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Proverbs 20:3 — Word Study

Depth

WLCכָּב֣וֹד לָ֭אִישׁ שֶׁ֣בֶת מֵרִ֑יב וְכָל־ אֱ֝וִ֗יל יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃

BSAIt is honorablekâbôwd [highly esteemed, a great honor] for a manʼîysh [a male person, individual] to resolveshebeth [to cease from, keep aloof from] a disputerîyb [strife, quarrel] but anykôl [every, all] foolʼĕvîyl [foolish person, one who despises wisdom] will quarrelgâlaʻ [be meddling, be quarrelling]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 20
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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 (yit.ga.La') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 20:3quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse contrasts the honor of resolving disputes with the foolishness of quarrelling.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, offering wisdom on conflict resolution.
Where we areIn the context of wise behavior, particularly regarding disputes.
The hard wordכָּב֣וֹד
Take awayHonorable behavior is valued; foolishness leads to conflict.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbגָּלַע 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 20:3

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

Context — Wisdom on Conflict Resolutiongenerated

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.
5The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

Proverbs 20:3 presents a contrast between the honor found in resolving disputes and the folly of quarrelling. This verse is situated within a collection of proverbs that provide practical wisdom for daily living, emphasizing the value of peace and understanding in human relationships. The surrounding verses also explore themes of authority and diligence, showing the broader context of wise conduct in various situations.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
2Proverbs 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
3Proverbs 17:14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
4Proverbs 19:11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
5Proverbs 25:8–10do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

The Key Word כָּב֣וֹד, ka.Vodgenerated

The Hebrew word כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of honor and glory, indicating a state of high esteem or respect. It encompasses both external splendor and the dignity of a person's position, as well as the inner nobility one possesses.

In this verse, it highlights the honor associated with a man who resolves disputes, suggesting that such actions are esteemed in society. The parsing as a masculine singular noun indicates it refers to a specific quality or characteristic attributed to individuals.


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 in the verse is יִתְגַּלָּֽע, he bursts out, which governs the structure. It is preceded by a prepositional phrase indicating the subject's honor and followed by a noun phrase that describes the action of quarreling.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the honor of resolving disputes, with the subject לָ֭אִישׁ (to a man) clearly linked to the action of resolution, contrasting with the foolish behavior of quarrelling.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, כָּבוֹד is rendered as δόχα (doxa), which also conveys a sense of glory or honor. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning while providing a broader Greek context of esteemed reputation.

The verb יִתְגַּלָּֽע is translated as συμπλέκεται, suggesting a focus on entanglement in disputes, which reflects a similar understanding of conflict as presented in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 20:3 teaches that resolving disputes is an honorable act for a man, while a fool is quick to quarrel. This verse emphasizes the value of peace and wisdom in handling conflicts.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to resolve a dispute?

Resolving a dispute means finding a solution or coming to an agreement in a conflict, which is seen as a noble and honorable action.

Why is quarreling considered foolish?

Quarreling is viewed as foolish because it often leads to unnecessary conflict and strife, reflecting a lack of wisdom and understanding.

How can one be honorable in resolving disputes?

Being honorable in resolving disputes involves approaching conflicts with a mindset of peace, seeking understanding, and valuing relationships over winning arguments.

What are some examples of wise conflict resolution?

Examples include active listening, finding common ground, and compromising, all of which help to maintain harmony and respect in relationships.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations have I seen the value of resolving disputes rather than allowing them to escalate?
  2. How can I practice honor in my interactions with others, especially during conflicts?
  3. What are some strategies I can use to avoid quarreling and promote peace?
  4. How does my understanding of wisdom influence my approach to disagreements?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 20:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

[It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife,.... As Abraham did, Genesis 13:7; when engaged in a quarrel with his neighbour, or in a lawsuit, or in a religious controversy, especially when he

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

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. (It is) an honour for a man to cease from strife.

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

To cease from strife; either to prevent it, or, if it be begun, to put an end to it; which, although proud and profane persons esteem dishonourable to them, is indeed their glory, because it is an evidence of their great wisdom and power over their passions, and of their respect and obedience to their sovereign Lord, in which their honour and happiness consists. Will be meddling, to wit, with matters of strife; he is always ready to begin strife, and obstinate in the continuance of it.

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

Proverbs 20:3 [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.Ver. 3. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife.] To stint it rather than to stir it; to be first in promoting peace and seeking reconciliation, as Abraham did in the controversy with Lot. Memento - said Aristippus to Aeschines, with whom he had a long strife - quod cum essem natu maior, prior te accesserim. Remember, said he, that though I am the elder man, yet I first sought reconciliation. I shall well remember it, said Aeschines, and while I live I shall acknowledge thee the better man, because I was first in falling out, and thou art first in falling in again. But every fool will be…

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

(3) But every fool.—Self-willed person. (Comp. Proverbs 1:22.) Will be meddling.—Or, rather, shewing his teeth: (Comp. Proverbs 17:14) thinking that his own personal dignity is at stake.

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

Verse 3. It is an honour for a man] The same sentiment as Proverbs 19:11.

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

3. cease] For the same sense of the English word, refrain or stand aloof from, R.V., comp. Psalms 37:8; Isaiah 1:16. meddling] R.V.; Rather, quarrelling, R.V. See Proverbs 17:14, note.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 20 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3. Cease from — Or, keep aloof from, dwell apart from. Every fool will be meddling — éúâìò, (yithgalla’h.) For a similar rendering of a cognate word see Proverbs 17:14; Proverbs 18:1.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

NETBNew English Translation2006

It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

RVARevised Version, American1894

It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, || And every fool interferes.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

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.

clausepredicateכָּב֣וֹד[is].honorprepositional phrase · prepositionalלָ֭tonoun phrase(the)אִישׁpersonnoun phrase · subjectשֶׁ֣בֶתcessationprepositional phraseמֵfromרִ֑יבstrifeוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectכָלeveryאֱ֝וִ֗ילfoolverbיִתְגַּלָּֽעhe.breaks.out

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


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

The Masoretic Text states that it is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, while the Septuagint aligns closely with this sentiment, matching all seven words in a word-by-word correspondence. Both texts agree on the main idea of the verse, emphasizing the value of resolving conflict and contrasting it with the foolishness of quarreling. There are no significant differences in meaning between these witnesses for this verse.

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

כָּב֣וֹד לָ֭אִישׁ שֶׁ֣בֶת מֵרִ֑יב וְכָל־ אֱ֝וִ֗יל יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
כָּב֣וֹדδόχαלָ֭אִישׁἀνδρὶשֶׁ֣בֶתἀποστρέφεσθαιמֵרִ֑יבλοιδορίαςוְכָל־πᾶςאֱ֝וִ֗ילἄφρωνיִתְגַּלָּֽע׃συμπλέκεται

7 of the 7 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 20:3כָּבוֹד[is] honor[is] honorכָּבוֹדאִישׁto personto personאִישׁשֶׁ֫בֶתcessationcessationשֶׁ֫בֶתרִיבfrom strifefrom strifeרִיבכֹּלand everyand everyכֹּלאֱוִילfoolfoolאֱוִילגָּלַעhe bursts ohe bursts outגָּלַערִיבto contendto contendרִיבכָּבֵדto honor: to honor: honouכָּבֵדשָׁבַתto ceaseto ceaseשָׁבַתכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלאֱנוֹשׁhumanhumanאֱנוֹשׁאִשָּׁהwomanwomanאִשָּׁהעֹ֫שֶׁרrichesrichesעֹ֫שֶׁרהָדָרglorygloryהָדָררֵעַneighborneighborרֵעַרָפָאto healto healרָפָאמָדוֹןstrifestrifeמָדוֹןעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהכַּ֫עַסvexationvexationכַּ֫עַסמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָררִיבstrifestrifeרִיבכֹּלallallכֹּל
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 20:3

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] honor to person cessation from strife and every fool he bursts out
כָּב֣וֹדka.Vod [is] honor H3519 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Glory refers to great honor or splendor, often used to describe God's majesty, as in Psalm 138:5 where David praises God's glorious name. It can also refer to wealth or abundance, like in Genesis 31:1 where Jacob's wealth is described.
Amplified meaning
highly esteemed, a great honor
Tyndale gloss
glory
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory

abundance, riches

honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

honour, dignity of position

honour, reputation, of character

my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man

honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one

glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches

. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

. honour, dignity of position

. honour, reputation, of character

. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man

. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one

. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3519 kabowd kaw-bode'

rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but

only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or

copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).

see HEBREW for 03513

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.

1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance

1a) abundance, riches

1b) honour, splendour, glory

1c) honour, dignity

1d) honour, reputation

1e) honour, reverence, glory

1f) glory

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
[is] honor to person cessation from strife and every fool he bursts out
לָ֭אִישׁLa.'ish to person H376 Preposition · 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
a male person, individual
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
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] honor to person cessation from strife and every fool he bursts out
שֶׁ֣בֶתShe.vet cessation H7674 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a cessation or a stop, like a pause in activity or a break from work. In the Bible, it can describe a time of rest or a period of inactivity, like the stillness after a storm or the quiet of a peaceful day.
Amplified meaning
to cease from, keep aloof from
Tyndale gloss
cessation
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫בֶת (shebeth) refers to a state of cessation or interruption, often implying rest or sitting still. The meaning is somewhat uncertain, as indicated by the lexicons. It is derived from a related root, שָׁבַת (shabat), which also conveys the idea of ceasing or resting.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫בֶת n.f. cessation (dub.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7674 שֶׁ֫בֶת cessation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7674 shebeth sheh'-beth

from 7673; rest, interruption, cessation:--cease, sit

still, loss of time.

see HEBREW for 07673

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫בֶת (she.vet) — cessation.

1) cessation, a sitting still

1a) meaning uncertain

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] honor to person cessation from strife and every fool he bursts out
מֵרִ֑יבme.Riv from strife H7379 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
61× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a dispute or quarrel between people, which can be a physical fight or a verbal argument. It is often used to describe a lawsuit or controversy, and appears in books like Deuteronomy and Job.
Amplified meaning
strife, quarrel
Tyndale gloss
strife
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רִיב (riyb) refers to strife or dispute, encompassing personal or legal contests. It can denote adversarial situations, chiding, or legal cases. The entries consistently highlight its meanings related to conflict, such as quarrels and controversies, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רִיב 62 n.m. strife, dispute

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7379 רִיב strife, dispute

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7379 riyb reeb

or rib {reeb}; from 7378; a contest (personal or legal):--+

adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy,

multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing),

suit.

see HEBREW for 07378

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רִיב (riv) — strife.

1) strife, controversy, dispute

1a) strife, quarrel

1b) dispute, controversy, case at law

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ge 13:8; 45:24; De 1:12; Ps 31:20; 55:9; 80:6; Pr 3:20; 6:12-14,16-19; 10:12; 13:10; 15:18; 16:28; 17:1,14,19; 18:6,19; 19:13; 20:3; 21:19; 22:10; 23:29,30; 25:8,24; 26:17,20,21; 27:15; 28:25; 29:22; 30:33; Isa 41:11,12; 58:4; Hab 1:3; Mt 5:25,39-41; 10:34-36; 12:25; 18:15-17; Mr 3:24,25; Lu 11:17; 12:51-53,58,59; Ro 2:8

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Christ, an example of avoiding

Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23

- Forbidden

Pr 3:30; 25:8

- A work of the flesh

Ga 5:20

- An evidence of a carnal spirit

1Co 3:3

- Existed in the church

1Co 1:11

- EXCITED BY

. Hatred

Pr 10:12

. Pride

Pr 13:10; 28:25

. Wrath

Pr 15:18; 30:33

. Frowardness

[is] honor to person cessation from strife and every fool he bursts out
וְכָל־ve.khol and every 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.
Amplified meaning
every, all
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] honor to person cessation from strife and every fool he bursts out
אֱ֝וִ֗יל'e.Vil fool H191 Adj
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for a foolish person, someone who despises wisdom or mocks when guilty. It appears in the Bible to describe those who are quarrelsome or licentious. The KJV translates it as 'fool' or 'foolish man'.
Amplified meaning
foolish person, one who despises wisdom
Tyndale gloss
fool(ish)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱוִיל (eviyl) means 'foolish' and describes someone who despises wisdom, mocks when guilty, is quarrelsome, or licentious. It is derived from an unused root suggesting perversion. The word is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote a person lacking wisdom.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱוִיל 26 adj. foolish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H191 אֱוִיל foolish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

191 'eviyl ev-eel'

from an unused root (meaning to be perverse); (figuratively)

silly:--fool(-ish) (man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱוִיל (e.vil) — fool(ish).

1) be foolish, foolish

1a) (subst)

1a1) of one who despises wisdom

1a2) of one who mocks when guilty

1a3) of one who is quarrelsome

1a4) of one who is licentious

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAamsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Any person who does not act wisely, that is, does not follow the warnings and requirements of God, which are founded in infinite wisdom. Hence "a fool" is put for a wicked man, an enemy or neglecter of God, Ps 14:1 Pr 19:1. So folly is put for wickedness, 2Sa 13:12,13 Ps 38:5, foolish lusts for wicked lusts, etc. Foolish talking, foolish questions, are vain, empty, unprofitable conversation, 2Ti 2:23.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Ps 5:5; 14:1; 53:1; 74:18-22; 107:17; Pr 1:7,22; 3:35; 9:6-8,13-17; 10:1,8,10,13,14,18,23; 14:1,7-9,15; 15:7,20,21; 17:24,25; 18:2,6,7; 19:13; 20:3; 21:20; 26:3-12; 29:9,11; Ec 4:5; 7:9; 10:11-15; Mt 7:26,27; Tit 3:3

→ PARABLES OF

Of the foolish virgns Mt 25:1-13

Of the rich fool Lu 12:16-20

[is] honor to person cessation from strife and every fool he bursts out
יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃yit.ga.La' he bursts out H1566 Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine singular
3× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To quarrel or be obstinate means to stubbornly resist or argue, like the conflicts between Jacob and Laban. This word is used to describe contentious situations. It appears in Genesis 31:36, where Jacob argues with Laban.
Amplified meaning
be meddling, be quarrelling
Tyndale gloss
to quarrel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גָּלַע (gala`) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to expose or lay bare. It can also refer to breaking out in contention, particularly in the Hithpael form, where it implies disclosing oneself. The entries suggest a focus on obstinacy and quarrelsome behavior.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גָּלַע] vb. expose, lay bare—only Hithp. disclose oneself, break out

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1566 גָּלַע

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1566 gala` gaw-lah'

a primitive root; to be obstinate:--(inter-)meddle (with).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גָּלַע (ga.la) — to quarrel.

1) to expose, lay bare

1a) (Hithpael)

1a1) to disclose oneself, break out

1a2) to break out (in contention)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Hithpael-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVti3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
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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