off and destroyed with dying one after another.

Read Matthew Poole on Numbers 17 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Numbers 17:13 Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?Ver. 13. Whosoever cometh anything near.] Let them keep further off then who have no sufficient warrant. Why should they meddle with that belongs not to them? Why should they touch the tabernacle? as the Greek here hath it. The fingers of many triflers itch at this day, to be tampering with that tremendous function, the ministry: which if they forbear to touch, it is but as once Mercury is fain to spare Jupiter’ s thunderbolts, which he durst not steal, lest they should roar too loud, or at least burn his fingers.

Read John Trapp on Numbers 17 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12, 13) And the children of Israel spake unto Moses . . . —The special manifestations of Divine power which the Israelites had witnessed excited within them salutary emotions of awe and of anxious apprehension, but do not seem to have awakened within them any corresponding sense of gratitude either for their deliverance from the plague, or for the privileges which they enjoyed by reason of the Divine presence amongst them. The true answer to their inquiry whether they were doomed utterly to perish is contained in the following chapter, in which the priesthood of Christ is typically set forth as bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary, and thus making reconciliation for the sins and securing…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Numbers 17 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. shall we perish all of us?] The exact force of the words is doubtful. They may mean ‘Shall we completely come to an end by expiring?’ of which R.V. is a correct paraphrase: or ‘Shall we ever finish expiring?’ i.e. ‘can we ever be free from the danger of death’ if we approach the Tent?

Read Cambridge on Numbers 17 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

13. Shall we be consumed — Where God cannot awaken genuine faith and obedience, as he could not in this rejected generation, he inspires a salutary dread as a preventive of renewed rebellion.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 17 →

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

Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Everyone who keeps approaching Yahweh’s tabernacle, dies! Will we all perish?”

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

NETBNew English Translation2006

Anyone who even comes close to the tabernacle of the Lord will die! Are we all to die?”

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah, dieth: shall we perish all of us?

RVARevised Version, American1894

Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of the LORD, dieth: shall we perish all of us?

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Whoever approacheth the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Whosoeuer commeth neere, or approcheth to the Tabernacle of the Lord, shall dye: shall we be consumed and dye?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Every one that comes at all near to the tabernacle of Jehovah shall die: shall we then expire altogether?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

any who is at all drawing near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah dieth; have we not been consumed — to expire?'

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Any who is at all drawing near to the Dwelling Place of YHWH dies; have we not been consumed—to expire?”

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

(17:28) Every one that cometh near at all unto the tabernacle of the Lord must die: shall we totally perish?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Everyone who comes up, who approaches Yahweh's tabernacle, will die. Must we all perish?”

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Whosoever approacheth to the tabernacle of the Lord, he dieth. Are we all to a man to be utterly destroyed?

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Anyone who dares to approach the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to be completely wiped out?”

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Death will overtake everyone who comes near, who comes near the House of the Lord: are we all to come to destruction?

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.

clausenoun phrase · subjectכֹּ֣לeverynoun phrasenoun phraseהַ(the).[person]קָּרֵ֧בapproachingnoun phraseהַ(the).[person]noun phraseקָּרֵ֛בapproachingprepositional phraseאֶלtonoun phraseמִשְׁכַּ֥ןthe.tabernacleיְהוָ֖הof.Yahwehverbיָמ֑וּתhe.will.dieclauseהַ?clauseאִ֥םorclauseverbתַּ֖מְנוּwill.we.completeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtoclauseverbגְוֺֽעַdie

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 their wording, with the Samaritan Pentateuch differing by using the term מיתים (die) instead of the Hebrew מוּת. The Dead Sea Scrolls also show a similar structure, confirming the core message of the verse.

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

כֹּ֣ל הַקָּרֵ֧ב׀ הַקָּרֵ֛ב אֶל־ מִשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהוָ֖ה יָמ֑וּת הַאִ֥ם תַּ֖מְנוּ לִגְוֹֽעַ׃ ס

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כֹּ֣לκαὶהַקָּרֵ֧ב׀μέσονהַקָּרֵ֛בτεθνηκότωνאֶל־καὶיְהוָ֖הτῶνיָמ֑וּתζώντωνהַאִ֥םἐκόπασενתַּ֖מְנוּלִגְוֹֽעַ׃ סθραῦσις

9 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויעמד בין המיתים ובין החיים ותעצר המגפה

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: מיתים (die)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q27a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ויעמוד בין המתים [ובין] [החיים] [ותעצר] [המגפה] [בקרב] [העם]

9 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Numbers 17:13כֹּלeveryeveryכֹּלקָרֵב[person] ap[person] approaקָרֵבקָרֵב[person] ap[person] approaקָרֵבאֶלtotoאֶלמִשְׁכָּן[the] taber[the] tabernaclמִשְׁכָּןיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהמוּתhe will diehe will dieמוּתאִם¿ or¿ orאִםתָּמַםwill we comwill we completתָּמַםגָּוַעto dieto dieגָּוַעקָרֵבto presentto present: comקָרֵבכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלשָׁכַןto dwellto dwellשָׁכַןהָיָהto beto beהָיָהכְּהֻנָּהpriesthoodpriesthoodכְּהֻנָּהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הקֶ֫רֶשׁboardboardקֶ֫רֶשׁבְּרִיחַbarbarבְּרִיחַנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָארָצַחto murderto murderרָצַחקָבַרto buryto buryקָבַרחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁרָעָבfaminefamineרָעָב
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 Numbers 17:13

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.

every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
כֹּ֣לkol every H3605 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
הַקָּרֵ֧ב׀ha.ka.Rev [person] approaching H7131 Particle
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to approach or come near, and is used in the Bible to describe drawing near to God or a physical location. In Psalm 69:18, it describes the psalmist's desire to draw near to God.
Tyndale gloss
approaching
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָרֵב (qareb) means 'approaching' or 'near.' It is derived from the root word קָרַב (qarab), which also relates to drawing near. The entries consistently emphasize this sense of nearness or approach.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרֵב adj.vb. approaching

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7131 קָרֵב approaching

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7131 qareb kaw-rabe'

from 7126; near:--approach, come (near, nigh), draw near.

see HEBREW for 07126

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרֵב (qa.rev) — approaching.

near, approaching

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Aamsa — Particle
HTd/Aamsa
every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
הַקָּרֵ֛בha.ka.Rev [person] approaching H7131 Particle
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to approach or come near, and is used in the Bible to describe drawing near to God or a physical location. In Psalm 69:18, it describes the psalmist's desire to draw near to God.
Tyndale gloss
approaching
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָרֵב (qareb) means 'approaching' or 'near.' It is derived from the root word קָרַב (qarab), which also relates to drawing near. The entries consistently emphasize this sense of nearness or approach.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָרֵב adj.vb. approaching

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7131 קָרֵב approaching

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7131 qareb kaw-rabe'

from 7126; near:--approach, come (near, nigh), draw near.

see HEBREW for 07126

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָרֵב (qa.rev) — approaching.

near, approaching

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Aamsa — Particle
HTd/Aamsa
every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR — Preposition
HR
every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
מִשְׁכַּ֥ןmish.Kan [the] tabernacle of H4908 Noun common · masculine singular construct
139× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The tabernacle was a special tent where God met with the Israelites, as described in Exodus and Leviticus. It was a portable place of worship, like a dwelling place for God. The Israelites carried it with them.
Tyndale gloss
tabernacle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan) means 'dwelling-place' or 'tabernacle.' It is derived from a root meaning to dwell and can refer to various types of residences, including the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. The term encompasses both literal and figurative meanings, such as a grave or the Temple.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁכָּן 139 n.m. dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4908 מִשְׁכָּן dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4908 mishkan mish-kawn'

from 7931; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair

of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple);

specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden

walls):--dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle,

tent.

see HEBREW for 07931

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁכָּן (mish.kan) — tabernacle.

1) dwelling place, tabernacle

1a) dwelling-place

1b) dwellings

Aramaic equivalent: mish.kan (מִשְׁכַּן "habitation" H4907)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmsc — 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…

every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
יְהוָ֖הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpt — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
יָמ֑וּתya.Mut he will die H4191 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
840× 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 to die, either literally or as a punishment, and is used in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to perish or be killed. This concept is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where death enters the world as a result of sin.
Amplified meaning
perish, succumb to death, to expire, as a punishment, literally or spiritually
Tyndale gloss
to die
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוּת vb. die

Qal

die, of natural or other causes

die as a penalty = be put to death

Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)

Hiph.

abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man

subj. God, by inflicting penalty

of animals killing men

bring to a premature death

Hoph. be killed, put to death

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes

. die as a penalty = be put to death

. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)

. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man

. subj. God, by inflicting penalty

. of animals killing men

. bring to a premature death

. be killed, put to death

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4191 muwth mooth

a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);

causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,

man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,

be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,

slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוּת (mut) — to die.

1) to die, kill, have one executed

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to die

1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death

1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)

1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)

1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch

1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be killed, be put to death

1d1a) to die prematurely

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

(muth, gawa`; apothnesko, teleutao): "To die," etc., is of very frequent occurrence, and in the Old Testament is generally the translation of muth, meaning perhaps originally, "to be stretched out" or "prostrate." "To die," should be the consequence of eating the forbidden fruit (Ge 2:17; compare Ge 20:7; 2Ki 1:4,6). "Die" is commonly used of natural death (Ge 5:8; 25:8). It is used also of violent death (Ge 26:9,11; Ex 21:20); punitive (Ex 19:12; 21:12,14; 28:43; Nu…

every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
הַאִ֥םha.'Im ¿ or H518 Particle · particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTi/Tc — Particle · particle
HTi/Tc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

or: The word is used once for either (1Sa 26:10), and is still in poetic use in this sense; as in, "Without or wave or wind" (Coleridge); "Or the bakke or some bone he breketh in his dzouthe" (Piers Plowman (B), VII, 93; compare Merchant of Venice, III, ii, 65). It is also used with "ever" for before (Ps 90:2; Ecclesiasticus 18:19), which the American Standard Revised Version substitutes in Ec 12:6 (compare 12:1,2); So 6:12; Da 6:24.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
תַּ֖מְנוּTam.nu will we complete H8552 Verb · Qal · perfect first person common plural
63× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To finish or complete something, either in a good or bad sense, like when God finished creating the world in Genesis. It can also mean to be consumed or destroyed. The KJV Bible uses words like accomplish, cease, or have done to translate it.
Tyndale gloss
to finish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תָּמַם (tamam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be complete or finished. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to accomplish, cease, be consumed, or be sound and upright. The word can be used in various forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of completion or integrity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[תָּמַם], תַּם vb. be complete, finished

Qal

be finished, completed

be finished, come to an end, cease

be complete, of number

be consumed, exhausted, spent

be finished, consumed, destroyed

be complete, sound, unimpaired

twice, very strangely

Hiph.

finish, complete, perfect, a matter

finish, cease doing a thing

complete, sum up

destroy uncleanness

causative: make sound thy ways.

Hithp. deal in integrity with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8552 [תָּמַם], תַּם be complete, finished

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8552 tamam taw-mam'

a primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense,

literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive (as

follows):--accomplish, cease, be clean (pass-)ed, consume,

have done, (come to an, have an, make an) end, fail, come to

the full, be all gone, X be all here, be (make) perfect, be

spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted, whole.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תָּמַם (ta.mam) — to finish.

1) to be complete, be finished, be at an end

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be finished, be completed

1a1a) completely, wholly, entirely (as auxiliary with verb)

1a2) to be finished, come to an end, cease

1a3) to be complete (of number)

1a4) to be consumed, be exhausted, be spent

1a5) to be finished, be consumed, be destroyed

1a6) to be complete, be sound, be unimpaired, be upright (ethically)

1a7) to complete, finish

1a8) to be completely crossed over

1b) (Niphal) to be consumed

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to finish, complete, perfect

1c2) to finish, cease doing, leave off doing

1c3) to complete, sum up, make whole

1c4) to destroy (uncleanness)

1c5) to make sound

1d) (Hithpael) to deal in integrity, act uprightly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common plural
HVqp1cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kom-plet': In the King James Version for pleroo, the verb ordinarily used for the coming to pass of what had been predicted. the King James Version translates this "complete" in Col 2:10; 4:12 to express the final and entire attainment of what is treated, leaving nothing beyond to be desired or hoped for; otherwise rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) ("made full"). In the Revised Version (British and American), c. appears once for Greek artios, from aro, "to join," in 2Ti 3:17, in sense of "accurately fitted for," where the King James Version has "perfect."

every [person] approaching [person] approaching to [the] tabernacle of Yahweh he will die ¿ or will we complete to die
לִגְוֹֽעַ׃ סlig.Vo.a' to die H1478 Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to die or expire, like when Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross in Matthew 27:50. It implies a complete stop, like a final breath. It is used in the Bible to describe the end of life.
Tyndale gloss
to die
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּוַע (gava') is a primitive root meaning to breathe out, which implies dying or perishing. It covers various aspects of death, including to expire, give up the ghost, or be ready to die. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to death without any noted disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גָּוַע vb. expire, perish, die

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1478 גָּוַע expire, perish, die

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1478 gava` gaw-vah'

a primitive root; to breathe out, i.e. (by implication)

expire:--die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּוַע (ga.va) — to die.

1) to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die

1a) (Qal) to expire, die, be about to die

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Vqcc — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common
HR/Vqcc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(muth, gawa`; apothnesko, teleutao): "To die," etc., is of very frequent occurrence, and in the Old Testament is generally the translation of muth, meaning perhaps originally, "to be stretched out" or "prostrate." "To die," should be the consequence of eating the forbidden fruit (Ge 2:17; compare Ge 20:7; 2Ki 1:4,6). "Die" is commonly used of natural death (Ge 5:8; 25:8). It is used also of violent death (Ge 26:9,11; Ex 21:20); punitive (Ex 19:12; 21:12,14; 28:43; Nu…

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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