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Proverbs 14:26 — Word Study

Depth

WLCבְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה מִבְטַח־ עֹ֑ז וּ֝לְבָנָ֗יו יִהְיֶ֥ה מַחְסֶֽה׃

BSAHe who fearsyirʼâh [reveres, has respect for] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is secureʻôz [strong, confident] in confidencemibṭâch [trust, assurance] and his childrenbên [sons, descendants] shall havehâyâh a place of refugemachăçeh [safe haven, shelter, protection, safety]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 14
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 26 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 (mach.Seh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 14:26quick helps
In a sentenceThe one who fears the LORD finds strength and security, and their children will have a safe place.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, likely King Solomon, providing wisdom on the fear of the LORD.
Where we areIn the context of wisdom literature, emphasizing the benefits of reverence for God.
The hard wordמַחְסֶֽה
Take awayFear of the LORD leads to confidence and security for both the individual and their family.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectמַחְסֶּה verbהָיָה 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 14:26

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 the Fear of the LORDgenerated

25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
28A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.

Proverbs 14:26 emphasizes the importance of fearing the LORD, suggesting that this reverence leads to a secure and confident life. The surrounding verses highlight the contrast between truthfulness and deceit, reinforcing the value of living in accordance with God's wisdom. This theme is echoed throughout the book of Proverbs, which frequently connects the fear of the LORD with wisdom and understanding.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 3:7–8Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
2Proverbs 19:23The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
3Genesis 31:42If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.”
4Psalm 34:7–11The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
5Psalm 112:1–6Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.

The Key Word יִרְאָה, be.yir.'Atgenerated

The word יִרְאָה (yir'ah) is a feminine noun meaning 'fear' or 'terror,' but it also encompasses reverence and respect, especially towards God. It is often used to describe a profound sense of awe in relation to divine authority.

This word appears in contexts that highlight both emotional and moral dimensions of fear, indicating that it is not merely about being afraid but also about honoring and respecting God. The parsing as a noun in construct form shows its role in expressing the concept of fear as a foundational attitude towards the divine.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

Translations agree on the meaning of יִרְאָה as 'fear' or 'reverence' in this verse.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יִהְיֶ֥ה, it will belong, governs the entire verse, linking the subject מַחְסֶֽה to the preceding phrases. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the fear of the LORD and the resulting security for the individual and their children.

The sentence is constructed with a main clause followed by a series of prepositional phrases that elaborate on the subject and its attributes, creating a flow that highlights the benefits of fearing the LORD.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יִרְאָה as φόβῳ (phobō), which carries a similar meaning of fear or reverence. This choice indicates a consistent understanding of the concept of fear in relation to God across both Hebrew and Greek texts.

For מַחְסֶֽה, the LXX uses ἔρεισμα, which suggests a place of support or safety, further emphasizing the protective aspect of the refuge provided by revering the LORD.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 14:26 teaches that those who fear the LORD will find strength and security, and their children will have a safe place. This verse highlights the protective nature of reverence for God, assuring that it leads to confidence and a refuge for families.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to fear the LORD?

To fear the LORD means to have a deep respect and reverence for God, recognizing His power and authority, which leads to a life of wisdom and security.

How does the fear of the LORD provide security?

The fear of the LORD provides security by instilling confidence in God's protection and guidance, ensuring that those who revere Him are safe and secure.

What is the significance of children having a place of refuge?

The mention of children having a place of refuge signifies the generational blessings that come from a life lived in reverence to God, ensuring safety and security for future generations.

How can one cultivate a healthy fear of the LORD?

Cultivating a healthy fear of the LORD involves studying His word, reflecting on His greatness, and living in obedience to His commands, which fosters a deeper respect and reverence.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced the security that comes from fearing the LORD?
  2. How can I teach my children the importance of revering God?
  3. What are practical steps I can take to deepen my fear of the LORD?
  4. How does understanding God's nature influence my confidence in Him?

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

Early Church Fathers have commented on the significance of fearing the LORD in relation to strength and confidence, highlighting its importance in the life of believers.

Augustine of HippoSERMON 348:1 354–430
“The fear of the Lord is the hope of courage.” When you fear the punishment that is threatened, you learn to love the reward that is promised;
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 14 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book 5.33 c. 540–604
In the way of God fear produces strength; as Solomon witnesses, who says, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence." For 'strong confidence' is said 'to be in the fear of the Lord,' in that, in truth,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 14 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, etc. The fear of the Lord provides the confidence of strength, because indeed our mind more valiantly despises the terrors of temporal things as much as it submits itself more truly to their…
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 14 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 14:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

In the fear of the Lord [is] strong confidence,.... Such who fear the Lord may be confident that he has a love to them, a delight in them; that his eye is upon them, and his heart towards them; and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 14 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. In the fear of the Lord (is) strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 14 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Strong confidence; a sure ground of confidence; or a strong refuge, as the next clause explains it. His children; either, 1. God’ s children. Or, 2. The children of them that fear God, who are sufficiently understood out of the former clause.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 14 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.Ver. 26. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.] The reverential fear of God is monimenturn, munimentum, ornamentum. The wise man had said, in Proverbs 14:24, "The crown of the wise are their riches," and in Proverbs 18:11, he will tell us that "the rich man’ s wealth is his strong city." Now, lest any should hereby be brought to think of riches more highly than is meet, he gives us to know that wealth, severed from the fear of God, can neither adorn us nor secure us. Great is the confidence of a good conscience. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, and he will…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 14 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) His children.—Either, the children of the man who fears the Lord, as the blessing of Abraham (Genesis 17:7-8) and David (Jeremiah 33:20-21) descended to their children; or the pronoun may refer to God’s children, i.e., those who look up to Him as a father, an expression which occurs in the Old Testament (e g., Psalms 73:15), but is brought forward more prominently in the New Testament.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 14 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 26. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence] From this, and from genuine Christian experience, we find that the fear of God is highly consistent with the strongest confidence in his mercy and goodness.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 14 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

26. his] i.e. the Lord’s. Ewald and others render, to his children (who feareth Jehovah) he (Jehovah) will be &c. Comp. R.V. marg.: the children of him that hath it (sc. the fear of the Lord) shall have, &c.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 14 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

His children - Probably, the children whom the Lord adopts, and who are true to their adoption.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 14 →

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

He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.

NETBNew English Translation2006

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.

RVARevised Version, American1894

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

In the feare of the Lord is an assured strength, and his children shall haue hope.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

In the fear of Jehovah [is] strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Strong confidence [is] in the fear of YHWH, || And there is a refuge to His sons.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

When someone fears Yahweh, he also has much confidence in him; these things will be like a strong place of protection for this man's children.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

People who honor the Lord are completely safe; he will protect their children.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseprepositional phrase · predicateבְּ[is].innoun phraseיִרְאַ֣תthe.fearיְ֭הוָהof.Yahwehnoun phrase · subjectמִבְטַחconfidenceעֹ֑זof.strengthוּ֝andclauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְtonoun phraseבָנָ֗יchildrenוhisverbיִהְיֶ֥הit.will.belongsubjectמַחְסֶֽהa.refuge

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


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

Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of Proverbs 14:26, with all seven words matched, indicating a strong consistency in how this verse has been transmitted through time.

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

בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה מִבְטַח־ עֹ֑ז וּ֝לְבָנָ֗יו יִהְיֶ֥ה מַחְסֶֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
בְּיִרְאַ֣תφόβῳיְ֭הוָהκυρίουמִבְטַח־ἐλπὶςעֹ֑זἰσξύοςוּ֝לְבָנָ֗יוαὐτοῦיִהְיֶ֥הκαταλείπειמַחְסֶֽה׃ἔρεισμα

7 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 14:26יִרְאָה[is] in [th[is] in [the] fיִרְאָהיהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהמִבְטָחconfidence confidence ofמִבְטָחעֹזstrengthstrengthעֹזבֵּןand to chiland to childrenבֵּןהָיָהit will belit will belongהָיָהמַחְסֶּהa refugea refugeמַחְסֶּההָיָהto beto beהָיָהבָּטַחto trustto trustבָּטַחעָזַזbe strongbe strongעָזַזבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהחָסָהto seek reto seek refugeחָסָהיָרֵאafraidafraidיָרֵאהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתרֵאשִׁיתfirst: begfirst: beginninרֵאשִׁיתנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאכֶּ֫סֶלloinloinכֶּ֫סֶלעֹזstrengthstrengthעֹזמַחְסֶּהrefugerefugeמַחְסֶּהגָּאוֹןprideprideגָּאוֹןעַמּוֹןAmmonAmmonעַמּוֹןרְאוּבֵןReubenReubenרְאוּבֵןחֹ֫רֶבdroughtdroughtחֹ֫רֶב
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 14:26

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.

[is] in [the] fear of Yahweh confidence of strength and to children his it will belong a refuge
בְּיִרְאַ֣תbe.yir.'At [is] in [the] fear of H3374 Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word for fear can also mean reverence or respect, especially when it comes to God. It's used to describe a feeling of awe or terror, and is often translated as 'fear' or 'dreadful' in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
reveres, has respect for
Tyndale gloss
fear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יִרְאָה (yir'ah) is a feminine noun meaning 'fear' or 'terror,' encompassing both the emotion and the concept of reverence, particularly in relation to God. It can denote an object that causes fear or the respect and piety associated with divine authority. The entries highlight its moral and emotional dimensions without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יִרְאָה n.f. fear

fear, terror

a terror = obj. of terror

fear of God, reverence, piety

the fear of י׳ the law as revered.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3374 יִרְאָה fear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3374 yir'ah yir-aw'

feminine of 3373; fear (also used as infinitive); morally,

reverence:--X dreadful, X exceedingly, fear(-fulness).

see HEBREW for 03373

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יִרְאָה (yir.ah) — fear.

1) fear, terror, fearing

1a) fear, terror

1b) awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear)

1c) fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety

1d) revered

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
HR/Ncfsc
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…

[is] in [the] fear of Yahweh confidence of strength and to children his it will belong a refuge
יְ֭הוָהYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

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

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

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

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

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

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

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

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] in [the] fear of Yahweh confidence of strength and to children his it will belong a refuge
מִבְטַח־miv.tach- confidence of H4009 Noun common · masculine singular construct
15× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mibtach means a place of trust or confidence, like a refuge where one can feel secure and assured.
Amplified meaning
trust, assurance
Tyndale gloss
confidence
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִבְטָח (mibtach) refers to confidence, encompassing both the act of confiding and the state of security or assurance. It is derived from a root meaning 'refuge' and can denote trust or hope. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts related to security and assurance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִבְטָח n.[m.] confidence

the act of confiding

the object of confidence

the state of confidence, security.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4009 מִבְטָח confidence . the act of confiding

. the object of confidence

. the state of confidence, security.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4009 mibtach mib-tawkh'

from 982; properly, a refuge, i.e. (objective) security, or

(subjective) assurance:--confidence, hope, sure, trust.

see HEBREW for 0982

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִבְטָח (miv.tach) — confidence.

1) trust, confidence, refuge

1a) act of confiding

1b) object of confidence

1c) state of confidence, security

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

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] in [the] fear of Yahweh confidence of strength and to children his it will belong a refuge
עֹ֑ז'Oz strength H5797 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
92× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Describes strength or might, including physical power, social status, or boldness, like the strength of God or a strong leader.
Amplified meaning
strong, confident
Tyndale gloss
strength
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֹז (oz) refers to strength or might, encompassing material, physical, personal, social, and political dimensions. It can denote boldness or impudence and is associated with the might of God. The word is built from the root related to strength and power, with various applications noted in the entries.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֹז, and (rarely) עוֹז n.m. strength, might

material and physical

personal, social, and political

might of י׳

= boldness, impudence

= stronghold

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5797 עֹז, and (rarely) עוֹז strength, might . material and physical

. personal, social, and political

. might of י׳

. = boldness, impudence

. = stronghold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5797 `oz oze

or (fully) rowz {oze}; from 5810; strength in various

applications (force, security, majesty, praise):--boldness,

loud, might, power, strength, strong.

see HEBREW for 05810

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֹז (oz) — strength.

1) might, strength

1a) material or physical

1b) personal or social or political

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

→ A title given to Jehovah 1Sa 15:29

[is] in [the] fear of Yahweh confidence of strength and to children his it will belong a refuge
וּ֝לְבָנָ֗יוu.le.va.Nav and to children his H1121 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
4,943× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Amplified meaning
sons, descendants
Tyndale gloss
son: child
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּן 4870 n.m. son

son, male child, born of a woman

children (male and female)

youth, young men

the young of animals

of plant shoots

fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

member of a guild, order or class

of animals son of (the) herd

ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

n. relat. of age

base

בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman

. children (male and female)

. youth, young men

. the young of animals

. of plant shoots

. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows

. . member of a guild, order or class

. of animals son of (the) herd

. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.

. n. relat. of age

H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1121 ben bane

from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the

widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,

including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,

etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)

(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,

(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,

bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X

came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of

first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +

kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)

people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +

spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous

one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.

see HEBREW for 01129

see HEBREW for 01

see HEBREW for 0251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּן (ben) — son: child.

: child/son

בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;

son of: Jaaziah (H3269);

brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)

§ Beno = "his son"

the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)

בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.

: descendant, people, tribe, nation

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : child/son

בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.

: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : descendant

בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.

: rebel/son(Belial)

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

§ : people/men/nation/tribe

בֵּן (ben) — son.

: [inheriting]son/heir

A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)

בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.

: warrior/son(strong)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

[is] in [the] fear of Yahweh confidence of strength and to children his it will belong a refuge
יִהְיֶ֥הyih.Yeh it will belong H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
[is] in [the] fear of Yahweh confidence of strength and to children his it will belong a refuge
מַחְסֶֽה׃mach.Seh a refuge H4268 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
20× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means a safe place to go, like a shelter from a storm. It appears in the Bible as a place of hope and trust, where people can find refuge from danger. In Psalm 71:3, God is called a rock of refuge.
Amplified meaning
safe haven, shelter, protection, safety
Tyndale gloss
refuge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַחְסֶּה (machaceh) refers to a refuge or shelter, both literally and figuratively. It conveys meanings of protection from danger or storms, and can also imply a place of trust or hope. The word is derived from a root meaning to cover or protect, and is used in contexts that emphasize safety.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַחְסֶּה n.m. refuge, shelter

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4268 מַחְסֶּה refuge, shelter

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4268 machaceh makh-as-eh'

or machceh {makh-seh'}; from 2620; a shelter (literally or

figuratively):--hope, (place of) refuge, shelter, trust.

see HEBREW for 02620

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַחְסֶּה (ma.cha.seh) — refuge.

1) refuge, shelter

1a) from rain or storm, from danger

1b) of falsehood

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

ref'-uj: A place of resort and safety. The principal words in the Old Testament are machceh (Ps 14:6; 46:1; 62:7,8; Isa 4:6, etc.), and manoc (2Sa 22:3; Ps 59:16, etc.), both applied chiefly to God as a "refuge" for His people. For the King James Version "refuge" in De 33:27, the Revised Version (British and American) has "dwelling-place," and in Ps 9:9, "high tower." Conversely, the Revised Version (British and American) has "refuge" for the King James Version "shelter" in Ps 61:3, and "hope" in

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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