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Proverbs 13:11 — Word Study

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WLCה֭וֹן מֵהֶ֣בֶל יִמְעָ֑ט וְקֹבֵ֖ץ עַל־ יָ֣ד יַרְבֶּֽה׃

BSADishonesthebel [gained by vanity, quickly gotten] wealthhôwn [substance, riches] will dwindlemâʻaṭ [be diminished, become less] but what is earnedqâbats [gathered by labor, collected bit by bit] throughʻal hard workyâd [with the hand, by little and little] will be multipliedrâbâh [increased, made to grow]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 13
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 (yar.Beh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 13:11quick helps
In a sentenceProverbs contrasts dishonest wealth that diminishes with honest earnings that multiply.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom on wealth.
Where we areIn the middle of a series of proverbs about wisdom and folly.
The hard wordהֶבֶל
Take awayHonest labor leads to lasting wealth.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbמָעַט 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 13:11

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 — Wisdom in Wealthgenerated

10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
11Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

Proverbs 13:11 teaches that wealth gained through dishonest means is temporary and will diminish over time, while wealth obtained through hard work and diligence will grow and increase. This reflects a broader theme in Proverbs that emphasizes the value of integrity and the consequences of folly. The surrounding verses also highlight the importance of wisdom and the pitfalls of arrogance, illustrating a complete picture of how one should approach wealth and life choices.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 10:2Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
2Proverbs 20:21An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
3Proverbs 28:8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.
4Job 15:28–29he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
5Job 20:15–19He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

The Key Word הוֹן, Hongenerated

The word הוֹן (Hon) refers to wealth or substance, indicating value or sufficiency. It appears frequently in poetic contexts, especially in Wisdom Literature like Proverbs, where it emphasizes the importance of ethical means of acquiring wealth.

The parsing shows that it is a masculine singular noun, suggesting a concrete and specific idea of wealth, rather than an abstract concept. This word underscores the notion that true wealth is not merely material but also encompasses moral integrity.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses dishonest for מֵהֶ֣בֶל and earned for קֹבֵ֖ץ.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main finite verb is יִמְעָ֑ט, it will become small, governing the clause about dishonest wealth. This is contrasted with two additional clauses: one describing the act of gathering and the other indicating the result of honest work.

The structure emphasizes the relationship between the actions of gaining wealth and the outcomes of those actions, with the first clause leading into the contrasting second clause.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates הוֹן as ὕπαρχις, which conveys a sense of existing substance or property, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning of wealth.

This choice indicates a continuity in the understanding of wealth across the Hebrew and Greek texts, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in acquiring wealth.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 13:11 teaches that wealth gained through dishonest means will fade away, while wealth earned through hard work will grow. This highlights the value of integrity in our pursuits.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that dishonest wealth will dwindle?

It means that wealth obtained through unethical means is not lasting and will eventually be lost.

Why is hard work emphasized in this verse?

Hard work is seen as a reliable way to accumulate wealth that is sustainable and rewarding.

How does this verse relate to other proverbs about wealth?

It reinforces the idea that integrity and diligence are key principles in the pursuit of wealth, as seen in other verses like Proverbs 10:2.

What can we learn about the nature of wealth from this verse?

We learn that wealth should be pursued ethically and that hard work is the foundation for lasting prosperity.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I ensure that my pursuits for wealth are ethical and honest?
  2. What are some practical ways I can work hard to achieve my goals?
  3. In what areas of my life have I seen the consequences of dishonest gain?
  4. How does this verse encourage me to reflect on my work ethic and values?

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

Bede comments on this verse, warning against the dangers of hastily acquired wealth and its fleeting nature.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
"Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle," etc. Those who want to become rich fall into temptation, and they do not possess those very riches, which they either acquire or desire, forever.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 13 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 13:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished,.... In an unjust or unlawful way, either by robbery and theft, as Aben Ezra; or by fraud and tricking, by overreaching and circumventing others; or by

Read John Gill on Proverbs 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

By vanity; by vain, or deceitful, or wicked practices. Shall be diminished, because the curse of God attends upon it. By labour; by diligence in an honest calling.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.Ver. 11. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished.] De male quaesitis vix gaudet tertius haeres, Ill-gotten goods fly away without taking leave of the owner; leaving nothing but the print of talons to torment him. Many when they have a loss in their riches, it is as it were raked out of their bellies. A piece of their very heart goes with it. But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.] Howbeit sometimes it is otherwise: "Master, we have laboured all night and taken nothing." "Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 13 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Wealth gotten by vanity.—As we should say, “in an unsatisfactory manner,” that is to say, by dishonesty.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 13 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. Wealth gotten by vanity] Wealth that is not the result of honest industry and hard labour is seldom permanent. All fortunes acquired by speculation, lucky hits, and ministering to the pride or luxury of others, &c., soon become dissipated. They are not gotten in the way of Providence, and have not God's blessing, and therefore are not permanent.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 13 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. by vanity] i.e. by untrustworthy methods, such as speculation, gambling, high rate of interest with poor security (comp. Proverbs 21:6), in contrast to hard work, by labour (lit. with the hand). The word vanity in this sense of what is unreliable and transitory is a key-word of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The LXX. and Vulg. render in haste, quick returns, ἐπισπουδαζομένη (with the addition μετὰἀνομίας), festinata.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 13 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

By vanity - literally, “by a breath,” i. e., by a windfall, or sudden stroke of fortune, not by honest labor.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 13 →

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

Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall have increase.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The riches of vanitie shall diminish: but he that gathereth with the hand, shall increase them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Wealth [gotten] by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase [it].

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Wealth from vanity becomes little, || And whoever is gathering by the hand becomes great.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Wealth [gotten] by vain deeds will be diminished; but he that gathereth by close labor will increase it.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Wealth dwindles away when there is too much vanity, but the one who makes money by working with his hand will make his money grow.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Substance got in haste shall be diminished: but that which by little and little is gathered with the hand shall increase.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Wealth gained by fraud quickly disappears, but those who gather bit by bit prosper.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.

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 · subjectה֭וֹןwealthprepositional phraseמֵfromהֶ֣בֶלvanityverbיִמְעָ֑טit.will.become.smallוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbקֹבֵ֖ץ[one.who].gathersprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלonיָ֣דhandverbיַרְבֶּֽהhe.will.increase

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads ה֭וֹן מֵהֶ֣בֶל יִמְעָ֑ט וְקֹבֵ֖ץ עַל־ יָ֣ד יַרְבֶּֽה׃, while the Septuagint matches 4 of the 7 words, indicating a strong agreement between the two texts on the core message of the verse.

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

ה֭וֹן מֵהֶ֣בֶל יִמְעָ֑ט וְקֹבֵ֖ץ עַל־ יָ֣ד יַרְבֶּֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
ה֭וֹןὕπαρχιςוְקֹבֵ֖ץσυνάγωνיָ֣דἑαυτῷיַרְבֶּֽה׃πληθυνθήσεται

4 of the 7 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 13:11הוֹןwealthwealthהוֹןהֶ֫בֶלfrom vanityfrom vanityהֶ֫בֶלמָעַטit will becit will become מָעַטקָבַץand [one whand [one who] gקָבַץעַלononעַליָדhandhandיָדרָבָהhe will inche will increasרָבָההָבַלto become to become vainהָבַלכַּףpalmpalmכַּףהוּןbe readybe readyהוּןאוֹןstrengthstrengthאוֹןעַלheightheightעַלרָבַבto multiplto multiply tenרָבַבעָשִׁירrichrichעָשִׁיריָקָרpreciouspreciousיָקָרקֹהֶ֫לֶתpreacherpreacherקֹהֶ֫לֶתרְעוּתlonginglongingרְעוּתמִקְנָהpurchasepurchaseמִקְנָהרָבָהto multiplto multiplyרָבָהנָדַחto banishto banishנָדַחשְׁאֵרִיתremnantremnantשְׁאֵרִיתכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרכִּסֵּאthronethroneכִּסֵּאחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָקנָצַלto rescueto rescueנָצַל
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 13:11

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.

wealth from vanity it will become small and [one who] gathers on hand he will increase
ה֭וֹןHon wealth H1952 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to wealth or substance, implying that something is enough or of high value. It can also be translated as riches or sufficiency.
Amplified meaning
substance, riches
Tyndale gloss
substance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוֹן (hown) refers to wealth, riches, or substance, and can also imply sufficiency or enough. It is primarily found in poetic contexts, particularly in Wisdom Literature like Proverbs. The term is derived from a related root that conveys the idea of wealth and value.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוֹן n.m. wealth, sufficiency (poet., almost wholly WisdLt, especially Pr)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1952 הוֹן wealth, sufficiency (poet., almost wholly WisdLt, especially Pr)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1952 hown hone

from the same as 1951 in the sense of 202; wealth; by

implication, enough:--enough, + for nought, riches, substance,

wealth.

see HEBREW for 01951

see HEBREW for 0202

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוֹן (hon) — substance.

1) wealth, riches, substance

1a) wealth

1b) price, high value

interj

2) enough!, sufficiency

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See RICHES

wealth from vanity it will become small and [one who] gathers on hand he will increase
מֵהֶ֣בֶלme.He.vel from vanity H1892 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hebel means emptiness or vanity, describing something transitory and unsatisfactory, like a breath of air. It appears in the book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon writes about life's fleeting nature. The KJV translates it as vanity or altogether.
Amplified meaning
gained by vanity, quickly gotten
Tyndale gloss
vanity
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הֶ֫בֶל (hevel) refers to vapour or breath, and is often associated with concepts of emptiness or vanity, indicating something transitory and unsatisfactory. The word can function as an adverb meaning 'vainly.' It is derived from a root meaning 'to breathe' and appears in contexts discussing the fleeting nature of life.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הֶ֫בֶל 73 n.m. vapour, breath

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1892 הֶ֫בֶל vapour, breath

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1892 hebel heh'bel

or (rarely in the abs.) habel {hab-ale'}; from 1891;

emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and

unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb:--X altogether, vain,

vanity.

see HEBREW for 01891

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הֶ֫בֶל (he.vel) — vanity.

1) vapour, breath

1a) breath, vapour

1b) vanity (fig.)

adv

2) vainly

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

Does not usually denote, in Scripture, self-conceit or personal pride, 2Pe 2:18, but sometimes emptiness and fruitlessness, Job 7:3 Ps 144:4 Ec 1:1-18. It often denotes wickedness, particularly falsehood, De 32:21 Ps 4:2 24:4 119:37, and sometimes idols and idol-worship, 2Ki 17:15 Jer 2:5 18:15 Jon 2:8. Compare Paul’s expression, "they turned the truth of God into a lie,"

→ A consequence of the fall Ro 8:20

→ Every man has Ps 39:11

→ Every state of man is Ps 62:9

→ Man, at his best estate, is Ps 39:5

→ Man is similar to Ps 144:4

→ The thoughts of man are Ps 94:11

→ The days of man are Job 7:16; Ec 6:12

→ Childhood and youth are Ec 11:10

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- A consequence of the fall

Ro 8:20

- Every man is

Ps 39:11

- Every state of man is

Ps 62:9

- Man at his best estate is

Ps 39:5

- Man is like to

Ps 144:4

- The thoughts of man are

Ps 94:11

- The days of man are

Job 7:16; Ec 6:12

- Childhood and youth are

Ec 11:10

- The beauty of man is

Ps 39:11; Pr 31:30

wealth from vanity it will become small and [one who] gathers on hand he will increase
יִמְעָ֑טyim.'At it will become small H4591 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to make something smaller or less. It can describe reducing a quantity or making something less effective. The KJV translates it as diminish or make few.
Amplified meaning
be diminished, become less
Tyndale gloss
to diminish
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מָעַט (ma`at) means to diminish or become small. It can refer to being few in number or making something smaller or fewer. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, covering both intransitive and causative meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָעַט] vb. be or become small, diminished, few

Qal be too small for a lamb

Pi. become few

Hiph. make small or few, diminish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4591 מָעַט be or become small, diminished, few .be too small for a lamb

. become few

. make small or few, diminish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4591 ma`at maw-at'

a primitive root; properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen;

intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few

(or figuratively, ineffective):--suffer to decrease,

diminish, (be, X borrow a, give, make) few (in number, -ness),

gather least (little), be (seem) little, (X give the) less, be

minished, bring to nothing.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָעַט (ma.at) — to diminish.

1) to be or become small, be few, be diminished

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to diminish

1a2) to be too small

1b) (Piel) to become few

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make small, make few, diminish

1c2) to give less

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
wealth from vanity it will become small and [one who] gathers on hand he will increase
וְקֹבֵ֖ץve.ko.Vetz and [one who] gathers H6908 Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
127× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To gather or collect people or things, like when the Israelites assembled in the book of Numbers. It's about bringing things or people together in one place.
Amplified meaning
gathered by labor, collected bit by bit
Tyndale gloss
to gather
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָבַץ (qabats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or collect. It encompasses various forms, including assembling, being gathered, and taking away. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, and Hithpael, which reflect nuances in meaning and action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָבַץ 127 vb. gather, collect

Qal gather, collect

Niph.

intrans. assemble, gather

pass. be gathered

Pi. 51 gather together

Pu. of land

Hithp. gather together (intrans.), be gathered together

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6908 קָבַץ gather, collect

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6908 qabats kaw-bats'

a primitive root; to grasp, i.e. collect:--assemble

(selves), gather (bring) (together, selves together, up),

heap, resort, X surely, take up.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָבַץ (qa.vats) — to gather.

1) to gather, assemble

1a) (Qal) to gather, collect, assemble

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to assemble, gather

1b2) to be gathered

1c) (Piel) to gather, gather together, take away

1d) (Pual) to be gathered together

1e) (Hithpael) to gather together, be gathered together

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HC/Vqrmsa
wealth from vanity it will become small and [one who] gathers on hand he will increase
עַל־'al- on H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

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

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

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

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

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

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

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

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

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

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

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

1h) to (as a dative)

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

conj

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Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

On

Light; the sun, (Gen. 41:45, 50), the great seat of sun-worship, called also Bethshemesh (Jer. 43:13) and Aven (Ezek. 30:17), stood on the east bank of the Nile, a few miles north of Memphis, and near Cairo, in the north-east. The Vulgate and the LXX. Versions have “Heliopolis” (“city of the sun”) instead of On in Genesis and of Aven in Ezekiel. The “city of destruction” Isaiah speaks of (19:18, marg. “of Heres;” Heb. ‘Ir-ha-heres, which some MSS. read Ir-ha-heres, i.e., “city of the sun”) may be the name given to On, the prophecy being that the time will come when that city which was known as the “city of the sun-god” shall become the “city of destruction” of the sun-god, i.e., when idolatry shall cease, and the worship…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(abode or city of the sun), a town of lower Egypt, called BETH-SHEMESH in (Jeremiah 43:13) On is better known under its Greek name Heliopolis. It was situated on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, just below the point of the Delta, and about twenty miles northeast of Memphis. The chief object of worship at Heliopolis was the sun, whose temple, described by Strabo, is now only represented by the single beautiful obelisk, of red granite so feet 2 inches high above the pedestal which has stood for more than 4000 years, having been erected by Usirtesen, the second king of the twelfth dynasty. Heliopolis was anciently famous for its learning, and Eudoxus and Plato studied under its priests. The first mention of this place in the Bible is in the history of Joseph, to whom we read Pharaoh gave "to wife Asenath the daughter…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See HELIOPOLIS.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

pain; force; iniquity

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
wealth from vanity it will become small and [one who] gathers on hand he will increase
יָ֣דyad hand H3027 Noun common · both singular absolute
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Amplified meaning
with the hand, by little and little
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

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Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absolute
HNcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(yadh, "hand"; kaph, "the hollow hand," "palm"; yamin, "the right hand"; semo'l, "the left hand"; cheir, "hand"; dexia, "the right hand"; aristera, "the left hand" (only Lu 23:33; 2Co 6:7), or euphemistically (for evil omens come from the left hand; compare Latin sinister, German linkisch, etc.); euonumos, literally, "having a good name"): The Hebrew words are used in a large variety of idiomatic expressions, part of which have passed into the Greek (through the Sepuagint) and into modern European languages (through the translations of the Bible; see Oxford Hebrew Lexicon, under the word "yadh"). We group what has to be said about the word under the following heads:

1. The Human Hand: Various Uses:

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hand

Called by Galen “the instrument of instruments.” It is the symbol of human action (Ps. 9:16; Job 9:30; Isa. 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:8). Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence (Ps. 26:6; 73:13; Matt. 27:24), also of sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Isa. 51:16; Ps. 24:3, 4). In Ps. 77:2 the correct rendering is, as in the Revised Version, “My hand was stretched…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Often put of strength, power; so to be "in the hand" of any one, is to be in his power. Joining hands, or striking hands, is a very common method of pledging one’s self to a contract or bargain; just as persons among us often shake hands in token of an agreement. To "lift the hand," means to make oath. "At the right hand of God," is the place of honor, power, and happiness, Ps 16:11 45:9 110:1 Mt 26:64 Col 3:1. The right hand meant towards the south, the Jews being wont to speak as if facing the east. The "laying on of hands," signified consecration to office, and the bestowal of a blessing or of divine gifts, Ge 48:14 Nu…

→ Imposition of hands Heb 6:2

→ In consecration Ge 48:14; Ex 29:10,15,19; Le 1:4; 3:2,8,13; 4:15,24,33; 16:21

→ In ordaining the Levites Nu 8:10,11

→ Joshua Nu 27:18-23; De 34:9

→ Timothy 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6

→ In healing Mr 6:5; 7:32; 16:18; Lu 4:40; Ac…

wealth from vanity it will become small and [one who] gathers on hand he will increase
יַרְבֶּֽה׃yar.Beh he will increase H7235 Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
227× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to increase or grow, like a plant shooting up. It is used in the Bible to describe something getting bigger or more abundant. The KJV translates it as abundance or bring up.
Amplified meaning
increased, made to grow
Tyndale gloss
to multiply
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָבָה (rabah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to increase or multiply, encompassing ideas of becoming great, numerous, or abundant. It has various forms, including Qal (to become many), Piel (to make large), and Hiphil (to make much). The word also appears in a context related to shooting in Genesis 21:20. There is a noted Aramaic equivalent, רְבָה.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[רָבָה] 225 vb. be, or become, much, many, great

Qal 59

become many, numerous

be great

grow great (Aramaism)

Pi. 4 make large, increase

Hiph. 162

make much or many

make great, obj. pers.

base

[רָבָה] vb. shoot;—only Qal Gn 21:20

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7235a רָבָה be, or become, much, many, great .. become many, numerous

. . be great

. grow great (Aramaism)

. make large, increase

. . make much or many

. make great, obj. pers.

H7235b רָבָה shoot

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7235 rabah raw-baw'

a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect):--(bring

in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake for 7232), be

in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel,

exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly,

X -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have,

make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more

(in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much

(greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), X

process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.

see HEBREW for 07232

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָבָה (ra.vah) — to multiply.

1) be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to become many, become numerous, multiply (of people, animals, things)

1a2) to be or grow great

1b) (Piel) to make large, enlarge, increase, become many

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to make much, make many, have many

1c1a) to multiply, increase

1c1b) to make much to do, do much in respect of, transgress greatly

1c1c) to increase greatly or exceedingly

1c2) to make great, enlarge, do much

Aramaic equivalent: re.vah (רְבָה "to grow great" H7236)

רָבָה (ra.vah) — to shoot.

(Qal) to shoot

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVhi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

in'-kres, (noun), in-kres' (verb): Employed in the English Bible both as verb and as noun, and in both cases to represent a number of different words in the original. As a verb it is used in the ordinary sense of the term. As a noun it is usually used of plant life, or of the herds and flocks, to denote the fruitage or the offspring; more rarely of money, to denote the interest. As examples of the different terms translated by this word, students who read Hebrew or Greek may compare De 7:22; Pr 16:21; Job 10:16 the King James Version; Job 12:23; Nu 18:30; De 7:13

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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