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Proverbs 1:11 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאִם־ יֹאמְרוּ֮ לְכָ֪ה אִ֫תָּ֥נוּ נֶאֶרְבָ֥ה לְדָ֑ם נִצְפְּנָ֖ה לְנָקִ֣י חִנָּֽם׃

BSAIfʼim [on the condition that, in case] they sayʼâmar alongʼêth [with us, join us] let us lie in waitʼârab [ambush, lurk secretly] for blooddâm [the life-giving fluid] let us ambushtsâphan [lay wait, hide] the innocentnâqîy [morally clean, guiltless] without causechinnâm [for no reason, without justification]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (chi.Nam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 1:11quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse presents a warning against joining those who plot harm against the innocent.
Who is speakingThe speaker addresses a son, cautioning him about the enticements of sinners.
Where we areThis verse is part of a larger warning about the dangers of following wicked companions.
The hard wordחִנָּם
Take awayThe call to ambush is unjustified, targeting the innocent without cause.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbאָמַר 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 — Proverbs 1:11

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

Context — A Warning Against Enticementgenerated

10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
12let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.
13We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

Proverbs 1:11 is part of a series of warnings directed at a son, urging him to resist the temptations of sinners who seek to do harm. The speaker highlights the dangers of joining those who lie in wait for blood and ambush the innocent, emphasizing the moral implications of such actions. This verse serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of associating with those who engage in wickedness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 1:16For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
2Proverbs 12:6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
3Proverbs 30:14there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.
4Psalm 56:6They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
5Psalm 64:5–6They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.

The Key Word חִנָּם, chi.Namgenerated

The Hebrew word חִנָּם (chi.Nam) means 'for nothing' or 'without cause.' It indicates actions taken without justification or reason, often implying a sense of injustice or wrongdoing. The parsing shows it as an adverb, which emphasizes the manner in which the ambush is proposed — without any valid reason.

This word is significant in the context of the verse, as it highlights the unjust nature of the plot against the innocent. The use of חִנָּם underscores the moral depravity of those who seek to harm others without cause, reinforcing the theme of righteousness versus wickedness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has without cause, which is also used by the KJV and several other translations.

Where they part company is חִנָּם — the ULB opts for for no reason, while the other versions maintain without cause.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse begins with a conditional clause introduced by אִם ('im), meaning 'if,' setting the stage for the subsequent statements. The main action is expressed through the verbs יֹאמְרוּ (yo.me.Ru), נֶאֶרְבָ֥ה (ne.'er.Vah), and נִצְפְּנָ֖ה (nitz.pe.Nah), which articulate the intentions of the speakers.

The structure reveals a series of proposals made by the subjects, emphasizing their collaborative intent to engage in wrongdoing. The use of the infinitive constructs for the verbs indicates a collective action, while the adverb חִנָּם serves to qualify their intent as unjustifiable.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew חִנָּם is rendered as ἀδίκως (adikos), meaning 'unjustly' or 'wrongfully.' This choice of word emphasizes the moral wrongdoing associated with the actions proposed in the verse.

The Greek translation aligns closely with the original Hebrew meaning, reinforcing the idea that the ambush is not only without cause but also inherently unjust.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 1:11 warns against joining those who plot to harm the innocent. It describes how sinners might entice someone to ambush others without any justification. This verse serves as a reminder to be cautious of such influences and the moral implications of participating in wrongdoing.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to ambush the innocent?

To ambush the innocent means to secretly plan to attack or harm someone who is morally clean or guiltless, often without any valid reason.

Why is the phrase 'without cause' significant?

The phrase 'without cause' highlights the unjust nature of the proposed actions, emphasizing that the ambush is not warranted or justified.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Proverbs?

This verse reflects the broader themes of Proverbs, which often contrast wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness, and the consequences of choosing the wrong path.

What can we learn from this warning against enticement?

We learn the importance of discernment in our associations and the need to resist the temptations to engage in harmful actions against others.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways might I be tempted to join others in wrongdoing, and how can I resist those temptations?
  2. How can I discern between wise and foolish companions in my life?
  3. What does it mean to be innocent in today's context, and how can I maintain my integrity?
  4. How can I respond to those who seek to entice me into harmful actions?

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

Several early church fathers reference this verse to discuss moral implications and the nature of sin, highlighting its relevance to the themes of justice and innocence.

Hippolytus of RomeHippolytus Exegetical Fragments c. 170–235
These things he understands of the people of the Jews, and their guilt in the blood of Christ; for they thought that He had His conversation (citizenship) on earth only.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →
Augustine of HippoCity of God 17.20 354–430
There is one text in Proverbs so far from being obscure that its relationship to Christ and his possession, the church, can be grasped without any such trouble.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
"If they say, Come with us," etc. This passage can be generally said of robbers, who bring either death traps or harm to the innocent. It can also be specifically understood of those who handed over the author of life to death.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 1 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 1:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

If they say, come with us,.... Leave your father's house, and the business of life in which you are; make one of us, and become a member of our society, and go along with us upon the highway; let us

Read John Gill on Proverbs 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood - (Proverbs 1:16; Jeremiah 5:26.) Let us

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 1 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Come with us; we are numerous, and strong, and sociable. Let us lay wait for blood; to shed blood. He expresseth not their words, which would rather affright than inveigle a young novice; but the true nature and consequence of the action, and what lies at the bottom of their specious pretences. Lurk privily; so we shall neither be prevented before, nor discovered and punished afterward. The innocent; harmless travellers, who are more careless and secure, and unprovided for opposition, than such villains as themselves. Without cause; though they have not provoked us, nor deserved this usage from us. This Solomon adds to discover their malignity and baseness, and so deter the young man from…

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 1:11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:Ver. 11. If they say.] The dragon bites the elephant’ s ear, and thence sucks his blood; because he knows that to be the only place that he cannot reach with his trunk to defend. So deal the red dragon and his angels: "with good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple" "With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him." Come with me.] If sinners have their "Come," should not saints much more? "Come, let us go up to the house of the Lord." "Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." "Let us go speedily…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Without cause.—To be taken with “lurk.” Though he has done us no harm.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. If they say, Come with us] From all accounts, this is precisely the way in which the workers of iniquity form their partisans, and constitute their marauding societies to the present day. Let us lay wait for blood] Let us rob and murder. Let us lurk privily] Let us lie in ambush for our prey.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. for blood] The shameless form of the proposal shows at once the insecurity and the low moral tone of society. The language is too strong and vivid to admit of a figurative interpretation: Let us rob them violently of their bread which is their life. Compare “The bread of the needy is the life of the poor: He that depriveth him thereof is a man of blood.” Sir 34:21. without cause] So A.V. and R.V., i.e. though (the reflection being that of the author, not of the speaker) he has done them no harm, given them no cause to injure him. So LXX. ἀδίκως. Others, less probably, take the adverb with the word “innocent”: for them who are innocent in vain (who serve God for nought, Job 1:9, where…

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The temptation against which the teacher seeks to guard his disciple is that of joining a band of highway robbers.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 1 →

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

If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

NETBNew English Translation2006

If they say, “Come with us! We will lie in wait to shed blood; we will ambush an innocent person capriciously.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

RVARevised Version, American1894

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

GNVGeneva Bible1599

If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

If they say, 'Come with us, we lay wait for blood, We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

If they say, “Come with us, we lay wait for blood, || We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

If they should say, Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us watch in concealment for the uselessly innocent;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!

BBEBible in Basic English1949

If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause;

Word by word, the decisions they made

חִנָּֽם׃chi.Nam without cause H2600 2 different renderings
without causeASV BBE BSB DBY DRA KJV LSV MSB NWB RVA WEB YLT
for no reasonULB

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.

clauseאִםifclauseverbיֹאמְרוּ֮they.will.sayclause · objectclauseverb phrase · verbלְכָ֪comeהprepositional phrase · prepositionalאִ֫תָּ֥withנוּusclauseverbנֶאֶרְבָ֥הlet.us.lie.in.waitprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְforדָ֑םbloodclauseverbנִצְפְּנָ֖הlet.us.lie.hiddenprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְforנָקִ֣יan.innocent.[one]adverbialחִנָּֽםwithout.cause

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 are largely in agreement, with eight out of nine words matching. The Septuagint reflects the same intent and meaning as the Hebrew text, though its word order differs.

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

אִם־ יֹאמְרוּ֮ לְכָ֪ה אִ֫תָּ֥נוּ נֶאֶרְבָ֥ה לְדָ֑ם נִצְפְּנָ֖ה לְנָקִ֣י חִנָּֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אִם־ἐὰνיֹאמְרוּ֮λέγοντεςלְכָ֪הἐλθὲאִ֫תָּ֥נוּἡμῶνנֶאֶרְבָ֥הκοινώνησονלְדָ֑םαἵματοςלְנָקִ֣יδίκαιονחִנָּֽם׃ἀδίκως

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

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.

Proverbs 1:11אִםififאִםאָמַרthey will sthey will sayאָמַרהָלַךְcome !come !הָלַךְאֵתwith uswith usאֵתאָרַבlet us lie let us lie in wאָרַבדָּםfor bloodfor bloodדָּםצָפַןlet us lie let us lie hiddצָפַןנָקִיfor an innofor an innocentנָקִיחִנָּםwithout cauwithout causeחִנָּםאָנָהto meetto meetאָנָהדָּמַםto silenceto silence: staדָּמַםהָלַךְto walkto walkהָלַךְנָקָהto clearto clearנָקָהאֵבfruitfruitאֵבחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהדֶּ֫רֶךְway: roadway: roadדֶּ֫רֶךְחֻקָּהstatutestatuteחֻקָּהרִיבto contendto contendרִיבבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתמִסְתָּרhidinghidingמִסְתָּרצָפַןto treasurto treasureצָפַןזָרַקto scatterto scatterזָרַקנָקִיinnocentinnocentנָקִיאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶר
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 Proverbs 1:11

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
אִם־'im- if H518 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.
Amplified meaning
on the condition that, in case
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
Conj — Particle
HTc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
יֹאמְרוּ֮yo.me.Ru they will say H559 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine plural
HVqi3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
לְכָ֪הle.Khah come ! H1980 Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
1,549× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means to walk or go, used in many different contexts in the Bible. It can describe physical movement, but also spiritual or emotional journeys. Appears in various forms, such as 'to go' or 'to walk'.
Tyndale gloss
to go: walk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk

Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך

lit.

of persons

Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

in like manner of inanimate things

The inf. abs. is often used

as in other vbs., quite independently

to intensify meaning of finite form

most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.

with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance

twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

quite by itself

13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

In combination with other verbal forms

Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:

pass away, die

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons

. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations

. in like manner of inanimate things

. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently

. to intensify meaning of finite form

. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance

. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)

. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance

. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion

. quite by itself

. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.

. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.

. In combination with other verbal forms

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1980 halak haw-lak'

akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety

of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,

apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,

depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,

forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,

out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,

march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),

be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,

still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,

on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,

(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.

see HEBREW for 03212

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.

: went/go[away]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.

: come[nearer]

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

1c2) to walk about

1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk

הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.

: walk/move

1) to go, walk, come

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away

1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to walk

1b2) to walk (fig.)

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to traverse

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqv2ms/Sh — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffix
HVqv2ms/Sh
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kum: The translation of many Hebrew and Greek words. In the phrase "The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him" (Jud 14:6,19; 15:14; 1Sa 10:10; 11:6; 16:13), the word is tsaleah; Jud 14:6; 15:14 "came mightily," which is the uniform translation of the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Jud 13:25 "to move," i.e. to disturb or stir up). In Jud 6:34; 1Ch 12:18; 2Ch 24:20, it is labhesh, "to clothe"; the Revised Version, margin "The Spirit .... clothed itself with Gideon" and .... "with Zechariah,"…

if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
אִ֫תָּ֥נוּ'i.Ta.nu with us H854 Preposition · suffix
929× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Amplified meaning
with us, join us
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

Of companionship, together with

Of localities

אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

in one's possession or keeping

in one's knowledge or memory

מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with

. Of localities

. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping

. in one's knowledge or memory

. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

854 'eth ayth

probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a

preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,

at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,

in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional

prefix.

see HEBREW for 0579

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — with.

1) with, near, together with

1a) with, together with

1b) with (of relationship)

1c) near (of place)

1d) with (poss.)

1e) from...with, from (with other prep)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp1bp
English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

US, pronoun objective case of we.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.

Us, pron. oblique case of we

if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
נֶאֶרְבָ֥הne.'er.Vah let us lie in wait H693 Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common plural
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to lie in wait or ambush someone, often used to describe a surprise attack. It is used in the Bible to talk about people who are hiding and waiting to attack. The word can also mean to lay a trap for someone.
Amplified meaning
ambush, lurk secretly
Tyndale gloss
to ambush
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָרַב (arab) is a primitive root meaning to lie in wait or ambush. It covers actions like lurking or setting an ambush, with forms in Qal, Piel, and Hiphil that indicate different nuances of waiting or attacking. The entries consistently emphasize its hostile connotation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָרַב vb. lie in wait

Qal lie in wait (with hostile purpose)

Pi. Pt. pl. liers-in-wait

Hiph. Impf. but txt. dub.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H693 אָרַב lie in wait

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

693 'arab aw-rab'

a primitive root; to lurk:--(lie in) ambush(-ment), lay (lie

in) wait.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָרַב (a.rav) — to ambush.

1) to lie in wait, ambush, lurk

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to lie in wait

1a2) ambush (participle as subst)

1b) (Piel) ambushers, liers-in-wait (pl. participle)

1c) (Hiphil) to lay an ambush

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-1cp — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common plural
HVqc1cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wat:

1. The Substantive:

The word is used in the Old Testament both as a substantive add as a verb. In the New Testament it appears as a verb only. 'erebh, ma'arabh, mean a concealed hiding-place for purposes of sudden attack, an ambuscade.

(1) "Lie in wait": "Abimelech rose up .... from lying in wait" (Jud 9:35 the King James Version); "When they .... abide in the covert to lie in wait" (Job 38:40).

(2) "Lay wait": "They compassed him in, and laid wait for him" (Jud 16:2).

2. The Verb:

(1) sharath, "to serve," "to minister," to act in the capacity of servant or attendant: "These waited on the king" (2Ch 17:19). Used especially in this sense with regard to the ceremonial service…

if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
לְדָ֑םle.Dam for blood H1818 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
360× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Amplified meaning
the life-giving fluid
Tyndale gloss
blood
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּם (dam) means 'blood' and refers to the blood of both humans and animals. It is often associated with death, particularly when shed, and can also figuratively denote the juice of grapes or bloodshed. The term carries religious significance and is used in various contexts, including references to guilt and innocence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּם 300 n.m. blood

blood of man or animal

usually blood become visible

blood used with religious significance

fig. of wine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1818 דָּם blood

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1818 dam dawm

from 1826 (compare 119); blood (as that which when shed

causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of

the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed

(i.e. drops of blood):--blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), +

innocent.

see HEBREW for 01826

see HEBREW for 0119

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּם (dam) — blood.

1) blood

1a) of wine (fig.)

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

blud (dam, probably from 'adham "to be red"; haima): Used in the Old Testament to designate the life principle in either animal or vegetable, as the blood of man or the juice of the grape (Le 17:11, et al.); in the New Testament for the blood of an animal, the atoning blood of Christ, and in both Old Testament and New Testament in a figurative sense for bloodshed or murder (Ge 37:26; Ho 4:2; Re 16:6).

1. Primitive Ideas:

Although the real function of the blood in the human system was not fully known until the fact of its circulation was established by William Harvey in 1615, nevertheless from the earliest times a singular mystery has been attached to it by all peoples. Blood…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Blood

(1.) As food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14. The injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:29). It has been held by some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still binding on all. Blood was eaten by the Israelites after the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 14:32-34).

(2.) The blood of sacrifices was caught by the priest in a basin, and then sprinkled seven times on the altar; that of the passover on the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

To blood is ascribed in Scripture the mysterious sacredness which belongs to life, and God reserved it to himself when allowing man the dominion over and the use of the lower animals for food. Thus reserved, it acquires a double power: (1) that of sacrificial atonement; and (2) that of becoming a curse when wantonly shed, unless duly expiated. (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:26; 17:11-13)

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The life of all animals was regarded as especially in the blood, which was a sacred and essential part of the sacrifices offered to God, Heb 9:22. It was solemnly sprinkled upon the altar and the mercy seat, "for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul," Le 17:1-16 the life of the victim for the life of the sinner. It was therefore most sacredly associated with the blood of the Lamb of God which "cleanseth us from all sin," Eph 1:7 1Jo 1:7. Hence the strict prohibition renewed in Ac 15:29. In direct opposition to this are the heathen customs of drinking the blood of animals and even of men- of eating raw flesh, with the blood, and even fresh cut from the living…

if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
נִצְפְּנָ֖הnitz.pe.Nah let us lie hidden H6845 Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common plural
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To treasure means to hide or store something valuable, like the treasures stored in the temple in 1 Kings.
Amplified meaning
lay wait, hide
Tyndale gloss
to treasure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צָפַן (tsaphan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hide or treasure up. It can refer to hiding something by covering it, storing it, or keeping it secret. The word has various forms, including Qal (to hide), Niphal (to be hidden), and Hiphil (to hide from discovery). It conveys both protective and secretive connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צָפַן vb. hide, treasure up

Qal

trans. hide

intrans. lie hid, lurk

Niph. be hidden from before

Hiph. hide

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6845 צָפַן hide, treasure up

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6845 tsaphan tsaw-fan'

a primitive root; to hide (by covering over); by implication,

to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically

(favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk:--esteem,

hide(-den one, self), lay up, lurk (be set) privily, (keep)

secret(-ly, place).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צָפַן (tsa.phan) — to treasure.

1) to hide, treasure, treasure or store up

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to hide, treasure, treasure up

1a2) to lie hidden, lurk

1b) (Niphal) to be hidden, be stored up

1c) (Hiphil) to hide, hide from discovery

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-1cp — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct first person common plural
HVqc1cp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hid'-'n: The translation of Taman, "to hide," "to bury" (Job 3:16); of tsaphan "to conceal," "store up" (Job 15:20, "The number of years is hidden to the oppressor," the Revised Version (British and American) "even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor," margin "and years that are numbered are laid up"; Job 24:1, "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty," the Revised Version (British and American) "Why are times not laid up by the Almighty?" margin as the King James Version with "Why is it?" prefixed; Ps 83:3, "They consulted (the Revised Version (British and American) "consult") against thy hidden ones"); of matspunim (from tsaphan), "hidden…

if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
לְנָקִ֣יle.na.Ki for an innocent [one] H5355 Preposition
43× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Innocent or guiltless, this word is used to describe someone who is morally clean or free from blame, such as Noah in Genesis 6:9. It emphasizes a person's integrity and moral purity.
Amplified meaning
morally clean, guiltless
Tyndale gloss
innocent
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָקִי (naqiy) is an adjective meaning clean, free from, or exempt. It also conveys innocence, being blameless or guiltless. The word has variations, including נָקִיא (naqiyi), which also means innocent. It appears in contexts related to purity and freedom from obligations or guilt.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָקִי adj. clean, free from, exempt

base

נָקִיא adj. innocent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5355a נָקִי clean, free from, exempt H5355b נָקִיא innocent

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5355 naqiy naw-kee'

or naqiyi (Joel 4 : 19; Jonah 1 : 14), {naw-kee'}; from 5352;

innocent:--blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free,

guiltless, innocent, quit.

see HEBREW for 04

see HEBREW for 019

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 014

see HEBREW for 05352

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָקִי (na.qi) — innocent.

1) clean, free from, exempt, clear, innocent

1a) free from guilt, clean, innocent

1b) free from punishment

1c) free or exempt from obligations

Also means: na.qi (נָקִיא "innocent" H5355B)

נָקִיא (na.qi) — innocent.

innocent

Another spelling of na.qi (נָקִי "innocent" H5355A)

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

wun.

See NUMBER.

if they will say come ! with us let us lie in wait for blood let us lie hidden for an innocent [one] without cause
חִנָּֽם׃chi.Nam without cause H2600 Adverb
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
For nothing means something is done without a reason or cost. It can also mean something is done in vain or without purpose. This concept is seen in various Bible stories and teachings.
Amplified meaning
for no reason, without justification
Tyndale gloss
for nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חִנָּם (chinnam) means 'for nothing' or 'gratis,' indicating something given without cost or reason. It conveys ideas of being free, undeserved, or in vain. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be devoid of advantage.' Various lexicons emphasize its use in contexts that highlight lack of purpose or cause.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חִנָּם subst., used chiefly in the accus. as adv.—lit. out of favour; i.e.

gratis, gratuitously, for nothing

for no purpose, in vain

gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2600 חִנָּם lit. out of favour; i.e. . gratis, gratuitously, for nothing

. for no purpose, in vain

. gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2600 chinnam khin-nawm'

from 2580; gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or

advantage:--without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost

nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain.

see HEBREW for 02580

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חִנָּם (chin.nam) — for nothing.

1) freely, for nothing, without cause

1a) gratis, gratuitously, for nothing

1b) for no purpose, in vain

1c) gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kos: In both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "for this cause" (the King James Version "cause") occurs in Ex 9:16 as the rendering of ba`abhur zo'th = "in order that"; "to the end that"; so also in Da 2:12 for kol-qebhel denah, and in 2Ch 32:20 the King James Version for `al-zo'th, where RVS read "because of." In the New Testament the word is used adverbially in the translation of several Greek phrases: heneka toutou (Mt 19:5; Mr 10:7); dia touto, Joh 12:27; Ro 1:26; 13:6; 15:9…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See ACTIONS AT LAW

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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