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Proverbs 15:27 — Word Study

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WLCעֹכֵ֣ר בֵּ֭יתוֹ בּוֹצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וְשׂוֹנֵ֖א מַתָּנֹ֣ת יִחְיֶֽה׃

BSAHe who is greedybâtsaʻ [extremely, covetous, craving unjustly] for unjust gainbetsaʻ [unfair profit, ill-gotten wealth] brings troubleʻâkar [stirs up, causes, disturbance, affliction] on his householdbayith [family, dwelling place] but he who hatessânêʼ [intensely dislikes, abhors] bribesmattânâh [gifts, corrupt payments] will livechâyâh [have life, be revived]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 27 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 (yich.Yeh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 15:27quick helps
In a sentenceThis proverb warns that greed for unjust gain causes trouble in one's household, while hating bribes leads to life.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, likely Solomon, conveying wisdom about morality and consequences.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of sayings that contrast the outcomes of righteous and wicked behavior.
The hard wordעֹכֵ֣ר
Take awayGreed leads to turmoil, while integrity fosters life.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbעָכַר 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 15:27

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 Greed and Integritygenerated

26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
27He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 15:27 presents a contrast between those who pursue unjust gain and those who reject bribes. The surrounding verses emphasize the value of purity in thought and the consequences of wickedness. This section of Proverbs serves as practical guidance for living a life aligned with God's wisdom, highlighting the importance of integrity in personal and family life.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 1:19Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
2Proverbs 11:19–29Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.
3Proverbs 20:21An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
4Deuteronomy 7:26And you must not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. You are to utterly detest and abhor it, because it is set apart for destruction.
5Joshua 6:18But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.

The Key Word עֹכֵ֣ר, 'o.Khergenerated

The word עָכַר (akar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stir up or disturb, suggesting an action that causes trouble or affliction. It is derived from a primitive root that evokes the image of roiling water, indicating the chaos that greed can bring into one's life.

As a participle in the active voice, it describes the ongoing state of trouble caused by greed. The use of this word in the context of household implies that the effects of such greed extend beyond the individual, impacting family and community.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses brings trouble for עֹכֵ֣ר and will live for יִחְיֶֽה.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verbs עֹכֵ֣ר and יִחְיֶֽה govern the two main clauses of the verse, presenting contrasting outcomes based on the actions described. The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between greed and its consequences.

The sentence is constructed with noun phrases serving as subjects and objects, illustrating the roles of the greedy individual and the one who rejects bribes. The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions and their repercussions.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew עֹכֵ֣ר is rendered as ἐχόλλυσιν, which also conveys the idea of causing disturbance or trouble. This choice aligns closely with the original meaning, suggesting a consistent interpretation of the consequences of greed.

The Greek term for בָּ֑צַע is not explicitly provided, but the overall translation reflects the same moral teachings found in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 15:27 teaches that those who are greedy for unjust gain will cause trouble for their families, while those who hate bribes will have a good life. This verse highlights the importance of integrity and the negative effects of greed.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be greedy for unjust gain?

Being greedy for unjust gain refers to a strong desire to acquire wealth or profit through dishonest or unethical means, which can lead to negative consequences.

How does hating bribes lead to life?

Hating bribes signifies a commitment to integrity and moral principles, which can result in a more fulfilling and peaceful life.

What are the consequences of greed mentioned in this verse?

The verse states that greed brings trouble to one's household, indicating that it can disrupt family harmony and lead to various forms of distress.

How can this proverb be applied in daily life?

This proverb encourages individuals to reject greed and unethical practices, promoting a lifestyle of honesty and integrity that benefits both oneself and one's family.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen greed affect my own life or the lives of those around me?
  2. How can I cultivate a dislike for unethical practices in my daily decisions?
  3. What steps can I take to ensure that my actions contribute positively to my household?
  4. How does this verse challenge me to reflect on my values regarding wealth and integrity?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 15:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house,.... Or "that covets a covetousness" (t), an evil one, as in Habakkuk 2:9; that seeks riches by unlawful means, that gathers the mammon of falsehood,

Read John Gill on Proverbs 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 15 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He that is greedy of gain, that seeketh wealth by unjust courses, as appears from the opposite clause, troubleth his own house; bringeth God’ s curse and destruction upon himself and his family, whom he designed to enrich and establish. That hateth; who refuseth them not with dissimulation, nor only from prudential reasons, but from a hearty abhorrency of all unrighteousness. Gifts, i.e. bribes given to corrupt judgment. See 23:8 . Shall live; shall preserve himself and (which is understood out of the former clause) his family from ruin.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 15 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.Ver. 27. He that is greedy of gain, troubleth his own house.] Fires his own nest while he thinks to feather it; fingers that which will burn in his purse, will prove lucrum in arca, damnum in conscientia, gain to his purse, but loss to his conscience. Add hereunto, that the covetous man’ s house is continually on a tumult of haste and hurry, "up, up, up," saith he; "to bed, to bed"; "quick at meat, quick at work," &c.; what with labour, and what with passion and contention, he and his household never live at heart’ s ease and rest. Thus it was in the houses of Laban and Nabal. But he that…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 15 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27) He that is greedy of gain.—Ill-gotten gain, especially bribes, as is seen in the next line. Troubleth his own house.—The word used of Achan (Joshua 7:25). Gifts.—Bribes taken by a judge. (Ecclesiastes 7:7.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 15 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 27. He that is greedy of gain] He who will be rich; troubleth his own house-he is a torment to himself and his family by his avariciousness and penury, and a curse to those with whom he deals. But he that hateth gifts] Whatever is given to pervert judgment.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 15 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

27. gifts] The proverb, though universal in its moral, is Oriental in its form. Gifts “play a very important part in the social life of the East” (see Smith’s Dict. of Bible, Gift). Hence they form at once the bait by which “he that is greedy of gain” is lured, as Gehazi was, to the “troubling of his own house,” and the test, in the lofty disregard of them, of incorruptible honour and integrity.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 15 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Gifts - There is a special application to the office of the judge.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 15 →

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 is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The one who is greedy for gain troubles his household, but whoever hates bribes will live.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that hateth gifts shall live.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He that is greedie of gaine, troubleth his owne house: but he that hateth giftes, shall liue.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, And whoso is hating gifts liveth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A dishonest gainer is troubling his house, || And whoever is hating gifts lives.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

He that is greedy after gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts will live.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The robber brings trouble to his family, but the one who hates bribes will live.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

People greedy for ill-gotten gains make trouble for their families, but those who hate bribes will live.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.

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.

clauseverbעֹכֵ֣ר[is].troublingnoun phrase · objectבֵּ֭יתhouseוֹhis.ownnoun phrase · subjectclauseverbבּוֹצֵ֣עַ[one.who].gains.unjustlyobjectבָּ֑צַעunjust.gainוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbשׂוֹנֵ֖א[one.who].hatesobjectמַתָּנֹ֣תgiftsverbיִחְיֶֽהhe.will.live

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


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

The Masoretic Text states, 'עֹכֵ֣ר בֵּ֭יתוֹ בּוֹצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וְשׂוֹנֵ֖א מַתָּנֹ֣ת יִחְיֶֽה׃' which translates to 'He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.' The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching 6 out of 7 words, although it presents them in a different order and structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q103) contain fragments that include some of the key terms, but they are partly restored and supplemented by an editor. Overall, the Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, while the Dead Sea Scrolls provide partial support with some differences due to restoration.

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

עֹכֵ֣ר בֵּ֭יתוֹ בּוֹצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וְשׂוֹנֵ֖א מַתָּנֹ֣ת יִחְיֶֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עֹכֵ֣רἐχόλλυσινבֵּ֭יתוֹἑαυτὸνבּוֹצֵ֣עַבָּ֑צַעδωρολήμπτηςוְשׂוֹנֵ֖אμισῶνיִחְיֶֽה׃σῴζεται

6 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.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q103a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

עכר [בית׳ו] בצע בצע ושנא מתנת [יחיה]

3 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.

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


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

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

Proverbs 15:27עָכַר[is] troubl[is] troublingעָכַרבֵּיתown house hown house hisבֵּיתבָּצַע[one who] g[one who] gainsבָּצַעבֶ֫צַעunjust gainunjust gainבֶ֫צַעשָׂנֵאand [one whand [one who] hשָׂנֵאמַתָּנָהgiftsgiftsמַתָּנָהחָיָהhe will livhe will liveחָיָהבָּנָהto buildto buildבָּנָהבָּצַעto cut offto cut offבָּצַעמַתָּןgiftgiftמַתָּןחָוָהto explainto explainחָוָהיְהוֹשׁוּעַJoshuaJoshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַאוֹצָרtreasuretreasureאוֹצָרבֶ֫צַעunjust-gaiunjust-gainבֶ֫צַענָבִיאprophetprophetנָבִיאשָׂנֵאto hateto hateשָׂנֵאאָהֵבto love: lto love: loverאָהֵבשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶראַבְרָםAbrahamAbrahamאַבְרָםבַּדalone: polalone: poleבַּדצְדָקָהrighteousnrighteousnessצְדָקָה
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 15:27

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] troubling own house his [one who] gains unjustly unjust gain and [one who] hates gifts he will live
עֹכֵ֣ר'o.Kher [is] troubling H5916 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to trouble or disturb, like stirring up water. It is used to describe causing problems or affliction, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
stirs up, causes, disturbance, affliction
Tyndale gloss
to trouble
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָכַר (akar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stir up, disturb, or trouble. It is derived from a primitive root that suggests the action of roiling water. The word encompasses various forms, including Qal, which denotes the act of disturbing, and Niphal, indicating a state of being disturbed or experiencing calamity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָכַר vb. stir up, disturb, trouble

Qal disturb, trouble

Niph. my pain was stirred up

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5916 עָכַר stir up, disturb, trouble

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5916 `akar aw-kar'

a primitive root; properly, to roil water; figuratively, to

disturb or affict:--trouble, stir.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָכַר (a.khar) — to trouble.

1) to trouble, stir up, disturb, make (someone) taboo

1a) (Qal) to disturb, trouble

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be disturbed, be stirred up

1b2) disturbance, calamity (participle)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
[is] troubling own house his [one who] gains unjustly unjust gain and [one who] hates gifts he will live
בֵּ֭יתוֹbei.to own house his H1004 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
2,049× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Amplified meaning
family, dwelling place
Tyndale gloss
place
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between

base

בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house

house

place

receptacle

of house as containing a family

household, family (592 t.)

house, including household affairs

lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards

מִבַּיִת

adv. on the inside

prep. within

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1004 bayith bah'-yith

probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest

variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,

daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as

would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),

inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,

temple, web, + within(-out).

see HEBREW for 01129

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֵּית (bet) — place.

nm

place, origin, between

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.

: home/temple/building

nm

1) house

1a) house, dwelling habitation

1b) shelter or abode of animals

1c) human bodies (fig.)

1d) of Sheol

1e) of abode of light and darkness

1f) of land of Ephraim

2) place

3) receptacle

4) home, house as containing a family

5) household, family

5a) those belonging to the same household

5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body

6) household affairs

7) inwards (metaph.)

8) (TWOT) temple

adv

9) on the inside

prep

10) within

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)

בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).

nm

This name is used for a house, habitation

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/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."

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] troubling own house his [one who] gains unjustly unjust gain and [one who] hates gifts he will live
בּוֹצֵ֣עַbo.Tze.a' [one who] gains unjustly H1214 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew verb means to cut off or stop, and can also describe being greedy or covetous, as seen in various KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
extremely, covetous, craving unjustly
Tyndale gloss
to cut off
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בָּצַע (batsa`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to cut off or break off. It encompasses actions like gaining through violence, finishing, or fulfilling something. The entries suggest a range of meanings from wrongful gain to completion. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons on its definitions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[בָּצַע] vb. cut off, break off, gain by violence

Qal cut off, break off

Pi. cut off, (dis)sever; = finish, complete; accomplish (= carry out, fulfil); violently make gain of

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1214 [בָּצַע] cut off, break off, gain by violence .cut off, break off

. cut off, (dis)sever; = finish, complete; accomplish (= carry out, fulfil); violently make gain of

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1214 batsa` baw-tsah'

a primitive root to break off, i.e. (usually) plunder;

figuratively, to finish, or (intransitively) stop:--(be)

covet(- ous), cut (off), finish, fulfill, gain (greedily),

get, be given to (covetousness), greedy, perform, be wounded.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בָּצַע (ba.tsa) — to cut off.

: to cut off

1) to cut off, break off, gain by unrighteous violence, get, finish, be covetous, be greedy

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a2) to stop

1a3) to gain wrongfully or by violence

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cut off, sever

1b2) to finish, complete, accomplish

1b3) to violently make gain of

בָּצַע (ba.tsa) — to cut off: to end.

: to end

1) to cut off, break off, gain by unrighteous violence, get, finish, be covetous, be greedy

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a2) to stop

1a3) to gain wrongfully or by violence

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cut off, sever

1b2) to finish, complete, accomplish

1b3) to violently make gain of

בָּצַע (ba.tsa) — to cut off: to gain.

: to end

1) to cut off, break off, gain by unrighteous violence, get, finish, be covetous, be greedy

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to cut off

1a2) to stop

1a3) to gain wrongfully or by violence

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to cut off, sever

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
[is] troubling own house his [one who] gains unjustly unjust gain and [one who] hates gifts he will live
בָּ֑צַעBa.tza' unjust gain H1215 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes unjust gain or profit, often acquired through violence or dishonest means, as referred to in the Bible.
Amplified meaning
unfair profit, ill-gotten wealth
Tyndale gloss
unjust-gain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֶ֫צַע (betsah) refers to gain that is typically acquired through violence or unjust means. The term encompasses notions of profit and covetousness, often implying dishonesty in the acquisition of wealth. It is derived from a root that suggests plunder, indicating a focus on unethical or violent means of obtaining gain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֶ֫צַע n.m. gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1215 בֶ֫צַע gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1215 betsa` beh'-tsah

from 1214; plunder; by extension, gain (usually

unjust):--covetousness, (dishonest) gain, lucre, profit.

see HEBREW for 01214

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּ֫צַע (be.tsa) — unjust-gain.

profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence

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

gan: In the Old Testament the translation of three Hebrew substantives, betsa`, "unjust gain," "any gain" (Jud 5:19; Job 22:3; Pr 1:19; 15:27; Isa 33:15; 56:11; Eze 22:13,17; Mic 4:13); mechir, "price" for which a thing is sold (Da 11:39, the only place where the Hebrew word is translated "gain" in the King James Version, though it occurs in other places translated "price"); tebhu'ah, "produce," "profits," "fruit" (Pr 3:14). It is the translation of one Hebrew…

[is] troubling own house his [one who] gains unjustly unjust gain and [one who] hates gifts he will live
וְשׂוֹנֵ֖אve.so.Ne' and [one who] hates H8130 Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
146× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hate means to feel intense dislike or hostility, as seen in the actions of enemies or foes in the Bible. It can also describe God's hatred of sin.
Amplified meaning
intensely dislikes, abhors
Tyndale gloss
to hate
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate

Qal 128 hate

Niph. is hated

Pi. enemy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8130 שָׂנֵא hate

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8130 sane' saw-nay'

a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)

hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.

1) to hate, be hateful

1a) (Qal) to hate

1a1) of man

1a2) of God

1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)

1b) (Niphal) to be hated

1c) (Piel) hater (participle)

1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom

Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HC/Vqrmsa
[is] troubling own house his [one who] gains unjustly unjust gain and [one who] hates gifts he will live
מַתָּנֹ֣תma.ta.Not gifts H4979 Noun common · feminine plural absolute
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to a gift or present, including sacrificial offerings or bribes, with the word being the Aramaic equivalent of mattᵉnâʼ.
Amplified meaning
gifts, corrupt payments
Tyndale gloss
gift
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַתָּנָה (mattanah) means 'gift' and can refer to a present or a sacrificial offering in a positive sense, while it may also imply a bribe in a negative context. It is derived from the related word מַתָּן (mattan). The Aramaic equivalent is מַתְּנָא (mattna), also meaning 'gift'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַתָּנָה n.f. gift

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4979 מַתָּנָה gift

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4979 mattanah mat-taw-naw'

feminine of 4976; a present; specifically (in a good sense),

a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe:--gift.

see HEBREW for 04976

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַתָּנָה (mat.ta.nah) — gift.

gift

Aramaic equivalent: mat.t.na (מַתְּנָא "gift" H4978)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Have been common from the earliest times as tokens of affection, honor, or respect. The dues to a king were often rendered in this form, 1Sa 10:27 Isa 36:16; and men of high position were approached with presents, Ge 43:11 Jud 6:18 1Sa 9:7 1Ki 14:3. Kings made gifts of garments to those they wished to honor, Ge 45:22,23 1Sa 18:4; and of treasures to other princes, out of esteem or of fear, 2Ki 16:8 18:14

[is] troubling own house his [one who] gains unjustly unjust gain and [one who] hates gifts he will live
יִחְיֶֽה׃yich.Yeh he will live H2421 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
282× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To live or have life is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to revive or be quickened. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power to sustain life and restore people to health, as seen in the stories of the prophets and Jesus' miracles.
Amplified meaning
have life, be revived
Tyndale gloss
to live
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָיָה (chayah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to live or have life, encompassing both literal and figurative senses. It includes various nuances such as reviving, preserving life, and restoring health. The entries detail its use in different stems, with Qal focusing on living and being quickened, while Piel and Hiphil emphasize giving life and reviving. No specific verse references are provided.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָיָה 283 vb. live

Qal 203

live

be quickened, revive

Pi.

preserve alive, let live

give life

quicken, revive, refresh

Hiph.

preserve alive, let live

quicken, revive

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2421 חָיָה live .. live

. be quickened, revive

. . preserve alive, let live

. give life

. quicken, revive, refresh

. . preserve alive, let live

. quicken, revive

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2421 chayah khaw-yaw'

a primitive root (compare 2331, 2421); to live, whether

literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive:--keep

(leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let,

suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,

recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, (X God) save

(alive, life, lives), X surely, be whole.

see HEBREW for 02331

see HEBREW for 02421

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָיָה (cha.yah) — to live.

1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to live

1a1a) to have life

1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive

1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon

1a1d) to live (prosperously)

1a2) to revive, be quickened

1a2a) from sickness

1a2b) from discouragement

1a2c) from faintness

1a2d) from death

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to preserve alive, let live

1b2) to give life

1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh

1b3a) to restore to life

1b3b) to cause to grow

1b3c) to restore

1b3d) to revive

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to preserve alive, let live

1c2) to quicken, revive

1c2a) to restore (to health)

1c2b) to revive

1c2c) to restore to life

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
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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