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Proverbs 18:13 — Word Study

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WLCמֵשִׁ֣יב דָּ֭בָר בְּטֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִוֶּ֥לֶת הִיא־ ל֝֗וֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃

BSAHe who answersshûwb [replies, responds] a matterdâbâr [thing, affair, word] beforeṭerem [prior to, before hearing] he hears [it]shâmaʻ [listens, gives attention] thishûwʼ [is] follyʼivveleth [foolishness, silliness] and disgracekᵉlimmâh [accompanied by, resulting in, shame, reproach]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 18
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 13 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 (u.khe.li.Mah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 18:13quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against responding to a matter before fully understanding it, labeling such behavior as foolish.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, providing wisdom for life.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of proverbs emphasizing wisdom and understanding.
The hard wordאִוֶּלֶת
Take awayResponding without hearing leads to foolishness and shame.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectוְ verbשׁוּב 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 18:13

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Wisdom in Proverbsgenerated

12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.

Proverbs 18:13 advises that responding to a matter before hearing it can lead to foolishness and disgrace. This teaching is part of a broader discourse on the importance of understanding and discernment in communication, as seen in the surrounding verses. The author emphasizes the value of listening before speaking, which is a recurring theme throughout the book of Proverbs.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Deuteronomy 13:14then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you,
22 Samuel 16:4So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”
32 Samuel 19:24–30Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.
4Esther 3:10–15So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
5Esther 8:5–17“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מֵשִׁ֣יב, me.Shivgenerated

The word שׁוּב (shuwb) is a Hiphil participle meaning '[one who] brings back' or 'responds.' It indicates an active engagement in communication, suggesting that one is returning to a matter to provide a reply or answer.

In this context, it highlights the importance of not jumping to conclusions without first listening. The parsing as a masculine singular participle indicates an ongoing action, emphasizing the role of the speaker in the conversation.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term answers, aligning with the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb מֵשִׁ֣יב governs the main clause, indicating the action of responding. The structure includes a prepositional phrase that sets the timing — בְּטֶ֣רֶם — and a subordinate clause that describes the condition of hearing.

The arrangement emphasizes the sequence: one must hear before responding, and the consequences of failing to do so are stated clearly in the latter part of the verse.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מֵשִׁ֣יב as ἀποκρίνεται, which means 'to answer' or 'to respond.' This choice highlights the act of giving a reply, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning but focusing on the act of answering rather than the broader implications of returning to a matter.

The Greek term emphasizes the immediacy of response, which can suggest a lack of careful consideration, mirroring the warning in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 18:13 teaches that responding to something before hearing it can be foolish and lead to disgrace. It emphasizes the importance of listening first to avoid making hasty judgments.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to answer before hearing?

It means to respond to a situation or question without fully understanding it, which can lead to mistakes and embarrassment.

Why is this considered folly?

It is considered folly because it reflects a lack of wisdom and discernment, potentially resulting in misunderstandings and negative consequences.

How can I apply this wisdom in my life?

You can apply this by taking the time to listen and understand a situation before offering your opinion or response.

What are the consequences of answering too quickly?

The consequences include being perceived as foolish and potentially causing harm to relationships or situations due to misunderstandings.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations have I responded too quickly without fully understanding the issue?
  2. How can I practice active listening in my daily conversations?
  3. What are some examples of how hasty responses have led to misunderstandings in my life?
  4. How can I encourage others to listen before they respond?

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

Early Christian writers referenced this verse to discuss the importance of wisdom and understanding in communication, as seen in quotations from the Desert Fathers and Bede.

Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks 4th–5th c.
A brother said to Poemen, ‘If I see something wrong do you want me to tell you about it?’ He said to him, ‘It is written, “If a man answers before he has heard, it is foolishness to him and discredit” (Sirach 11:8).
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 18 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
He who answers before he hears, etc. He who wants to be a teacher before he learns does not avoid the fault of foolishness.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 18 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 18:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it],.... Who is impatient, and cannot wait to hear it out, but breaks in upon the speaker before he has finished what he has to say; or is rash and

Read John Gill on Proverbs 18 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. He that answereth a matter before he heareth (it) - i:e., before he understandeth what the other hath said.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 18 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Before he heareth it; before he hath fully heard and considered what another is speaking about it. It is folly and shame; it is a shameful folly, though he seek the reputation of a wise man by it, as if he could readily and thoroughly understand all that another cart say before he hath uttered it.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 18 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto him.Ver. 13. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it.] Solomon had said before, that "even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise," and in many passages of this blessed book he sets forth that a great part of man’ s wisdom is shown in his words. To be too forward to answer, before the question be fully propounded or expounded is rash, if not proud boldness, and reflects shame upon them that do it. Likewise to be "slow to hear, swift to speak," - hath not God given us two ears, and one tongue, to teach us better? - to precipitate a censure, or pass sentence before both parties…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 18 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13) He that answereth a matter before he heareth it . . .—Comp. Sir 11:8.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 18 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 13. He that answereth a matter] This is a common case; before a man can tell out his story, another will begin his. Before a man has made his response, the other wishes to confute piecemeal, though he has had his own speech already. This is foolishness to them. They are ill-bred. There are many also that give judgment before they hear the whole of the cause, and express an opinion before they hear the state of the case. How absurd, stupid, and foolish!

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 18 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. answereth a matter] Rather, giveth answer, R.V. “Heb. returneth a word,” A.V. marg. Compare: “Answer not before thou hast heard; And interrupt not in the midst of speech.”—Sir 11:8.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 18 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

13. Answereth… before he heareth — This proverb condemns the bad manners of those who catch words out of a person’s mouth; the bad policy of those who express an opinion before they hear the state of

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 18 →

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 answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The one who gives an answer before he listens – that is his folly and his shame.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.

RVARevised Version, American1894

He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it , it is folly and shame to him.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto him.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, || It is folly to him—and shame.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.

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.

clauseclauseverbמֵשִׁ֣יב[one.who].brings.backobjectדָּ֭בָרa.wordclauseprepositional phraseבְּbeforeטֶ֣רֶםbeforeclauseverbיִשְׁמָ֑עhe.listensclausenoun phrase · predicateאִוֶּ֥לֶת[is].follyוּandכְלִמָּֽהignominysubjectהִיאitprepositional phrase · prepositionalל֝֗toוֹhim

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 agree in their wording for this verse, with all eight words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the verse's meaning across these traditions.

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

מֵשִׁ֣יב דָּ֭בָר בְּטֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִוֶּ֥לֶת הִיא־ ל֝֗וֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מֵשִׁ֣יבἀποκρίνεταιדָּ֭בָרλόγονבְּטֶ֣רֶםπρὶνיִשְׁמָ֑עἀκοῦσαιאִוֶּ֥לֶתἀφροσύνηהִיא־καὶל֝֗וֹὄνειδοςוּכְלִמָּֽה׃αὐτῷ

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

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


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

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

Proverbs 18:13שׁוּב[one who] b[one who] bringשׁוּבדָּבָרa worda wordדָּבָרטֶ֫רֶםbeforebeforeטֶ֫רֶםשָׁמַעhe listenshe listensשָׁמַעאִוֶּ֫לֶת[is] folly[is] follyאִוֶּ֫לֶתהוּאititהוּאוֹof himof himוֹכְּלִמָּהand ignominand ignominyכְּלִמָּהדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרכָּלַםbe humiliabe humiliatedכָּלַםאֱוִילfool(ish)fool(ish)אֱוִילשְׁבִיתcaptivitycaptivityשְׁבִיתחָרוֹןburning anburning angerחָרוֹןיֶ֫תֶרremainderremainderיֶ֫תֶרסֵ֫פֶרscroll: doscroll: documenסֵ֫פֶרחוּלto twist: to twist: trembחוּלקוֹלvoice: souvoice: soundקוֹלקָשַׁבto listento listenקָשַׁבכְּסִילfoolfoolכְּסִילמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָרטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵתבֹּ֫שֶׁתshameshameבֹּ֫שֶׁתחֶרְפָּהreproachreproachחֶרְפָּה
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 18:13

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
מֵשִׁ֣יבme.Shiv [one who] brings back H7725 Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
1,057× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Amplified meaning
replies, responds
Tyndale gloss
to return: return
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return

Qal 683;—turn back, return:

turn back

return, come or go back

esp. return unto

of dying

of revival from death

fig. of human relations:

return to leader, king

= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

turn, i.e. resort to

return to a physical condition

abs. = change course of action

fig., specif. of spiritual relations:

turn back from God = apostatize

of י׳, turn away

turn back to God (= seek penitently)

abs. repent

turn back from evil

of י׳

of י׳, return (to shew favour)

of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

denoting repetition, etc.

trans.

Pō‛l.

bring back

fig. restore, refresh

restore, repair

lead away (enticingly)

shew turning = apostatize

Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back

bring back into bondage

put back

= draw back

= give back, restore

= relinguish

= give in payment, requital

bring one back (from dead)

bring back heart

= refresh

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back

. return, come or go back

. esp. return unto

. . of dying

. of revival from death

. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king

. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)

. turn, i.e. resort to

. return to a physical condition

. abs. = change course of action

. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize

. of י׳, turn away

. turn back to God (= seek penitently)

. abs. repent

. turn back from evil

. of י׳

. of י׳, return (to shew favour)

. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):

. denoting repetition, etc.

. trans.

. . bring back

. . fig. restore, refresh

. restore, repair

. lead away (enticingly)

. shew turning = apostatize

. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage

. put back

. = draw back

. = give back, restore

. = relinguish

. = give in payment, requital

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7725 shuwb shoob

a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or

intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily

with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to

retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,

dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,

make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer

(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring

(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),

cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +

continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,

fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give

(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)

more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put

(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,

relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.

: return

1) to return, turn back

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to turn back, return

1a1a) to turn back

1a1b) to return, come or go back

1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back

1a1d) of dying

1a1e) of human relations (fig)

1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)

1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise

1a1f2) to turn away (of God)

1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent

1a1f4) turn back (from evil)

1a1g) of inanimate things

1a1h) in repetition

1b) (Polel)

1b1) to bring back

1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)

1b3) to lead away (enticingly)

1b4) to show turning, apostatise

1c) (Pual) restored (participle)

1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back

1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment

1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore

1d3) to bring back, report to, answer

1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hiphil — Verb · Hiphil · participle (active) masculine singular
HVhrmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
דָּ֭בָרDa.vor a word H1697 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,442× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A word or thing, like a matter or affair, as seen in the book of Chronicles where it refers to the events and words of kings. It can also mean a cause or reason for something.
Amplified meaning
thing, affair, word
Tyndale gloss
Chronicles
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word

sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

sg. a word, words

sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken

. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

. sg. a word, words

. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1697 dabar daw-baw'

from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or

thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X

any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,

cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X

commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +

dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +

eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,

+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,

message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +

please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,

question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,

sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),

somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,

X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,

what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּבָר (da.var) — word.

: word/speech/command

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.

: speaking

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.

: thing/matter

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.

: promised/duty

1) speech, word, speaking, thing

1a) speech

1b) saying, utterance

1c) word, words

1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.

: deed

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

wurd: The commonest term in the Old Testament for "word" is dabhar (also "matter" "thing"); in the New Testament logos ("reason," "discourse," "speech"); but also frequently rhema. Rhema is a "word" in itself considered; logos is a spoken word, with reference generally to that which is in the speaker's mind. Some of the chief applications of the terms may thus be exhibited:

(1) We have the word of Yahweh (or God; see below)

(a) as the revelation to the patriarch, prophet, or inspired person (Ge 15:1; Ex 20:1; Nu 22:38, etc.);

(b) as spoken forth by the prophet (Ex 4:30; 34:1; 2Ki 7:1;

One of the titles of the second person of the Trinity, indicating perhaps that by his acts and teachings God is revealed, somewhat as thought is by words, 1Jo 1:1 5:7 Re 19:13. "The word of the Lord" was a common phrase in the Old Testament, always denoting some revelation of Jehovah. Long before the coming of Christ, the Jewish paraphrasts of the Bible used "The Word" in the passage where Jehovah occurred in the original; and the term was familiar to Jewish writers as the name of a divine being, the Son of God.

To show its true meaning and its application to our Savior, was of great importance to John, the last of the inspired writers, in whose later years certain errors as to the person of Christ, borrowed from Eastern philosophy, had begun to creep into the Christian church. He describes "The Word" as a personal and divine Being…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ A title of Jesus Joh 1:1,14; 1Jo 5:7; Re 19:13

→ See JESUS, NAMES OF

[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
בְּטֶ֣רֶםbe.Te.rem before H2962 Preposition
56× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word indicates something has not happened yet, or it happened before something else. It is used to show timing or sequence of events, translated as before, ere, or not yet in the KJV.
Amplified meaning
prior to, before hearing
Tyndale gloss
before
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טֶ֫רֶם (terem) is an adverb meaning 'not yet' or 'before.' It is derived from an unused root that suggests interruption or suspension. This word appears in the Old Testament only once, in Ruth 3:14, where it conveys a sense of time prior to an event.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טֶ֫רֶם 54, once (Ru 3:14 Kt) טְרוֹם, adv. of time not yet, ere, before that

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2962 טֶ֫רֶם, once טְרוֹם adv. of time not yet, ere, before, that

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2962 terem teh'-rem

from an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or

suspend; properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet

or before:--before, ere, not yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טֶ֫רֶם (te.rem) — before.

before, not yet, before that

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adv — Preposition
HR/Acbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).

[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
יִשְׁמָ֑עyish.Ma' he listens H8085 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
1,160× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Amplified meaning
listens, gives attention
Tyndale gloss
to hear: hear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear

Qal 1052

subj. pers. hum.

י׳ (God) subj.

Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound

be heard of

be regarded, obeyed

= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.

Pi. he caused the people to hear

Hiph. 63

of man

י׳ subj.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8085 שָׁמַע hear

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8085 shama` shaw-mah'

a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to

tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X

carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,

declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make

to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)

obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,

regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,

understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.

: hear

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to

1a5) to understand (language)

1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)

1a7) to listen, give heed

1a7a) to consent, agree

1a7b) to grant request

1a8) to listen to, yield to

1a9) to obey, be obedient

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)

1b2) to be heard of

1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed

1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound

1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)

1d3) to make proclamation, summon

1d4) to cause to be heard

n m

2) sound

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.

: obey

v

1) to hear, listen to, obey

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)

1a2) to hear of or concerning

1a3) to hear (have power to hear)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
אִוֶּ֥לֶת'i.Ve.let [is] folly H200 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means foolishness or silliness, describing someone's ridiculous behavior. It is used to convey a sense of absurdity or nonsense, as seen in the KJV translations of folly and foolishness.
Amplified meaning
foolishness, silliness
Tyndale gloss
folly
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִוֶּ֫לֶת (ivveleth) refers to folly or foolishness. It is derived from a root meaning silliness, and is categorized as a feminine noun. The term appears in contexts discussing foolish behavior or actions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִוֶּ֫לֶת 25 n.f. folly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H200 אִוֶּ֫לֶת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

200 'ivveleth iv-veh'-leth

from the same as 191; silliness:--folly, foolishly(-ness).

see HEBREW for 0191

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִוֶּ֫לֶת (iv.ve.let) — folly.

foolishness, folly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fol'-i.

See FOOL.

[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
הִיא־hi'- it H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

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

It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

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

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

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

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

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

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

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

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

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

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

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

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

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
ל֝֗וֹlo of him H9033 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

וֹ (o) — him.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffix
HR/Sp3ms
[one who] brings back a word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy
וּכְלִמָּֽה׃u.khe.li.Mah and ignominy H3639 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
30× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means shame or disgrace, often referring to feelings of reproach or insult. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
accompanied by, resulting in, shame, reproach
Tyndale gloss
shame
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּלִמָּה (klimmah) refers to concepts of disgrace, reproach, and shame. It encompasses meanings such as insult, dishonor, and ignominy. The word is derived from a root that suggests confusion or dishonor, reflecting a range of negative social perceptions.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּלִמָּה n.f. insult, reproach, ignominy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3639 כְּלִמָּה insult, reproach, ignominy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3639 klimmah kel-im-maw'

from 3637; disgrace:--confusion, dishonour, reproach, shame.

see HEBREW for 03637

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּלִמָּה (ke.lim.mah) — shame.

1) disgrace, reproach, shame, confusion, dishonour, insult, ignominy

1a) insult, reproach

1b) reproach, ignominy

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
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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