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Proverbs 18:20 — Word Study

Depth

WLCמִפְּרִ֣י פִי־ אִ֭ישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑וֹ תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣יו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃

BSAFrom the fruitpᵉrîy [produce, outcome] of his mouthpeh [lips, speech] a man’sʼîysh [individual, person] bellybeṭen [womb, inner being] is filledsâbaʻ with the harvesttᵉbûwʼâh [produce, revenue] from his lipssâphâh [language, expression] he is satisfiedsâbaʻ [content, at peace, to satisfy means to fill someone with enough of something, like food or desire]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 18
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 20 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 (yis.Ba') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 18:20quick helps
In a sentenceA person's words can fill them with satisfaction, just as the fruit of their speech can provide nourishment.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, reflecting on the power of speech.
Where we areThis verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings about the impact of words.
The hard wordתִּשְׂבַּ֣ע
Take awayWords have the power to satisfy and fulfill.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbשָׂבֵעַ 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 18:20

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 — The Power of Wordsgenerated

19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 18:20 discusses how the words we speak can have profound effects on our lives. The verse emphasizes that a person's speech can lead to satisfaction and fulfillment, likening the outcomes of words to the nourishment one receives from food. This idea is explored further in surrounding verses, which highlight the importance of careful speech and the consequences of our words.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 12:13–14An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
2Proverbs 13:2From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
3Proverbs 22:18–21for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
4Proverbs 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.Proverbs 12:13–14 Proverbs 13:2 Proverbs 22:18–21 Proverbs 25:11–12

The Key Word תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע, tis.Ba'generated

The verb שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means 'to satisfy' and is used here in the context of being filled, particularly in relation to food or desires. The parsing indicates it is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing or habitual action.

This word captures the essence of fulfillment, implying that the satisfaction derived from one's words can be both physical and emotional. The use of this verb in the verse underscores the significant impact that speech has on a person's inner state.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb of the verse is תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע, it is satisfied, which governs the structure. The sentence is composed of two parallel phrases: one describing the filling of the belly and the other the satisfaction from the lips.

The structure emphasizes the relationship between speech and its outcomes, with the prepositional phrases detailing the sources of satisfaction.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מִפְּרִ֣י as καρπῶν (karpōn), meaning 'fruits' or 'produce.' This choice aligns with the idea of tangible results stemming from one's words.

The use of ἐμπλησθήσεται for יִשְׂבָּֽע suggests a focus on the act of being filled, reinforcing the connection between speech and satisfaction.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 18:20 tells us that a person's words can fill them with satisfaction, just as the fruit of their speech can provide nourishment. This verse highlights the importance of our words and how they can impact our inner being.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that a man's belly is filled from the fruit of his mouth?

This means that the words a person speaks can lead to satisfaction and fulfillment, much like how food nourishes the body.

How can speech lead to satisfaction?

Speech can lead to satisfaction by providing encouragement, wisdom, and positive outcomes that fulfill emotional or physical needs.

What is the significance of the harvest from his lips?

The harvest from his lips refers to the results or consequences of one's speech, indicating that what we say can yield positive or negative outcomes.

Why is it important to be mindful of our words?

Being mindful of our words is crucial because they have the power to influence our lives and the lives of others, leading to satisfaction or dissatisfaction.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have my words brought satisfaction to myself or others?
  2. How can I be more mindful of the impact my speech has on those around me?
  3. What are some examples of how my words have produced positive outcomes in my life?
  4. How can I cultivate a habit of speaking words that nourish and uplift?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 18:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth,.... With his own words and discourses, when they are prudent, pious, and savoury; when they are with grace, and minister it; they are

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

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth.

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

Wise and edifying discourses tend to the comfort and satisfaction of the speaker, as well as to the good of the hearers.

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

Proverbs 18:20 A man’ s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Ver. 20. A man’ s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth.] And with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.] It is worthy the observing, saith an interpreter here, that Solomon doth vary his words: he speaketh sometimes of the "mouth," sometimes of the "lips," sometimes of the "tongue," as Proverbs 18:21, to show that all the instruments or means of speech shall have, as it were, their proper and just reward.

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

(20) A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth.—See above on Proverbs 12:14.

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

Verse 20. With the fruit of his mouth] Our own words frequently shape our good or evil fortune in life.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 18 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The general sense is plain. A man must for good or evil take the consequence of his words, as well as his deeds. Compare the marginal reference.

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

20. A man’s belly… fruit of his mouth — A man’s words frequently determine his future for good or evil. Satisfied — Satiated, or filled with the fruits of his own discourse. “There is here a paradox in the form of statement.

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

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

NETBNew English Translation2006

From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

RVARevised Version, American1894

A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

With the fruite of a mans mouth shall his belly be satisfied, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, || [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

From the fruit of his mouth one's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.

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


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

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

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfrom.[the]noun phraseפְּרִ֣יfruitnoun phraseפִיof.[the].mouthאִ֭ישׁof.a.personverbתִּשְׂבַּ֣עit.is.satisfiednoun phrase · subjectבִּטְנ֑bellyוֹhisclausenoun phrase · adverbialתְּבוּאַ֖תthe.producenoun phraseשְׂפָתָ֣יhis.lipsוhisverbיִשְׂבָּֽעhe.is.satisfied

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 the wording of this verse, indicating a consistent understanding of the relationship between speech and satisfaction across these ancient texts.

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

מִפְּרִ֣י פִי־ אִ֭ישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑וֹ תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣יו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מִפְּרִ֣יκαρπῶνפִי־στόματοςאִ֭ישׁἀνὴρתִּשְׂבַּ֣עπίμπλησινבִּטְנ֑וֹαὐτοῦתְּבוּאַ֖תκαρπῶνשְׂפָתָ֣יוαὐτοῦיִשְׂבָּֽע׃ἐμπλησθήσεται

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 18:20פְּרִיfrom [the] from [the] fruiפְּרִיפֶּה[the] mouth[the] mouth ofפֶּהאִישׁa persona personאִישׁשָׂבֵעַit is satisit is satisfiedשָׂבֵעַבֶּ֫טֶןbelly hisbelly hisבֶּ֫טֶןתְּבוּאָה[the] produ[the] produce oתְּבוּאָהשָׂפָהlips hislips hisשָׂפָהשָׂבֵעַhe is satishe is satisfiedשָׂבֵעַפָּרָהbe fruitfube fruitfulפָּרָהפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָהבּוֹאLeboLeboבּוֹאסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָהאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהלֶ֫חֶםfoodfoodלֶ֫חֶםפֶּן־lestlestפֶּן־בֶּ֫טֶןbelly: abdbelly: abdomenבֶּ֫טֶןאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחרֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַפְּרִיfruitfruitפְּרִימֵעֶהbellybellyמֵעֶהמַעֲשֵׂרtithetitheמַעֲשֵׂריִצְהָרoiloilיִצְהָריְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹן
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 18:20

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.

from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
מִפְּרִ֣יmi.pe.Ri from [the] fruit of H6529 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
119× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means the fruit that comes from the ground or from our actions. It is used in many books, including Genesis and Isaiah, to describe the results of our labor or the consequences of our choices.
Amplified meaning
produce, outcome
Tyndale gloss
fruit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פְּרִי (priy) means 'fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including the literal fruit of the ground, offspring or children, and figurative fruit representing the consequences of actions. It is derived from a root that emphasizes the concept of produce or reward.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פְּרִי 119 n.m. fruit

fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.

= offspring, fruit of womb

fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6529 פְּרִי fruit . fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.

. = offspring, fruit of womb

. fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6529 priy per-ee'

from 6509; fruit (literally or figuratively):--bough,

((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward.

see HEBREW for 06509

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פְּרִי (pe.ri) — fruit.

1) fruit

1a) fruit, produce (of the ground)

1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)

1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HR/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
פִי־fi- [the] mouth of H6310 Noun common · masculine singular construct
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Amplified meaning
lips, speech
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

. external organ

. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,

assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +

file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)

say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,

tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
אִ֭ישׁ'ish a person H376 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
1,664× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Amplified meaning
individual, person
Tyndale gloss
man
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

376 'iysh eesh

contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root

meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male

person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and

in such cases frequently not expressed in

translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +

champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,

husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),

him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,

person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.

Compare 802.

see HEBREW for 0582

see HEBREW for 0802

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִישׁ (ish) — man.

: man

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.

: husband

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.

: anyone/someone

1) man

1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

1b) husband

1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)

1d) servant

1e) mankind

1f) champion

1g) great man

2) whosoever

3) each (adjective)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
תִּשְׂבַּ֣עtis.Ba' it is satisfied H7646 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
97× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To satisfy means to fill someone with enough of something, like food or desire, and can also mean to have too much of something.
Tyndale gloss
to satisfy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited

Qal 79

be sated (with food), esp. human subj.

more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied

have in excess, be surfeited with

Niph. Pt. sated

Pi. satisfy

Hiph.

satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳

c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.

י׳ subj.

י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts

enrich

sate, glut (with the undesired)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.

. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied

. have in excess, be surfeited with

. Pt. sated

. satisfy

. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳

. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.

. י׳ subj.

. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts

. enrich

. sate, glut (with the undesired)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7646 saba` saw-bah'

or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill

to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,

fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty

of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.

1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be sated (with food)

1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)

1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with

1a3a) to be weary of (fig)

1b) (Piel) to satisfy

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to satisfy

1c2) to enrich

1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
בִּטְנ֑וֹbit.No belly his H990 Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
72× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to the belly or womb, and is used to describe the seat of hunger, emotions, and even the depths of the afterlife. It is used in the Bible to describe the body and its functions. The KJV translates it as belly, body, or womb.
Amplified meaning
womb, inner being
Tyndale gloss
belly: abdomen
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word בֶּ֫טֶן (*beten*) primarily means 'belly,' 'body,' or 'womb.' It is derived from a root suggesting hollowness and encompasses various uses, including the physical abdomen and metaphorical meanings, such as the seat of hunger or mental faculties. The lexicons consistently highlight these aspects without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֶּ֫טֶן n.f. belly, body, womb

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H990 בֶּ֫טֶן belly, body, womb

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

990 beten beh'-ten

from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly,

especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything:--

belly, body, + as they be born, + within, womb.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: abdomen.

: abdomen

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: womb.

: womb/pregnancy

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: hump.

: hump

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: body.

: body

1) belly, womb, body

1a) belly, abdomen

1a1) as seat of hunger

1a2) as seat of mental faculties

1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)

1b) womb

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffix
HNcfsc/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."

from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
תְּבוּאַ֖תte.vu.'At [the] produce of H8393 Noun common · feminine singular construct
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means produce or income, referring to crops, revenue, or even the product of our lips. It is translated as fruit, gain, or revenue in the KJV Bible.
Amplified meaning
produce, revenue
Tyndale gloss
produce
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תְּבוּאָה (tbuw'ah) refers to produce or revenue, typically from the earth, including crops and income. It can also figuratively denote gains, such as wisdom or the product of lips. The word is derived from a root meaning to bring forth, and its usage spans both literal and figurative contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תְּבוּאָה n.f. proventus, product, revenue

product, yield, usually of earth

income, revenue, in general

fig. gain of wisdom

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8393 תְּבוּאָה proventus, product, revenue

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8393 tbuw'ah teb-oo-aw'

from 935; income, i.e. produce (literally or

figuratively):--fruit, gain, increase, revenue.

see HEBREW for 0935

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תְּבוּאָה (te.vu.ah) — produce.

1) produce, product, revenue

1a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually)

1b) income, revenue

1c) gain (of wisdom) (fig)

1d) product of lips (fig)

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

ov:

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

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

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

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

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

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

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

Lamentations 3:1.

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

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

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

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

from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
שְׂפָתָ֣יוse.fa.Tav lips his H8193 Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
176× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Amplified meaning
language, expression
Tyndale gloss
lips
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge

lip

language

edge: shore of sea; bank of river

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip

. language

. edge: shore of sea; bank of river

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8193 saphah saw-faw'

or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from

5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by

analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,

bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,

prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.

see HEBREW for 05595

see HEBREW for 08192

see HEBREW for 05490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.

: lips/mouth

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.

: words/language

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.

: edge/border/opening

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.

: shore/bank(of_sea/river)

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HNcfdc/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."

from [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied
יִשְׂבָּֽע׃yis.Ba' he is satisfied H7646 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
97× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To satisfy means to fill someone with enough of something, like food or desire, and can also mean to have too much of something.
Amplified meaning
content, at peace, to satisfy means to fill someone with enough of something, like food or desire
Tyndale gloss
to satisfy
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited

Qal 79

be sated (with food), esp. human subj.

more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied

have in excess, be surfeited with

Niph. Pt. sated

Pi. satisfy

Hiph.

satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳

c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.

י׳ subj.

י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts

enrich

sate, glut (with the undesired)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.

. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied

. have in excess, be surfeited with

. Pt. sated

. satisfy

. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳

. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.

. י׳ subj.

. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts

. enrich

. sate, glut (with the undesired)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7646 saba` saw-bah'

or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill

to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,

fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty

of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.

1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be sated (with food)

1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)

1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with

1a3a) to be weary of (fig)

1b) (Piel) to satisfy

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to satisfy

1c2) to enrich

1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)

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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