Menu

Proverbs 10:18 — Word Study

Depth

WLCמְכַסֶּ֣ה שִׂ֭נְאָה שִׂפְתֵי־ שָׁ֑קֶר וּמוֹצִ֥א דִ֝בָּ֗ה ה֣וּא כְסִֽיל׃

BSAThe one who concealskâçâh [hides] hatredsinʼâh [towards someone or something, having hatred] has lyingsheqer [deceptive] lipssâphâh [language, words] and whoever spreadsyâtsâʼ [utters] slanderdibbâh [evil reports, false accusations] is a foolkᵉçîyl [stupid, foolish, one who rejects God, lacking wisdom]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 10
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 18 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 (khe.Sil) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 10:18quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against concealing hatred and spreading slander, labeling such actions as foolish.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, providing wisdom on speech and behavior.
Where we areIn a collection of sayings that contrast wise and foolish behavior.
The hard wordכְסִיל
Take awayConcealing hatred and spreading slander are both actions of a fool.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהוּא verbכָּסָה 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 10:18

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 — Wisdom on Speechgenerated

17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.

Proverbs 10:18 addresses the consequences of concealing hatred and spreading slander. The surrounding verses emphasize the importance of heeding instruction and the value of wise speech. This proverb fits within a broader discourse on the characteristics of the righteous versus the wicked, highlighting the moral implications of one's words and intentions.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 26:24–26A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
21 Samuel 18:21–22“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”
32 Samuel 3:27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.
42 Samuel 11:8–15Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.
52 Samuel 13:23–29Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word כְסִיל, khe.Silgenerated

The word כְסִיל (*kciyl*) describes a fool or someone lacking wisdom. It is often used to characterize individuals who reject God's guidance, leading to foolish behavior. The parsing indicates it is an adjective, suggesting a state of being rather than an action.

In this verse, it underscores the foolishness of those who conceal hatred and spread slander, revealing a deeper moral failing rather than mere ignorance.


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 fool, and so do the KJV and ASV: all three maintain this strong characterization of the fool.

Where they part company is כְסִילfoolish (BBE, DRA) and stupid (FBV) reflect different nuances of the same Hebrew word, but the core meaning remains consistent across translations.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is מְכַסֶּ֣ה, one who conceals, governing the subject and predicate. It is followed by a second verb מוֹצִ֥א, one who spreads, creating two distinct clauses that illustrate the actions of the fool.

The Hebrew structure emphasizes the actions of concealing and spreading, with the foolishness of the subject clearly stated at the end of the verse.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מְכַסֶּ֣ה as καλύπτουσιν, suggesting a similar meaning of covering or hiding, which aligns with the Hebrew.

The choice of ἀφρονέστατοί for כְסִיל indicates a focus on the lack of understanding, which can be seen as a broader interpretation of foolishness.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 10:18 warns that hiding hatred leads to deceptive speech, and spreading slander shows a lack of wisdom. It highlights the foolishness of such behavior, encouraging honesty and integrity in communication.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to conceal hatred?

To conceal hatred means to hide one's true feelings of animosity towards someone or something, which can lead to deceitful behavior.

Why is spreading slander considered foolish?

Spreading slander is foolish because it harms others and reflects a lack of wisdom and understanding.

How can one avoid being a fool in speech?

One can avoid foolishness in speech by being honest, avoiding gossip, and speaking truthfully.

What are the consequences of lying lips?

Lying lips can damage relationships, lead to mistrust, and ultimately reflect a person's character as foolish.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see people concealing their true feelings in my life?
  2. How can I ensure that my words reflect honesty rather than deceit?
  3. What steps can I take to avoid spreading slander or gossip?
  4. How does this verse challenge me to reflect on my own speech and intentions?

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

The early Church Fathers often referenced Proverbs for moral teaching. Here, Bede comments on the importance of truthfulness and love in speech.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Lying lips hide hatred, etc. Therefore, if you desire to be truthful and wise, neither conceal hatred in the secret of the heart, nor express slander through the mouth; but let your heart be filled with love and your mouth with truth.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 10 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 10:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips,.... Or he whose "lying lips hide hatred", which is much the same; who pretends to be a friend, and outwardly behaves as one, but inwardly nourishes and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 10 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 10 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

With lying lips; with flattering words and false pretences of friendship. And he, Heb. he, i. e both of them, one no less than the other. So he condemneth two opposite vices, secret hatred and manifest slander. Is a fool, because a sinner, and because the mischief of these things will fall upon himself.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 10 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool.Ver. 18. He that hideth hatred, &c.] These are dangerous creatures that thus lie at the catch, and wait advantages to do a man mischief, as Cain dealt by Abel, Absalom by Amnon, Joab by Amasa, Judas by Jesus. Tuta frequensque via est, &c. And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.] Because he hath no command of his passions, as the former seems to have, because close in cloaking his malice, who yet is a fool too before God.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 10 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) He that hideth hatred . . .—This would be more correctly translated, “He that hideth hatred is a mouth of falsehood: he that spreadeth slander is a fool” (khesîl: Proverbs 1:22). (For the construction, “he . . . is a mouth of falsehood,” comp. note on Proverbs 8:30; and for the sentiment, David’s complaint, Psalms 41:6). Is a fool.—For he does mischief to his neighbour, and only gets ill-will for himself.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 10 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 18. He that hideth] This is a common case. How many, when full of resentment, and deadly hatred, meditating revenge and cruelty, and sometimes even murder, have pretended that they thought nothing of the injury they had sustained; had passed by the insult, &c.! Thus lying lips covered the malevolence of a wicked heart.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 10 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. with lying lips] Rather, is of lying lips, R.V.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 10 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Better, He who hideth hatred is of lying lips. He who cherishes hatred, is either a knave, or a fool - a knave if he hides, a fool if he utters it.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 10 →

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

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; and he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He that dissembleth hatred with lying lips, and he that inuenteth slaunder, is a foole.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He that covereth hatred hath lying lips, and he that sendeth forth a slander is a fool.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Whoso is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoso is bringing out an evil report is a fool.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Whoever is covering hatred with lying lips, || And whoever is bringing out an evil report is a fool.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He that hideth hatred hath lips of falsehood; and he that spreadeth abroad an evil report, is a fool.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Lying lips hide hatred: he that uttereth reproach is foolish.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Anyone who hides their hatred is lying, and anyone who spreads slander is stupid.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish.

Word by word, the decisions they made

כְסִֽיל׃khe.Sil [is] a fool H3684 2 different renderings
foolishBBE DRA
stupidFBV

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 · subjectclauseverbמְכַסֶּ֣ה[one.who].concealsobjectשִׂ֭נְאָהhatrednoun phrase · predicateשִׂפְתֵי[is].lipsשָׁ֑קֶרof.falsehoodוּandclauseclauseverbמוֹצִ֥א[one.who].spreadsobjectדִ֝בָּ֗הa.bad.reportclausesubjectה֣וּאhepredicateכְסִֽיל[is].a.fool

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 seven of the eight words matching. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same themes of concealment and foolishness, though its word order differs.

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

מְכַסֶּ֣ה שִׂ֭נְאָה שִׂפְתֵי־ שָׁ֑קֶר וּמוֹצִ֥א דִ֝בָּ֗ה ה֣וּא כְסִֽיל׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מְכַסֶּ֣הκαλύπτουσινשִׂ֭נְאָהἔξθρανשִׂפְתֵי־ξείληשָׁ֑קֶרδίκαιαוּמוֹצִ֥אἐκφέροντεςדִ֝בָּ֗הλοιδορίαςכְסִֽיל׃ἀφρονέστατοί

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

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


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

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

Proverbs 10:18כָּסָה[one who] c[one who] conceכָּסָהשִׂנְאָהhatredhatredשִׂנְאָהשָׂפָה[is] lips o[is] lips ofשָׂפָהשֶׁ֫קֶרfalsehoodfalsehoodשֶׁ֫קֶריָצָאand [one whand [one who] sיָצָאדִּבָהan evil repan evil reportדִּבָההוּאheheהוּאכְּסִיל[is] a fool[is] a foolכְּסִילשָׂנֵאto hateto hateשָׂנֵאסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָהשָׁקַרto dealto dealשָׁקַרדָּבַבדָּבַבכָּסַלbe stupidbe stupidכָּסַלכָּשָׂהbe satedbe satedכָּשָׂהשַׂקsackclothsackclothשַׂקעָנָןcloudcloudעָנָןאַהֲבָהloveloveאַהֲבָהקִנְאָהjealousyjealousyקִנְאָהיְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹןעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדנָבָאto prophesto prophesyנָבָאקָרָאto encountto encounter: mקָרָאגּוֹרָלallottedallottedגּוֹרָלמָגוֹרterrorterrorמָגוֹרשָׂפָהlipslipsשָׂפָה
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 10:18

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.

[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
מְכַסֶּ֣הme.kha.Seh [one who] conceals H3680 Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
152× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cover something means to fill up hollows or hide something from view, as seen in many biblical stories. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, such as to cover oneself with clothing or to conceal something for protection. It can also mean to overwhelm or spread over something.
Amplified meaning
hides
Tyndale gloss
to cover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּסָה (*kacah*) primarily means to cover or conceal. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to clothe, hide, or overwhelm. The entries describe various forms of the verb, such as being covered or covering oneself, and its use in contexts like protection or sin. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּסָה] vb. cover

Qal

conceal

pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)

Niph. covered

Pi.

cover, clothe

cover, conceal blood

cover (with covering of protection)

cover, spread over

cover, overwhelm

cover over

Pual.

be covered

be clothed

Hithp. cover, clothe oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3680 כָּסָה cover .. conceal

. pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)

. covered

. . cover, clothe

. cover, conceal blood

. cover (with covering of protection)

. cover, spread over

. cover, overwhelm

. cover over

. . be covered

. be clothed

. cover, clothe oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3680 kacah kaw-saw'

a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows;

by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy):--clad

self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide,

overwhelm. Compare 3780.

see HEBREW for 03780

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּסָה (ka.sah) — to cover.

1) to cover, conceal, hide

1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be covered

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cover, clothe

1c2) to cover, conceal

1c3) to cover (for protection)

1c4) to cover over, spread over

1c5) to cover, overwhelm

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be covered

1d2) to be clothed

1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine singular
HVprmsa
[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
שִׂ֭נְאָהSin.'ah hatred H8135 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to hate or have hatred towards someone or something. It can describe the hatred people have towards God or towards each other, and it appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
towards someone or something, having hatred
Tyndale gloss
hating
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שִׂנְאָה (sin'ah) refers to the concepts of hating and hatred. It encompasses the idea of intense dislike, applicable to both human and divine contexts. The word is derived from a root meaning to hate, and its usage is noted in various instances throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שִׂנְאָה n.f. hating, hatred

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8135 שִׂנְאָה hating, hatred

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8135 sin'ah sin-aw'

from 8130; hate:--+ exceedingly, hate(-ful, - red).

see HEBREW for 08130

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שִׂנְאָה (sin.ah) — hating.

1) hating, hatred, hate

1a) hatred

1a1) of man, God

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hatred

Among the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20). Altogether different is the meaning of the word in Deut. 21:15; Matt. 6:24; Luke 14:26; Rom. 9:13, where it denotes only a less degree of love.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Against iniquity, justified Ps 97:10; 101:3; 119:104,128,163; 139:21,22

→ Of God Ps 5:5; 45:7; Mal 2:16

→ SCRIPTURES RELATING TO Le 19:17; Ps 25:19; 35:19; Pr 10:12,18; 15:17; 26:24-26; Mt 5:43,44; 6:15; 10:22; Joh 15:18,19,23-25; 17:14; Ga 5:19,20; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8; 1Jo 2:9,11; 3:10,13-15; 4:20

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Forbidden

Le 19:17; Col 3:8

- Is murder

1Jo 3:15

- A work of the flesh

Ga 5:20

- Often cloaked by deceit

Pr 10:18; 26:26

- Leads to deceit

Pr 26:24,25

- Stirs up strife

Pr 10:12

- Embitters life

Pr 15:17

- INCONSISTENT WITH

. The knowledge of God

1Jo 2:9,11

. The love of God

1Jo 4:20

. Liars prone to

Pr 26:28

- THE WICKED EXHIBIT

. Towards God

Ro 1:30

. Towards saints

[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
שִׂפְתֵי־sif.tei- [is] lips of H8193 Noun common · feminine dual construct
176× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Amplified meaning
language, words
Tyndale gloss
lips
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge

lip

language

edge: shore of sea; bank of river

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip

. language

. edge: shore of sea; bank of river

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8193 saphah saw-faw'

or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from

5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by

analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,

bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,

prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.

see HEBREW for 05595

see HEBREW for 08192

see HEBREW for 05490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.

: lips/mouth

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.

: words/language

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.

: edge/border/opening

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.

: shore/bank(of_sea/river)

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd — Noun common · feminine dual construct
HNcfdc
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…

[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
שָׁ֑קֶרSha.ker falsehood H8267 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to deception or falsehood, often implying a sense of betrayal or disappointment. It's used in the Bible to describe lies, false testimony, or deceitful behavior, like in Psalm 116:11, where the psalmist says all men are liars.
Amplified meaning
deceptive
Tyndale gloss
deception
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) refers to deception, falsehood, and disappointment. It encompasses various forms of deceit, including fraud and wrongful testimony. The word is built from the root associated with untruths and can imply sham or lying. It is used in contexts involving false prophets and general dishonesty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood

deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

deceit, fraud, wrong

injurious falsehood, in testimony

falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

lie, falsehood, in gen.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8267 שֶׁ֫קֶר deception, disappointment, falsehood . deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

. deceit, fraud, wrong

. injurious falsehood, in testimony

. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

. lie, falsehood, in gen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8267 sheqer sheh'-ker

from 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often

adverbial):--without a cause, deceit(-ful),

false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, + lie, lying, vain

(thing), wrongfully.

see HEBREW for 08266

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) — deception.

1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood

1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)

1b) deceit, fraud, wrong

1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)

1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)

1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely

1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)

1e) lie, falsehood (in general)

1e1) false tongue

1f) in vain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fols'-hood.

See LYING.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ex 20:16; 23:1; Le 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; Job 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; Ps 5:6,9; 10:7; 12:2,3; 28:3; 31:18; 34:13; 36:3; 50:19,20; 52:2-5; 55:21,23; 58:3; 59:12; 62:4; 63:11; 101:5,7; 109:2; 116:11; 119:29,69,163; 120:2-4; 144:8,11; Pr 2:12-15; 3:3; 6:12,13,17-19; 10:9,10,18,31; 11:9; 12:17,19,20,22; 13:5; 14:5,8,25; 17:4,7; 19:5,9,22,28; 20:17; 21:6; 26:18,19,24-26,28; 27:14; Ec 5:6; Isa 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8;

[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
וּמוֹצִ֥אu.mo.Tzi' and [one who] spreads H3318 Conjunction · verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular
1,067× 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 go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
utters
Tyndale gloss
to come out: come
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָצָא (yatsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to go or come out, with various applications including departure, escape, and emergence. It can refer to both animate and inanimate subjects and emphasizes the idea of origin or source. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating actions like leading out or being brought forth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out

Qal

go or come out or forth

from (מִן) a place

go forth from (the presence of) a person

in technical senses

of flight, involving escape

depart

of inanimate things

with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source

of children as going forth from loins (of father)

go forth to a place

go forward, proceed to or toward something

come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result

of combinations

Hiph.

cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.

bring out animals

inanimate obj.

fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)

Hoph. be brought forth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3318 יָצָא go or come out .. go or come out or forth . from (מִן) a place

. go forth from (the presence of) a person

. in technical senses

. of flight, involving escape

. depart

. of inanimate things

. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source

. of children as going forth from loins (of father)

. . go forth to a place

. go forward, proceed to or toward something

. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result

. of combinations

. . cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.

. bring out animals

. inanimate obj.

. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)

. be brought forth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'

a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great

variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct

and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X

begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come

(abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned,

depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact,

fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence,

out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out),

going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out,

lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X

scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring

out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any

time, X to (and fro), utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: come.

: come/go_out/escape

1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart

1a2) to go forth (to a place)

1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)

1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)

1a5) to come out of

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

1b2) to bring out of

1b3) to lead out

1b4) to deliver

1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth

יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: send.

: send/take_out/release

1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart

1a2) to go forth (to a place)

1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)

1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result)

1a5) to come out of

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out

1b2) to bring out of

1b3) to lead out

1b4) to deliver

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil — Conjunction · verb hiphil participle (active) masculine singular
HC/Vhrmsa
[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
דִ֝בָּ֗הdi.Bah an evil report H1681 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to slander or evil reports, as seen in Leviticus 19:16 where God warns against spreading false rumors.
Amplified meaning
evil reports, false accusations
Tyndale gloss
slander
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דִּבָה (dibbah) refers to whispering, defamation, or an evil report, suggesting a stealthy or furtive nature. It is derived from a root meaning to move stealthily. The entries consistently emphasize its negative connotations related to slander and infamy.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דִּבָה n.f. whispering, defamation, evil report (? as that which glides stealthily)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1681 דִּבָה whispering, defamation, evil report (? as that which glides stealthily)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1681 dibbah dib-baw'

from 1680 (in the sense of furtive motion);

slander:--defaming, evil report, infamy, slander.

see HEBREW for 01680

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דִּבָּה (dib.bah) — slander.

1) whispering, defamation, evil report

1a) whispering

1b) defamation, defaming

1c) evil report, unfavourable saying

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
ה֣וּאhu' he H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HPp3ms — Pronoun
HPp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ha: The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet; transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "h." It came also to be used for the number 5. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[one who] conceals hatred [is] lips of falsehood and [one who] spreads an evil report he [is] a fool
כְסִֽיל׃khe.Sil [is] a fool H3684 Adj
70× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word describes a fool or someone who is stupid and silly. It is often used to describe people who reject God's wisdom. The Bible uses this word to warn against foolish behavior.
Amplified meaning
stupid, foolish, one who rejects God, lacking wisdom
Tyndale gloss
fool
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּסִיל (kciyl) refers to a fool or a stupid person. It is derived from a root meaning 'fat' and is used figuratively to describe someone who is foolish, simple-minded, or arrogant. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing a lack of wisdom or understanding.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּסִיל 70 n.m. stupid fellow, dullard, fool

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3684 כְּסִיל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3684 kciyl kes-eel'

from 3688; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or

silly:--fool(-ish).

see HEBREW for 03688

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּסִיל (ke.sil) — fool.

fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Any person who does not act wisely, that is, does not follow the warnings and requirements of God, which are founded in infinite wisdom. Hence "a fool" is put for a wicked man, an enemy or neglecter of God, Ps 14:1 Pr 19:1. So folly is put for wickedness, 2Sa 13:12,13 Ps 38:5, foolish lusts for wicked lusts, etc. Foolish talking, foolish questions, are vain, empty, unprofitable conversation, 2Ti 2:23.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ps 5:5; 14:1; 53:1; 74:18-22; 107:17; Pr 1:7,22; 3:35; 9:6-8,13-17; 10:1,8,10,13,14,18,23; 14:1,7-9,15; 15:7,20,21; 17:24,25; 18:2,6,7; 19:13; 20:3; 21:20; 26:3-12; 29:9,11; Ec 4:5; 7:9; 10:11-15; Mt 7:26,27; Tit 3:3

→ PARABLES OF

Of the foolish virgns Mt 25:1-13

Of the rich fool Lu 12:16-20

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate