Menu

Proverbs 20:1 — Word Study

Depth

WLCלֵ֣ץ הַ֭יַּין הֹמֶ֣ה שֵׁכָ֑ר וְכָל־ שֹׁ֥גֶה בּ֝֗וֹ לֹ֣א יֶחְכָּֽם׃

BSAWineyayin [a luxurious thing, fermented drink] is a mockerlûwts [scorner, one who ridicules] strong drinkshêkâr [intoxicating liquor] is a brawlerhâmâh [one who is raging, noisy] and whoeverkôl is led astrayshâgâh [deceived, goes astray] is notlôʼ wisechâkam [lacking good judgment, intelligent discernment]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the 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 (yech.Kam) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 20:1quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse warns about the dangers of wine and strong drink, stating that those led astray by them lack wisdom.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon.
Where we areIn the wisdom literature of Proverbs, addressing the consequences of indulgence.
The hard wordלֵ֣ץ
Take awayThe pursuit of intoxicating drinks can lead to folly and poor judgment.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectשֵׁכָר verbהָמָה 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 20:1

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 — Warnings Against Intoxicationgenerated

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

Proverbs 20:1 addresses the negative effects of wine and strong drink, presenting them as sources of mockery and strife. The verse emphasizes that those who allow themselves to be misled by these substances lack wisdom. This theme is consistent throughout Proverbs, where wisdom is often contrasted with folly, particularly in relation to behavior influenced by alcohol. The surrounding verses continue to explore themes of conflict and the consequences of irresponsible behavior.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 23:29–35Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
2Proverbs 31:4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
3Genesis 9:21–23But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent.
4Genesis 19:31–36One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to sleep with us, as is the custom over all the earth.
51 Samuel 25:36–38When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word לֵץ, letzgenerated

The word לֵץ (letz) is an adjective describing someone who mocks or scorns others, often through ridicule. It implies a sense of arrogance or boastfulness, indicating that the person lacks respect for others.

In this verse, it characterizes wine as a mocker, suggesting that indulgence in wine leads to a scornful attitude and foolish behavior. The passive construction indicates that wine itself has the inherent quality of mocking those who partake in it.


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 finite verb is יֶחְכָּֽם, he is wise, which governs the entire statement. The structure comprises a series of clauses that describe the characteristics of wine and strong drink, leading to the conclusion about wisdom.

The opening clause introduces the subject הַ֭יַּין (Hai.yain) and שֵׁכָ֑ר (she.Khar), establishing them as the focus of the verse. The subsequent clauses elaborate on their effects, culminating in the statement about wisdom.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates לֵץ as ἀκόλαστον, indicating a moral recklessness associated with wine. This choice emphasizes the negative consequences of indulgence.

The Greek word οἶνος corresponds to יַיִן, maintaining the focus on wine as a source of folly, consistent with the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 20:1 warns that wine leads to mockery and strong drink leads to conflict. Those who are misled by these drinks are not wise. The verse emphasizes the importance of discernment and the dangers of intoxication.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that wine is a mocker?

It suggests that wine can lead people to behave foolishly and scornfully, resulting in negative consequences.

How does strong drink relate to conflict?

Strong drink can incite anger and brawling, leading to disputes and strife among people.

What is the significance of being led astray by wine or strong drink?

Being led astray indicates a lack of wisdom and good judgment, which can result in poor choices and actions.

Why is wisdom emphasized in this verse?

Wisdom is essential for making sound decisions and avoiding the pitfalls associated with indulgence in alcohol.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I seen alcohol influence behavior negatively in my life or the lives of others?
  2. How can I cultivate wisdom in my choices regarding substances like wine and strong drink?
  3. What steps can I take to avoid being led astray by peer pressure or social norms related to drinking?
  4. How can I encourage others to seek wisdom and discernment in their choices?

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

The early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss the moral implications of wine and strong drink. Their quotations illustrate the dangers of indulgence and the importance of moderation.

Pachomius the GreatINSTRUCTIONS 1:45 c. 292–348
As it is said, “The priest and the prophet were deranged by wine.” “Wine is licentious, drunkenness is bold. The person who indulges in them will not be exempt from sin.” Wine is a good thing if you drink it with moderation.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 20 →
Ephrem the SyrianHYMNS ON THE NATIVITY 3 c. 306–373
Those who eat the heavenly bread become heavenly without doubt! Wine teaches us in that it makes those who are familiar with it like itself: for it hates those who are fond of it and is intoxicating and maddening and a mocker of them.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 20 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 20:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging,.... Wine deceives a man; it not only overcomes him before he is aware, but it promises him a pleasure which it does not give; but, on the contrary,

Read John Gill on Proverbs 20 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Wine is a mocker. Wine makes those who drink it mockers of God and of men.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 20 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

CHAPTER 20 Wine is a mocker; wine immoderately drunk makes men mockers or scoffers at God and men. Compare . Strong drink is raging; makes men full of rage and passion. Is not wise; is a fool, or a madman, because he depriveth himself of the use of his reason.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 20 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 20:1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.Ver. 1. Wine is a mocker, &c.] For, first, it mocks the drunkard, and makes a fool of him, promising him pleasure, but paying him with the stinging of an adder, and biting of a cockatrice, Proverbs 23:32. Wine is a comfortable creature, one of the chief lenitives of human miseries, as Plato calls it; but "excess of wine" is, as one well saith, Blandus daemon, dulce venenum, suave Teccatum; quam qui in se habet, se non habet; quam qui facit, non facit peccatum, sed totus est peccatum. That is, a fair spoken devil, a sweet poison, a sin which he that hath in him, hath not himself, and…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 20 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

XX. (1) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging—i.e., producing these effects in those who subject themselves to their power.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 20 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

CHAPTER XX Against wine and strong drink. We should avoid contentions. The sluggard. The righteous man. Weights and measures. Tale-bearers. The wicked son. The wise king. The glory of young men. The beauty of old men. The benefit of correction. NOTES ON CHAP. XX Verse 1. Wine is a mocker] It deceives by its fragrance, intoxicates by its strength, and renders the intoxicated ridiculous. Strong drink] שכר shechar, any strong fermented liquor, whether of the vine, date, or palm species.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 20 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1. a mocker] Rather a scorner, Proverbs 1:22, note. raging] Rather, a brawler, R.V. In each case the thing is personified in its victim. The drunkard in his cups becomes impious towards God and quarrelsome towards his neighbour. is deceived] erreth, R.V., reeleth, R.V. marg.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 20 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

“Wine” and “strong drink” are personified as themselves doing what they make men do. The latter (see Leviticus 10:9 note) is here, probably, the “palm-wine” of Syria.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 20 →

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

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Wine [is] a scorner — strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, || And any going astray in it is not wise.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.

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.

clausepredicateלֵ֣ץ[is].a.mockernoun phrase · subjectהַ֭(the)יַּיןwineclausepredicateהֹמֶ֣ה[is].noisysubjectשֵׁכָ֑רstrong.drinkוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectכָלanynoun phraseclauseverbשֹׁ֥גֶה[one.who].staggersprepositional phrase · prepositionalבּ֝֗inוֹitadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיֶחְכָּֽםhe.is.wise

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


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

The Masoretic Text of Proverbs 20:1 states that "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise." The Septuagint, while it matches 7 of the 9 words from the Masoretic Text, presents a different word order and structure, which indicates a variation in translation rather than a direct agreement. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional information for this verse, so we cannot confirm their alignment or differences with the Masoretic Text.

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

לֵ֣ץ הַ֭יַּין הֹמֶ֣ה שֵׁכָ֑ר וְכָל־ שֹׁ֥גֶה בּ֝֗וֹ לֹ֣א יֶחְכָּֽם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
לֵ֣ץἀκόλαστονהַ֭יַּיןοἶνοςשֵׁכָ֑רμέθηוְכָל־πᾶςבּ֝֗וֹαὐτῇלֹ֣אοὐκיֶחְכָּֽם׃σοφός

7 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 20:1לִיץ[is] a mock[is] a mockerלִיץיַ֫יִןwinewineיַ֫יִןהָמָה[is] noisy[is] noisyהָמָהשֵׁכָרstrong drinstrong drinkשֵׁכָרכֹּלand anyand anyכֹּלשָׁגָה[one who] s[one who] staggשָׁגָהוֹin itin itוֹלֹאnotnotלֹאחָכַםhe is wisehe is wiseחָכַםשָׁכַרbe drunkbe drunkשָׁכַרכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלהוּםto make noto make noiseהוּםשֵׁכָרstrong dristrong drinkשֵׁכָרפֶּ֫תִיsimplesimpleפֶּ֫תִיזֵדarrogantarrogantזֵדשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהקִירof Moabiteof Moabite citiקִירגַּלheapheapגַּלחֹ֫מֶץvinegarvinegarחֹ֫מֶץשָׁגָהto wanderto wanderשָׁגָהעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהתָּעָהto go astrto go astrayתָּעָהיָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדלִיץto mockto mockלִיץ
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 20:1

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

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

[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
לֵ֣ץletz [is] a mocker H3887 Adj
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to mock or scorn someone, often by making fun of them or talking down to them. It can also refer to interpreting languages or acting as an ambassador. In some cases, it describes a person who is arrogant or boastful.
Amplified meaning
scorner, one who ridicules
Tyndale gloss
to mock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לִיץ (luwts) means to scorn or mock, with various forms indicating actions like deriding or acting as a scorner. It can also refer to interpreting language or serving as an ambassador. The entries highlight its use in different contexts, including boasting and showing arrogance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[לִיץ] vb. scorn

Qal scorn

Hiph.

deride

Pt. interpreter

Po‛lel scorners

Hithp. act as a scorner, shew oneself a mocker

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3887 [לִיץ] scorn .scorn

. . deride

. Pt. interpreter

.scorners

. act as a scorner, shew oneself a mocker

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3887 luwts loots

a primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff;

hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to

interpret, or (generally) intercede:--ambassador, have in

derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful),

teacher.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לִיץ (luts) — to mock.

1) to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to boast

1a2) to scorn

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to mock, deride

1b2) to interpret (language)

1b2a) interpreter (participle)

1b2b) ambassador (fig.)

1c) (Hithpalpel) to be inflated, scoff, act as a scorner, show oneself a mocker

Also means: la.tsats (לָצַץ "to scorn" H3945)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
הַ֭יַּיןHai.yain wine H3196 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
141× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for wine, 'yayin', refers to fermented wine and its effects, including intoxication. It is often mentioned in the Bible in the context of banquets and feasts, such as in the book of Esther.
Amplified meaning
a luxurious thing, fermented drink
Tyndale gloss
wine
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַ֫יִן (yayin) means 'wine' and is associated with fermentation and intoxication. It appears in various contexts, including banqueting. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of effervescence.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יַ֫יִן 141 n.m. wine

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3196 יַ֫יִן wine

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3196 yayin yah'-yin

from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as

fermented); by implication, intoxication:--banqueting, wine,

wine(-bibber).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַ֫יִן (ya.yin) — wine.

wine

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wine

The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos_, and the Latin _vinun. But besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.

(1.) Ashishah (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.

(2.) ‘Asis, “sweet wine,” or “new wine,” the product of the same year (Cant. 8:2;

The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [VINE] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian paintings, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of "treading," which has prevailed in all ages in Oriental…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The vine being natural to the soil of Canaan and its vicinity, wine was much used as a beverage, especially at festivals, Es 1:7 5:6 Da 5:1-4 Joh 2:3. As one of the staple products of the Holy Land, it was employed for drink-offerings in the temple service, Ex 20:26 Nu 15:4-10; it was included among the "first-fruits," De 18:4, and was used in the celebration of the Passover, and subsequently of the Lord’s supper, Mt 26:27-29. Together with corn and oil it denoted all temporal supplies,

→ Made from grapes Ge 40:11; 49:11; Isa 25:6; Jer 40:1,12

→ From pomegranates So 8:2

→ Kept in jars Jer 13:12; 48:12

→ In skins (R. V.) Jos 9:4,13; Job 32:19; Mt 9:17; Lu 5:37,38

→ In bottles Jos 9:4,13; Job 32:19; Jer 13:12; 48:12;

[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
הֹמֶ֣הho.Meh [is] noisy H1993 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
34× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To make a loud noise, like roaring or moaning, is what this Hebrew word means. It can also imply a state of turmoil or commotion, like in the book of Jeremiah where it describes a city in uproar.
Amplified meaning
one who is raging, noisy
Tyndale gloss
to roar
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הָמָה (hamah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to murmur, growl, or roar, and it conveys a sense of loudness or tumult. It can refer to various forms of noise and commotion, including being boisterous or troubled. The entries suggest a range of meanings from making noise to being in a state of uproar, with some nuances in emotional expression, such as mourning or prayer.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[הָמָה] vb. murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous

Qal

growl like a dog

murmur, fig. of soul in discouragement

roar, of waves

be in commotion, stir

be boisterous, turbulent

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1993 [הָמָה] murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1993 hamah haw-maw'

a primitive root (compare 1949); to make a loud sound like

Engl. "hum"); by implication, to be in great commotion or

tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:--clamorous, concourse, cry

aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise,

rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be

in an uproar.

see HEBREW for 01949

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָמָה (ha.mah) — to roar.

1) to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to growl

1a2) to murmur (fig. of a soul in prayer)

1a3) to roar

1a4) to be in a stir, be in a commotion

1a5) to be boisterous, be turbulent

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
שֵׁכָ֑רshe.Khar strong drink H7941 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
23× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Shekar refers to strong drink or intoxicating liquor in the Bible. It is an intensely alcoholic beverage that can cause drunkenness, as seen in Proverbs 31:6.
Amplified meaning
intoxicating liquor
Tyndale gloss
strong drink
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁכָר (shekar) refers to an intoxicating or strong drink, often associated with alcoholic beverages. It is derived from a root meaning to be drunk and encompasses intensely alcoholic liquor. The term appears in contexts discussing strong drink and drunkenness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁכָר n.[m.] intoxicating drink, strong drink

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7941 שֵׁכָר intoxicating dring, strong drink

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7941 shekar shay-kawr'

from 7937; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic

liquor:--strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine.

see HEBREW for 07937

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁכָר (she.khar) — strong drink.

strong drink, intoxicating drink, fermented or intoxicating liquor

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See WINE.

[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
וְכָל־ve.khol and any H3605 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all

with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

Absolutely:

without the art., all things, all

with the art. הַכֹּל

where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every

. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all

. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned

. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3605 kol kole

or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;

hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a

plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any

(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as

many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,

whoso(-ever).

see HEBREW for 03634

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּל (kol) — all.

1) all, the whole

1a) all, the whole of

1b) any, each, every, anything

1c) totality, everything

Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
שֹׁ֥גֶהSho.geh [one who] staggers H7686 Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to wander or stray, often used to describe someone who has made a moral mistake or is drunk, like in Proverbs 5:23. It can also mean to lead someone astray.
Amplified meaning
deceived, goes astray
Tyndale gloss
to wander
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שָׁגָה (shagah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to stray or err, often in a moral or mental sense. It can refer to wandering off course, committing sins of ignorance, or leading others astray. The entries highlight its use in both a literal and figurative context, including the idea of intoxication or being enraptured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[שָׁגָה] vb. go astray, err

Qal

err, stray, of flock

swerve, meander, reel or roll

go astray

specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence

Hiph. lead astray

lit.

mentally = mislead

morally

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7686 [שָׁגָה] go astray, err .. err, stray, of flock

. swerve, meander, reel or roll

. go astray

. specif. commit sin of ignorance, inadvertence

. lead astray . lit.

. mentally = mislead

. morally

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7686 shagah shaw-gaw'

a primitive root; to stray (causatively, mislead), usually

(figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress;

by extension (through the idea of intoxication) to reel,

(figuratively) be enraptured:--(cause to) go astray, deceive,

err, be ravished, sin through ignorance, (let, make to)

wander.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁגָה (sha.gah) — to wander.

1) to go astray, stray, err

1a)(Qal)

1a1) to err, stray

1a2) to swerve, meander, reel, roll, be intoxicated, err (in drunkenness)

1a3) to go astray (morally)

1a4) to commit sin of ignorance or inadvertence, err (ignorantly)

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead astray

1b2) to lead astray, mislead (mentally)

1b3) to lead astray (morally)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singular
HVqrmsa
[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
בּ֝֗וֹbo in it 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
[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
לֹ֣אlo' 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
[is] a mocker wine [is] noisy strong drink and any [one who] staggers in it not he is wise
יֶחְכָּֽם׃yech.Kam he is wise H2449 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To be wise means to have good judgment and act intelligently, as described in the Bible. This word is used in Proverbs and other books to encourage people to seek wisdom and make wise decisions, like King Solomon.
Amplified meaning
lacking good judgment, intelligent discernment
Tyndale gloss
be wise
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָכַם (chakam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be wise or to act wisely. It encompasses various forms, including teaching wisdom and showing oneself wise. The entries highlight its use in different contexts, such as making others wise or dealing shrewdly. There are no noted disagreements among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חָכַם vb. be wise

Qal be or become wise, act wisely

Pi. make wise, teach wisdom

Pu. made wise, intensive, as it were the embodiment of wisdom

Hiph. making wise the simple

Hithp. let us deal wisely (shrewdly) toward it (the people); make or shew thyself wise

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2449 חָכַם be wise .be or become wise, act wisely

. make wise, teach wisdom

. made wise, intensive, as it were the embodiment of wisdom

. making wise the simple

. let us deal wisely (shrewdly) toward it (the people); make or shew thyself wise

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2449 chakam khaw-kam'

a primitive root, to be wise (in mind, word or act):--X

exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal

(never so) wisely, make wiser.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָכַם (cha.kham) — be wise.

1) to be wise

1a) (Qal) to be or become wise, act wisely

1b) (Piel) to make wise, teach wisdom, instruct

1c) (Pual) to be made wise

1d) (Hiphil) to make wise

1e) (Hithpael) to show oneself wise, deceive, show one's wisdom

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.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate