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Proverbs 16:19 — Word Study

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WLCט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ ר֭וּחַ אֶת־ עֲנָוִ֑ים מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֝לָ֗ל אֶת־ גֵּאִֽים׃

BSAIt is betterṭôwb [more desirable, preferable] in spiritrûwach [the breath of life, mind and emotions] amongʼêth the humbleʻânîy [poor, afflicted, meek] than to dividechâlaq [share, apportion] the spoilshâlâl [plunder, booty] withʼêth the proudgêʼeh [arrogant, lofty, having a high attitude]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 16
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 19 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 (ge.'Im) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 16:19quick helps
In a sentenceThis proverb teaches that humility is preferable to pride, emphasizing the value of a lowly spirit.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom on the nature of humility and pride.
Where we areIn the context of contrasting the outcomes of humility and pride, this verse stands out as a moral teaching.
The hard wordעֲנָוִ֑ים
Take awayBeing humble in spirit is better than sharing in the gains of the proud.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׁפָל 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 16:19

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 Humility and Pridegenerated

18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

Proverbs 16:19 contrasts the virtues of humility with the vices of pride. It emphasizes that being lowly in spirit among the humble is more desirable than sharing in the spoils with the proud. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical themes found in other verses, such as Psalm 34:18 and Matthew 5:3, which highlight God's favor towards the humble and afflicted.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Psalm 34:18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
2Psalm 138:6Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
3Isaiah 57:15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
4Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5Luke 1:51–53He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word טוֹב, Tovgenerated

The word טוֹב (tov) is an adjective meaning good or pleasant. It describes something beneficial or pleasing, and is often used to express welfare or happiness. In this verse, it indicates that being lowly in spirit is not only good but preferable to the alternative.

The parsing as an adjective suggests it describes a state or quality, emphasizing that humility is a desirable trait in contrast to pride.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, with all versions reflecting the preference for humility over pride.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is טוֹב, is good, which serves as the predicate. The sentence structure emphasizes the comparative nature of the statement, contrasting the subjects of humility and pride.

The clause structure supports this comparison, with the subject being the state of humility and the object highlighting the consequences of pride.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates טוֹב as κρείσσων (kreissōn), which means 'better'. This choice aligns with the comparative nature of the verse, reinforcing the idea that humility is superior to pride.

The LXX uses different terminology for the humble and proud, indicating a slight variation in interpretation while maintaining the core message.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 16:19 teaches that it is better to be humble than to be proud. Being lowly in spirit among humble people is more desirable than sharing in the gains of proud individuals. This highlights the value of humility in contrast to arrogance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be lowly in spirit?

To be lowly in spirit means to have humility, recognizing one's limitations and valuing others over oneself.

Why is humility considered better than pride?

Humility is seen as a virtue that brings favor from God, while pride often leads to downfall and conflict.

How can I practice humility in my life?

Practicing humility can involve serving others, listening more than speaking, and being open to correction.

What are some examples of humility in the Bible?

Examples include Jesus washing the disciples' feet and the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, which bless the humble.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life can I practice being more humble?
  2. How does pride manifest in my attitudes or actions?
  3. What are some benefits I have experienced from being humble?
  4. How can I encourage others to embrace humility?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 16:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly,.... The followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, whose spirits are humbled under a sense of sin; have mean thoughts of themselves and their own

Read John Gill on Proverbs 16 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly (Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 57:15), than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 16 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Who will spoil and rob others to maintain their own pomp and luxury.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 16 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 16:19 Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.Ver. 19. Better it is to be of a humble spirit.] A humble man is worth his weight in gold; he hath far more comfort in his losses than proud giants have in their rapines and robberies. Truth it is, that meekness of spirit commonly draws on injuries. A crow will pull wool from a sheep’ s side; she durst not do so to a wolf or mastiff. Howbeit, it is much better to suffer wrong than to do it; to be patient than to be insolent; to be lowly in heart and low of port than to enjoy "the pleasures," or treasures, "of sin for a season."

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 16 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. the lowly] Rather, poor, R.V. Better humble and poor than proud and rich.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 16 →

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

It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.

NETBNew English Translation2006

It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Better it is to be of humble minde with the lowly, then to deuide the spoyles with the proude.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the meek, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Better is humility of spirit with the poor, || Than to apportion spoil with the proud.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

It is better to be humble among poor people than to divide the spoil with proud people.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Better to have a humble spirit and live with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.

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.

clausepredicateט֣וֹב[is].goodnoun phrase · subjectnoun phraseשְׁפַלto.be.lowlyר֭וּחַspiritprepositional phraseאֶתwithעֲנָוִ֑יםhumble.[people]prepositional phrase · prepositionalמֵֽmoreclauseverbחַלֵּ֥קthan.to.divideobjectשָׁ֝לָ֗לplunderprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶתwithגֵּאִֽיםproud.[people]

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


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

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint share a significant degree of agreement in the wording of this verse, with five out of nine words matching. However, the Septuagint's word order and articles differ, reflecting its own linguistic structure.

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

ט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ ר֭וּחַ אֶת־ עֲנָוִ֑ים מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֝לָ֗ל אֶת־ גֵּאִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
ט֣וֹבκρείσσωνר֭וּחַπραΰθυμοςעֲנָוִ֑יםταπεινώσεωςשָׁ֝לָ֗לσκῦλαגֵּאִֽים׃ὑβριστῶν

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

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


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

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

Proverbs 16:19טוֹב[is] good[is] goodטוֹבשָׁפֵלto be lowlyto be lowlyשָׁפֵלרוּחַspiritspiritרוּחַאֵתwithwithאֵתעָנָוhumble [peohumble [people]עָנָוחָלַקmore than dmore than dividחָלַקשָׁלָלplunderplunderשָׁלָלאֵתwithwithאֵתגֵּאֶהproud [peopproud [people]גֵּאֶהאָנָהto meetto meetאָנָהשָׁלַלto taketo takeשָׁלַלטוֹבbe pleasinbe pleasingטוֹברִיחַto smellto smellרִיחַגָּאָהto rise upto rise upגָּאָהעָנָהbe occupiebe occupiedעָנָהעָנִיafflictedafflictedעָנִירִיבto contendto contendרִיבבְּרִיתcovenantcovenantבְּרִיתיָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרמַרְאֶהappearanceappearanceמַרְאֶהשָׁחַחto bowto bowשָׁחַחגַּאֲוָהprideprideגַּאֲוָהנְשָׁמָהbreathbreathנְשָׁמָהקָדִיםeasteastקָדִיםלִיץto mockto mockלִיץשָׁפֵלto abaseto abaseשָׁפֵלשָׁלָלspoilspoilשָׁלָל
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 16:19

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] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
ט֣וֹבTov [is] good H2896 Adj
538× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means good or welfare, describing something that is beneficial or pleasing, like a good deed or a happy time. It is used in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms. This word is often translated as 'good' or 'beautiful'.
Amplified meaning
more desirable, preferable
Tyndale gloss
pleasant
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טוֹב (tov) is a Hebrew word meaning good or pleasant, encompassing a wide range of meanings from agreeable to the senses to ethical goodness. It can function as an adjective, noun, or adverb, referring to things like welfare, happiness, and prosperity. The feminine form, טוֹבָה (tovah), specifically denotes welfare or good things.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טוֹב adj. pleasant, agreeable, good

pleasant, agreeable to the senses

pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

good, excellent, of its kind

good, rich, valuable in estimation

good, appropriate, becoming

c. מִן compar. = better

of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

good, kind, benign

good (ethical), right

base

טוֹב n.m. a good thing, benefit, welfare

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

good = benefit

moral good

base

טוֹבָה n.f. welfare, benefit, good things, good

welfare, prosperity, happiness

good things

bounty, good

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2896a טוֹב pleasant, agreeable, good . pleasant, agreeable to the senses

. pleasant to the higher nature, giving pleasure, happiness, prosperity, and so agreeable, pleasing, well

. good, excellent, of its kind

. good, rich, valuable in estimation

. good, appropriate, becoming

. c. מִן compar. =better

. of man's sensuous nature, glad, happy, prosperous

. of man's intellectual nature, good understanding

. good, kind, benign

. good (ethical), right

H2896b טוֹב a good thing, benefit, welfare H2896c טוֹבָה welfare, benefit, good things, good

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2896 towb tobe

from 2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used

likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine,

the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a

good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or

women), also as an adverb (well):--beautiful, best, better,

bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour,

fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s),

graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,

merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,

prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well

((-favoured)).

see HEBREW for 02895

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טוֹב (tov) — pleasant.

adj

1) good, pleasant, agreeable

1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)

1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)

1c) good, excellent (of its kind)

1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation

1e) good, appropriate, becoming

1f) better (comparative)

1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man's sensuous nature)

1h) good understanding (of man's intellectual nature)

1i) good, kind, benign

1j) good, right (ethical)

Aramaic equivalent: tav (טָב "fine" H2869)

טוֹב (tov) — good.

1) a good thing, benefit, welfare

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) good, benefit

1d) moral good

טוֹבָה (to.vah) — welfare.

1) welfare, benefit, good things

1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness

1b) good things (collective)

1c) bounty

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

good (Tobh, Tubh, yaTabh; agathos, agathon, kalos, kalon): In English "good" is used in various senses, most of which are represented in the Bible.

(1) In the Old Testament the commonest word is Tobh, occurring very frequently and translated in a great variety of ways. Of the different shades of meaning, which frequently run into each other, the following may be distinguished:

(a) Possessing desirable qualities, beneficial, agreeable, e.g. "good for food" (Ge 2:9); "We will do thee good" (Nu 10:29); Who will show us any good?" (Ps 4:6); "good tidings of good" (Isa 52:7).

[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
שְׁפַל־she.fal- to be lowly H8213 Verb · Qal · infinitive construct common
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To humble or abase oneself, to lower one's expectations or pride. In the Bible, it can mean to bring someone or something down, like in Proverbs 29:23, where a person's pride is humbled.
Tyndale gloss
to abase
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁפֵל (shaphel) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become low or abased. It can refer to both a physical lowering and a figurative humbling, with usages in different forms indicating actions like laying low or humbling oneself. The entries emphasize its application in contexts of humiliation and lowering one's status.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁפֵל vb. be or become low, be abased

Qal

all Is: become (be brought, laid) low

to be lowly of spirit

of sound

Hiph.

usu. fig., lay low

hum. subj. set one in a lower place

as helping vb.: make low, sit down = take low seat

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8213 שָׁפֵל be or become low, be abased

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8213 shaphel shaw-fale'

a primitive root; to depress or sink (expec. figuratively, to

humiliate, intransitive or transitive):--abase, bring (cast,

put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put)

low(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁפֵל (sha.phel) — to abase.

1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased

1a) (Qal) to be or become low

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate

1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement

1b3) to make low, sit down

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqcc — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct common
HVqcc
[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
ר֭וּחַRu.ach spirit H7307 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
378× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
the breath of life, mind and emotions
Tyndale gloss
spirit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רוּחַ (ruach) means breath, wind, or spirit. It encompasses various meanings, including the breath of life, emotional disposition, and the spirit of God. The term can refer to both physical phenomena, like wind, and abstract concepts, such as moral character or mental acts. Notably, it is used frequently in the context of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit

breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

wind (117 t.)

spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

spirit of the living, breathing being

spirit as seat of emotion

occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

rarely of the will

רוּחַ esp. of moral character

spirit of God (94 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7307 רוּחַ breath, wind, spirit . breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)

. wind (117 t.)

. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)

. spirit of the living, breathing being

. spirit as seat of emotion

. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts

. rarely of the will

. רוּחַ esp. of moral character

. spirit of God (94 t.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7307 ruwach roo'-akh

from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or

even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger,

unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by

resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including

its expression and functions):--air, anger, blast, breath, X

cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)),

tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).

see HEBREW for 07306

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit.

: spirit

1) wind, breath, mind, spirit

1a) breath

1b) wind

1b1) of heaven

1b2) quarter (of wind), side

1b3) breath of air

1b4) air, gas

1b5) vain, empty thing

1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)

1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour

1c2) courage

1c3) temper, anger

1c4) impatience, patience

1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)

1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse

1c7) prophetic spirit

1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)

1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being

1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)

1e1) desire

1e2) sorrow, trouble

1f) spirit

1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts

1f2) rarely of the will

1f3) as seat especially of moral character

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

spir'-it (ruach; pneuma; Latin, spiritus):

1. Primary and Figurative Senses

(1) As Wind, Breath

(2) As Anger or Fury

(3) As Mental and Moral Qualities in Man

2. Shades of Meaning

(1) As Life-Principle

(2) As Surviving Death

(3) Spiritual Manifestations

3. Human and Divine Spirit

(1) The Human as Related with the Divine

(2) Operations of the Divine Spirit as Third Person of the Trinity

4. Old Testament Applications

5. Various Interpretations

1. Primary and Figurative Senses:

(1) As Wind, Breath:

Used primarily in the Old Testament and New Testament of the wind, as in Ge 8:1; Nu 11:31; Am 4:13 ("createth the wind"); Heb 1:7 (angels, "spirits" or "winds" in margin); often used of the breath, as…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Spirit

(Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2 Thess. 2:8 it means “breath,” and in Eccl. 8:8 the vital principle in man. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by which man is distinguished (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 5:5; 6:20; 7:34), and the soul in its separate state (Heb. 12:23), and hence also an apparition (Job 4:15; Luke 24:37, 39), an angel (Heb. 1:14), and a demon (Luke 4:36; 10:20). This…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A word employed in various senses in Scripture.

1. For THE HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who inspired the prophets, animates good men, pours his unction into our hearts, imparts to us life and comfort; and in whose name we are baptized and blessed, as well as in that of the Father and the Son. When the adjective Holy is applied to the term Spirit, we should always understand it as here explained; but there are many places whether it must be taken in this sense, although the term Holy is omitted. See HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT.

2. BREATH, respiration; or the principle of animal life, common to men and animal: this God has given, and this he recalls when he takes away life, Ec 3:21. See SOUL.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Called “the inner man,” Ro 7:22; Eph 3:16

→ See ANGELS

→ See DEMONS

→ See HOLY SPIRIT

→ See MAN, A SPIRIT

→ See SATAN

[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
אֶת־'et- with H854 Preposition
929× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

Of companionship, together with

Of localities

אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

in one's possession or keeping

in one's knowledge or memory

מֵאֵת from proximity with

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. Of localities

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

. in one's knowledge or memory

. מֵאֵת from proximity with

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

854 'eth ayth

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

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

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

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

prefix.

see HEBREW for 0579

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — with.

1) with, near, together with

1a) with, together with

1b) with (of relationship)

1c) near (of place)

1d) with (poss.)

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
עֲנָוִ֑יםa.ni.yim humble [people] H6035
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be poor or humble, often describing someone who is meek or weak. In the Bible, it can also mean to be afflicted or lowly, as seen in Matthew 5:5.
Tyndale gloss
poor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָנָו (anav) refers to a state of being poor, afflicted, humble, or meek. It is built from the root associated with being depressed in mind or circumstances, particularly in a saintly context. The term encompasses a range of meanings related to humility and neediness, as highlighted in various lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָנָו n.m. poor, afflicted, humble, meek

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6035 עָנָו poor, afflicted, humble, meek

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6035 `anav aw-nawv'

or (by intermixture with 6041) Aanayv {aw-nawv'}; from 6031;

depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances

(needy, especially saintly):--humble, lowly, meek, poor.

Compare 6041.

see HEBREW for 06041

see HEBREW for 06031

see HEBREW for 06041

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָנָו (a.nav) — poor.

1) poor, humble, afflicted, meek

1a) poor, needy

1b) poor and weak

1c) poor, weak and afflicted

1d) humble, lowly, meek

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HAampa
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
מֵֽחַלֵּ֥קme.cha.Lek more than dividing H2505 Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct common
65× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To smooth means to make something slippery or deceitful, like in Proverbs where it warns against flattery. It can also mean to divide or separate something, like an inheritance.
Amplified meaning
share, apportion
Tyndale gloss
to divide
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָלַק (chalaq) is a Hebrew verb with two primary meanings: to divide or share, and to be smooth or slippery. It encompasses actions like apportioning, distributing, and even plundering, as well as the state of being smooth. The entries indicate a range of uses in different grammatical forms, including reflexive and passive. Notably, the lexicons also emphasize the figurative use of smoothness in relation to deceit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָלַק vb. divide, share

Qal

divide, apportion

assign, distribute

assign, impart

share

divide up = plunder the temple

Niph. Impf.

reflex. divide oneself

pass. be divided

trans. assign, distribute

Pi.

divide, apportion

assign, distribute

scatter

Pu. be divided, of land

Hithp. divide land among themselves

Hiph. to receive a portion

base

חָלַק vb. be smooth, slippery

Qal smooth, slippery

Hiph. make smooth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2505a חָלַק divide, share .. divide, apportion

. assign, distribute

. assign, impart

. share

. divide up = plunder the temple

. Impf. . reflex. divide oneself

. pass. be divided

. trans. assign, distribute

. . divide, apportion

. assign, distribute

. scatter

. be divided, of land

. divide land among themselves

. to receive a portion

H2505b חָלַק be smooth, slippery

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2505 chalaq khaw-lak'

a primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication

(as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or

separate:--deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have,

im-)part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self,

(be) smooth(-er).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלַק (cha.laq) — to divide.

1) to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to divide, apportion

1a2) to assign, distribute

1a3) to assign, impart

1a4) to share

1a5) to divide up, plunder

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to divide oneself

1b2) to be divided

1b3) to assign, distribute

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to divide, apportion

1c2) to assign, distribute

1c3) to scatter

1d) (Pual) to be divided

1e) (Hiphil) to receive a portion or part

1f) (Hithpael) to divide among themselves

חָלַק (cha.laq) — to smooth.

1) to be smooth, slippery, deceitful

1a) (Qal) to be smooth, slippery

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to be smooth

1b2) to flatter

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a — Preposition · verb piel infinitive construct common
HR/Vpcc
[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
שָׁ֝לָ֗לSha.Lal plunder H7998 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
73× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shâlâl refers to the spoils of war, or the booty taken from enemies. It is used in the Bible to describe the plunder or prey taken in battle. In the KJV, it is translated as 'prey' or 'spoil'.
Amplified meaning
plunder, booty
Tyndale gloss
spoil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁלָל (shalal) refers to prey, spoil, or plunder, often in the context of war. It is derived from the root word שָׁלַל (H7997). The term encompasses various forms of gain, including private plunder and booty. The entries consistently emphasize its association with spoils of war.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁלָל 75 n.m. prey, spoil, plunder, booty

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7998 שָׁלָל prey, spoil, plunder, booty

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7998 shalal shaw-lawl'

from 7997; booty:--prey, spoil.

see HEBREW for 07997

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלָל (sha.lal) — spoil.

1) prey, plunder, spoil, booty

1a) prey

1b) booty, spoil, plunder (of war)

1c) plunder (private)

1d) gain (meaning uncertain)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
אֶת־'et- with H854 Preposition
929× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Tyndale gloss
with
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

Of companionship, together with

Of localities

אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

in one's possession or keeping

in one's knowledge or memory

מֵאֵת from proximity with

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. Of localities

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

. in one's knowledge or memory

. מֵאֵת from proximity with

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

854 'eth ayth

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

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

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

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

prefix.

see HEBREW for 0579

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — with.

1) with, near, together with

1a) with, together with

1b) with (of relationship)

1c) near (of place)

1d) with (poss.)

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
[is] good to be lowly spirit with humble [people] more than dividing plunder with proud [people]
גֵּאִֽים׃ge.'Im proud [people] H1343 Adj
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Proud or arrogant, describing someone with a lofty attitude, like the proud people in Proverbs. It is used to describe those who think too highly of themselves.
Amplified meaning
arrogant, lofty, having a high attitude
Tyndale gloss
proud
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גֵּאֶה (ge'eh) means 'proud' and is derived from the root meaning 'lofty.' It covers the sense of being arrogant or haughty. The entries consistently emphasize this prideful aspect without significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גֵּאֶה adj. proud

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1343 גֵּאֶה proud

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1343 ge'eh gay-eh'

from 1342; lofty; figuratively, arrogant:--proud.

see HEBREW for 01342

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גֵּאֶה (ge.eh) — proud.

proud

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…

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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