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Proverbs 19:2 — Word Study

Depth

WLCגַּ֤ם בְּלֹא־ דַ֣עַת נֶ֣פֶשׁ לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְאָ֖ץ בְּרַגְלַ֣יִם חוֹטֵֽא׃

BSAEvengam zealnephesh [enthusiasm, eagerness] is nolôʼ goodṭôwb [not beneficial, lacking] withoutlôʼ knowledgedaʻath [understanding, wisdom] and he who hurriesʼûwts [rushing, hastening] his footstepsregel [with his feet, in his actions] misses the markchâṭâʼ [sins, goes wrong, stumbles]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 19
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 2 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 (cho.Te') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 19:2quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns that zeal without knowledge is unhelpful, and rushing can lead to mistakes.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom on the importance of knowledge and caution.
Where we areThis verse is part of a broader discussion on wisdom and folly in life.
The hard wordחָטָא
Take awayKnowledge is essential for effective action; haste can lead to error.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectנֶפֶשׁ verbחָטָא 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 19:2

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 and Folly in Proverbsgenerated

1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
2Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
3A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Proverbs 19:2 emphasizes the necessity of knowledge in conjunction with zeal. It teaches that enthusiasm alone is insufficient; understanding is crucial for wise actions. This theme aligns with broader teachings in Proverbs about the value of wisdom and the dangers of folly, as seen in surrounding verses like Proverbs 19:1 and Proverbs 19:3.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 10:21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
2Ecclesiastes 12:9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
3Isaiah 27:11When its limbs are dry, they are broken off. Women come and use them for kindling; for this is a people without understanding. Therefore their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor.
4Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
5John 16:3They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.

The Key Word דַּעַת, Da.'atgenerated

The Hebrew word דַּעַת (da`ath) signifies knowledge or understanding, encompassing perception and moral insight. It is often linked to wisdom, as seen in contexts where discernment is necessary for making sound decisions.

In this verse, דַּעַת highlights that knowledge is a prerequisite for effective zeal. Without it, one’s enthusiasm may lead to misguided actions, underscoring the importance of informed decision-making.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations generally agree on the meaning of the verse, emphasizing the necessity of knowledge alongside zeal.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause of the verse is governed by the finite verb חָטָא, misses, with two phrases that elaborate on the subject: the first describes the lack of benefit from zeal without knowledge, and the second indicates the consequences of hasty actions.

The structure emphasizes the relationship between knowledge and action, making it clear that both elements are necessary for success.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 19:2 teaches that having zeal or enthusiasm is not enough; one needs knowledge to make it useful. Rushing into actions without understanding can lead to mistakes.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does this verse say about zeal?

It indicates that zeal is ineffective without the guidance of knowledge.

Why is knowledge important?

Knowledge provides the understanding needed to direct one's actions wisely.

What does it mean to hurry one's footsteps?

Hurrying suggests a lack of careful consideration, which can lead to errors.

How can I apply this verse in my life?

Consider taking time to gain understanding before acting on your enthusiasm.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I tend to act hastily without sufficient knowledge?
  2. How can I cultivate both zeal and knowledge in my pursuits?
  3. What are some examples where knowledge has helped me avoid mistakes?
  4. How can I encourage others to seek knowledge alongside their enthusiasm?

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

Bede comments on this verse, emphasizing the necessity of knowledge for the soul's well-being.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Where there is no knowledge of the soul, it is not good, etc. The knowledge of heavenly life is indeed necessary for the human soul, because without it, it surely cannot be blessed forever.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 19 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 19:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good,.... Without knowledge of things natural and civil, especially without the knowledge of God and Christ, and divine and spiritual things;

Read John Gill on Proverbs 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. Also, (that) the soul be without knowledge, (it is) not good.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The soul; which is the principal cause and director of all men’ s actions. Without knowledge; without wisdom or prudence to discern his way, and what and how he ought to act in his several cases and concernments. It is not good; it is very evil and pernicious. That hasteth with his feet; that rashly and headily rusheth into actions without serious consideration. So two vices are here censured, the want of knowledge, and the neglect or disuse of knowledge in a man’ s actions.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 19:2 Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth.Ver. 2. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good.] An ignorant man is a naughty man. Ignorat sane improbus omnis, saith Aristotle, Every bad minded man is in the dark; neither can any good come into the heart, but it must pass through the understanding; and the difference of stature in Christianity grows from different degrees of knowledge. The Romans were "full of knowledge," and therefore "full of goodness." And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.] Or, Wandereth out of the way. As he that is out of his way, the faster he rides or runs, the farther he…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 19 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good.—Ignorance is bad, as well as folly. He that hasteth with his feet sinneth.—Haste without knowledge misses the mark aimed at. (See above on Proverbs 8:36.)

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 19 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 2. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good] Would it not be plainer, as it is more literal, to say, "Also, to be without knowledge, is not good for the soul?" The soul was made for God; and to be without his knowledge, to be unacquainted with him, is not only not good, but the greatest evil the soul can suffer, for it involves all other evils. The Chaldee and Syriac have: "He who knows not his own soul, it is not good to him." "Where no discretion is, there the soul is not well." - Coverdale. And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.] And this will be the case with him who is not Divinely instructed. A child does nothing cautiously, because it is uninstructed; a…

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. that the soul be without knowledge] If with R.V. text we retain this rendering, we may well recognise in the rendering of R.V. marg. a true explanation of the proverb: “Desire without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet misseth his way.” “The soul,” however fervently and however rightly it desires, needs knowledge to bring its desires to good effect. “Holy desires” must be directed by “good counsels,” if they are to issue in “just works.” And to start hastily on our path, whether material or moral, without such knowledge and counsel, is to miss our way; to wander, or to sin. sinneth] Lit. misseth the mark. Comp. Judges 20:16.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 19 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2. Without knowledge… not good — Both ignorance and want of consideration, which are closely allied, are the sources of error and sinful conduct.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 19 →

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

Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.

NETBNew English Translation2006

It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For without knowledge the minde is not good, and he that hasteth with his feete, sinneth.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Also that a person be without knowledge is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet maketh false steps.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Also, without knowledge the soul [is] not good, || And the hasty in feet is sinning.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Also in the want of knowledge in the soul there is nothing good; and he that hasteneth with his feet misseth the right path.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Also, it is not good to have desire without knowledge and the one who runs too fast misses the path.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

It's not good to be someone who doesn't think. If you rush, things go wrong.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.

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 · prepositionalגַּ֤םalsoprepositional phraseבְּwithnoun phraseלֹאnotדַ֣עַתknowledgesubjectנֶ֣פֶשׁa.personadverbialלֹאnotpredicateט֑וֹב[is].goodוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbאָ֖ץ[one.who].hastensprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּwithרַגְלַ֣יִםfeetverbחוֹטֵֽא[is].missing

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 align closely, with a word-for-word correspondence that maintains the original meaning. Both texts emphasize the importance of knowledge in conjunction with zeal.

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

גַּ֤ם בְּלֹא־ דַ֣עַת נֶ֣פֶשׁ לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְאָ֖ץ בְּרַגְלַ֣יִם חוֹטֵֽא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
גַּ֤ם’’בְּלֹא־’’דַ֣עַת’’נֶ֣פֶשׁ’’לֹא־’’ט֑וֹב’’וְאָ֖ץ’’בְּרַגְלַ֣יִם’’חוֹטֵֽא׃’’

9 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 19:2גַּםalsoalsoגַּםלֹאwith notwith notלֹאדַּ֫עַתknowledgeknowledgeדַּ֫עַתנֶ֫פֶשׁa persona personנֶ֫פֶשׁלֹאnotnotלֹאטוֹב[is] good[is] goodטוֹבאוּץand [one whand [one who] hאוּץרֶ֫גֶלwith feetwith feetרֶ֫גֶלחָטָא[is] missin[is] missingחָטָאיָדַעto knowto knowיָדַענָפַשׁbe refreshbe refreshedנָפַשׁטוֹבbe pleasinbe pleasingטוֹברָגַלto spyto spyרָגַליָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדתְּמוֹלyesterdayyesterdayתְּמוֹלשִׁלְשֹׁםthree daysthree days agoשִׁלְשֹׁםבְּלִיwithoutwithoutבְּלִיחָכְמָהwisdomwisdomחָכְמָהבָּקַשׁto seekto seekבָּקַשׁחַיalivealiveחַייָשָׁרJasharJasharיָשָׁרמַרְאֶהappearanceappearanceמַרְאֶהאַךְsurelysurelyאַךְיוֹםdaydayיוֹםבֹּ֫הֶןthumb/big thumb/big toeבֹּ֫הֶןיְמָנִיrightrightיְמָנִי
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 19:2

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.

also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
גַּ֤םgam also H1571 Adverb
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Also means 'even' or 'too', used for emphasis or to connect ideas, like 'both...and' or 'neither...nor'. It can introduce a climax or show contrast.
Tyndale gloss
also
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גַּם (gam) is an adverb meaning 'also' or 'moreover,' indicating addition or emphasis. It can express various nuances, such as 'even,' 'indeed,' or 'but.' The term is often used in a correlational manner, as in 'both...and.' It appears in contexts that require clarification or reinforcement of a statement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1571 גַּם denoting addition, also, moreover, yea

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1571 gam gam

by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea,

though; often repeated as correl. both...and:--again, alike,

also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and , but, either...or,

even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover,

nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גַּם (gam) — also.

1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea

1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis)

1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative)

1c) even (for stress)

1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax)

1e) also (of correspondence or retribution)

1f) but, yet, though (adversative)

1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case)

2) (TWOT) again, alike

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
DirObjM — Adverb
HD
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol'-so: In the Greek kai, when it is equivalent to "also" or "even," is always placed before the word or phrase which it is intended to emphasize (e.g. Ac 12:3; 1 Joh 4:21). Mt 6:14 should therefore read, "Your heavenly Father will forgive you also"; Lu 6:13, "Whom also he named apostles"; Heb 8:6, "The mediator of a better covenant also"; and 1Th 4:14, `If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also (we believe that) those who are fallen asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him.'

also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
בְּלֹא־be.lo'- with not H3808 Preposition · particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Part — Preposition · particle
HR/Tn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
דַ֣עַתDa.'at knowledge H1847 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
92× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, daath means knowledge or understanding, like when Solomon asked God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:9. It involves skill and perception, and is often linked to wisdom. This concept appears in the book of Proverbs.
Amplified meaning
understanding, wisdom
Tyndale gloss
knowledge
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דַּ֫עַת (da`ath) means knowledge, encompassing perception, skill, and moral understanding. It is associated with prophetic knowledge and is noted for its divine aspect, particularly in the context of wisdom literature. The entries highlight its use in various forms of knowledge, including discernment and understanding.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דַּ֫עַת n.f. knowledge

knowledge, perception

= skill (in workmanship)

of proph. knowledge

esp. knowledge with moral quality

knowledge possessed by God

esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1847 דַּ֫עַת knowledge . . knowledge, perception

. = skill (in workmanship)

. of proph. knowledge

. esp. knowledge with moral quality

. knowledge possessed by God

. esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1847 da`ath dah'-ath

from 3045; knowledge:--cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge),

(un-)awares (wittingly).

see HEBREW for 03045

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דַּ֫עַת (da.at) — knowledge.

1) knowledge

1a) knowledge, perception, skill

1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Of good and evil Ge 2:9,17; 3:22

→ Is power Pr 3:20; 24:5

→ Desire for 1Ki 3:9; Ps 119:66; Pr 2; 3; 12:1; 15:14; 18:15

→ Rejected Ho 4:6

→ Those who reject are destroyed Ho 4:6

→ Fools hate Pr 1:22,29

→ A divine gift 1Co 12:8

→ Is pleasant Pr 2:10

→ Shall be increased Da 12:4

also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
נֶ֣פֶשׁNe.fesh a person H5315 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
754× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for soul or living being, used in the Bible to describe the essence of a person or animal. It encompasses the ideas of life, breath, and vitality, and is translated as 'soul' or 'creature' in the KJV. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence.
Amplified meaning
enthusiasm, eagerness
Tyndale gloss
soul
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion

= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

The נפשׁ becomes a living being

The נפשׁ is specif.

The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

נ׳ in D

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being

. The נפשׁ becomes a living being

. The נפשׁ is specif.

. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself

. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)

. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions

. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts

. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.

. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.

. נ׳ in D

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5315 nephesh neh'-fesh

from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of

(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,

accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,

appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,

X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),

(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,

mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,

thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,

thing, (X she) will, X would have it.

see HEBREW for 05314

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

1g1) uncertain

1h) activity of the will

1h1) uncertain

1i) activity of the character

1i1) uncertain

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.

1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion

1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man

1b) living being

1c) living being (with life in the blood)

1d) the man himself, self, person or individual

1e) seat of the appetites

1f) seat of emotions and passions

1g) activity of mind

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
לֹא־lo'- not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

1) not, no

1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)

1b) not (with modifier-negation)

1c) nothing (subst)

1d) without (with particle)

1e) before (of time)

Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
ט֑וֹבTov [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
not beneficial, lacking
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).

also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
וְאָ֖ץve.'Atz and [one who] hastens H213 Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to hurry or make haste, often used to describe urgency or pressure. It appears in various forms, such as in Psalm 38:22, where David asks God to hasten and help him. The word conveys a sense of urgency or being pressed for time.
Amplified meaning
rushing, hastening
Tyndale gloss
to hasten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוּץ (uwts) is a Hebrew verb meaning to press or make haste. It conveys a sense of urgency and confinement, with uses in both the Qal and Hiphil forms, indicating actions like hastening or urging. The entries highlight its range from physical pressing to the metaphorical sense of urgency.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[אוּץ] vb. press, be pressed, make haste

Qal

press, hasten

(intr.) be pressed, confined, narrow

hasten, make haste

Hiph. hasten

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H213 אוּץ press, be pressed, make haste

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

213 'uwts oots

a primitive root; to press; (by implication) to be close,

hurry, withdraw:--(make) haste(-n, -y), labor, be narrow.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוּץ (uts) — to hasten.

1) to press, be pressed, make haste, urge, be narrow

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to press, hasten

1a2) to be pressed, confined, narrow

1a3) to hasten, make haste

1a4) be narrow

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to urge, insist

1b2) to hasten

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HC/Vqrmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
בְּרַגְלַ֣יִםbe.rag.La.yim with feet H7272 Preposition · noun common feminine dual absolute
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word also means a foot, like when God says he will tread on the wicked in Malachi 4:3. It's used to describe human and animal feet, as well as the base of objects like tables or idols.
Amplified meaning
with his feet, in his actions
Tyndale gloss
foot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֶ֫גֶל (regel) means 'foot' and can refer to a foot or leg in various contexts, including anthropomorphic references to God and other beings. It also implies steps or paces. The word is derived from a root meaning related to walking, and it appears in multiple forms, such as feet and paces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֶ֫גֶל 247 n.f. foot

foot

three times (feet, paces)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7272 רֶ֫גֶל foot . foot

. three times (feet, paces)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7272 regel reh'-gel

from 7270; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a

step; by euphem. the pudenda:--X be able to endure, X

according as, X after, X coming, X follow,

((broken-))foot((-ed, -stool)), X great toe, X haunt, X

journey, leg, + piss, + possession, time.

see HEBREW for 07270

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֶ֫גֶל (re.gel) — foot.

1) foot

1a) foot, leg

1b) of God (anthropomorphic)

1c) of seraphim, cherubim, idols, animals, table

1d) according to the pace of (with prep)

1e) three times (feet, paces)

Aramaic equivalent: re.gal (רְגַל "foot" H7271)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fd — Preposition · noun common feminine dual absolute
HR/Ncfda
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Bells worn on Isa 3:16,18

→ Washing of, as an example, by Jesus Joh 13:4-14

→ Sitting at De 33:3; Lu 10:39; Ac 22:3

→ See ABLUTION

also with not knowledge a person not [is] good and [one who] hastens with feet [is] missing
חוֹטֵֽא׃cho.Te' [is] missing H2398 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
238× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To sin means to miss the mark or go wrong, incurring guilt or penalty, and can also mean to repent or make amends. It is used in the Bible to describe wrongdoing and its consequences.
Amplified meaning
sins, goes wrong, stumbles
Tyndale gloss
to sin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָטָא (chata') means to miss a goal or way, and is commonly translated as 'to sin.' It encompasses a range of meanings including incurring guilt, making a sin offering, and purifying from uncleanness. The word can also imply leading others to sin or causing oneself to lose one's way. It appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of the concept of sin.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָטָא 238 vb. miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin

Qal

miss

sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit

Pi.

bear loss

make a sin offering

purify from sin

purify from uncleanness

Hiph.

miss the mark

induce or cause to sin

bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment

Hithp.

miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself

purify oneself from uncleanness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2398 חָטָא miss (a goal or way), go wrong, sin .. miss

. sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

. incur guilt, penalty by sin, forfeit

. . bear loss

. make a sin offering

. purify from sin

. purify from uncleanness

. . miss the mark

. induce or cause to sin

. bring into guilt, condemnation, punishment

. . miss oneself, lose oneself, fig. for be bewildered, beside oneself

. purify oneself from uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2398 chata' khaw-taw'

a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and

generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate,

repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:--bear the blame,

cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss,

miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self),

make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָטָא (cha.ta) — to sin.

1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to miss

1a2) to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to bear loss

1b2) to make a sin-offering

1b3) to purify from sin

1b4) to purify from uncleanness

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to miss the mark

1c2) to induce to sin, cause to sin

1c3) to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way

1d2) to purify oneself from uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
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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